After just a few days
with these students, I am finding that they love how we smile much of the time
and they are drawn to it. In a conversation last night a student was
explaining how this smiling stood out to her, and she continued on to say that
many Ukrainians do not smile much. I felt the need to clear up the
misconception that all Americans smile all the time, and it was an opening to
say the difference is we have a joy. Even when all of life is 80% serious
or hard, we have a joy within us as Christians. She could relate to that
80% comment, and she has to remind herself that these things she gets
worked up over will pass and be forgotten soon. Even though she is not in
my class, she wishes to meet me for coffee this week. Pray that the Holy
Spirit continues to work in a mighty way in both of us and in our conversation.
One of my students
talked with me a lot last night. He has such big plans for traveling and
overcoming this national poverty that is effecting him personally. After
having discussions about a number of topics, he came to me later and
said we got him thinking about things. And he has decided to read
the Bible. Well, we know the power behind that. Praise God.
The Ukrainian Campus will continue meeting with these students and build
upon what has been planted during these two weeks. This could get really
exciting. Especially when you consider that our God loves to
multiply!
We do stand out
as different here. On the streets I do not see much smiling or
talking. I saw a couple embrace, kiss, and giggle in public and it was
shocking. Most are quiet, busy, and to themselves on the streets. I
wonder if we make a spectacle of ourselves with our steady stream of chatter
among us as we share stories from our lives, laugh, and just enjoy one
another's company as we go along. I came to a realization early on that
as Americans we have freedom as part of our being, and that assurance of our
freedom oozes from us in how we interact and carry ourselves. Tack on the
freedom in Christ, and it is a striking difference from those on the streets
here in Ukraine. The students like it. I hope they want it.
We are safe. We
are doing well. Please continue to pray for our health, our safety, our sleep,
and that our speech will be seasoned with salt. It is a humbling
experience to be here and to be used by God. Thank you for sending
me...for sending us. I tear up every time I think of your sacrifices in
helping us get here financially, your sacrifice of praise to God for this
opportunity, and your prayers covering every aspect of this mission trip.
Thank you. God bless you! Much love, Shellie
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