Something Good

I decided to blog again when I could think of something good to say. Current Ukrainian politics certainly gives no fodder for the more sanguine. I think I will just post some pics of Polina and make a few UEC comments. While Lera has been sick all week, Vitaly, Lena, and I have been trying to hold the fort down. It's more difficult now that the manager is not full-time. We did get some very good UEC news recently but only after it's confirmed can I make the announcement. Several improvements were made to the Center's facility this week, so that has made us feel a bit better. We have also been delighted to see all the students returning. Our gang in Wisconsin returns next week.

We are hosting Movie Nights again at the UEC after a long reprieve. Each week I bake a different kind of cookie (this week banana spice cookies), cut up some apples, put on the tea pot, watch a movie, and try to build relationships with the students. A few weeks ago, we took up the challenge to raise enough funds among Nivki Church members to buy a video projector. Amazingly, we raised the funds in week, and tonight had our movie splashed up on the wall. Thanks only to the hard work of Vitaly, Oleg, and Lena did we have sound but I guess we will work on speakers next week. It was great to see church members come forward and raise these funds beyond regular church contributions. After the movie, we moved a bunch of stuff out of the library because new carpeting is being put down on Sunday (yes, that's when the guy can do it). So after church on Sunday, I'll be watching two guys put carpet down for several hours.

Many other good things have happened. We had a great church council meeting on Sunday and decided to help several people financially, and for the first time in the church's history, created a budget to support on-going ministries. Nastya and Anya also got several steps closer to beginning our church's ministry at an orphanage. The cells were also back in full swing. Our group had 9 present. When the Wisconsonites return, we will have more hopefully.