If you don’t already know, I was adopted in Ukraine. I have not gone back- until now. I can honestly say I feel at home. Fall is so colorful here and it is also my favorite season. This past week our team has been planning lessons for school. We have been introducing ourselves to the students and playing games to get them more familiar with English. I love telling them I’m from Ukraine because the students ask me so many questions and they ask me if I know any Ukrainian. Surprisingly I do! I know the words dog, ice cream, and airplane from when I was young. They told me that when I pronounce these words, they sound more Russian and that is something I didn’t know about myself. I’m so eager to see what else I do that is Ukrainian.
Another similarity I notice is that when they laugh, they cup their hands over their mouths just like I did when I was young. The food is blended nicely and we get tea everywhere we go. A custom here is when you have guests, you serve them tea and they bring food. The culture here is very warm and inviting but they are not as open with their emotions like in Romania. I’ve made friends here who call me “my Ukrainian girl” and I love it. Everything here seems so familiar. I love that God has brought me here again. We get to be together and experience the place where he turned my life upside down. He gave me a new future when I was hopeless and he works everything in my life for his purpose. What an amazing God who cares about all of me.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” ~Jeremiah 29:11
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ~Romans 8:28
fall in Ukraine
Churches in Ukraine are so amazing
For class, we got to play basketball!
what it looks like to lesson plan with the team
we blessed our squad leaders with Ukranian hospitality
A food I remembered having as a kid, Borscht
