Cross Culture Presentation

Well, we made it back Thursday night without any hiccups. It was a long day though. By the time we landed in Panama City, Kenny and I had been sitting on planes for over 12 ½ of the 25 hours since the alarm woke us up in Kiev.
After traveling for that length of time, crossing 8 time zones, and readjusting your body clock to good ole Panama City time, you couldn’t ask for a better arrival time. I was in bed by my normal time and woke up yesterday morning refreshed. Usually jet lag is a big problem, but with the travel schedule we had, it was minimal.

When it was time to leave on Wednesday afternoon, Many people showed up to see us off: Sergei and Luda (the baby doctor and his wife), Klava (one of the Babushkas who has such a beautiful sweet spirit and smile) Tanya (she keeps the worship room in order, seems to be every where at once and does a million things for Kenny) along with Dasha, Vanya, Alyssa, Genya, Anton, Julia, Julia and Olga (teens from the youth group). Hugs were flying around the room like confetti in a ticker tape parade. I didn’t have a clue what was being said except for a few times when Vanya, Dasha or Ira would interpret something to me, but who needs spoken words when smiles and hugs speak an even louder universal language.
The temperature was probably in the single digits by the time we were leaving and every one of those people either walked from where they lived, or rode a bus and then walked to see us off. A person is rich indeed with friends like that. I was truly humbled.
Ira and Igor drove us to Donestk where we caught our flt to Kiev and got settled into a hotel room in preparation of our long day on Thursday.
Thursday had us getting up at 4a.m., which was 8 p.m. Panama City time. We flew to Amsterdam, then on to Memphis and finally to Panama City.
Kenny and I ended up with great seats on the Amsterdam to Memphis flight. To start with, we were both sitting in the emergency exit row right next to each other and had miles of legroom, however the elbow and shoulder room was…lets just say real cozy. Don’t get me wrong, I like Kenny, but wasn’t looking forward to wrestling for the armrest for the next 9½ hours! We were in luck however. The plane wasn’t totally full, so after they closed the door, I moved back to an empty row. That gave both Kenny and I plenty of room to stretch out.

I wanted to wrap up the blog with insights that I garnered from the last two weeks, and right now everything is a big bag of seemingly unrelated thoughts and feelings and I don’t even know where to start, what to say or much less how to say it. So many things are running through my mind.
There is one overwhelming thought however, and that is the feeling of gratitude. I am so thankful to have been given the opportunity to go to Ukraine and for having taken that opportunity. I am thankful that I had the time, financial and other resources to be able to take that journey. I am thankful that I was raised in America and in a home that didn’t squelch my dreams. I am also humbled with all the riches I (we) have in this country and convicted once again that it’s all God’s, and we have a great responsibility to be not only good stewards but thankful of His enormous blessings. Most of all, I am extremely thankful that God used this time to bring me to a deeper love for him and his children.

For two weeks, I didn’t watch TV (except for 2 DVD movies), I didn’t read a newspaper, I didn’t have a “to do” list of projects for the home, I didn’t think about a job or who I needed to contact, I didn’t do anything to interrupt or inhibit fellowship with people or God.
And for two weeks, I read the Bible (more than I probably have in six months, which does not make me proud), I prayed and meditated much, I read thought provoking books, lessons and devotionals, I listened to many Christian music CDs, I laughed and smiled a lot and fellowshipped with others of all ages, God stretched me in many ways.…….and I wouldn’t trade that time for anything.

What I have to do now, is take where I am in my life -- and even though there will be daily pressures with career, money, home, family and other obligations – to make sure I prioritize my daily activities so that I still continue to read the Bible, pray, meditate on God’s word and promises, fill my mind with good images, thoughts, music and words, laugh and smile much, and allow myself to be poured into other’s lives.

Who knows how God will use all of this in the future. One thing is for sure…none of this was an accident or coincidence. God has a plan and even though I can honestly say that I have rarely been able to define His will for my life except by looking backwards, I know He is in control. His timing is perfect. He is the perfect Father.

Thanks for reading. I hope I haven’t bored you and just maybe my thoughts have given rise to aspects and opportunities in your own life...and how precious, loved and valuable we all are before our Heavenly Father.

Day 17 - February 8, 2006

I didn't finish yesterday's blog until after 1 a.m. this morning and when I got back to the apartment, Kenny was still up reading - he seems to always have 1-2 books in the works at any given time.
We talked about the day's events and he helped me see that what happened yesterday with the toddlers is actually a good thing. Good, but hard. Leaving the hospital and going to the orphanage is the next step to getting these kids adopted. They need to be in the orphanage so they can be seen by prospective parents.
I keep forgetting that where I've been playing with these kids is a hospital and even though they are cared for very well - it is a hospital......and the orphanage HAS to be the next stop in the process. It's just tough when you expect these children to be there and you’re looking forward to fellowshipping with them....and they disappear to a place that you can't even picture in your mind.
So, I guess what I should say is "Today should not have happened in the way it happened."
I wish for these kids that Cross Culture's orphanage was up and running.
Enough said.

We leave for Kiev in about 6 hours and while I'm ready to be home and give my wife a HUGE hug and MANY kisses - I'm not looking forward to the trip. I probably won't blog again until I get back to Panama City and that one will probably be the last.

Meet you here when I get back.

Day 16 - February 7, 2006

At 9 a.m. this morning it was 0 degrees F. outside. That’s pretty cold in my book. I’ll have to say that I’ve actually enjoyed the change in climate from Panama City, FL. – seriously.
No, I wouldn’t want to live in this weather permanently, but that’s part of the reason I can enjoy it…because I know that I don’t have to live in this weather for another month and a half and… some changes can be very refreshing.
Hmmm…maybe I should adopt more of that attitude about my whole life, not just the weather. I bet I would be more pleasant to live with at home.

The short of the construction update is that the electricians need about another two hours to finish. The worship room still has a busted sewer pipe and is without running water and the chair rail is all freshly painted. The fumes have subsided on both ends of the spectrum, so my body is feeling much better today!
Even with us leaving tomorrow afternoon, project completion will not be an issue because Kenny has excellent people in place to keep things running smoothly whether he’s here or in Panama City. Tomorrow Kenny and I are planning to run errands….just kidding.

Many times during the weekend, Vanya expressed his desire to go bowling with us before we left for the states. Well, about LUNCH time today, Vanya showed up and was adamant that he was going bowling today, with or without Kenny and me. Hmmmm….is this bowling story for real… or is it a ruse? My suspicion is that he really showed up because he knew Kenny and I had some good leftovers in the fridge and the bowling story was thrown in for dramatic effect to misdirect us.
Well, somehow, not 30 minutes later we are all in Kenny’s car heading to the bowling ally and guess what we do on the way there? Yep, we stop and have a bite of lunch. Not only lunch, but three games of bowling as well. Let me tell you, this guy is smooth (he doesn’t know it, but I started taking notes two days ago).
Seriously though, He is one sharp young man. His insights into the Christian life and his quest for Biblical knowledge have really impressed me. He also has a wonderful way with people. Vanya, if you read this just know that I count you as a true brother and friend in Christ……and my fridge is always open for you.

Tonight, Kenny and I were invited to the home of Kostya, Olga, and their son Nikita for dinner. We had a wonderful time eating Olga’s great cooking and playing Old Maid with Nikita. Thanks a bunch guys.

As I’ve expressed in earlier blogs, my visit here has been emotional at times and today just about took the cake. I still cannot allow myself to think too much about these little ones and wonder……
I’ll just tell the story:

After the bowling session, we had blocked some time to go by the baby hospital and see some of the orphans so I could get some last minute toddler time before we head out tomorrow. I’m usually not exactly a baby kind of guy, if you know what I mean, but I had become attached to one little tyke and was excited to see him and hold him a little and play a little with the others that would be there.
We get there and ask where all the toddlers are and are told that two of the little boys were sent to the orphanage earlier and the others were sleeping. As I understand it, the two oldest ones were sent which would mean the 4 year old lad who had played so boisterously with the jump rope and the three year old who sat so quietly in my lap the other day. I was stunned. Did I understand correctly?
Wait a minute…I held and played with these little guys just the other day. What do you mean “they were sent out!” They’re not just some packages that you can weigh, wrap up, put postage on, load em up and ship em off.
Look, I know that there is a problem of orphans all over the world, and this is just one place in the thousands, tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands of places on this earth that deals with this problem daily. I also know this is the reality of the situation, but something has to give. These kids were just here, in a safe environment with nurses that loved and cared for them, supported in large part by Cross Culture and now what?..... Are they cold? Are they scared? Are they hungry? Are they going to have anyone to wrestle with them and pull on a jump rope and hear them laugh or pick them up and rock them or rub their back?

Today should not have happened and that is EXACTLY what Cross Culture is all about. Kenny has a vision of an orphanage right here in Gorlovka staffed with handpicked foster parents living in apartments within the orphanage building. There will be an aggressive adoption campaign to make sure these kids get the best shot at having a happy loving family outside the orphanage -- and until they are adopted they will live in the apartment with the “foster parents” in a Christian family environment.
The building has already been bought and is currently undergoing a complete renovation. Also, some of the “foster parents” are already being lined up.
I’ve seen the need first hand and this project needs to get completed ASAP.
If your interested, let someone know and Kenny will make sure your effort is not wasted.

See you here tomorrow.