And Then There Were Nine (so far)

New Arrivals

I got up this morning with the intention of taking the four kittens and their mother to the county where they could find homes for them. I was a little surprised to find nine kittens instead of four. Momma kitty had four new kittens during the night. Hopefully they will all find homes eventually. I guess we picked them up at just the right time.

The little black dog slept with Edna last night and she named her Lyubov which is Ukrainian for the word love. It just seemed right since she was so full of love. We call her by the diminutive, Lyuba. I don't think I can pry her out of Edna's arms so it looks like we'll be keeping her.

Lost and Found

Four kittens and a very pregnant momma cat

On the way to the Men's Discipleship Evening at church, Joshua and I saw a sad sight. Someone had dumped a little black dog along with four kittens and their pregnant mother. The little dog was standing guard over the cats as it sat under a lone oak tree on the side of the road. We turned around and watched them for awhile and noticed the little black dog diligently herding the kittens away from the road as cars passed. We felt helpless to do anything since it was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and we were supposed to help out serving in the cafe at church. We reluctantly drove on, but Joshua prayed that they would still be there safe and that we could rescue them on our way home.

Four hours later, all six animals were as we had left them. I made a valiant effort to capture the little dog even getting a hold of her several times only to have her struggle free. She refused to leave the kittens so I had to rethink how I was going to capture them all. (I vowed to Joshua that I wouldn't leave any behind.) I scooped up the mother cat thinking the kittens would want to follow. I was wrong. All they wanted to do was run around playing in the grass and running up trees. Did I mention I was doing this in the dark with only the headlights from our Jeep for illumination?

After about an hour I managed to get hold of the last kitten. To Joshua's dismay, they seemed perfectly happy to carry on their playful antics throughout the Jeep leaping from seat to seat chasing each other. With all the cats wrangled up, I finally coaxed the little black dog into letting me pick her up. She was happy to be reunited with the kittens.

Our drive home was anything but uneventful, but we made it. You can only imagine the scene as I tried to drive with one kitten pawing at my legs, one in my lap, and another climbing on my shoulders as I juggled my cell phone to let Edna know why we were so late.

When we got home Edna immediately snatched up the little black dog and informed me that we're keeping her. By the time I got all the cats situated for the night, Edna had already given the little dog a bath and made a spot for her on the sofa (as well as in her heart I suspect). We'll see what happens. All I know is that what was once abandoned and lost is now found.

Happy to be loved

Going Batty

Say hello to my little friend

The old hay barn on the ranch where we live is filled with bats. As a kid, I remember watching them come flying out of that barn around sunset every summer evening. Now our boys enjoy watching the same spectacle. I started thinking about how many bugs they must eat and about how much I hate all those bugs on a warm summer evening. I wanted to find out just how beneficial those little flying mice really are. Here's what I found:

"Bats make good neighbors. As the only major predators of night flying insects, bats play an important role in controlling many insect pests. A single bat can consume as many as 500 insects in just one hour, or nearly 3,000 insects every night. A colony of just 100 little brown bats, the most abundant species in the Northeast, may consume more than a quarter of a million mosquitoes and other small insects each night.

Big brown bats, which live primarily in agricultural areas, feed on June bugs, cucumber beetles, green and brown stinkbugs, and leafhoppers. Research has shown that over the course of a summer, a colony of 150 big brown bats can eat 38,000 cucumber beetles, 16,000 June bugs, 19,000 stinkbugs, and 50,000 leafhoppers and can prevent the hatching of 18 million corn rootworms by devouring the adult beetles."

I decided that making a bat house would be a great way to increase our bat numbers and teach the boys something in the process. I realized that all the materials I needed were just lying around waiting to be used, so I went to work.

Inside the bat box

I settled on a "rocket bat box" design and went to work modifying the design to fit my needs. It turned out to be a full day project and then some.

12 foot 4'' x 6'' redwood post

Complete with three covered plexiglass viewing ports for Joshua

Today I went into the barn and gathered up a few bats that couldn't squeeze into any of the already overcrowded crevices. These became my first tenants. We'll see if they decided to return.

The first occupant

Some more bat facts:

"Although some mammals are able to glide, bats are the only mammals that truly fly. That is, they actually flap their wings to propel them in flight. They belong to their own unique order of mammals, called Chiroptera, meaning “hand wing,” which refers to how the finger bones of a bat support its wings. The wings of a bat are actually thin membranes of skin that stretch between the fingers of the front leg and extend to the hind legs and tail. The bat’s finger bones are greatly elongated and serve a purpose similar to struts on an airplane wing, providing support and maneuverability during flight. When at rest, a bat folds its wings alongside its body to protect the delicate finger bones and wing membranes.

Bats live in a variety of habitats, including wetlands, fields, forests, cities, suburbs, and agricultural areas. They usually feed in areas where insects swarm, such as over water and agricultural fields, in forest clearings and along forest edges, and around street lights.

All northeastern bats eat insects and take their prey on the wing. Bats use their mouths to scoop small insects out of the air. Larger insects are often disabled with a quick bite and then carried to the ground or to a perch for eating. If an insect takes last-second evasive action, a bat can flick out a wing to nab the insect and draw it into its mouth. This maneuverability makes bats very efficient insect predators: A bat may consume nearly 50 percent of its body weight in insects in a single night!

Although bats can see quite well, they rely on their hearing for night flying. A highly sophisticated adaptation, called echolocation, enables bats to use their large and well developed ears to navigate and catch prey in total darkness. A bat’s echolocation system makes use of ultrasonic sound pulses and echoes to locate objects. Bats open their mouths in flight and emit a series of ultrasonic sound pulses. These pulses bounce off nearby objects—such as bushes, fences, branches, and insects—then return as echoes to the bat’s ears. Using the information gathered from these echoes, a bat can maneuver to capture an insect or avoid flying into an object.

Bats have one of the lowest reproductive rates for animals their size. Most northeastern bats have just one or two pups per year, and many females do not breed until their second year. This low reproductive rate is partially offset by their long life span. On average, bats live approximately four to six years, and there are some incredible records of bats living twenty to thirty years in the wild.

Because few flying insects are active during the winter months, bats that remain in the Northeast year-round gather in caves and abandoned mines to hibernate. Hibernation is a state of prolonged torpor during which bats greatly reduce their normal metabolic activities. Body temperature in hibernating bats falls from a normal level of more than 100o F to that of the surrounding cave temperature, usually 40–50o F. The heart rate slows to only about twenty beats per minute, as compared to 1,000 beats per minute during flight. By allowing their bodily processes to slow this way, hibernating bats can survive on a very small amount of stored fat during the five- to six-month hibernation period, losing from one-fourth to one-half of their prehibernation weight."

Reunion with Friends

David, Edna, Will, and Ira

Yesterday we had our friends David Mole and Will and Ira McIntosh over for lunch. David came all the way from Florida and Will and Ira drove over from Morro Bay. We spent time with all of them in Ukraine, but hadn't all been together since then.

We had a great time reminiscing about all things Ukrainian. I think Ira, our Ukrainian national, really liked the green borshch I made. I've never seen someone eat raw shchavel, the bitter main ingredient, so eagerly. I did my best to make everything just like Baba Olya would have. Thanks guys for a fun time and for keeping our hearts still longing for Ukraine.

"Seriously, don't touch my borshch!"

Ciudad de Angeles (City of Angels) Orphanage, Mexico

Edna and Katya

On June 23rd, we drove down to Mexico with a group from our church and met up with others from Calvary Chapel Kern River Valley. We spent five wonderful days serving and loving the children in a small Christian orphanage called Ciudad de Angeles. We took several of the youth from our church, including Dominic, and I'm sure they were forever changed by the orphans they met.

Lisa and Monica (all three of the girls in these photos are sisters)

Here's a short video of our time with God's children in Mexico.

From the Garden

Ingredients for green borshch all from the garden

The other day I really had a craving for green borshch and fortunately I've been growing щавель shchavel (I think it's called sorrel in English), the key ingredient. I've actually been growing several different types of vegetables, herbs, and flowers in our garden that came from seeds given to us in Ukraine. Our tomato crop is an extensive mixture of heirloom and Ukrainian varieties so we'll be doing plenty of canning soon. Edna and I plan on canning everything like we did in Ukraine including pickles just like our neighbor Olya taught us. Having a garden has definitely been a blessing in that we are eating healthy, saving money, and it helps us feel less homesick for Ukraine. Anyway, I promised some pictures of the garden, so here they are.

Shchavel

Green borshch

Some of the flowers in the garden mixed in with onions

I've also started a bucket garden where I'm growing different vegetables including lots of hot chili peppers. I'm using some antique galvanized steel fruit picking buckets that I'll hang on a rack once they are all planted. Hopefully I'll be able to move the bucket garden out of the cold and keep it going through the winter.

Church Picnic 2010

Andy getting things started.

Sunday after church we had our annual church picnic complete with chili cook-off and homemade ice cream. The weather was perfect and everyone seemed to be blessed by the time of fellowship we had. It doesn't get much better than worshiping God in the park and sharing food with brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.

Edna reading her Bible and getting some sun.

Andy leading the children in worship.

And of course the chili.

Eye of the Beholder

Well I haven't had a lot of time to blog since starting a new job and with all the things that need to be done around here (lots of home repairs). But one thing that I do want to take the time to blog about is Dominic's increasing interest and talent in photography. He began a photography class in school and he is really enjoying it. He has also been chosen to work on the yearbook staff next year. I'm so proud to see his artistic skills in photography flourish the way they have.

On a side note, Dominic actually has one of the same high school teachers I did for one of his classes. Even stranger, Joshua recently started taking Judo lessons and I was shocked to see the little Japanese instructor that I had when I was eleven years old (who I thought was old then) is one of Joshua's instructors. I'm not sure what to think of it all.

Anyway, Dominic is growing daily in his skill as a photographer and I just wanted to share a few of my favorite photos of his with everyone. He really has an eye for photography! You can view his most recent photos by clicking http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgs_photography/ or you can view his very own blog here: http://dgsphoto.blogspot.com

First School Bus Ride for Joshua

Joshua's school bus sliding in the mud. You can see Joshua leaning over the front seat for a better view.

Today was Joshua's first time riding on the school bus. Unlike most parents, I didn't get all teary eyed and snap a ton of photos of our little boy's first time on the bus. That is until I heard Edna shouting from the other room that the bus was mired in mud in front of our house. I snatched up the camera and ran to the front porch in my boxers hoping to catch some of the action. I know, I probably should have grabbed a jacket or at least a robe. Edna said I might have embarrassed Joshua. Is it embarassing to have your dad chasing after your school bus in his underwear snapping pictures? Maybe.

Anyway, we watched with sympathy and laughter as the bus driver slid around in the mud trying to free the big yellow beast. Thankfully for the driver, Joshua was his first passenger and thus he was spared further indignity. I could just make out Joshua's worried expression as the bus struggled to break free. I can't wait to hear his version of the story when he gets home from school today.

The bus actually slid sideways before finally getting out.

Goodbye Bila Tserkva, Goodbye Ukraine

By the time this blog posts, we should be on an Aeroflot plane somewhere over Russia on our way to Los Angeles. We don't know exactly what God has planned for us, but we know that He has forever changed our lives by taking us to Ukraine. Our perspective on life in this world will never be the same. God has taught us so much over the last three years. We are so grateful for all the opportunities He has given us and all the people He has brought into our lives. We have definitely witnessed lives changed, including our own.

We don't know if we will ever have a chance to return to Ukraine although I would love to lead a short term missions team to Ukraine if God wills it. I honestly believe that leaving Ukraine is much harder than when we left the United States. We always knew that someday we would have to move back and that we could go back to visit friends and relatives, but we know there is a possibility that we may never return or see all the beautiful people of Ukraine that we have come to know and love. Some of those people are dear friends and like family to us. I can't begin to describe all the emotions we have been feeling.

Our time in Ukraine has taught us a unique lesson in the value of life as we watched people die simply because the knowledge and resources that could have otherwise saved them was not available. I know it has helped me to see more clearly that we are perishing and that Jesus is the only one who can truly save us. We have also been blessed to see God bring new life into this world in Ukraine. There is no greater joy than holding an infant in your arms and being able to dedicate them to the Lord.

We will be living in California and serving the Lord however we can, but our hearts will always be in Ukraine. Thank you to everyone who has helped us through prayer and support. You have truly been a part of this chapter in our lives and touched lives that you may never be aware of. And to all of our friends in Ukraine, we love you and will NEVER forget you. May the Hope of Christ be with you always.

A Week of Lasts

One of our last big meals together - Joshua, Dominic, Max, Little Max, Tanya, Mark, Zhanna, Vlad, Dima, Svita, and Edna

This week has been filled with lots of last things to do and last goodbyes as we begin our last week in Ukraine. Today we said goodbye to everyone at church as it was our last church service in Bila Tserkva. There were so many tears and reminiscing of fond memories over the last few years. God has really blessed us with the people He has brought into our lives here in Ukraine. It was very difficult to walk down the hall and out the door knowing we may never return or see them again in this life.

Saturday we said goodbye to our dear friends from Pryluky who came to stay with us on Thursday since Edna couldn't travel that far (Vlad and Zhanna with their Anya and Daniel, and Max and Tanya with their Little Max and Mark). We had so much fun just sitting around and talking with everyone and introducing them to our friends Dima and Svita here in Bila Tserkva. We were so glad to have them as our last over night guest in our home before leaving Ukraine. Here are a few of the pictures I took while they were here. Thanks guys.

Vlad and Zhanna's Baby Daniel

Anya and Zhanna

Dima playing bass guitar

Anya, Vlad, and Dima

Little Max, Max, and Mark

Little Max and Joshua

Little Max - "I've fallen and I can't get up!"

Dima and Vlad waving to me like crazy people with Anya

Field Trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau

Gate into Auschwitz "Work Makes You Free"

On Saturday the 29th, just two days after the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration/death camps, we took Dominic and Joshua on a historical tour of the camps. We spent two days in Poland to satisfy our Ukrainian registration requirements and used the time to give the boys a very real and invaluable lesson in history. Dominic and Joshua had watched several documentaries about the camps, but actually being there made it real. It was an extremely moving and surreal experience to witness the evidence of human cruelty at its worst.

The numbers speak for themselves

One of the most difficult parts of the tour was hearing that about 70% of each incoming group, mostly women and children, those deemed unfit to work, were immediately sent to the gas chambers or shot. Others were later tortured to death through starvation and slow suffocation.

Looking into Auschwitz

The view from behind the barbed wire

"On the Way to Death"

Children's belongings

The Nazis utilized everything they could from the victims including their hair to be used in textile production. The victim's belongings were sorted and shipped to Germany. Some of the stockpiles of personal effects escaped destruction by the fleeing SS guards and were discovered by the invading Soviet Army. These items of the dead were subsequently put on display. What we saw there was horrible, but it should also never be forgotten.

Joshua looking at the many pairs of children's shoes

Eye glasses

Prosthetic limbs and walking aides

Chamber pots

Over 40,000 pairs of shoes

Brushes

The rail yard at Birkenau was the final destination for this luggage

Fabrics made from human hair along with hair from the camp victims

No man's land

Zyklon B used to gas the camp prisoners

The crematorium is located next to the gas chamber that were made to look like showers. The zyklon B pellets were dropped through hatches in the roof resulting in deadly gas.

Some of the ovens were used to cremate as many as 9,000 bodies in a day

Joshua after coming out of the gas chamber/crematorium.

Inside Birkenau just a few minutes from Auschwitz I. This is where the new arrivals were brought and selected either for work or for death.

Joshua and Dominic looking over Birkenau from the main tower.

View of the rail yard where the fates of the new arrivals were determined.

The line between certain death and uncertain life

Inside one of the wooden barracks designed to hold 700 people (30 people to a bunk with 10 on each level). In winter snow came through the roof and there was no fuel for heating.

The infamous train tracks leading into Birkenau

Another sad fact in the history of these death camps was made known to us by our guide. When Germany invaded Poland, the Soviet Union also invaded, and by agreement dived up Poland. It was only after Hitler broke his agreement with Stalin by invading the Soviet Union that the Soviets later "liberated" the Polish people. Many of the survivors of Auschwitz were arrested as political enemies of the Soviet state and sent to Soviet labor camps. Many did not return. Our guide told us that Poland's liberation came in 1989 when the Kremlin backed communist government lost its grip on the country.

"The one who does not remember history is bound to live through it again." -George Santayana
(on the wall leading into block 4 at Auschwitz I)