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10 Reasons to be Thankful : Ukraine Edition


1.   Community : We have partnered with the Living Hope church this month and I have fell in love with the community we have had the opportunity to be a part of. I experienced it a little bit more than the rest of the team because I got the opportunity to stay with a couple of the church members while an infection in my toe was healing. They pray together, laugh together, keep each other accountable, share meals together and just enjoy each other’s company in any way that I can. I look forward to being a part of a similar community wherever the Lord leads me to next.


 


2.  The Black Sea : The hostel that we stayed at in Odessa was less than a mile from the Black Sea. The hostel got really hot in the mornings so sometimes I walked down to the sea and had my quiet time there. We went for church gatherings and sometimes just to get some son. My favorite was watching the sunrise over the water! GORGEOUS!


3.  English Club : This is a ministry tool used at the church. They have it every Saturday and sometimes more if there are more native speakers around…like us! The plan is to build relationships through English club and to eventually invite them to Bible study and introduce them to Christianity. In the short time we were here, we were able to make some friends who kept coming back to English club. I loved seeing the creative ways to bring people to Christ.=


 


4.  Freedom :This month our team stayed at a hostel without any of our contacts present. We love our contacts but were able to experience a new level of freedom in choosing when and where we go and what we eat and who we spent time with. It was a blessing.


5.  Bathtub : While I stayed with a couple girls from church…I got to take a bubble bath! It was glorious! It was definitely the first bathtub on the race that I have seen and wanted to actually get in.


 


6.  Toe surgery : I know it may sound weird to be thankful for having surgery but it definitely brought about some good things. One being that I got to spend a week with Lindsey and Lera and enjoy getting to them better than I otherwise would have. The second is the special bond I have with Aloyna, the girl who took me to the doctor. At the time of the surgery, I freaked out a little bit because I don’t speak Russian and the hospital seemed a little sketchy…but she helped me get through it and I am really thankful for her.


7.  Nectarines : Before the race, I was one of those weird people who didn’t really like anything in the citrus family other than pineapple. Now I can’t get enough of it!! Peaches and nectarines were big here in Ukraine and I chose nectarines over peaches because they weren’t fuzzy. I am incredibly thankful for cheap, FRESH fruit! Gonna miss that 🙂


 


8.  Found: God’s Will : While I stayed with Lindsey and Lera, I borrowed this book of Lindsey’s. Approaching a place of transition in my life definitely made me want to use anything I could to find out what God’s will is for my life. Obviously it didn’t me a road map for my life in a specific way…but it did give me peace about how I was seeking after God and I am thankful for the message that I received from the book.


9.  Final Debrief : Our squad has been lucky enough to get together at the end of each month and just get to enjoy each other before we split up into teams again for the month. This one was a little different because we were celebrating everything that the Lord has done all year and getting a chance to honor each other and say good bye. It was definitely bittersweet but I am thankful that we were able to finish up in such a special way.


 


10. GOING HOME : I am right now sitting in JKF airport waiting for my flight back to Texas. I have said goodbye to more than half of my squad which is sad…but I get to go home so that’s keeping me going!!! I am expecting Katy to tackle me in the airport. I am hoping that me, along with my dad, can avoid crying, and can just enjoy seeing each other for the first time in 11 months! Then of course comes the Mexican food!

 


Thank you all so much for following my journey this year, for partnering with me financially and prayerfully and always being an encouragement to me! Please be praying for this time of transition for me. I will post another blog soon to update you on life at home. Love you all!