Seems hard to believe that the new year is only hours away! New Year's here in Ukraine is a much bigger deal than in USA...it is when they give gifts and celebrate until January 7th, which is Christmas on the Orthodox calendar.
The days seem to run together and it is hard to remember what day we are on b/c every morning we wake up and feel like we are in the movie "Groundhog Day"! The weather doesn't change, the market doesn't change, the food doesn't change, the people don't change, the water doesn't change and our routine doesn't change too much! Ha...ha...ha... We are on day 19 now with NO sun...though I don't seem to mind it b/c it 
flurries or snows lightly each day.
flurries or snows lightly each day.Roma is GREAT! Truly seeing him is the highlight of our days...We are quickly running out new things to do w/him b/c we are only allowed to take him to a couple of different rooms in the orphanage and it is way too cold to take him outside for very long. He seems content just to have us there playing with him. Today Jim had to tell him "no" to something he wanted to do and we saw a "mini-tantrum"--ha...ha...ha....He is even cute when he is having his tantrums! :) He just jumped up and down a bit and gave Jim a few glaring looks, but then caved when Pa-Pa scooped him up in his arms and told him "I love you"--kind of like our Heavenly Father when we are at our worst! We took some good pics of Roma in his 
modified jacket and new hat--he loved them both! He also liked to wear the bookbag we bought him--like a big boy!
modified jacket and new hat--he loved them both! He also liked to wear the bookbag we bought him--like a big boy!Yesterday proved to be a different day for us (broke the monotony of everything)...in the afternoon we met Albina and her husband, Andre, and they took us for a driving tour of Tulchyn and the surrounding area. It was GREAT! We learned a lot about what the different buildings are for and we got to see the town from a local's perspective. Andre drove us to a dirt road (snow-
covered) where we could overlook and see all of Tulchyn--wow! Some of the hills would be great for sledding. He also drove us by the other orphange here in Tulchyn, for children ages 6 and up--it was HUGE!!! Hard to believe that so many children live there...
covered) where we could overlook and see all of Tulchyn--wow! Some of the hills would be great for sledding. He also drove us by the other orphange here in Tulchyn, for children ages 6 and up--it was HUGE!!! Hard to believe that so many children live there...Later in the evening, after visiting Roma, we took Albina, Andre, "little" Andre and Katya (Albina's mom) out to dinner to the local restaurant--Tulchynka. We had a ball and used Albina's English/Ukrainian dictionary to try to converse with them. 
Toward the end of our meal, they had the local band dedicate a song to me and Jim and then had us come up and dance with them--fun! We had about seven or eight different "toasts" during our meal. After dinner we headed back to Katya's flat (where Albina, Andre and "little" Andre are living while we live in their flat) for chocolate and talking. We were able to share a little about our faith and ask them some questions about what they believe about Jesus--they were fascinated that we were Presbyterian (never heard of it before). We also learned last night that they had 
never heard of McDonald's and had never seen or heard of an i-pod before--we played some American music for them from the i-pods that we borrowed from our friends, Jeff & Linda...they loved it and couldn't believe that so many songs and even videos were in these little devices! We had a great time sampling different musical genres before they shared w/us a recent wedding video which we found fascinating. We have really bonded w/these new friends. They have invited us over tonight to celebrate the New Year.
Toward the end of our meal, they had the local band dedicate a song to me and Jim and then had us come up and dance with them--fun! We had about seven or eight different "toasts" during our meal. After dinner we headed back to Katya's flat (where Albina, Andre and "little" Andre are living while we live in their flat) for chocolate and talking. We were able to share a little about our faith and ask them some questions about what they believe about Jesus--they were fascinated that we were Presbyterian (never heard of it before). We also learned last night that they had 
never heard of McDonald's and had never seen or heard of an i-pod before--we played some American music for them from the i-pods that we borrowed from our friends, Jeff & Linda...they loved it and couldn't believe that so many songs and even videos were in these little devices! We had a great time sampling different musical genres before they shared w/us a recent wedding video which we found fascinating. We have really bonded w/these new friends. They have invited us over tonight to celebrate the New Year.
Tomorrow we will also break out of our monotonous routine as, after we visit Roma in the morning, we will head to a nearby town with Ruslan and his family. We will be visiting a local church there as well as an orphange for older children/young adults w/special needs--it is a very difficult place. This orphanage is in Roma's birthtown so we will have some opportunities to snap some pics of the town for posterity. We are looking forward to seeing Ruslan and his family again.
All of my travel arrangements have been made for me to leave and we would so appreciate your prayer that all of the paperwork/documents would be properly completed prior to my departure on Saturday afternoon.
That's all for now...enjoy the pics. We love you and miss you.
Happy New Year!
Love,
Jim & Karen
3 comments:
Greetings! So glad to hear that you are being well taken care of! Praying about the paperwork;...Love the pics and can't wait to see you all TOGETHER! Miss you...Janice XXOO
Happy New Year, Jimmy and Karen.
We continue to bathe you, Roman and all our dear friends in Ukraine in prayer.
keep shining for Jesus.
Big Jim
Matt. 19:14
Hey Jim and Karen,
Well, only two days until Matt leaves for the Ukraine! We are so excited for this opportunity and God is providing for our needs in preparation to go. Please keep praying for our kids as they are starting to "get it" that Dad will be gone for a while. Funny how I was thinking only about how I've not been apart from Matt for so long since we've been married...HELLO, niether have the kids! Last night the boys slept with Matt and he could feel their heaviness. It will be an adjustment, which I am sure Satan will try to distort and make seem huge...just bathe us in prayer. And pray that I can be strong for them and keep leaning on God and our the brothers and sisters who are committed to upholding us. I just love all the pictures! Keep them coming. Love, Wen
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