After my first night of continual sleep since arriving in Ukraine, I woke up finally rested (thank you to those who prayed for me!). The sky was grey and cloudy, and there was a fine, cool mist falling, making it hard to distinguish the clouds from the sky. Tanya woke up cheerful, which I think is an accomplishment for an adolescent girl on a dreary day.
The drizzle changed our plans for the day, so we decided to make the best of it and head across the street to the local market to get some items the kids needed. Viktor needed a jacket and sneakers, and Tanya a dress and sandals for church. We meandered by the various vendors, poking our heads in the shops that offered what we were looking for. “Skolka?” (How much?) Without Natasha, shopping would have been difficult, if not impossible, since neither Scott nor I know our numbers very well past 10.
We came to a vendor of women’s and teen clothing, and the “dressing room” was nothing more than a cloth held up in front of the corner of the shop. Tanya tried on several things, but when she put on the cute little black dress, the one with the ruffle skirt and little white flowers embroidered on, she couldn’t hide her delight behind her previously nonchalant face. Sold.
Scott took Viktor to find a jacket, and soon he came walking back to us, unable to hide his happiness either, despite his cool stride. After finding shoes for both of them, we started to head to the pizza place. Suddenly, the drizzle turned into a downpour, and we girls were running and laughing in the rain, dodging puddles, while Scott and Viktor hailed a taxi to take them to pick up pizza.
That afternoon, cooped up in the apartment, we found ways to bond with the kids and have some fun. Two aluminum foil balls became weapons as an all out battle of dodge ball ensued through the apartment, with Viktor dressed as a ninja, tying a T shirt around his head. Anna used an empty pizza box as her shield, and was every bit a part of the fun. We are so glad she came along for this journey.
When the sky cleared after dinner, the four of us took a walk while Anna stayed back with Natasha. As we looked out over the Dnieper River, the water was as blue as ever, and the sky was beginning to turn faint hues of pink and gold. The rain had washed away some of the grey film that constantly covers the ground, and it felt as though the Lord had washed away some of the grime of our discouragement, too. If you are looking for it, there is beauty everywhere. We see it in the faces of these beautiful children He has brought to us.
The drizzle changed our plans for the day, so we decided to make the best of it and head across the street to the local market to get some items the kids needed. Viktor needed a jacket and sneakers, and Tanya a dress and sandals for church. We meandered by the various vendors, poking our heads in the shops that offered what we were looking for. “Skolka?” (How much?) Without Natasha, shopping would have been difficult, if not impossible, since neither Scott nor I know our numbers very well past 10.
We came to a vendor of women’s and teen clothing, and the “dressing room” was nothing more than a cloth held up in front of the corner of the shop. Tanya tried on several things, but when she put on the cute little black dress, the one with the ruffle skirt and little white flowers embroidered on, she couldn’t hide her delight behind her previously nonchalant face. Sold.
Scott took Viktor to find a jacket, and soon he came walking back to us, unable to hide his happiness either, despite his cool stride. After finding shoes for both of them, we started to head to the pizza place. Suddenly, the drizzle turned into a downpour, and we girls were running and laughing in the rain, dodging puddles, while Scott and Viktor hailed a taxi to take them to pick up pizza.
That afternoon, cooped up in the apartment, we found ways to bond with the kids and have some fun. Two aluminum foil balls became weapons as an all out battle of dodge ball ensued through the apartment, with Viktor dressed as a ninja, tying a T shirt around his head. Anna used an empty pizza box as her shield, and was every bit a part of the fun. We are so glad she came along for this journey.
When the sky cleared after dinner, the four of us took a walk while Anna stayed back with Natasha. As we looked out over the Dnieper River, the water was as blue as ever, and the sky was beginning to turn faint hues of pink and gold. The rain had washed away some of the grey film that constantly covers the ground, and it felt as though the Lord had washed away some of the grime of our discouragement, too. If you are looking for it, there is beauty everywhere. We see it in the faces of these beautiful children He has brought to us.