The Heart of the Matter

5 years.  Amazing.  We've been watching special programming over the last several hours.  And currently we are hearing the names of those who died...read by those family members who survived.  Incredibly moving.  I remember when we heard the news here in Ukraine.  And then saw news footage of the attacks.  I thought it was just a bad "B" movie.  It was late afternoon here, and we were meeting a group of young adults to go to a Champions League football match.  The young Ukrainians prayed for America.  When we entered the stadium, I was surprised to see all the flags at half-mast.  And then we had a moment of silence.

It began to sink in.  America really had been attacked.

And now as I look at the news, remembering the events of 5 years ago, for whatever reason, I am more emotionally involved than even when it first happened.  Maybe it's because now we're not talking "numbers," but talking about real people.  Hearing from their wives, husbands, children, parents, friends, co-workers.

The question we now hear asked is "Is the world a safer place?  Or a more dangerous place?" 

My thought is not that the world is a more dangerous place, but that we are now more aware of the dangers that have been there all along.

I am encouraged by the stories of heroism.  By the strength of the survivors.  By the resolve of the American people.

And thankful that our God can use even tragedies like this for His glory.

Kids are kids, wherever they are!

On Saturday, Jeanne and I met four of the orphans with whom we have spent time over the years.  On this particular day, an organization had donated funds to take these four children and chaperones to a performance at the children's theatre to celebrate Nadia's 7th birthday.  We joined them in a park prior to the show.  We gave Nadia a small gift and then presented each of the children with dumdum lollipops.

It didn't take too long before tongues turned blue and the kids started giggling.  I bunched them together with one of the chaperones and counted...1....2....3....tongues out!  And then I snapped this picture.

Please pray for my acquisition of language!  Though I have probably the most patient tutor in Ukraine, I am still hesitant to USE my new language.  Initially I studied Russian, realizing that it could be used in many countries of the former Soviet Union, not to mention around the world.  I switched to Ukrainian, though, when I became increasingly aware that my heart's desire was to communicate with children...and Ukrainian is the language that they are now being taught in school. 

Tetyana continues to teach Russian to Jim and then immediately meets with me to study Ukrainian.  I've told her that she'll be schizophrenic before we're through with her.  Fortunately (or not...), she also speaks English (and a bit of German), so when push comes to shove, she can explain a new word or concept in English.  I bribe her with home-baked goodies (Jeanne's zucchini bread is in the picture).  Bribe is one of my vocabulary words!!

Pray that I will get over the fear of people laughing at me, or the fear of not being understood, or the fear of... I don't even know all the reasons I am not regularly using my new language.  And thank God that He provided Nika (Jim's assistant) to go to the hospital with me -- she pushes me to use Ukrainian and encourages me greatly!

I WANT to speak Ukrainian.  I'm ABLE to speak Ukrainian.  Now, I must DO IT!!

September 1.  It's a big deal in Ukraine.  The first day of school for everyone.  Elementary school and universities alike.  It's always September 1. 

Well, what about when September 1 falls on a Saturday?  It is still First Bell.  (I'm not sure what they do when the date falls on a Sunday.)  The children, carrying bouquets of flowers, are excited for this big event.  The girls have huge white bows in their hair, and the boys are typically in jackets and white shirts.

I was talking to Nika (Jim's assistant) today about this event and she was remembering her very first First Bell.  She was so excited that she made her sandwich to take with her that day -- a full week early!

The picture below is Artyom (office manager at IFI) ready for school on his first First Bell, 23 years ago.  Today, his son Nikita started school...and proud dad took his picture sitting on the exact same bench where Artyom had posed for his own father.

Pretty cool.