Month 10 spent in Saky, Ukraine was a whirlwind of VBS, mac&cheese, pastries, wifi, and white people. We no longer stuck out like ticks at a flea party and could walk down the street without being whistled at. I had too many distractions keeping me from blogging and for that I apologize. Our team spent the month living in a flat with a family of 10. I think we reached the maximum capacity of that home, but the joy and laughter bursting from the heart’s of the Alexanderavich family eased the discomfort.
Each day began at 7 am with a breakfast fixed by “mama” that satisfied our tummies and souls. Then off to a village or school to put on a VBS-like program for children that cannot afford go away to camp, so we brought camp to them. A highlight of the month was handing out Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Box’s to the children in the villages. They had no problem with the green & red wrapping making its way into their hands in the heat of June. Their smiles stretching across their sweaty faces was all that mattered.
An American on vacation to Saky, Ukraine might be sorely disappointed. A World Racer coming from Tanzania to Eastern Europe runs around like its Disney World. Having the amenities and luxuries of the West were magnificent and I never complained. However, It did reveal to me how challenging it will be to make my walk with Christ my first priority when I return home. The intentionality of loving your brothers and sisters can easily be put on the back burner when a lattè and wifi is just around the corner. I am grateful for the experience and have a new found appreciation for a real “heart-to-heart” conversation without iphones in hand.
My hope for the last 3 weeks is to see chains broken and lives healed…scratch that, My desire forever is to see that. One of my best friends from the race posted a pic on instagram with the hashtag #myRaceNeverEnds… and thats what I am living for.
KC
