I did not expect to fall in love. In fact in the beginning there was intense dislike. Suddenly it blindsided me and I realized …
I love Ukraine!!!
Somehow it transformed from a miserable city to one of the most beautiful places I have been.
Maybe it was the homemade borscht or cherry veriniky (or however you spell it). Perhaps it was the amazing chocolate (sorry…I attempted to bring some home but lack that kind of self-control…). Or maybe it was the abundance of tea and coffee that met me at every turn. Undeniably through my stomach is a great way to reach my heart, but it was more than just the delectable sustenance.
Over the course of a couple of weeks I made several new friends and we shared life – hopes, dreams, fears, doubts, etc. My team probably started to wonder if I was an apparition, appearing only at bedtime.
In the streets and on public transportation of Kiev, I saw people with crushed spirits in great need. In the young adults I worked with I witnessed hope, dreams, and a hunger for more. Among the CCX staff there was genuine care for the students as they reached out to help with more than just English skills and to offer the hope of Christ as well.
I spent all I had this month and fell into bed daily completely exhausted. I smiled until my cheeks hurt and when I had said my last goodbye in Kiev I cried like a child.
There is so much to say about the students, about CCX, about Ukraine and yet I find myself without words. All I know is that I pray God allows me to find my way back there.
