May So Far

 So back a month ago or so we planted our own lawn in our window flower box. It has grown in quite lush and full and this was it before Steve "mowed" it with a pair of scissors: 

We got away with not really reading the news for the past few weeks but this week we did read some articles. Things here in Zap are still really fine - you'd never even know that there was a war going on in other parts of the country because the only thing we've noticed while being out and about is the rapidly growing amount of Ukrainian flags everywhere. It's really cool - marshrootkas have them, people are hanging them out their windows, I even saw a sporting goods store had foam camping mattresses in blue and yellow on display in the window stacked to look like a flag!

New Hope Church gathered a whole bunch of non-perishable food items and drove it out to the army stationed east of Zaporozhye, protecting us. There are about 200 military men out there and sadly it seems they have had very few visitors since they headed out there a month ago so but that meant they were really happy to see members of our church - with food, gifts and New Testament gospels to hand out! They apparently got a ride on a tank and got to hear some pretty crazy stories - apparently a handful of guys were out having too many to drink and they woke up the next morning in the army!

May 9th, which is Victory Day - is this Friday and the usual parade and celebrations that gather lots of people together have been cancelled. They are saying that 'something' could happen this day, so it's best to not gather in groups and to keep it quiet this year. We are so thankful that Zap has been safe and quiet so far and we trust God in whatever may or - as we've seen many times already in this "war" - may NOT happen! It's too frustrating keeping up with the news, we don't know who to believe because both here, Russia and "the west" have different stories and versions of stories and in the end we know that God controls our lives and our movements so as far as we're concerned we wake up each day joyful and ready to do what He asks us to do and continue with whatever plans we are making.

This is the only election billboard we've seen in the city and most of them are covered in green paint....I guess someone isn't a fan of this guy for president....we think this might be Yanukovich's (the ousted president) party so it makes sense why he's disliked:

May first and second are holidays - Labour Day and what one friend laughingly described as "Hangover Day" which is kind of sad that for a lot of people that might be true! The Young Life leaders gathered on Thursday in Valicky Luke (a.k.a the boonies along the river) and then Young Life club happened there Friday overnight to Saturday. I stayed home with the boys because they were sick and the weather was ugly and rainy but I did send along 10 liters of chili to feed some campers on Friday! 

 

On Sunday evening Steve preached in the Baptist church. His message was on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - about rejoicing and praying always, a fitting message for the tense times people are facing these days.

 At Monday supper clubs we have been experiencing an extreme lack of girls. To counter this problem we've started doing planned crafts to hopefully entice some girls out of the woodwork. The first week we did some paper flowers and this last Monday we made body sugar scrubs. These girls are two - with their scrubs - that come from the Young Life crowd:

Yesterday while Steve was at Survival club, I had the girls over to bake/cook. Luba - this gal - requested pizza last week so that's what we cooked!

Luba is the one who pushes me the most with speaking Russian. At first it was frustrating because she would make fun of me for speaking Russian but now it's just frustrating because it's so hard and tiring having to speak so much Russian!! I really do appreciate her for wanting to help me and I do find I've improved a lot since having these girls over. I'm glad that all of our other friends don't push us with that much intensity but it feels good to have to try so hard and to have some successes in communication - even if they're small!

Vera chopping meat:

 L-R: Jess, Tanya, Luba, Vera

A few weeks ago I was really wondering about what "my" place in ministry here is. It's obvious that I have the boys and they take up a lot of my time and I love being able to be home with them - and I do love being involved with the things Steve does when I have the chance but it's not like I'm on the soccer field with him or working away with the fire bow at Survival Club trying to make fire! It finally occurred to me to just look at the things I love to do and go from there. What do I love? Sewing, crafting, baking/cooking and doing hair. I truly believe that God takes the things that He's given you a passion for and uses those things for His kingdom. I am l.o.v.i.n.g the doors that are opening with these girls while baking on Tuesdays and with the *few* girls on Mondays - just doing what I love, teaching others and being creative together. Where I wasn't sure I fit before, I now feel I have a place that fits with who I am and the talents I have been given. I've also been giving hair cuts to a few of these girls and it's nice to have them trust me enough that even with a language barrier, they still let me take scissors to their heads!