2 Days in Kyiv

Day 2 – Kyiv Sunday – 28 Jan 07 - Hot off the Press - Appointment is 1500 local (0800 Virginia time) tomorrow+++++

+++++ also - sorry can't upload a picture here at the internet cafe - I'll get that straightened out ASAP. -Tim

What an adventure today! We awoke to fresh snow and strong winds. Our apartment has heat and a seemingly endless supply of hot water. After a slow jet-lagy start to the day, we ventured out to the St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral to meet our friend Anya who sings in the choir there. After about the first block, getting a fur (shlyah-pah) hat became top priority for me. The Cathedral was quite an experience. Everyone stood, lots of chanting and incense. We bought candles from the lady who we met the night before and I’ve included a picture of Charlene lighting them.
We met our friend and then walked to a more contemporary church – St. Paul’s Evangelical church (some know it as the church Rodger McMurrin started). This church met in a movie theater near Independence Square. We walked in wearing our best Ukrainian camouflage only to sit next to a lady who said, “Hello” in perfect English. I’m convinced she heard me say something in English first, but Charlene says we can’t help but look American. The lady, turned out to be an office manager at the U.S. Embassy who invited Charlene out to a ladies get-together Monday night. After a beautiful service (with our interpreter named Natasha) we met up with Olyona – the other singer from Kyiv that spent the night at our house this summer. The four of us headed off to tour the Independence square area than have lunch at a Pektopah that served Azerbaijani and Georgian food (Gary now I know what a real shish-ka-bob is like). Luckily many of you had schooled us in Ukrainian manners and we didn’t argue when we had to check our coats before entering the restaurant. I did make certain the man know how much I loved my new hat (which you’ll have to wait until the next blog entry to see).
We parted ways after lupper (too late to be lunch, too early to be supper) and walked home in the beautiful -5 C evening. What a great day!
Today we meet Yuri for an overview of our meeting at the SDA tomorrow. We feel very supported by your prayers and ask you to continue. Our excitement builds as we’re within a day of knowing who our new daughter may be! Physically we’re both healthy and doing our best to get the body clock reset. I woke up about 0200 Kyiv time thinking about how to say all sorts of things in Russian.
Tim and Charlene
Day 1 – Kyiv Saturday – 27 Jan 07
We’ve had quite a day. Charlene just summed up the highlights for me as I began to type. It goes something like this:
- Our flight was great, good food & service, friendly people.
- VIP service in Kyiv was fast and pleasant.
- Weather was sunny and cold.
- We met Yulia (or Kyiv project manager), Nikolia (the ever vigilant driver) and Yuri (the boss).
- We exchanged money, went to the Mega Market, checked into our apartment, walked in the snow to the St. Volodymyr’s cathedral, and got blessed by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Patriarch. All-in-all day one went great. Its 1810 as I write this and we’re forcing ourselves to stay up just a few more minutes to try and help us adjust to the 7 hour time difference.
I’ve included a before (taken in Richmond) and after (in Kyiv) picture to prove that we made it.
Thanks for the prayers.
Charlene and Tim