Ukraine - May 29, 2008

I finally have a few minutes to scribble a few lines about our trip.
We've been so busy that I hardly know what day it is, and can hardly think through what all we've done. There are some definite highlights!
The first day, after orientation at the MCC office, we did a Mennonite tour of several areas of Zaporozhe (you'll have to excuse my spelling - I don't have the info handy right now.) It was quite interesting and a good way to be introduced to Ukraine.
Day 2 started with a 3.5 hour drice and we were able to visit the orphanage in Makeyevka as well as the Christian University in Donetsk, where we stayed for night. It was all very interesting and of course the highlight of the day was giving our special blankets at the orphanage. 3 of us brought special blankets.
The highlight for me so far would have to have been day 3. After a 4.5 hour drive we arrived at a hospital. Ukraine is so full of contrasts - the beautiful green countryside and flowers everywhere, some beautiful architecture, and then incredibly run down buildings - most public buildings. Since the communists left, no one is doing any maintenance or taking care of things. It's quite evident in places like the hospitals. After that short visit, we visited with a 23 year old girl who has 9 (soon 10) foster children all pre-school age. The kids were such good kids, and her whole family is involved with the kids. A house has been renovated for her and was really beautiful. Funny, though, how extravagent it looked after some of the other things we'd seen, yet there is 1 bathroom for the 11 of them. What was quite neat about this story is that Natasha (the foster mom) is getting married in July. She gave us each a wedding invitation, and it is quite evident from the photo that he knows what he's getting himself into.
The amount of volunteerism we see here is quite overwelming. The churches and communities are all so determined to help each other and the community that many are working full-time jobs and then volunteering almost the same amount of time.
I could write about a lot more people and projects we've seen, but instead let me give you a few impressions.
Toilets - have to start with those! We do have 'normal' toilets (one's you sit on) in our hotel. But the squatty toilets have been an adventure - IF you can find one by the road when you travel, that is probably what you'll find. But it did surprise me when we went to the Pentecostal church, which used to be a convention centre and is right downtown, and the washrooms were just holes in the floor.
The driving - MCC has hired drivers for us for most of the traveling and I understand why. The cars pass each other whether or not there's a lane there, and sometimes there's only a few inches between the cars. Tailing in order to pass quickly when theres a chance is very common. I'm able to relax, but if I had to drive, I imagine it would be a nerve-wracking experience.
Just for my family and those of you who know me well, I have to say that I am willingly drinking instant coffee and without milk... Some places offer brewed coffee, and it is very good, but many don't offer that.
Food has been abundant and delicious. I expected more 'hardships' on this trip than we've experienced so far...
Hopefully I'll get one more chance to update you before the trip is done.