EUROPA!
Where everything is priced like America, but the chocolate is better.
Month Seven: Romania (Draganesti)
Contacts: Florina & Mark Darvell (and their precious sons)
Ministry: Assisting this missionary family in the best way we could – clean, labor, childcare – as well as working with a local village (Comani) & church.
Firsts: pair of Chuck Taylors (for $15 at the dollar store!), time having an allergic reaction (hives), understanding a different language
What I learned: Couches are essential. I love British tea time. Gypsies are cool. You don't have to know a language to have fun. Yellow pants are incredible. God gives blessings and rest when He knows we need it. Grieving is necessary. The Holy Spirit is like a guitar string stretched across the entire body – when it moves, the whole body feels it. Family dinner tables are crucial to the growth of a group into a family.
Things I still miss: Alexe & Vera & family in Comani, thrifted clothes, babysitting David & Ruben, the wisdom that Florina & Mark had (honestly, I just miss their family), the community of the Church in Draganesti, Kinder Buenos, DELICIOUS homemade food, Ritter Sport bars, the chocolate isle at the Penny Market, wearing cute scarves, drinking tea, the lavender bathroom, beds with pillows & comforters, homemade bread. Oh man. Homemade bread.
Month Eight: Yalta, Ukraine
Contacts: Denys & Alona
Ministry: helping out with various yard projects around the church, teaching English classes to children & youth
Firsts: Sushi, roller skating on a promenade/boardwalk, castle visit, big huge garden visit, attempt at learning Russian (obvi, a fail), finished Anna Karenina
What I learned: When I expect warm weather, but get cold weather I'm very upset. Missing a friend's wedding and also not having internet to skype because of a fluke accident also isn't very grand. Not getting time alone sucks. Being around seven million girls and no boys is also really awful – variety is good. Russian is really no fun. Yalta is beautiful. The people in Yalta are super nice. The Black Sea is grand. Leo Tolstoy (author of Anna Karenina) lived in Yalta for a minute. God is still God and He is still good.
