The last week and a half our stay in Odessa has been delightfully busy. So many new memories have been made and added to my treasure box for safe keeping. I am finding it hard knowing that in a day I will have say good bye to all the new friends I have made here. I have been touched by the kindness, hospitality, smiles and love the people of Living Hope Church have given us. I’m feel so blessed that I have had the opportunity to be a part of their lives for a few short weeks. One thing I am most thankful for is that I will be missing people here in Ukraine, because it means they have become close to my heart.
Here are some highlights that I’d like to share with you from this month:
Singing praises to God with people who are singing in a different language and knowing that He hears
and understands us all, no matter what language we speak.
Hosting dinner and games nights at our humble abode.
Working through difficult situations as a team and growing from it.
Finding joy and a deeper hunger for God as I use my gifts to encourage the people on my team.
Discovering a million lady bugs in our bathroom.
Jogging by the black sea in the mornings with Andrea.
Cuddling Micky and being there for his first time in the sea.
Having a sleepover with a couple of our new friends.
Taking pictures of random people on the streets.
Going to the grocery store and actually knowing where things are.
Playing frisbee on the beach with Ukrainian girls and not even caring that we don’t understand each other.
Being in a foreign country and realizing that someone just said something that I understood.
Having our Squad leader visit, encourage us, and give us suggestions on how to work better as a team.
Getting to finally wash some clothes after about 2 and a half weeks.
Handing out flyers for English club and seeing good results.
With our limited supplies, making food that actually tastes good.
Hearing my American team mates sing my national anthem more than their own 🙂
