Updates all-around

Since yesterday's run-around, I have been back to the passport office two more times. Currently, we are done with phase 1 and are waiting for my papers to be processed. Please pray that this occurs successfully and in a timely manner.

This morning, Hannah, Rachel, and I were introduced to another school director. This school is an agricultural sort of school. However, there are also programs for Associate degrees in law, management, and finance. We met with the director, got his approval/blessing to work alongside the English professors, met with an English teacher, and will visit her class on Friday. PTL!

Tonight will be our first night class at the church. This will be the more advanced group. As of last night, the registration list says that we will have around 15 students. I'll be sure to update you on how that goes! Thank you for your prayers!

Every Tuesday night, our church hosts an outreach called SMS Club. SMS is what text messages are called here. This club is an outreach to university/ college students in our city. There is always a theme and a group-wide discussion about the topic. Last night's topic was a continuation of the "wisdom" theme that began last week. The historical figure that we discussed was...drum roll... C. S. Lewis! I couldn't have been happier! I'm including an "action shot" from last night's group.



Thank you for keeping updated on my life. I'm sorry about being so behind in personal emails and messages. I really am working on it!

The Run-Around

So, since I've arrived here, I've heard a lot about bureaucratic run-arounds; I've heard about how the old Soviet system of red tape and too many workers for one job is still alive and well. When I was at training, we even had a simulation of this.

Today, I experienced this system: I have to be registered as a resident of Poltava.

Let me set the stage: wet and chilly. The snow is starting to melt, so everything is slick and slushy (lots of sliding around). There is mud everywhere, and the wind was merciless.

I met Andrei (one of the leaders of the church) at the church this morning, and we proceeded to the "passport" office. We waited in "line" for about 30 minutes before shuffling into the first office. We were then told that we needed to go wait in front of another office. In that office, we waited on two people to sift through several logs so that they could tell us which office we needed to go for next. In that office, we found that we needed to go back to the second office. In there, we got a slip of paper and were sent back to the first office. In there, we found out that we had to go back to the second office (again) and then we would have to go across town.

We started out across town, and I found out that we were going to have my passport officially translated into Ukrainian. Andrei asked if he could do it, but apparently, it has to be done by a certified translator. We made the trek across town, up four flights of stairs, and found a locked door. After finding the translator, I shelled out a stash of cash, and we found out that we would have to wait for an hour and a half to get the translation.

We also found out that I have to have Ukrainian insurance in order to be registered. So, we left the translator's building and went to an insurance office. In the insurance office, we got through the prelimenary stages before the insurance lady decided that we couldn't proceed until the translation of my passport was finished.

Ergo...hours later and nothing to show for it. Yea.

Narnia?

I think that the snowy trees look like Narnia. Anyone else think so?


Unfortunately, there are elements of snow that Narnia does not prepare you for:
1. Aslan doesn't actually show up in his lion form.
2. Spring doesn't automatically show up with the snow starts to melt.
3. Slush and mud. That DEFINITELY isn't part of the book or movie. Gross...

This is going to be a full week. Thanks for prayers for Rachel's cold; she's doing better. Yea!

What a week!

Hello friends!

I apologize for being so behind in updating. Here's what's happened this week:
1. Classes at the Cooperative University.
2. Preparing for Hannah's and Rachel's arrival.
3. Being invited into two additional classes at the Transport College (3 classes total).
4. Being invited into two classes on a full-time basis at the Cooperative University.
5. Potential opening at another university.
6. Bible storying with the middle schoolers at English Club at Ira's house.

Whew! What a week...

Below is a picture of the Saturday English Club at Ira, including Hannah (black shirt, next to the piano) and Rachel (green shirt). Please keep Rachel in your prayers this weekend, as she is in the midst of a cold she picked up in Kiev.



Transportation story:
Tonight, Hannah decided to join a small group from our church that meets tonight. I had things to do at home, and Rachel decided to come home and rest because of her cold. We were arranging to drop Hannah off at a particular bus stop so that our friend, Maya, could take Hannah to small group. I have never been to this particular bus stop. Hannah spent the summer here two summers ago and kind of remembered where it was but not totally. Of course, our plan of watching out the window was thwarted by the multitudes of people that crowded into the bus and occluded our view... Anyway, at one point, Hannah motioned that she thought we were at the stop. I tried to get off, but before I could make it to the door, the driver began pulling away. I thought that Hannah and Rachel had already gotten off, so I yelled, "Wait!" (in English, no less). I heard the man in front of me tell the driver to stop so the American can get off. I did... and realized that neither Hannah nor Rachel had gotten off! The bus pulled forward again a few feet and then stopped again. I'm assuming someone told the driver, "Uh, more Americans need to get off."

Can't say that we don't make an impression!

With friends like these...

Here's picture attempt #2

I was a little under the weather today. I ended up not going to church; tonight, I got a phone call from my friend, Ira (see picture). She asked me to come downstairs for just a minute. When I got downstairs, there were 7 friends who sang me a "get-well" song and presented me with fruit and cookies.

I am so blessed.

My week in review

Photobucket Album

Well, I'm trying a different approach to uploading pictures. What do y'all think? More suggestions?

This is a picture from one of the Saturday ESL classes that I teach. Some of these girls are regulars, some are one-time attenders, and some regulars weren't there. Ira and I teach these classes every Saturday at 2:00. Tomorrow, we're starting a new kind of curriculum. We're going to begin lessons centered on stories from the life of Jesus. Tomorrow's lesson is about the healing of the 10 lepers. I'll let you know how it goes.

This week, I made a trip to Dnipropetrovsk to visit my supervisors. It's about a 3.5-4 hour trip, one way. I got to ride this really old Soviet bus on the way down. The windows were completely iced over- if they had been horizontal and not attached to a bus, I could have skated on them. I was in Dnipr Sunday-Tuesday.

Tuesday afternoon may have been the highlight of my week. Here's why: There is a McDonald's in Poltava. Problem is, my very conscientious friends are reluctant to give me directions without taking me themselves. Ergo, no one would tell me how to get myself there. However, when I returned from Dnipr, I took a taxi to McDonald's, ate a burger there, and got one to go. So good...

The rest of the week, I've been writing lesson plans for the night classes that start on Monday, studying Russian, and teaching. I'm also getting ready for Hannah and Rachel to move in with me. Yay!

Ok. This mostly catches everyone up. Sorry it's so dry...I'll try to have a more interesting week next week!

I took the plunge

That's right, ladies and gentlemen. I finally toughened up and got my hair cut in Ukraine. Don't be terribly impressed: it was just a trim. However, in Ukraine, coming out without a mullet is phenomenal! The best part of the situation is that the lady who cut my hair lives in my building. She runs her business out of her house. She did a good job on my hair AND offered to give me a kitten. I couldn't accept the kitten, which made me very sad, but it definitely ensured that I liked the new hairdresser.

Also, I had a wonderful Saturday night. Two of my friends from University #1 contacted me last week (I hadn't seen them in a while because of all the holidays) and told me they missed me and would like to see me. I promptly set up a time for them to come over for tea. It was great! We hung out at my apartment for 3 hours, just talking. We're already setting up times to visit again over the next few weeks. Thank you for your prayers already and for continued prayers. This is a HUGE step.

My heat situation is still stable: I have heat, hot water (most of the time), and gas in my stove. PTL! The toilet seat is still hanging in there for now. I'm talking with several different people about helping me get a real replacement part. But, I would like to point out that Mom's MacGyvering of the toilet seat is still going strong. Good job, Mom!

I would also like to say another thank you to all the sweet friends that sent me iTunes gift cards. I had a 4 hour bus ride yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed listening to my new audiobooks and songs. Thank to the Rufes, Romines, Auntie Val, Parker and Avery, and Mom and Dad. You are such a blessing!

Merry Christmas!...again

The holiday season in Ukraine is soooo great (for Americans, at least). Here's the holiday schedule:
1. Christmas: December 25
2. New Year: January 1
3. Orthodox Christmas: January 7
4. Old New Year: January 14

Ha! Isn't that great? I'm personally a fan. I've been to church quite a few times for mid-week holiday services. It's really quite wonderful.

A few exciting things coming up soon are as follows:
1. The return of students to university
2. Bi-weekly English night classes, taught by yours truly
3. The arrival of two semester workers, Hannah and Rachel. Yea!
4. Longer daylight hours

This is the Reader's Digest version of my life. Thanks for hanging in with me. I'll work on being more frequent and newsy.

GLOVE GLOVE GLOVE GLOVE GLOVE! Now!

Today is Saturday. I spend Saturday afternoons teaching English to a group of young teenagers who gather at my friend Ira's house. This morning, mom and I were talking over what we would do for the lesson, how we could make it meaningful, etc. We had our game faces on.

And then...

We have a toilet issue. For the past few days, the toilet seat has been slip-sliding around, finally breaking off yesterday. We went out yesterday afternoon with the mission of "find-a-new-toilet-seat-or-die-trying." Well, we didn't find a toilet seat, and we did almost die of exposure to the elements. So, we came home, and mom MacGyvered the seat. It was working beautifully until this morning.

As it came apart (yet again), mom and I began taking it apart in hopes of reattaching it successfully. In the process, the unthinkable happened.

The little tiny parts- so essential to the attaching of the seat- fell in to the toilet. We gasped in horror, each thinking, "Ew, gross!" until mom began yelling, "GLOVE GLOVE GLOVE GLOVE GLOVE! Now! It's sinking!" I make a mad dash to the kitchen to grab a glove (of course, I can only find one of them) and dive into the bathroom (Olympic runners have nothing on me when I'm in a toilet-saving frenzy). Mom informs me that I grabbed the wrong glove, but she uses it anyway and saves the toilet seat pieces. Victory!

Such a glamorous life I lead...

Hope you're all having a Happy New Year! Snovom Godom.