Recent Adventures...

July 19, 2007

Some of you may be wondering what we've been doing lately? what keeps us busy?

There are many things that we've been doing...Even though Shelter closes for the summer, there never ceases to be Shelter-related things to do. At the beginning of the summer, Shelter partnered with 5 other local non-profit groups in the city to put together a 5-day march through the city. The main purpose of the march was to drive awareness and concern in the city about many of the huge problems here (addictions to drugs, alcohol, and gambling, family dysfunction and disintegration, STDs, etc...). I was in charge of painting the signs that were used for the march, and Dave helped every day with setting up the stage and with sound at the concerts that were held daily in different parks throughout the city. Through this experience we gained a greater understanding of the problems that are so prevalent here, met some recovering addicts (as one was telling us his testimony, his friend came by and presented him with his very first Bible, which he received with tears in his eyes), and saw more of this very long, and very troubled city.

Another thing that has been happening at Shelter throughout the summer is "cybotnik" (pronounced, "sue-boat-nik), 2 days a week, which basically is a day of chores. Because of the plans to build the studio on the 2nd floor of Shelter, a lot of work needs to be done to prepare the space. Right now the focus is on cleaning out and fixing the basement, so that it can become a storage area for the things that are presently being kept in the rooms that will one day hold the studio. This has been a lot of work, and there is a lot of asbestos involved, but people have been faithfully coming and it has been a good time for us to continue to build relationships and feel useful.

Here is some stuff that was removed from the basement

Dave and I were really excited last week, to express our thanks and appreciation for all the work that's been done by taking the team for a pizza party, using some of the money we had left-over from previous months. It's truly amazing how far money can go at the local pizza place! Thanks to those of you who have partnered with us financially, and enabled us to encourage the team this way!
Other things that have been occupying our time are: planning meetings for when Shelter opens next fall, taking Russian lessons and doing lots of homework (it makes our head spin!), having people over for a meal or games or coffee and dessert (or all of the above!), reading and praying together, and trying to discern how to make the most of our time here in a way that others will see that Christ is our greatest treasure and hope...I've also been continuing to work on some art projects for different people, making plans for teaching fine arts at the drop-in starting this fall, and researching different grant foundations for Shelter. Dave continues to be busy finalizing plans, blue-prints, equipment, budget, etc...for the studio, and is really excited to be seeing things coming together.

Our house-mate Anya's family came over for lunch.

Last week I had a sort of funny experience. Dave and I were craving cinnamon buns, so I made some, not realizing how big a batch I was making. Very quickly I realized there was no way we could eat these all by ourselves! I decided that I would package some up and bring them down to the elderly ladies who sit in front of our apartment, and that I could just sit with them, and try to talk with them a bit. Well, the funny part was when I tried to give the cinnamon buns away. No one wanted them! One lady took the bag, saying she didn't want any, and proceeded to try to force them on her neighbors as they walked by. They didn't want them either. It was really rather funny to see how they reacted, and how they fought, resisting taking a cinnamon bun. I think only one bun was taken willingly! Anyways, all this didn't really matter to me very much. After the bun incident was over, I did get to sit down with one of the ladies, who I've talked with a bit before. She told me a lot about her family, her kids and grandkids, her first husband who died when they had very young children and her second husband who was an alcoholic. When I asked her if she had any pictures of her family, she invited me into her apartment. I sat with her and looked through her family scrapbook. It was really special for me to get to have this conversation with her, and I look forward to continuing to get to know her in the future. I hope that I will get to do more things like this the longer we're here.

Two days ago, Dave and I returned from a four-day camping trip with the leaders and volunteers of Shelter. The main purpose of the camping trip was team-building. We really love and appreciate the team, and have gained so much respect for them these past few months. They have a lot of depth, character, grace and understanding...We are blessed to be able to work with them. Most of our time camping was spent playing games, swimming, having team devotions, and resting. The location where we were camping was both fascinating and sad at the same time. The campsite was an old soviet-run camp that was used during communist times as children's camps (where we imagine a lot of brain-washing was done). After 1991, when communism fell here in Ukraine, this camp started to be used as a Christian children and youth camp which was run by our co-workers until 4 summers ago. It was fascinating to see the old statues and murals that were very soviet, and sad to see how quickly the place has fallen apart in recent years. Everywhere we looked things were broken, crumbling and overgrown. Apparently the current owners of the camp are slowly dismantling the camp, selling the steel.



Some pictures from around camp: happy kids with guns, Lenin, old toilets, etc...

So, that's some of what we've been doing, and seeing lately. We love you all and miss you and are glad you take the time to read our blog!

Bethany