Soviet Movie Day

Olya, Edna, Tanya, Serhiy, Andriy, and myself watching "Office Romance".

Today we got together with some friends to watch a classic Soviet movie. It was called Служебный Роман (Office Romance), a romantic comedy that takes place in a Moscow office in 1976. We were totally blessed at how patiently everybody explained all the cultural aspects and all of the Russian idioms. Tanya and Serhiy did such a great job of translating and filling in the gaps for us. Thanks guys. It was so fun just to sit around eating and laughing about Soviet life and life in general. We learned so much about why some things are the way they are and why people do the things they do. It was a priceless afternoon and I hope we can do it again soon.

If you want to read more about this great movie, you can click HERE. It tells so much about everyday Soviet life in the office. It really wasn't much different than some of the things I've seen going on in American offices, especially the government ones.

Afterward, Andriy and Kolya tossed Joshua around our living room. He loved it.

Thanksgiving, What It Really Means

Several Ukrainian friends have asked me what American Thanksgiving is all about as we prepare to celebrate it on Thursday, November 27th. Yes, it's origin comes from the Puritans in the autumn of 1621. Yes, we all sit around and eat turkey and enjoy each others company, but what is it really about. I think the best way to describe Thanksgiving is to look at how two of our American Presidents described it. For Americans, lest we forget, Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and it is to God who we give thanks on this day.


Thanksgiving Proclamation
City of New York, October 3, 1789

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanks-giving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national. One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

President George Washington


A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

President Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State


It is the duty of nations as well as of men to owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.
We know that by his divine law, nations, like individuals, are subject to punishments and chastisements in this world May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins; to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?
We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has grown.
But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.
Intoxicated with unbroken success we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole of the American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every pad of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

President Abraham Lincoln

First Snow!

This morning we sent Joshua to the store and this is what he found waiting for him. We noted that it took him an extremely long time to make his way there and back. He claimed he had to walk slow on the icy ground, but the snow on his gloves told us otherwise.

Weekend at Baka's (grandma's)

Outside of church last Sunday with Baka in Osijek, Croatia

After speakers week at the Bible College in Hungary, we were able to spend four days with Edna's Grandma, (Baka in Croatian). It was fun to spend time with her and communicate using Ukrainian. Baka only speaks Croatian, but a lot of words in Ukrainian are similar or the same in Croatian. At one point she was telling a neighbor how excited she was that we were speaking to her in Croatian. We learned to mix a few Croatian words in with Ukrainian to get our point across. It seemed to work out good enough for us to get by. It's just nice to know that the words for "I love you" are almost exactly the same in Croatian as they are in Ukrainian.

A view of the old city wall from across the Drava River

With the help of Baka's neighbor Zlatko, who speaks English, we were able to share God's Word with her and its application for her life in Christ. We prayed together and agreed with Baka that we would read our Bibles together every evening. We will be reading a chapter from the book of John here in Ukraine as she reads the same chapter in John in Croatia. In this way we will be exploring God's Word together.

Dominic and Baka

Joshua (aka Mr. Magoo) and Baka

Baka and Ednitsa out for a walk in a village

Baka's neighbor Zlatko took us out to the home he built in a nearby village where he keeps his bees. Along with his wife Tanya and daughter Ana, we all enjoyed some Croatian style grilling. Zlatko also sent us home with three jars of that delicious honey in the picture.

Looking towards the city center of Osijek from across the Drava River. The weather was beautiful and much warmer than Ukraine.

Home from Hungary

Joshua, Bohdan, and Dominic "We want you to know Jesus!"

Yesterday, we returned home after spending just over a week in Hungary at the Calvary Chapel Bible College and at Edna's Grandmother's in Croatia. We traveled by bus and it seemed to us that it was a little more comfortable than the train and much cheaper. At just over 20 hours of travel time from Kyiv to Budapest, it was also faster than the train.

All of us enjoyed our time at the Bible College in Vajta. It was so good to hear from the different speakers who spoke during speakers week and to see all of our old friends. I was grateful to be able to share with everyone about how God is working here in Bila Tserkva. We were excited to meet the two Ukrainian students at the Bible College, Bohdan and Maryna. Joshua especially seemed to bond with Bohdan who helped Joshua keep his Ukrainian sharp. We are looking forward to seeing Bohdan and Maryna over the Christmas break. They treated us to some Ukrainian worship music before we left the college to go to Croatia for four days, so we felt almost at home there.

Joy and Edna being strong in weakness

We were encouraged by the news of what God is doing all over the world in places like Iraq, Poland, India, Ireland, and many other places. We were also encouraged by all the new friends we met at the Bible College and the testimonies they shared with us about how God is working in their lives. God is so great in all the ways that He uses us.

Dominic getting in some pool between speakers

We often wondered where it was that Joshua would disapear to after meals. We soon discovered that he was helping Bohdan wash dishes in the dish room in the basement.

Bohdan and Joshua washing dishes

Joshua and Judah in the dish room with Bohdan. There are no child labor laws in Hungary so the missionaries send their children to work down in the basement to offset the costs of running the Bible College.

I'll be posting about our time with Edna's grandmother in Osijek, Croatia in the next post. God truly blessed our time with her.

University English Club

Monday Evening English Club at the University

We held our third meeting this evening of our English Club at the city University here in Bila Tserkva. We have been blessed to have been given free use of the room for two hours with the full backing of the University. Edna and I are working with Ruslan and Anya Samohlebov, a local Christian couple, to run this latest English Club. Ruslan uses the first hour to teach English grammar while I use the second hour as a practical application of English in discussing moral dilemmas and ethical behavior. (Dominic and Joshua had the privilege of babysitting Nikita while we were gone.)

While we can't openly teach about the Bible, these moral discussions can often lead to relevant Biblical references. As Edna moves around the class helping out the students, we've noticed how she seems to be bonding with these young and impressionable girls (there's only one guy for now). They've already exchanged phone numbers and are talking about how they can all get together outside of the class room. Our prayer is that these young people will be won for Christ through the sincere building of relationships. God has been faithful in granting us another open door for reaching the youth of this city through English and we are grateful.

Edna helping Marina translate some sentences into English while Anya helps another girl in the foreground.

From Death to Life

Today we held a funeral for Serihy, but not in the normal sense. We brought members of our church and treated it as though it were an extended church service. We sang worship songs and preached about God's free gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. It turned out to be a great opportunity for sharing the Gospel with the villagers that attended. I was blessed to be able to share about the life we are offered once we leave this world behind. The other two pastors preached similar messages of salvation and the need to invite Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior before it's too late. God's Love is so great that His Word reached into this small village of mostly elderly people and began to shine light into their lives. (This happened figuratively and literally!)

A cold overcast day suddenly gave way to bright sunshine as God's Word was lovingly shared.

After we left the cemetery, we shared a meal and one last song together.

Не в тому любов, що ми полюбили Бога, а що Він полюбив нас, і послав Свого Сина вблаганням за наші гріхи. -1 Іван 4:10

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. - 1 John 4:10

You can see more photos from this day by clicking HERE.

Passing and Prayer

Serhiy and his dog Topeek heading home.

Earlier today, our friend Maria's great-uncle, Serhiy, left this world. We knew him from the times we visited the village where he lived to help harvest potatoes and it was earlier this year that we buried his sister, Baba Hanya. We will be holding a funeral service tomorrow in the village of Kozhenykiy. Please pray for Maria and her family as they shoulder the majority of the work and preparations to be done tonight and tomorrow. We are hoping to help in any way we can, but there is a lot to be done in a short time. Maria's mother Valentina has especially been overwhelmed with caring for Serhiy since his sister died and in his final days. Please pray that we will find ways to bring glory to God and share Christ with the people of the village there.

Feed My Sheep

In the Gospel of John, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. When Peter affirms that he does in fact love the Lord Jesus each time he is asked, he receives this instruction. First, "Feed my lambs." Second, "Take care of my sheep." And finally, "Feed my sheep."

One of the ways pastors are to feed the sheep is with sound Biblical truth. The problem is that those people whom the Lord has entrusted to these pastors don't always want to hear the truth. At least not all of the truth. It is human nature to want to hear things that are pleasing to us and that make us feel good. Unfortunately it is all too easy for a pastor to fall into the trap of trying to please the sheep rather than feed them by telling them what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear.

I freely admit that I would like nothing more than to please everybody and have them walk away feeling good about themselves. Would I really be "feeding the sheep" if I skipped over all those disturbing parts of the Bible about sin and the narrow road to salvation? If I love Jesus, as Peter claimed, I have to tell people what they need to hear. I can do this in the most loving way possible, but some will likely still be offended. (Some of you know how difficult this can sometimes be in Ukraine.) I've seen and heard too many pastors who, out of fear of offending, are not feeding their sheep. They make ambiguous statements and shy away from controversial issues leaving people to come to their own conclusions right or wrong. Granted, some issues are complex and need careful consideration, but some positions can be clearly stated using sound Bible teaching.

I've been reading some of Randy Alcorn's posts lately and I admire his willingness to boldly "feed the sheep" according to his convictions and Biblical insights. Please take the time to read his latest post and his impassioned plea to view life as God does.

I'm not Voting for a Man, I'm Voting for Generations of Children and their Right to Live

"The Little Path" Issue Zero

We are excited to announce that the Christian children's magazine that we know as Ctezhynka in Ukrainian, little path, has been published as a trial issue in English. It will be published under the Russian name, Tropinka, The Little Path. Please go to www.tropinka.org where you can view this beautiful magazine page by page. The theme of this issue is appropriately enough, light. It will only be published in English on a regular basis if there is enough interest.

These great magazines are published here in Ukraine by Light in the East (Світло На Сході). You can click on this link Light in the East for a rough English translation of the site. The senior pastor of our church, Pavlo Mitichev, works with Light in the East in Kyiv so we are blessed to have access to their publications through him. These English versions are great for helping some of the children learn English in our Children's Ministry. Light in the East publishes many other books for all ages in Ukrainian and Russian. They also have a missions training program for equipping native Ukrainian missionaries as well as various other ministries for Christ.

The origin of Light in the East can be traced back to World War I Russian prisoners of war. They came in contact with German evangelists who taught them the saving knowledge of Jesus. These prisoners of war would eventually take this Gospel message back to what was to become the Soviet Union where these men literally became "lights in the east".

The English version will share works by some of the same great Ukrainian authors and illustrators as its Ukrainian counterpart.

If you know of a church that might be interested in these magazines, please contact :

Tropinka "Light in the East" Inc.
P.O. Box 326
Lake Forest, CA 92609

Email: svetvostoku@hotmail.com
Phone/Fax: (949) 458-6248

Blessings and Answered Prayers

Joshua, Oksana, Kristina, Lusya, Zhenya, Maxime, and Dominic with Maria and Edna during Children's Ministry

We were happy to see God at work in so many ways today at church. Maxime has been spending his weekends in a village with his grandmother lately and we have really missed having him at church. This weekend he stayed home from the village and even spent a night at our house. We were glad to see him outside of our building with his Bible waiting to go to church with us today.

Our neighbor Oksana usually goes to her grandparents home in a nearby village on Sundays, but today her family stayed home. She came upstairs to our place before church to get some help on her English homework and she asked what time we would be going to church. We told her and to our joy she told us that she wanted to go with us. This is something that we have been praying for since we met her. God is faithful. Oksana seemed to really be listening to the teachings and having a good time. Please pray that she continues on the path that leads to life.

We were treated to Anya singing to the music of a bandura today also.

The kids making turtles.

Maxime holding up his turtle that says, "Mattew 5:16, I will be a light."

A Red Sea of Communists (by Edna)

Communist demonstrators wave Soviet and even a few Russian flags in protest of the Day of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army

I traveled by myself to Kyiv Monday to purchase our bus tickets to the Calvary Chapel Bible College in November. Upon walking out of the metro on Independence Square, I was amazed by the large gathering of communists on the opposite side of the street. Cara told me the night before to bring my camera because there would be a protest. Boy, was she right! Cara gave me some background information regarding what was happening that day and then I did my own research here at home. It turned out to be the day chosen to commemorate the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). The problem is that Soviet Army veterans don't want to recognize UPA veterans as legitimate war combatants due to their struggle against communism in Soviet Ukraine. It's interesting that the blue banners in the background say "Freedom" and the square they are protesting in is called Independence Square. How beautiful those blue and yellow Ukrainian flags flying overhead are.

Me and Cara

I met with my friend Cara at the McDonald's on Independence Square. She was so gracious to offer her time to help me with translation so that I could purchase my tickets. After looking at the map, we set off to find the business we were looking for. I thought I had the address written down right, but it turns out we needed a completely different address. We ended up walking all over before finding it! All went well with purchasing the tickets and we are grateful that we found a cheaper alternative in traveling to the Bible College. Afterward, we headed back to Independence Square to have lunch together. Thanks Cara for making all of this possible! I really enjoyed hanging out with you.

Ukrainian Patriots

Since I rarely travel to Kyiv alone, I thought it would be a great opportunity to spend some time with Marianna. We met at her place and had a nice time chatting over real coffee. :) It was good to discuss politics together since she watches all the debates and could better fill me in. We also discussed the possibility of visiting orphans together, which is something that is really close to my heart. I am excited to see what God wants to do!

A poster commemorating October 14th, the day of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. It reads, "Our Freedom - Their Blood!"

Here's what communism did for Ukraine. I can understand Ukrainians disdain for the Soviet Union after watching this video. The video describes Holodomor, the genocide of Ukrainian people by the Soviet Union. Please be warned that the following historical images are very graphic and tragic.

The Soviet Story

Not About Politics

I've told myself that I wouldn't get involved in debating American politics on this blog, especially concerning the presidential elections in the United States. I feel that I can't stay completely silent on the issue though. To not say anything would be a betrayal of the very reason that we are in Ukraine, to proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord and that the Bible is the inspired infallible Word of God.

I came across a post today that caught my attention. It's about the presidential candidates' views concerning abortion and how some Christians are supporting a pro-abortion candidate. Logically, you would think that every Christian would take a firm pro-life stance, but not so according to the post.

After reading the post, I still can't believe that Americans (especially Christians) could possibly feel this way about human life. I live in a country (Ukraine) where abortion was once the preferred (if not the recommended) form of birth control. In the former Soviet Ukraine, since 1970 (the first date I found a record for), over one million unborn children were killed each year until the collapse of the Soviet Union. The number of babies killed by abortion exceeded live births in Ukraine until 2001 when live births finally exceed the number of abortions. This was done out of ignorance. People were told that it was "just tissue" or that "it had no soul". Education to the contrary has been slow and hard fought by many Christians laboring to end this tragedy. I have heard the stories of women who were broken and devastated by the realization of what they had done and the emotional scars they now carry. I'm thankful that there are Christian missionaries in Ukraine right now that are devoting their time to public education programs about the importance of abstinence and the sanctity of life of unborn babies. They are also sharing the saving news of Christ and of forgiveness with those affected by abortion.

This is what Norma McCorvey, the woman known as Jane Roe of Roe vs. Wade, had to say after becoming a Christian,

"I was sitting in O.R.'s offices (Operation Rescue) when I noticed a fetal development poster. The progression was so obvious, the eyes were so sweet. It hurt my heart, just looking at them. I ran outside and finally, it dawned on me. "Norma," I said to myself, "They're right." I had worked with pregnant women for years. I had been through three pregnancies and deliveries myself. I should have known. Yet something in that poster made me lose my breath. I kept seeing the picture of that tiny, 10-week-old embryo, and I said to myself, that's a baby! It's as if blinders just fell off my eyes and I suddenly understood the truth--that's a baby!"

I felt crushed under the truth of this realization. I had to face up to the awful reality. Abortion wasn't about "products of conception." It wasn't about "missed periods." It was about children being killed in their mother's wombs. All those years I was wrong. Signing that affidavit, I was wrong. Working in an abortion clinic, I was wrong. No more of this first trimester, second trimester, third trimester stuff. Abortion–at any point–was wrong. It was so clear. Painfully clear."

I'm saddened to think that the United States seems to be taking a moral step backwards. Is human life so trivial now that we can simply brush aside moral truth in the interest of electing a candidate that tells us what we want to hear? I would hate to be a pastor that had to stand before God and answer for why I told His people only what they wanted to hear.

Without endorsing a candidate (I shouldn't have to), here's my personal view. I would rather have a president who takes a Biblical stand on issues like abortion than one who seems to have a more popular plan for economics or foreign policy. If a candidate claims to be a Christian, as both do, then both should do everything in their power to stop abortion. No candidate is perfect, but I believe that their position on the future of abortion is a clear indication of their true moral character and how we vote is an indicator of ours as a nation. Time will tell.

I want a president who will make decisions based on God's Word, the Bible, and not on popular public opinion. Presidents aren't elected to make everyone happy and feel good about themselves. Presidents are elected to lead the country in a godly manner (yes, the pledge of allegiance still says, "one Nation under God"). Presidents have to sometimes make unpopular and even painful decisions. Do you remember how unpopular President Lincoln's decision to abolish slavery was? The war that followed cost the lives of more than 620,000 Americans. (The number of Americans killed in the Civil War is still lower than the number of babies who are killed through abortion each year in the United States since 1973.)

By the way, it was President Eisenhower who signed the bill into law on Flag Day, June 14th, 1954, that added the words "under God" to the pledge of allegiance. He had these words to say about it,

"These words [“under God”] will remind Americans that despite our great physical strength we must remain humble. They will help us to keep constantly in our minds and hearts the spiritual and moral principles which alone give dignity to man, and upon which our way of life is founded."

I think we live in a time when people would rather remain silent than risk offending anyone with the truth. My views in this post might be offensive to you and you might disagree with them, but the message of the Gospel is also offensive so I won't make apologies for either. 1 John 4:11 says, "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." Do we really manifest God's love when we remain silent on these issues? Is the love of Christ in us when we endorse the killing of innocent unborn children?

Read these next two verses and the post that is linked below them. After you have read the post by Robert George, watch the video response to abortion by John Piper.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

The Witherspoon Institute

John Piper: Abortion is About God



I've added this link after originally posting this because I felt that it echoes almost exactly what I believe about this issue. Please take the time to read this post by pastor and author Randy Alcorn.

Not Cool: Obama's Pro-Abortion Stance, and Christians enabling him

Back to Voloshka

On Tuesday, we went back to Voloshka orphanage here in Bila Tserkva after last visiting in April of 2007. We finally got an open door to go back and visit the children after Nastya told us that she and some friends make regular visits there. We met up with her and four of her friends to spend about an hour and a half coloring and playing with these beautiful little children.

They have such tiny little beds.

Voloshka is a very nice orphanage by normal standards in Ukraine, but like all children these kids need loving human contact. We are praying that we might be able to start some kind of Bible Club or regular teaching for some of the kids at Voloshka. We only saw a small group of them, ages five to six. There are groups of younger and older kids in the rest of the building. It would be a blessing to be able to spend some time with them as well. You can't imagine how much a hug means to these little ones until you've had them run to you as you pass in a hallway just to steal a quick embrace.

Six year old Ivan is one of the children still with the same group since we last visited a year and a half ago. Sadly, he and another boy don't seem to have grown much since we last saw them. All of the children are much smaller and skinnier than they should be for their age.

Polina, the only girl in the group, tried to braid Nastya's hair.

Edna giving Arsen a ride. This little guy was so funny and kept us all laughing with his sense of humor.

The children were so excited just to be shown a little affection.

Polina and Edna having some girl time together.

Before we left, we passed out pechyvo and tsukerky (cookies and candy). Just in case the children were low on sugar :)

A Fall Day With the Claycamp Family

The Claycamp family, Micah, Christy, Josie, Jaden, Jeremy, and Justin, came to visit us today from Kaharlyk. The weather was perfect for a walk in the park and a chance to enjoy all the colors of Fall. It was fun to spend time with all off them. I think Josie even made a few new friends on the playground at our place before they left. The day seemed to slip by and we wish we would have had more time.

Thanks for stopping by guys. It would be our pleasure to have you over again soon.

Dominic, Joshua, Jeremy, Josie, and Jaden

Christy, Justin, and Edna

Joshua and Jaden

Jeremy taming one of the lions of Oleksandria

One step at a time little guy

Jeremy, Jaden, and Joshua

one of the many newly married couples we saw