It's hard to believe this may be the last blog entry we'll write from Ukraine. My flights are booked for April 1st and I should be arriving in Winnipeg on April 2nd (Dave on May 4th). We are filled with mixed emotions as we realize that our time left here is so very short. On one hand we can't wait to see family and friends, to attend our home church, and to eat some of the foods that we haven't had access to for over a year. (Why is it that when we're away from home food is one of the things we miss most? Maybe it's a comfort thing.) However, on the other hand, in many ways we feel like right now we are just turning a corner in our ministry involvement and have had a really rewarding last couple of months through getting to know the English students better and teaching weekly Bible studies to those who are interested. It will be hard to say good-bye.
As you can tell, Dave and I have come to some conclusions about the future. One major thing that has helped with this is how quickly the studio project has come together. This was our main objective in coming here, and one that we thought would take about two years to complete. Well, God knew that we'd need to come home early for the birth of our baby and He has seen to it that the studio has been completed much earlier than we anticipated. This has allowed for Dave and Sasha to already spend countless hours together as Dave shows Sasha everything he knows about being a studio engineer. Together they have already recorded a number of bands and Sasha is already able to run sessions on his own. In order to make sure that both Sasha and the studio will be fine without Dave's presence, Dave has decided to stay on here for one more month after I return to Winnipeg. Sasha and Lesya are kindly welcoming Dave back into their home for his final weeks in Ukraine. This is the very hospitable couple who let us live with them when we first arrived here, and I know that Dave will be well looked-after.
Another conclusion that Dave and I have come to is that we love doing full-time ministry together. We truly cannot imagine a more fulfilling way for us to use our gifts or spend our time. Because of this desire to continue doing vocational ministry in the future, we feel it would be best to further our education at a Bible School in the years to come. Hopefully through this our passions and gifts will be nurtured and shaped and we will gain a clearer understanding of how and what and where we can continue to serve God. Dave has been accepted to Peace River Bible School for this Fall (this is where I have already completed one year, many years ago), however so far we do not have any housing accommodations confirmed. So...for now we don't know where we will be living or what we will be doing this next year. However, we do take heart as we look back on how God has led and provided for us and given us direction in the past. (If you know of anyone who needs a house-sitter this next summer/year, let us know!) We are very eager to get started on our education (well, I'll take this next year off to learn about being a Mom, but hope to finish my degree over the next few years as well!) and are excited to see how God will continue to direct our steps.Besides all the decision-making these past months, we've also been kept very busy with other activities and projects:
-like I mentioned earlier, the English Bible study has started and we regularly meet on Sundays. I can definitely say that this has been the most rewarding thing that Dave and I have done here. It has been amazing to have great discussions with those who come, and to see the wheels turn and the lights go on in their minds as they begin to understand the free gift that Christ purchased for us who believe in Him for our righteousness. Dave will continue meeting with this group once I'm gone, and after that they will be welcome to attend the weekly Bible Study that Shelter holds. One of the girls has shown a real interest in getting more involved at Shelter, and I hope and plan to stay in touch with each of these people (as well as my other English students) in hopes to continue to plant seeds and grow in our friendship.
-renovations have started in the Craft room at Shelter, and this has given me the opportunity to collaborate creatively with Inna, who runs the Craft sectors at Shelter, as we dream and design what to paint on the walls. Fortunately Inna has time right now to do all the painting (I don't think it would be a good idea for me to be painting in there with all the fumes) and I've just been in charge of doing the sketches in pencil.
-I continue to be involved in teaching art and English to the 12-14 year olds and am also helping with teaching English to the younger kids who attend Children's Shelter on Saturdays. Sometimes it's hard to be creative and think of different ideas from week to week, but the kids are forgiving and keep coming back. It's been such a wonderful experience for me to explore my abilities as a teacher, and I've come to discover that I really enjoy it.
-A couple of weeks ago, Anya and I put on a big dinner, hosting a group from Shelter. Some of these people had never been to our home before, and I'm pretty sure none of them had ever had chicken fajitas before. Anya and I had to make all 24 tortillas by hand! We also served another "Bethany and Dave favorite": coffee milkshakes...and experienced a small miracle that there was enough to go around (we were convinced there wouldn't be enough for everyone...oh, the fish and the loaves!). Even the young boys who were there with their Mom and Dad had some.
-A week ago, Anya's Aunt cooked a meal for us and had us over to her home, which she shares with her Mother and Anya's brother. We were given a tour of the backyard, where they keep their goats for milk and cottage cheese, and where they also have a number of chickens. At the meal we were told that the chicken in one of the dishes we were eating had been running around the day before! Slaughtered, cleaned, and gutted by Anya's Grandma herself! It was a wonderful evening of generous Ukrainian hospitality, and we are so thankful for the opportunities we've had to get to know Anya's family a little better.
- Last Friday was my 27th birthday, and I got to celebrate in a way I had never imagined. Dave and I and Anya were invited to go on a walking tour at one of the nearby mines with a man (Igor) who we've gotten to know a bit at Shelter. He is an electrician for the trains that carry the Iron Ore. Although we weren't actually allowed to go into the mine, we did get a lot closer than we'd ever been so far. We were amazed by how red the puddles were on the roads leading up to the mine. I don't think our camera did the color justice. Igor showed us where he works, and his garden which is on the mine property (many workers have their kitchen gardens right there...they can just take any unclaimed land). We also walked to an area where we could see what happens once a mine collapses. This mine had collapsed about 40 or more years ago and is now just a big hole in the ground. Mining is such a huge part of this city's history, and is even a big contributor to many of the social problems here. We are very thankful for this opportunity to get to see more of a "behind the scenes" look at this industry which drives this city.
-The next day my birthday celebrations continued as the three of us met up with some of our North American friends at the Circus. Ever since arriving in Ukraine, Dave and I have been determined to go to the Circus at least once. Every couple months or so, a new circus comes to town, and each one is different. What better time to go than to celebrate my birthday? We went with very high expectations because of everything we'd been told about circuses here, and we were not disappointed. I don't think I could even list all the different animals that were involved. They even had trained porcupines! And giant rats called "nu-tree" (seriously, they're as big as cats, and in some villages people still raise them for food). The main attraction was the trained Tigers. We enjoyed it so much and tried to get as much of it as we could on our little digital camera. Definitely a memorable birthday for me. We're hoping that Dave will have another opportunity to go to the circus before he heads home.
Thanks to all you faithful readers and encouragers over this past year! Please stay tuned for the next update from Canada! For those of you that are on our email/mailing list, we hope to send out a letter with some more information soon.Bethany and Dave
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