+ 8 - 10 | § ¶September Newsletter 2007
Welcome to September...
How you doing? Are you ready for the Fall busyness? In some ways I really welcome the Autumn, I like the weather cooling down, as in Ukraine very few places have A/C. My flat gets warmer than I can handle sometimes. It’s a time, at least for me, when I start to focus on exercising more, eating right, and getting into the routine of work, school, and life. Summer is a time to relax on some of the routines as life is very unpredictable here (everyone’s got different plans and vacations). We are “kicking off” new ministries this fall, such as, orphanage weekly work (buying needs) and visiting kids. Also, we kick off a Christian bowling league and we are going to be intentional about getting to know each other’s spiritual lives while having fun weekly. There are other home groups we will attend and English club will continue in full force as the students come back from villages
The Kiev Life
Living in Kiev presents you will a whole new set of rules. Foreigners don’t know the rules and Ukrainians change the rules as soon as you learn them. I have to admit that some days its hard to get much done in this city, even though I go to all the right places and have all the right intentions. For instance, did you know it takes about 2 hours to get your car washed in this city and costs about 38 dollars? Did you know that it takes well over an hour to get a hair cut, even for me, who just needs a trim? Did you know it takes on average about 1 hour to travel about 15 miles in this city (almost any part of the day now)? Did you know that it takes over 3 hours and costs $168 dollars for an OIL CHANGE here? Did you know that you can’t open windows in your house or a bus to cause a breeze even in HOT summer weather, because you could get sick and die? Did you know that Ukrainians work from 9 to 5 with an hour break from 1-2 PM and many 15-minute breaks along the way (and yes, the stores, kiosks, banks, government building all close their services during those times)! If you don’t time things right in this city, you can waste a whole day stuck in traffic, arrive during a break, and then have to wait for the line that was before you—basically accomplishing nothing for that day! So, you see, this is why I started my new blog called http://kievlife.blogspot.com/
Which tries to explain and show some of the reason behind the City of Kiev (and Ukrainian life). Also, I am using this blog to tell about my own struggles and successes in trying to lose weight. Yes, I am getting very serious about living healthy, because it is not just for me anymore, it’s for my wife and future family.
The Future
Immigration papers keep getting done weekly. My first meeting, August 1st, 2007 at the US Consulate, went well. Now we are working towards Tanya’s meeting with them on October 16th, 2007. Please pray that we get everything done in time!!! We plan to come back to the USA in Mid-November and might stay a while to try and raise funds, get Tanya’s citizenship, and help preach at Bethlehem E & R and Lancaster Congregational Church, as Pastor Mark Dieter heads to Iraq in November
Current prayers!
Ukraine...its Government-learn more about the current political problems on my blog. The English Club—we are going to the ICA Church Picnic this Saturday! Russian School—There have been many complications with the Fall Schedule, currently, because a few classmates got ill (Eric and Lisa) and had to stay in America—they have no class for me, but I will know for sure in a few days. Pray for Lisa Brown who hurt her foot and John Johnson who is getting married September 7th. It’s ok, I do have a wife now that makes me speak and learn new words daily:) Pray for my grieving relatives as Grandpa Wall died, August 22nd. Thanks for your prayers for John Johnson—the problems with his car accident have been resolved! Pray for new Christian bowling league we are starting next week. Immigration process and papers!