Well, after a long, hard 6 weeks we are heading back to the States.  It's a very sad time for us because we have grown to love the kids at the orphanage and especially our translators Yevinca and Ira!  Tonight we head out from the church at about 11 at night, then the team leaves for Munich at about 6 and Kristine and I leave for Vienna at about 8. 

The last few days have been eventful and fun at the same time, yet with the good-byes, there has been much tears and frowns.  On Saturday it was a free day so the team did whatever they wanted.  The Litin team (Lindsay, Steph, Michael, and Dustin) came into Vinnitsa to spend the day doing stuff.  Kristine and I had the wonderful opportunity to hang out with Elina for about 6 hours.  We met her at 12 and ate lunch at Celentano's then headed to the Bazaar to check things out there.  After walking after the Bazaar for a while, we just went everywhere about town and it was fun.  At about 6 Kristine and I headed home but ended up having to wait outside for 2 hours for Vova and Natasha.  Afterwards, we brought Vova and Natasha, along with Victoria and Heather, to the coffeehouse to hang out and stumbled across a group of people we knew (Wendell, Stephen, Natasha, Marta, and Rustik).  That was a fun night.

Sunday we all went to Litin and split up into two groups, a Litin group and a Giradishu group.  So Michael, Stephanie, Lindsay, Josh, Max, Dima, Mrs. Irina, Jake, Dustin, and I went to Griadishu.  There we sang a few songs for them and Dustin, Michael, and Josh preached.  Andrew, Lindsay and Jake shared a little.  It was great, especially Jake because it was his first time and even though he was nervous, he did great!  I got to share a little about our work at the orphanage, the impact it made on my life, and future opportunities with orphanages.  I also got to wear my hair down for the first time in 6 weeks!!!  I was so happy and I got so many compliments.  But no worries to Mr. Vince, no one proposed to me, so that was good.  Then Kristine and I hung out with Elina and her friend Irina for the last time.  It was fun, but then sad to see them for the last time.  at about 7, we went to the house that houses people who work for OM.  IT was AWESOME!  I got to hang out with the kids along with two OM workers: Masha and Olya.  They are absolutely GREAT with the kids and we had a blast.  Kristine, Heather, and Victoria had the opportunity to talk with and hang out with the older people.  I'm not too sure how that went.  but I know I fit in with the kids!!  I'm sad that I only got to know Olya and Masha for one day, because I would have loved to hang out with them longer.  We met them at the orphanage, but I didn't think I would get the opportunity to see them again.

Yesterday we did a mercy ministry in Litin.  Kristine along with Yevinca went to the orphanage.  But the ministry in Litin went well.  I was on a team with Tanya, Andrew, Artur and Natasha.  I had a blast.  It was so encouraging and neat to meet with the different people and talk to them.  They shared much about themselves.  I was able through that encourage them and then ask if there was anything I could pray for them for.  It was just neat and I'm glad that I went.  IT was also the day for the annual picnic, you know the one where we gather by the lake and it usually rains and have shishkabobs.  Well that was fun and sad since it was the last time I got to see my Litin friends.  We played Flying Hollinder for a bit, but Elbow tag for the longest time.  it was awesomeness!!  But I really enjoyed talking with Inessa.  She is growing so much in the Lord and she has the desire to learn more and more about God.  I think this is Awesome!

Today Kristine and I got the chance to go to the orphanage for one last time.  IT was sooooo sad.  The kids left before 11 (we got there at 8) to go to a village.  The kids are so generous and just kept on giving us their stuff.  I couldn't accept it all, but it was so neat to see even though they had little to give, they give all they can.  Kristine went with Tanya and Yevnica to get a manicure while I came with Ira to her house to see her mommy one last time.  We are heading to dinner with the host family tonight before we leave the church at 11.  I'm truly sad to be leaving.  But I know that God is at work and I know I have learned so much on this trip.  I'm glad I came since I was debating and praying for a long time whether to come or not since I'm leaving in the fall for college and my family was moving (which they had safely made it) to Japan. 

Signing out for the last time in Ukraine,

Charity

Well I will give a quick update on the weekend then proceed with the orphanage at the camp Charity perspective.  Saturdays are mine and Kristine's rest days, so we decided to go to camps with the other team members.  I know I was greatly encouraged while at the camp I went to.  So as we got to Litin it was great to see old friends from previous years and I was soooooo excited and happy to go to Gromadske for the camp.  I have been there for the past two years, so to go back and see familiar faces was great.  Some of the kids even remembered me.  But it was a real encouragement being with other people on the team and being united in love and spirit.  God really is at work through the team.  But then we went to the orphanage, the whole team that is.  We split up into 3 teams.  One touched up the painted wall, the other (i was in) cleaned up the orphanage, and another group (Kristine was in) went around the neighborhood inviting kids.  It was productive and it was great just serving them in that way.

Sunday was good.  A group went to Grace Church and did a service, while another just sat in The Big Church.  At Grace, Chance preached and did an awesome job I must say.  Stephen was awesome with his testimony, and Michelle did great translating for me while I shared a little about the work God has granted Kristine and I to do at the orphanage.  But Kristine fell ill again with the same thing she had a few weeks ago.  She had a fever, but lucky she is feeling much better today after resting all day, and is ready to head back to the orphanage tomorrow.

As for the camp today, it was quite.... interesting.  Not as organized and structured as I hoped, but the rain threw us off from doing things.  Being the first camp in a new place, it always happens this way.  The biggest thing is the kids live there so they feel as if they have the right to go and do pretty much anything they want to do.  But Stephen did great teaching the lessons, Dustin took the older boys and talked with them, and Mrs. Tammy took a couple of the girls that came and talked to them.  Victoria did good in crafts and the kids really enjoyed that, and Heather and I got to lead groups, her the older kids and I took on the challenge of the younger kids since most of them have an active and limited attention span.  We are hoping to have it more structured tomorrow and can only pray that the children will not get bored with it. 

Please be in prayer as many people seem to be getting sick.  Also that the camps would run smoothly and that unity in the Spirit will continually be present. 

Thank you all for your prayers and concerns.  We all appreciate them so much. 

Life at the moment has been amazing with various ministry opportunities within the orphanage and outside of the orphanage.  The kids in the orphanage long to learn more and more English and Bible.  They are attentive, except for the few disruptive kids, and have come so far in their manners (except with each other).  We have also befriended many girls within the youth group in Maxamovicha (or the BIG church).  It's been amazing.  It's also been great hanging with the host family, especially the last couple of days we have with them.  Parting is such sweet sorrow. 

As we enter through the iron gate, which is used to close the orphanage from outside harm, at 10:30 every morning excitement leaps into each kid's heart as he/she race towards us with much vigor and joy.  "Cherry!! Kristina!!!"  reverberates through the premises as they leap into our arms and quickly grab our bookbags, putting it on and then waddle with the attachment half their size towards the orphanage.  Each one proud of the English they have learned eagerly compete for our attention with, "Hello.  Vhat's your name?"  or "Vats up?"  Some screaming colors in English, or phrases like, "You Butteryfly." Smiling, we encourage them to continue and congrat them with the Russian we learned. "Football" or "A Game" come next as we decide on a game to play or a nice swim in the pool for them.  Brian usually dominates the football (soccer) field with Oleg and Dima, while Sergie and I challenge them with all we have, while the little ones run around aimlessly and clueless to what is actually going on, and Ira quivering in the goal as Brian approaches. This continues for about 2 1/2 hours until lunch time when someone steps out of the orphanage and screams, "Eat Lunch" in Ukrainian, and little echoes of "Cooshat" come from the little mouth who drag Ira, Evnica, Kristine, and I up the steps and into the orphanage.  After lunch, the four little ones nap as we prepare and teach an English/Bible lesson to the older kids.  But after all of this, I have been really impressed with many of the kids.  More and more are helping out and saying "Please" and "Thank you"  I'm extremely proud of Dima, Sergie, Anton, and Misha, something Oleg, who step out above and beyond what's expected.  This week OM will be taking up much of the morning while Kristine have the kids from 2 until whenever.  I'm looking forward to it.  Then next week our team for a camp! 

Other than that, Saturday Kristine and I had the opportunity to go to the village that Tanya's Babuska lives in, and let me say, for a 79 almost 80 year old woman, she is strong and works hard.  She owns about 3 acres of land all full of plants varying from cucumbers, tomatoes, garlic, onion, peppers, beans, corn, sunflowers, wheat, potatoes, and even watermelon.  She works and does much of the work herself with help from Vova and Tanya.  But we enjoy a quiet afternoon chatting with her and enjoying the fields and good ol' outdoors. 

Then today we went to the Big Church for service.  Afterward Kristine and I took Vova, Tanya, and the girls out for lunch at McDonalds.  We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping for food as Kristine and I prepared to cook for them.  Well, we ended up making quesadillas because we found tortilla shells, and rice with chicken stir fry, and a greek salad. We were worried at first because nothing seemed to be going right, but at the end, everyone said it was extremely delicious, even Paval, Glena, and Iliya, who joined us.  Kristine did an awesome job cutting the things for the stirfry, boiling the chicken, and grilling the quesadillas.  Tanya did help us out by making the Greek Salad. 

Now we await the arrival of the team, even though saddened by the idea of leaving the home we have grown accustomed to.  But my other Ukrainian home, Vova and Natasha awaits us, so at least I know we have a good place we are going to.  But our replacements are not as good as us.