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journal entry from May 6:
We rolled back into Kiev around 8am and Rick and Ivan picked us up. The train station is like an antique straight out of a movie; people rushing around, loud speakers blaring a crackled Russian voice; vendors making the most of the capitalist system; beggars begging, false beggars screaming at you; avoiding eye contact with pushy taxi drivers and turning them away with a strong "Niet!"; buses and cars galore all moving their own direction...I love it!
Our apartment is on the 9th floor of a building downtown with a spectacular view of the city, a walk away from Independence Square and may other cool spots, gorgeous really. Around noon we hit the streets to see the sights and shop. Made our way over to St. Andrew's Descent, a tiny coble stone street more than a mile long that winds down a steep hill, tents and vendors marking the trail, every square inch taken up by "souvenirs" and junk...
We took the metro to dinner--what an adventure that was. It is super cheap and the deepest subway system in the world (it took 100 yard long escalator rides to get down to it!). Sort of confusing with all the signs being in Russian and people bustling everywhere, but fun nonetheless. Had dinner with Jim and Marina Noyes and their son Andre at a really cool Ukrainian place built like a tree house in this quiet park. The food was the best I've had, Caesar salad, bread with garlic butter, and chicken and bacon shyshlik (k-bobs) that were to die for.
Marina used to work with WWYC and has tons of camp experience in Ukraine, so we had a great conversation about the camp work going on here, casting vision and gathering specific details of Christian camps and Pioneer camps. I'm starting to realize just how big this whole camp thing is, what resources are available and needed, as well as the fact that these are 2 separate entities that need fresh leadership, oversight, and investment to really take off. Again I'm reminded how much I love camps here--I pray that somehow the Lord might use me for them in the future.
Walked home full and tired. Pat got really sick tonight and I slept on a cot in the living room, dead tired...
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pic of the day, Metro Station (sorry it's dark, still figuring out my camera):
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