Disclaimer: I wrote this without having any memory of what my last blog was about, how much information I had shared and suffering from some slight sleep deprivation.
It has been a week since I got to New Jersey for training.
It has been 4 days since I landed in Kiev, Ukraine with 7 other team leaders,
our logistics couple and Jenny Brown (one of our amazing squad leaders). It has
been 3 days since the rest of “O� squad landed in Kiev, 2 days since my team
got on a train from Bucharest, and 1 day since we arrived at Casa Shalom, our
center for ministry this month. In that time there have been countless laughs,
stories, jokes, lessons, triumphs, nudges from God..
One thing I’ve definitely been reminded of over and over: we
need to expect better from God.
I expected for my team to arrive in Kiev exhausted from a
full day of travel, jet-lagged from crossing 7-8 time zone, confused by not
having a leader to meet them at the airport and far from willing to walk a mile
with 60+ pounds of luggage.
Instead I was greeted by a team smiling and laughing, offering hugs and “It’s
so good to see you!� And on an uphill hike to the hostel, they met a Ukranian
man wearing a USA hat and couldn’t help
but spend time smiling and laughing with him.
5 of our 7 starting the hike to the hostel
I expected difficulty ad complications in getting 7
Americans on a Ukranian metro with 7 backpacks, 6 daypacks, 2 purses, a guitar,
a ukulele, and 5 meals worth of food.
Instead we all walked on the metro, some of us assisted by the crowd, laughed
at Brittany’s pack getting stuck in the door, and all arrived safely at the
train station.
I expected some serious complications finding the train
station from Kiev to Bucharest, in a train station with very limited (almost
nonexistent) English speakers and Ukranian signs. Instead I had another leader
(shout out, Salley!) grab me and say “Let’ go figure out your train.� And then
got confirmation on Salley’s amazing Ukranian interpretation abilities from a
Peace Corp volunteer. Guess what? Got on the right train at the right time, no
problem.
I expected a 29 hour train ride to be ridiculously long,
boring, tedious and restless.
Instead it was an amazing time of rest (wow, so much sleep), precious
conversation and laughter.
I expected loaves of bread, slabs of cheese, slices of salami,
and jars of nutella to be just enough to feed 7 people for 5 meals.
Instead we had plenty and more. I was
definitely not expecting the Ukranian lady in the car next to us to drop off a
jar of sour cream and then bread and then apples and then “cheese from heaven�
(it was actually cold) and then crackers and sweet bread and Bob and Larry (a
tomato and cucumber).
I expected a crazy arrival in Bucharest, without a cell
phone or contact information for our ride, and no chance to check a return email
from our ministry contact.
Instead we walked off the train and straight into Becky and Elena’s arms. First
stop they took us to was McDonald’s for some ice cream. Second stop: a van large
enough to fit all of us and our luggage.
I expected a warm, welcome environment to stay, based on
email communication with our contact.
Instead, we literally walked into a house of peace-Casa Shalom. Meeting some
fellow racers from “L� squad and hearing some stories while sitting down to a
feast, it was entirely overwhelming to try to process.
God can do anything, you know-far more than you could ever
imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams. Ephesians 3:20
to finish disclaimer: life is good, a lot has happened, and please let me know what info I can share with you while I’m blessed with internet access for the week. peace and grace.
