Just before class started, we had a picnic in the "forest" near our apt with a new missionary couple to the country named the Hornes. We cooked chicken and veggies over some sort of burnt wood chips that Ollie bought at the store. It turned out great.
Also before school started we traveled to a town named Yagatine with our friend and the preacher from our church Sergui. He and his wife Larissa recently moved there from Kiev. He has been remodeling it and we went to help.
Larissa had me sewing curtains. I told her I had no idea what I was doing but she trusted me anyway.
Sergui and Anya with Lilly
Last week I met with a missionary named Mandy Smith to visit a children's rehabilitation center for street kids that she and her husband are now directing. She took me on a tour of the center and I got to meet some of the kids. She is looking for volunteers to work with the kids in whatever ways we are gifted! It's a great opportunity for me to really get involved in some kids' lives under a christian director. I am also praying about how much to be involved in the orphange I visited earlier this year.
Yesterday, Brett and I missed school to go to a friend's wedding. He is an American we know from our school and his wife is Ukrainian. They asked me to be their wedding photographer! I was nervous and excited to do this for them. This is the first time I was The Photographer; I've usually only been a pre-wedding photographer for fun.
The day began around noon for us once we found the right building. The ceremony was performed at cultural center by their Ukrainian preacher.
Next we went to the courthouse for paper signing, picture taking, and another ceremony. All Ukrainian couples have to come to the courthouse for the ceremony there, so John and Sasha had a scheduled appt. among all the other couples there that day. It was kind of chaotic with all the limos and bridal parties coming in and out of the courthouse. There happened to be a famous Ukrainian actress there in the wedding party of her daughter. The whole day was a new cultural experience for Brett and I.
Finally, we went to a restaurant for the rest of the evening. Here is Brett with some of our friends.
Besides wedding cake and a 4 course meal, many games were played like this one with shaving cream, a razor and a balloon. I used shaving cream to draw Brett's face, then I used the blunt side of a razor to shave off the beard I drew, with my eyes shut! It was a lot of fun.
This is Sunday morning a few weeks ago
Dinners at our church usually include lots of fruit and lots of sweets!
