Mesmerized

Ukraine
has been one of the prettiest places I have been yet. The adventure started
with an 18 hour train ride from Keiv, the capital of Ukraine, to Yalta.  On the train we had our own rooms which had
four beds, sheets, blankets and pillows- it was truly luxury. We are staying on
the outskirts of Yalta at a Christian retreat center. It has been a blessing to
be here. We have the view of the Black Sea in our backyard and I literally feel
like I am in Greece with all the architecture. 1 out of 20 people might speak
English and all the signs and labels are in Ukraine or Russian. There is not a
word of English, so, if you ever get lost you are in big trouble. You might
find yourself yelling in the streets for anyone who might speak English.

Every
day I am captured by the beauty of this place and mesmerized by the people. We
are living at the retreat center in rooms with beds, carpet, hot showers and
running water. I am caught off guard a little since coming out of Africa; I do
not know what to do with all these things. 
Every day we have food made for us and served to us. We are trying lots
of unique Ukrainian food.  Breakfast is
always some sort of milky creation, lunch is always soup and every meal
consists of bread, cookies and tea. Our work here is manual labour, such as
gardening, painting, stacking wood, and de-rusting old metal. We are assisting
with the upgrades in order to make this place more professional and a place of
relaxation. We are also helping in the kitchen and teaching nightly English
classes.

We
are in the middle of many things.  A ten
minute drive from our place is a castle called Swallows Nest, a place of wonder
and awe. The beach is a 15 minute walk down hill and the corner store is a 5
minute walk, when we need a little sweet fix. The town of Yalta is a 20 minute
bus ride (which cost 75 cents). It is a tourist town with many people and many
sights. As you walk the boardwalk in Yalta, the Black Sea is on one side and
coffee shops and stores on the other, the water splashes up on you as the sun beams
down and warms your face, it really is an outstanding moment.

I
just wanted to tell you I am very close to being fully funded. Once I get the
little bit I need to be at $13,800, the extra funds from then on that come in
will go to reimbursements for the funds I spent before the race- shots, three
flights (to training camp, to L.A (the starting point) and flight Home from N.Y
(ending place)), and travellers insurance – Which is approx. $1,200.  If you feel led to continue to support me,
please do so here.  You are greatly
appreciated and I am blessed by your giving hearts.