Diddles in Ukraine :: 8 October

[] Diddles in Ukraine Tuesday | October 10, 2006 8 October October 8 th , Sunday . This is our 3 rd Sunday here (16 days). Our daily average spending has been $45 a day. This amount does not include lodging. When we were in Kiev, the nightly rate was $65 (US) and here in Kiev, the apartment is running $48 (US) a night. We are paying 35 of the 48 and Natalie is paying the balance. The daily spending will go up I am sure, once we start buying clothes for the children. We continue to hope and pray for our initial court date tomorrow. Vladimir is departing Kiev tomorrow at 0500L and will go directly to the courthouse to request a session with the judge. I am grateful that I am able to have as much vacation time as I have and I really appreciate my employer for allowing me to be gone for so long. DAILY ACTIVITIY Today was a long day. We got the boys up at 0630L this morning. Nadine and I were up an hour prior to that. offered the boys what we had for breakfast, which consisted of eggs, fruit, dry cereal, juice, or toast. They wanted and their request was granted; Ramen Noodles. Logic told me, it was grain, it was hot, filling and if they would eat it, I was a step closer to success. There are moments that happiness equates to a full stomach! At 0715L this morning, we (Natalie, Zhenya, Ruslan, Nadine and I) left the apartment. Upon exiting the apartment, we realized the weather had cooled down. We could see our breath. We caught a van enroute to a baptism. We meet at the last stop on the #15 Van Line (South of our apartment about 10 minutes) We arrived and waited for about 30 minutes for people to show up. It was colder than anticipated. Ruslan gladly accepted my jacket. We hiked along a dirt road for about 5 minutes. We ended up on the banks of a wide river. The 16 year old boy desiring to be baptized went down to the river and cleared away the moss and validated that the water was cold! Then he returned to change into white baptismal clothes. The dressing room turned out to be two sheets held up by the other missionaries! Any sacrifice when they are in the service of their God and fellow human kind. The baptismal meeting was started with a prayer and a song, and a talk on baptism. I did not understand any of the language, but felt the peacefulness of the morning. As the missionary and the young man descended to the river edge, I noticed how quiet and peaceful the surrounding was. The sun was welcomed as it slowly came up and shared it’s warmth. As you looked at the river, you could see there was a current, but there were no rapids. Across the river there was a rowboat with an individual fishing. The other bank was lined with trees that have been adorned with the autumn colors of red, orange and gold. The baptismal service was great. The two young men entered the water. After the prayer, the boy was immersed in the water. He quickly came out of the water, indicating the water was still cold, no matter what language he spoke. The young men returned to their changing “room” behind the sheets and the local church members sang hymns. A talk on the Holy Ghost and a closing prayer was offered. We walked back to the bus stop and went back to the apartment to warm up and to have breakfast. We then got a taxi for only 7 grinya’s to the chapel. We got there at 1001, just as the meeting was starting. There was no-one ready to give a talk, so it turned into a testimonial meeting. Ruslan and Zhenya received a primary lesson on the creation of the world from Elder Jenkins. After an hour the boys quickly lost interest. I took Zhenya and Ruslan and together we walked back to the apartment. The boys enjoy eating sunflower seeds. When Nadine and Natalie returned, the boys unanimously asked for Spaghetti. I cooked a big pan of spaghetti, planning on leftovers. Zhenya had a second full plate of spaghetti which ended the thought of having leftovers. The rest of the afternoon was spent watching a TV movie called “A problem child” with John Ritter. The children layed around the living room just basking in the being away from the boarding school Between yesterday and today the boys managed to eat a whole watermelon! Sadly we returned to the orphanage at 1600L and returned the responsibility of the children back to the boarding school. Several children came up to be with us and receive hugs. Although I am not an affectionate touchy type person, it is amazing the smiles given by the children as they are held and hugged, of all ages, I know we must leave someday to continue life’s journey, but a piece of our heart will be here. We had Bulgarian omelets for dinner tonight. We fried up onions and tomatoes. After the onions were browned, we smothered everything with eggs. It was very tasty. 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