Azov Sea

Last Friday to Saturday we were at the Azov Sea with a group of about 30 New Hope Center staff and group home kids. We knew most of them which made for a really great, relaxing time at the sea. 

It was hot and the boys obviously loved spending time in the shells....I mean sand.....

The "thing" about the Azov Sea is that it is a shallow sea (a max of only about 14 meters) so it is very warm and "therapeutic" according to Ukrainians. I don't disagree, how can't a few days on the beach be therapeutic?

An afternoon thunderstorm building over the sea:

The guys played soccer on Friday evening and then once again Saturday afternoon against the guys who work at the camp.

This is Yura - one of the group home parents (not to be confused with the other Yura who is also one of the group home parents):

Steve, Pasha and Tolik doing water gymnastics:

In the evening we all sat around, sang songs and everyone shared how God has blessed them in their lives.

Tanya (former group home parent) and Vera (one of my Moms Club attendees) with her almost two month old baby boy:

The whole group:

I had to take a picture of this country road because it is cobblestone!

 It was the strangest thing driving through the country on a gravel-ish road and then suddenly there would be a really long stretch that was cobblestone.

An interesting vehicle we passed on the drive home:

On the drive home I couldn't help but stare at the countryside and think of my family having lived here and having made the life or death decision to leave 90 years ago. Ukraine is for sure an agriculturalist's dream. We passed butter-coloured wheat fields, blooming flax and canola fields all surrounded by lush green shelter-belts, hundreds of orchards in black, black topsoil, rolling hills.....it was indescribably incredible.