Application

I sent in my application. Praying for peace with whatever decision is made. I should hear back on Monday or Tuesday... I'm hoping for early Monday morning. ;)

Hello!

I have had a really interesting opportunity come up within the past week. I may be going to Ukraine again this summer!
I am praying for wisdom and guidance and provision for all the details that need to fall in place.

Here's what I've got...
Anyone who might ever read this will likely know that I have been interested in missions and praying about them since I was about 7 years old. Now as I have been preparing to graduate nothing had really come up as a possible missions opportunity.
 I was planning on getting medical training of some sort, I figured that medical knowledge can be used anywhere. (Family, foreign countries, job, etc.)
I started searching the internet looking for possible things I could do over the summer. I found a lot of different missions and contacted some of them. A couple of them contacted me back. Nothing really grabbed my attention until I found International Messengers. internationalmessengers.org
I read a lot of the information on their site (some of it multiple times) then I contacted the organization.
I have now been able to speak to the man who runs the whole thing several different times and I am sending in my application. If I am accepted I will be leaving for training in Montana in 6 weeks.
Prayers would be awesome!
Thanks
 

Ukraine in a Nutshell

I have finally been able to gather together many thoughts and feelings and compile them into a blog post from when I was in Ukraine. The things that when people ask how it went, go through my mind, and I want to say but am not quite sure how to say it; and not sure how to share everything that happened. It is not everything but it is a start, I will post those pictures, I wrote Marianna again the other day and she said that she would try to get them [the pictures] together.

As the plane touched the runway, I craned my neck & tried to see; Impatiently I waited for luggage to be claimed.... unfortunately, there was almost no one who had not lost luggage and we were among that majority.  I couldn't wait to be outside in Kyiv and the minutes ticked by painfully slow until two hours later we emerged from the airport.
The moment that I had been waiting for, (for almost a year.) came with a weary and impatient, taxi driver, (which took away some of the excitement I had anticipated, as we rushed along loading our bags in a somewhat uncomfortable silence at our driver's obvious displeasure at how late we got out.)
 After taking in all the flashing cars and horns, bright signs in Ukrainian, I think I may have drifted off to sleep.
I awoke to find us almost at our destination.
Unloading our bags in front of a brick building we went up to the door and pressed a number from the keypad; a voice answered and a click in the door proved that it was had been unlocked, we walked in; up a dusty flight of chipping, concrete stairway. the door to the Peipon's apartment opened and Marianna and Jim welcomed us in and made us at home; after introductions we ate in the living room and chatted for a little bit, then went to bed.
I couldn't believe it, I was finally in Ukraine!
The cry of "Revolutsia" [Revolution] was in the air, several times we walked through it.The people were united, it was sweet to have random people come up and start talking to you... (not something that happens in Ukraine very often!) ((and for those who may think that the Revolution was like what you see in the news, I am telling you as a witness, it was very peaceful, the singers and speakers were reminding and exhorting the people not to respond to violence with violence, the government is wanting some sort of violence so that they can send in their riot police. There were LOTS of people though!))
The first two days I felt extremely inactive & then it all began!
 meetings, catching the metro, learning how to "survive" in a Ukrainian metro station full of shoving people, [maybe because I am someone from near Chicago I am supposed to know about metro/subways... I have never been on an American 'Metro' (subway) so this was a completely new experience!]
meetings, Okmadet...

At Okmadet we were shown around the hospital, including the room with the abandoned children, they had been brought in for treatment and then left behind, the parent(s) hadn't returned.tears threatened to spill over as I gazed at the little ones, touching one child's hand I saw something in it, I removed a little piece of garbage that she was about to put in her mouth (it was a piece of paper or plastic... can't remember which anymore) a couple of the children were crying, I wished that I could stay there forever; to scoop them in my arms and tell them stories, sing them songs, tell them about Jesus.
We left and carried on with the tour, leaving the little ones behind.
the next day we played with several children, most had a mother there, I didn't recognize any children as from the abandoned room.
more meetings and late nights, busy metros and Revolution cries, and then the  hospital.
2 little children, 4 and almost 1 years old; as I held the little four year old on my lap, he seemed more like an a two year old. I wanted to hold him tight, show him the love of the Father; that he was loved. 
I didn't want to leave him either of them at the end of our 10-15 min. stay.
As we walked out I realized... the nurse was only there till 4:30 pm she returned at 9:00am the  next day; there was no one else there!
at the orphanage it was the same. The best orphanage that Mrs. Heim had ever seen, left the children by themselves at night!
what if this little boy didn't get a family-ever? 
His little, hot cheek against my hand, his warm little hands, his precious smile, his wispy hair, and I find myself asking why;
why would anyone leave him?
why would anyone leave the children at Okmadet?
my eyes fill again with tears, will this little boy ever experience the love of a family? all I can do is pray that he and the other children will be adopted into a good family; but most importantly that these children will find the heavenly Father, who will never leave them or forsake them; and who loves each of them dearly.
Down those dusty, chipping, concrete stairs, to another taxi... this time with a kind, Christian man driving our taxi.
boarded our plane.
the miles flying by.
                         each one taking me further from Ukraine, and closer to home.
I almost cried at seeing my family and again being wrapped in my mother's loving arms and greeted by the chorus of voices calling my name as they realized that I was there (we had come up behind them, not knowing where there were at first)
My poor family, I was perky and awake in the airport despite the fact that I had only slept for about 5 out of 36-48 hours, but in the car everything came down at once...
The sleepless hours caught up with me and I was exhausted, I missed hearing the Ukrainian and Russian all around me, I didn't know how to share all that happened, I was realizing that I wouldn't see Ukraine for a long time if ever again...
I was not the most sociable or sweet person to be around for the rest of that evening, (which turned out to be about 2 hours for me because as soon as we started home from the restaurant in Morris, I was out!)
I am sooo thankful for the Lord bringing me to Ukraine this last December and I am so grateful for my family, supporting me and being a part of it and making it a family mission, and for all the people I met and places I went; and people who have supported me.
Thank you Lord!

Should have Posted Sooner

I should have posted sooner, but I am home. The Revolution in Ukraine got crazier the day we left.
 They want their freedom. They are adamant about it. If only they knew of the true freedom, the freedom that comes from Christ; pray for the country of Ukraine that God would turn many hearts to Him through this and that Yanikovich would listen to the voice of the people of his country.
Thank you all for your prayers and support, I will still be posting on here and have yet to receive the photos of in the HIV+ hospital (the pics of kids that I can post.) I will be posting as soon as I receive those as well.
~Susannah

Last day in Ukraine

It has been my last day in Ukraine. I am at my hostess' Christmas party we just did a white elephant gift exchange. My first one!

I got a Ukrainian blouse.

Three women from Okmadet came to church today, even though Tanya wasn't there! They asked Mrs. Heim to come to their village and speak about HIV! Praise God! 

A political update (I don't know how many of you know but there has been a revolution right by the church. They have people spending the night on the street. (Today they called for a million man march) so we have been walking through that. It is really cool. 

Anyway some revolutionaries pulled down the Lenin statue! (Like a symbol of the uncalled for tyranny of the government.) 

     This is St. Andrews (Or St. Michael's can't remember now :(  )   church, it was SO pretty!

I am still waiting to get pics of the hospital. Will post soon.

From Ukraine, coming home soon, 

Susannah  

Today...

Today we slept in until 9:30-10:00 then we went to the store and went on an outdoor shopping excursion I was able to practice my Russian and bargaining skills ;) it was really fun and really cold. We decided NOT to get the promised ice cream. I got some nice Christmas gifts for my family.
Going to church tomorrow.  Pray that the moms would have the courage and ability to go to church (for the first time too!)
Pray that God would work through this trip to bring glory to Himself.

From Ukraine, Susannah. 

Apology

I was reading some of the posts from the past couple days. Sorry about all the  misspelled words! I write it on my iPod that has all my pics on it so it is a bit hard to write perfectly with a 2x1" keyboard and 1 1/2 cm fingers on 3mm x5mm keys. :-) and auto correct. :-p

People with a Story

When I look at the people, 

each face passing by; 

each having a story yet to be told.

 Shed your light, 

shed your grace,

 shed your hope;

 and as they see the people each one passing by; 

a story to be told; 

help them to see them as a person, 

who needs love, 

who needs hope.

 A person with feelings and a person who needs to be told; 

"I care, because my Savior cares!"

Orphanage

We went to meetings all morning anticipating the visit to Mrs. Heim's children's orphanage. They say we could come at seven. So we left. Two hours later (it was only supposed to take fourth five mins. ) we got to a dark orphanage. The orphanage workers had left an locked the doors for the night. We left the gifts we had brought hanging on the door and our driver surprised us all by running up a flight of stairs to the second story and knocking on the window of the children's room and told them that we were there and be them a message. Them we left. (The kids couldn't get out even if there was a fire and they were there all by themselves.)

There is a possibility that some of the moms might come to church this Sunday because of the tea party with God speaking hope to these women through Mrs. Heim and Tanya. 

-Please continue to pray for God's hope to pour out on these women. 

-Please pray that I would get enough sleep but wake up early and that I would have good growing times in God's word. Our days have been so busy. I have even able to read my Bible but only a few chapters a day an then rush and go, get back late, get into bed, remember quiet time and try to read another chapter. 

-thanking God for Him helping me to get better at the language and helping me to feel comfortable. I know that is not what this is all about but it is very nice. I have had my comfort zone stretched at times but that has been good. 

-thanking God for bringing me here and using Mrs. Heim in that. 

Also for Jim and Mariana's generosity in opening up their home to us. 

Thank you. 

there shall now be a short stream of pictures and videos with explanations below

A very long escalator in metro station. I am part way down already. It ends at the end of the tunnel. 

Those bumps are a bunch of stray dogs. They are everywhere! (Even when there are Babushka's on the street who set up little "tables" (cardboard boxes I think.) with raw meat laying out to sell!!!)

And the statue of a baby on a cabbage. 

And a playground.

Goodnight! It is one o'clock in the morning here and the latest I can sleep in is 8:30 I did this yesterday to. So I need sleep!

From Ukraine with love, Susannah

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