Time is running out...

So first of all I apologize for the lack of blog post this week.  Unfortunately my computer contracted a very bad Ukrainian virus and has been at the computer doctor all week.  She is doing better now and should be able to come home today or tomorrow.  I have been using Chelsey's computer though I guess I am just using this as an excuse for my lack of inspiration to write! I am a math major after all and we aren't always good with words.

Anyway.... This week has been pretty low key.  Tuesday we did a small playground ministry with about 8 kids.  We played lots of games like hot potato and dodgeball, but the weather was rainy and cold so we decided not to do a craft.  The weather was really cold and rainy Wednesday and Thursday so we mostly stayed inside, cleaned, and planned our first Shabbat.  Since my time here is running out Chelsey and I decided that one of my last Shabbats (Friday night family dinners) would be at our apartment where we would prepare the meal.  We planned all week long and eventually decided on making enchiladas rice and beans and chips and salsa.  For those of you know my family's usual Friday night tradition of going to the Mexican restaurant knew that I felt right at home!  I even got to help out and made a chocolate cake/brownie/cookie concoction that actually tasted very good!  The problem with making cakes here is that the sugar is beat sugar and doesn't always dissolve according to plan.  So the recipe was for chocolate cookies, but my batter looked more like brownies! Either way we had an amazing time of fellowship with friends and family.

Today I finally got to experience a more contemporary Ukrainian church service.  A mission group from California is here for 10 days working with a local church and so we decided to go there today for an English friendly Ukrainian service.  For worship we sang contemporary Christian songs that are popular in America.  The praise band and most of the congregation sang them in Ukrainian, but they had the words in English also.  It was truly amazing to worship together in different languages.  One of the group members for the California group shared his testimony and spoke about unity in the body of Christ.  How we are to build each other up.  I think too often churches tend to tear people down, but that is not what God meant for us to do.  People all over the world go to church for many different reasons.  Some have it all figured out, but a lot don't!  So many people come to church as their last alternative because they have this fear of being judged.  Church isn't just a meeting place for strong, and dedicated believers it is a place for the strong to help the broken.  So what I took from his message is that we need to meet people where they are no matter how low that is, genuinely care and ask them where their heart is, and then show them God's love through us by building them up in any way that we can.

Next week, my last full week here we will be leading a kid's camp.  This will be similar to vacation bible school in America, so we will have play time, story time, and craft time each week.  We have no idea how many children will come and what ages they will be so I ask that you pray that God will bless us with many children and that we will be prepared.  Pray that the kids who do know Christ grow to love Him more and those who don't will accept Him.