We miss you, Bingley!

Mom loves dog shows. It's a fact.

So, you should have seen just how surprised the Brassarts and Rowland clan were when we stumbled across a Purina dog show in one of the local parks the other night!

I love that there is this fancy crest thing for the city of Poltava, sporting the main attraction of Poltava (the golden eagle statue) and two fancy dogs flanking it.

All the dogs parading around. This one in the front was our favorite. Amiee and I named him Oswald.

These little friends were hanging out in a cage right next to our feet. We think they had faces...

Guess who won?? That's right: our friend, Oswald!

The most interesting part of the dog show was the music, surprisingly. We all realized that we sort of recognized the music, but it took us a minute to put our collective finger on it. We soon realized that the music was, in fact, the song "Seek Ye First" that most of us learn when we are quite young and in Sunday school! How funny!

Hunstville Invasion of Poltava 2009

I KNOW.

I've been very remiss in updating my blog. However, I feel as though I've had a fairly decent excuse. This past week, I've been working with a volunteer team from my home church in Alabama!

Here's a synopsis of what the team did:
1. Sports clinics for American football, basketball, and baseball.
2. Cheerleading and crafts for those not inclined to play sports.
3. Prayerwalking around Poltava.
4. Evening awards programs for the day campers.
5. Loving on the people of Poltava.

We were able to love on, spend time with, and share the gospel with over 60 people for four days in a row. This team was phenomenal; no whining, no complaining, and lots of commitment. They made an impact on those they were in contact with, and they are welcome back here any time they want. I hope that you enjoy the pictures (sidenote: I didn't actually get any action shots of the sports or the awards shows each night...I know. I fail.)!

Kristen and Nastia telling the story of Esther to the girls.

Amiee (in the shadows) teaching the "Hoedown Throwdown" to the girls. They LOVED it!

Action shot.

Some of our musicians in front of the music college.

Explaining some of the concerns and prayer requests of Poltava.

Amiee and Kyleigh praying for the city.

Brassart family photo in the bowl of 'golushki'.

Kyle, Adam, Amiee, and Katy at the overlook of Poltava.

"Prayer sitting" with Dad.

Adam praying over Poltava.

Kyle praying.

Team photo: American smiles.

Team photo: Ukrainian 'smiles'.

"We love Alabama, yes we do!" Send-off from the church youth.

Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood

My building isn't one of those super tall, 9 floor monstrosities that can be found all over the city. Mine is much smaller and more of a community. There's a group of babushki (little old ladies...hold the little) that mingle on the bench in the shade right outside the door. I always greet them when I head out or come back in. They've even started smiling at me and appreciating my Russian. Today, I had a moment.

The city is going to be adjusting the pipes in my building over the weekend- meaning that I won't have water in my apartment for about 3 days. Fabulous. Well, there's a sign mentioning all of this on the front door of the building. I read it on my way in this afternoon, groaning a little. On the stairs, I greeted one of the babushki who was walking ahead of me. All of a sudden, she turned around and started asking me if I'd read the sign. She wanted to make sure that I fully understood that there wouldn't be water and that I was prepared. So neighborly.

I love my life.

Riding the bus with Erin

Here are just a few gems from the road this week. Enjoy...or be weirded out...

1. I was taking the bus to a part of town that I don't frequent. It's kind of a lengthy journey, and I was on a mission to get frozen broccoli. I usually listen to my ipod for those journeys, but I wasn't listening to it for some reason. I also usually tune out the Russian swirling around me. This day, however, I noticed the little boy sitting on his mom's lap. I realized that everytime a car passed on the opposite side of the road (which was often), he said the Russian word for car- very excitedly! His mom just kept saying, "Yes. That's a car. There are lots of cars." She got more and more irritated as I got more and more tickled.

2. I got on the trolley one day this week. A man got on a few stops after me. He sat behind me and started talking. At first, I thought he was talking to me. I realized he wasn't...and then I realized that he was answering himself each time he said something. Hm.

3. Last Monday, I was headed out to some friends' house. The bus was VERY crowded. In the backs of the buses, there's a little raised platform for the last row of seats. I ended up standing on this platform, head squished against the ceiling. I had a grip on the nearest pole, to maintain my precarious balance. A man was standing on the level down from me, with his face WAY too close to my hand. I kept watching his face get closer and closer until...HE WIPED HIS NOSE ON THE BACK OF MY HAND! I do not care who you are- that's gross!

4. A few days after the nose incident, I got on a trolley headed home. A few minutes into the ride, the money-taker lady (from here on, I'll use the Russian word 'conductor' to describe her, although she is not the driver) started fussing at this guy. I realized that this guy was beyond drunk. He was practically sedated (at 3:00pm). The conductor was fussing because every time dude nodded off, he dropped his beer bottle, and it spilled on the floor. After the third time, she told him to get off. He looked at her like she was speaking a different language (ok, for me, she was, but even I understood her!). She settled for handing him a water bottle and telling him to clean it up (smart move- give the drunk guy a bottle of water to clean the floor). He made a HUGE mess and got tickled at himself. I then realized his companion: an equally drunk woman. She wouldn't move her feet for him to clean under them, and the conductor got mad. This made Woman mad. She started yelling and flailing her arms. At this point, the conductor told them both to get off, and she went to the front booth and made the driver pull over. Conductor then physically pushed them out the door on the side of the road.

Crazy.

Back to your regularly-scheduled programming...

...sort of. It's summer (obviously) so I'm not exactly back to my normal routine. However, I am joining in with the summer workers and some of the ministries they've been participating in while I was globe-trotting. Today, we went to the children's hospital for orphans recovering from tuberculosis. Page told the Christmas story, and then we split into two groups: sports and crafts. I don't do sports, so I'm not 100% sure of what they did. I think they played baseball and did some relays. Maybe...

For crafts, Mindy, Tuesdae, and Page pre-made these envelope things that look like presents. The kids colored pictures of the nativity and glued it inside the "present." They had a blast! Each present then had a Bible verse (in Russian) glued to the back. They are supposed to try to learn it for next week. My favorite part of today was when Page asked if anyone remembered the verse they learned last week; one little girl stood up and said the entire thing, word for word. She's already hiding His Word in her heart...even if she doesn't know that's what she's doing.


Kids singing along with Mindy


Everybody singing "This is the Day" in Russian

Boys doing crafts. They were very into it.

Little friend.

Tuesdae participating in crafts. She was actually in charge of crafts, so maybe she's setting the example.

This little one is about to be adopted by a family from another oblast in Ukraine.

*These videos are courtesy of my iflip: thank you, Peddycoarts!

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America...

Currently, I'm sitting on my bed, eating watermelon, wearing a glittery American t-shirt, and listening to country music that sings about the US. I love the 4th of July. I always have. It's one of my very favorite holidays. Chances are, I'll even get to see some fireworks (Ukrainians shoot fireworks off a couple of time a week on a regular basis...maybe they'll choose today!).

Because I'm not in my country on her birthday, I'm going to make a list of my favorite things about America (in no particular order):
1. Southern hospitality. It is not universal.
2. Air conditioning. Also not universal.
3. Ease and convenience of travel.
4. Ironically, Mexican food.
5. Free refills and ice in your drinks.
6. Customer service.
7. Family holiday get-togethers.
8. English-speaking church services. Although, let me say that it is a blessing to me to be able to worship with Ukrainian brothers and sisters.
9. I love that when you come into the international arrivals terminal of airports, there's a line that says "American Citizens Only." It warms my heart.
10. I love that there are men and women who faithfully serve our country every day to protect our way of life.

I know that it's very popular around the world to rag on the United States. I've even heard an appalling number of Americans complain about and make disparaging comments about the States. As one who lives in a foreign country (and this post does NOT mean that I don't love living where the Lord has me currently), I have such a deep appreciation for my home country. I live in a place that toiled away under Communism for years and years. Even now, 18 years after gaining independence, remnants of the Soviet way of life are still alive and well. Opportunity and freedom do not abound here. I'm often reminded of how no other military on the planet gets criticized as often as ours, even though those men and women are giving up so much to serve their country...whether or not they agree with everything they have to do. Because our country values individual and national freedoms, Americans are given so much more opportunity. Please don't forget how blessed by God we Americans are to grow up in and live in and be protected by the United States of America.

Happy 4th of July!

Graduation Party

Ukrainians in Poltava just celebrated graduation. Incidentally, I also celebrated their graduation. My church, along with three other churches in the city, hosted a graduation party for high school and university graduates. What did this entail? Oh, just staying up all night and then going to watch the sunrise with all the other graduates in Poltava!

We had English club from 6-8. After that, Mindy, Tuesdae, and Page (summer workers) came home with me to hang out and get ready. It would've taken them about 45 minutes to go home, just to wait around, get ready, and return. So, we decided to watch Gilmore Girls and get ready here...and only deal with 5 minutes of walking time to the church.

We got dressed up and headed to the church at 11:00pm. There was a red-carpet entrance and everything. Alas, I did not get a picture of the red carpet... Maybe next year. The youth from the church had a program of dramas and games that lasted us for about 5 hours. We also had a fantastic feast. I totally overate.

Nastia, Tuesdae, Page, Mindy, and Olya

Mindy, Page, and Tuesdae getting ready for the food.

Nastia and me: pre-long night picture

Nathan, Radik, and David pre-feast. Please note the guys' ties. They rummaged through the shkaff in their apartment and borrowed those. They were quite...um...impressive ties.

At 4:30, we all trekked up to the White Rotunda/Arbor on the hill and watched the sunrise. After that, I felt like I wasn't going to be able to move for the rest of the week. It's quite a hike...especially at 4:30 in the morning!

A really really small fraction of the crowd waiting for the sunrise.

Me and Nastia: post-all night picture. Check out the bags under my eyes...I'm getting too old for this.

Silhouette of the monastery.

Sun! Time for bed.

Mindy...and Wei.