Today in Kyiv

Metro 

Restaurant old Soviet Style. 

We went to Okmadet today. Everything went well, I gave out the blankets and Toys and everyone was thrilled. Played with kids and gave out toys and blankets and did a LITTLE bit of translating and communication with the mothers who actually STAYED and mingled and talked to Marianna and Mrs. Heim. 

Unfortunately... No pictures... Then we went to a restaurant to meet someone who ended up not being able to come.

At Okmadet I was able to tell a little girl a story and end it with basically Jesus loves you kind of thing (she was pretty little) 

The children seemed to like the toys. The one little boy whose grandma is teaching him English picked out the little horse that Anthony thought the kids would like and he kept stroking it and his Grandmother told me many times thank you. I think she was telling me about toys being to expensive (for them)  to get them for him. Something like that.  I should have thought to bring cars for little boys (or girls I suppose) because this little one asked me if I had any cars. I said I didn't but I think he was happy with the horse after he saw it. 

I got a couple blank stares from little ones today when I spoke to them. (Particularly when asking their name.) and I would switch to Ukrainian and make sure I said it clearly an louder.  They got it after the so I don't know which I did that was helpful. (pronouncing better or speaking Ukrainian!)

I also made a friend with a girl who was just adopted and is moving to Chicago. She didn't speak much English but she knew Spanish and Russian and Ukrainian. Between Russian, Ukrainian, Her English and my Spanish and ever so handy, google translate; we were able to communicate quite nicely. :)

For now, Susannah 

Okhmadet

Pronounced aw kmA dyet. It is a pretty main hospital in Kyiv. We went and hosted a tea for the mothers who have HIV and stay there for treatment. We also got a tour of the hospital. When we went into the room where the children who were abandoned were.  Wow. Tears at the thought that someone gave them up. They were brought to the hospital for treatment and left there. There were four precious bundles of sweetness. Left behind. Left destined for an orphanage. The hurt of abandonment. Rejection. Not understanding why. What was wrong with me?  For the rest of their life, even when Jesus heals those wounds, fills the empty place in their heart which I pray He will. There is still a pain.

The party went well. I think women were able to open up a little. The LORD really guided me as I packed 12 Bibles to bring to 10 people. When it came time to pass out gifts I passed out to each woman individually a Bible (Ukrainian or Russian) I had only 4 Ukrainian bibles. And (to my knowledge) There were only four people who wanted a Ukrainian Bible. No one else asked for one. After distributing all the gifts, an older woman hasn't received any gift, Mrs. Heim gave her the blanket, make up bag and necklace. I didn't have anymore Bibles. Then I remembered the two new testaments that I had stuck in the bag. For "no reason" I went and grabbed one and gave it to the lady. She took it and clasped it to her heart and then kissed it and hugged it again. It was so sweet, and I was so grateful that God made me bring the new Testaments. 

Tomorrow we are going again but this time to play with kids. (I did cheat and play with some today) :D

 Christina... the only picture I  have and can really post of her. 

 The "Tea Table"

 The gifts

Sweet little boy, a little girl was pulling on me none to gently for her size and he pushed her off (I did stop him ;) but in the process removed her hand from my collar) and he wrapped his arms around my neck and climbed into my lap. They were both precious. 

The little boy reminded me a little of Anthony, because this little one  had a piece of cardboard that was his "telefone' and he was taking pictures with it. 

The girl was adorable and had a beautiful laugh and they both had amazing smiles. I wish I was allowed to take face shots but because if the stigma of Ukraine they don't want their picture taken because they are afraid someone will see it. These children's mothers were at the party.  Another little boy and his Babushka came up to me and Sveta and this sweet little five year old with very few teeth introduces himself (with the prompting of his grandma) to us in English. They were both so sweet! 

Here are some cookies we made 

A couple last things, Tanya was explaining the biblical meaning of the necklaces to someone and helped them find it in their bible she had six people gathered around her listening to her read scripture and they were underlining it in their bibles. Unfortunately I missed it because I was playing with the kids!

And we visited a clinic for a meeting, I felt like I was in a movie. The clinic wasn't BAD the people were amazing, but the office felt... Like in a movie of a foreign countries hospital!  

Pray for moms to come back for their kids and take care of them. 

Pray for a father to change his mind and get over his grief of his wife's passing at least to let his daughter get the care she needs. 

And pray for a mobile clinic for the clinic I went to today.

Thank you. 

Bibles

God once again has proven Himself faithful. I wanted to purchase twenty five bibles in America for $600 an here I just purchased eighteen for a little less than $100! I love it here! I love the language, I love the people, I love the country (or what little I have seen of it. ) an the missionaries I am staying with are awesome (as of course are Mrs. Heim and Sveta) and the people that I have met. God is good! I am thinking Him for bringing me here but it will be kinda hard to leave I'm afraid because I don't know when I will be coming back. But trusting God to do as He wills and if He wills, I will come back, if He does not, who am I to fight against the God who brought me here?

On the streets there was an old Babushka selling bread and an older man (but not quite a Dedushka) selling some kind of bread as well. I have seen some beggars as well. 

Oh, and cars drive on the sidewalks here! And park crazily! It is kind of humorous! Tomorrow we are doing a sort of tea party for the positive moms (HIV+) and we will be bringing bibles and over gifts for them. Very excited about all of the hospital and orphanage visits this week! 

Please pray that I would be able to shine God's light and that He would reveal Himself to the people we will be meeting. Thank you. 

Susannah

In Ukraine

I am in Ukraine! The plane trip went well I only was able to sleep for two hours in about 24-27 hours and then I slept for almost twelve hours and woke up very rested! Church was a 4 hour service in Ukrainian, it took us 45 mins including three metro stops to get there and when we left we walked in what turned out to be a group of protesters! It was very calm and we were assured that it was safe by the missionary. We saw St. Sophia's church which is I guess 1000 years old. The metros were crazy and fast and fun! In about an hour we are going back to church for the English service! I will try to post more later. (The Internet service is kind of sketchy) I LOVE it here! It is SO cool!

Here are some pics 

Leaving Chicago 

Our "tables" on the plane. 

This is the airport in Amsterdam (please ignore all the glaring reflections I was losing battery fast and wanted a pic. )

Outside of the apartment in Ukraine where I am! (Take note of the cars on the sidewalks... a common sight in Ukraine.. they also drive along the sidewalks :) )

No snow and nice weather (cold) but nice!

Cultural note: (learned from experience) you don't smile at strangers or you are considered goofy and in my case... They told the person next to him about HOW goofy I was. Ok. No smiling, got it ;). No- just no smiling at strangers - I'm in Ukraine now!

For now, Susannah 

UPDATE: May 29, 2014 After getting back to America and wondering why I could understand "Goofy" so well I realized... I don't know that word in Russian or Ukrainian... so speaking into google translate I received the reason I could understand... the word that sounds very much like the English word "goofy" actually means Stupid.... great! I think I liked "Goofy" better! LOL

Packed and Ready to Go!

I have been "packed" for the past three weeks, but yesterday me and my mom went through the bag and found my passport, eliminated and added to the bag and weighed it, checked baggage rules.. ect, I am all packed and have my outfit that I am going to wear on the plane chosen and laid on a dresser!

Three days!

a cool thing I learned in my quiet time this morning,   Moses is asking God, "who am I to do this thing" basically, I can't, how can I? and God replies, "I am with you"  it doesn't matter how weak you are, with my strength, you can do all things and when I am leading, none can stand against you.

I can't do it             God can, and He wouldn't give me anything that He would not give me the strength to do

I'm not strong enough,                     God is strong enough and He is with me, in Him, I can do all things

I'm not wise enough,    God is wise enough, and He will give me the wisdom when the time comes

I'm not brave enough,      I serve a God who will protect me, nothing that happens to me is out of God's hands

I'm not enough,                but God is.

I serve a God with whom nothing is impossible, a God who can do all things, a God who is all knowing, a God who is powerful, and a God who is more than enough.
I serve a God of power, of holiness, and I serve a God of grace, we cannot ever do enough, be enough, or act enough, we can only except the grace that He offers to us freely, as a gift if we will only believe.
I serve a God of mercy, of wisdom, of love, of everlasting life
He is holding it all out to us, if we will only repent for your sins and believe, He is eager to bestow it upon you, and have a personal relationship... with you!

Tornado

an F4 tornado struck my town of Washington IL destroying hundreds of houses, because it was Sunday many lives were spared because people were in Church; praising God for His protection and coveting prayers for those who have lost their homes in this disaster and for comfort and peace and hope that only God can give.

This is where I was working today, digging through rubble trying to help people find family photos, Journals, and other things that are special to them.  We worked for 5 hours this morning. tired but glad to have been able to do something after feeling completely useless and helpless the past two days.

You can read a better description of what happened Sunday HERE. 

Please keep praying!

Thank you. 

 

 Pictures by me, on November 19, 2013

30 Days

                                                      30 days until I leave for Ukraine!
                                                               (Yes, I'm counting!)

Pictures and little update

Here are some pictures of all the supplies... no wait... there is a another whole garbage bag filled with school supplies too! 

I gave all of the stuff to Mrs. Heim the other day, M is going to help us get Bibles in Ukraine, we are going to hospitals and will visit an orphanage...  I am getting more and more excited as the day draws nearer, 4 1/2 weeks!!!!

I Will Praise You

                    Weeks!

                                                                           Until I leave! 

I keep having dreams about leaving!  Yesterday we found some warm sweater dresses (that Mrs Heim recommended.) and a sturdy, warm, pair of boots. I am continually awed by God's grace and provision through His people over the last 2 months. 

Your power and love,

provision and grace; 

they overwhelm me.

Every knee will bow, and tongue confess,

that you are LORD.

You are the Father of the fatherless,

comforter of the brokenhearted, 

and husband to the widow.
I lift my hands to you in praise, O God,
My Father, friend, God, Savior, Redeemer,
The One who has called me by grace,
not because of anything I have done or can do;
but because if who you are, and your inexpressible grace. 
I extol you.
I will praise you in the assembly.
You are the first and the last, beginning and end, alpha and omega.
You are the one true God; and I love you O LORD, my God, my maker.
Here I am, with nothing to offer except myself, a life you redeemed, I give back to you.
Use me, for you, and for your glory.
Amen.

Bibles From Believers Update

The missionary we are staying with said that she would find a place in Ukraine to purchase the Bibles, thus saving us the cost of shipping and the hassle of getting them together and into Ukraine and all that! praise God!
I just wanted to let you all know that!

Blessings, Susannah