Dasvaydanya for now.

The last few days have been a blur of continual movement and hectic activity. We've ridden mashootkas to the Center countless times, downed at least 20+ 6-liter bottles of water, eaten dinner in a "castle," watched the boys flip and flop on a trampoline, shopped til we dropped for rec gear, food, and birthday gifts...oh yeah, and not hardly slept a wink. Seriously. Last night I got less than 2 hours before Anika and I hopped on yet another mashootka, this time 4.5 hours into Kiev to pick up Tony, our last American team member to arrive. And now our entire U.S. team has met, and now it is the early morning of the first day of camp. Bags are [mostly] packed and lining the hallway, and tomorrow morning at noon it all starts.

Things have been a bit tough for me, though. It's felt like those times when you know you've only got a few hours to sleep but, try as you might, can't close your eyes--and knowing you're running out of time just stresses you out and makes sleep even more impossible. That's how I've felt when it comes to adjusting and being comfortable with the new places and new people around here. Not fun, but God has definitely been working in my heart, drawing me to him in ways I don't normally experience in the day-to-day at home.

And now it's camp time. Since my first whirlwind visit to Pravda my first day here, I've been counting down the days until we get to head back. Seeing the kids who I met oh-so-briefly again and being able to get to know them and love on them more will be amazing. I can't wait to go and really begin to do one of my main purposes in coming to Ukraine; these last few days have been kind of tough as I've felt slightly purposeless and in the way. But the kids...Talia, Elona, Sasha, Ivan, Leela, Anya...I can't wait!

But us going to Pravda means I'm going to be internet-less, probably for the rest of the trip. Any stories and God-moments that come along I will faithfully make note of and fill you all in on later, but in the meantime if you could be praying...

>>That the American and Ukrainian team members will learn how to communicate and work well together as we lead the 6 camp groups in crafts, Bible lessons, and various other activities.

>>That the team will live out our love for these kids in ways that words could never express.

>>That God would continue preparing the kids' hearts for what they will hear this week about who God is.

>>And for me personally, that I will remember that God has me here for a purpose, that he has uniquely gifted me to love and serve, that I will trust in what he thinks of me and not others, that I will intentionally search out and do things that will show God's love to everyone I meet.


(Oh yeah, a follow-up to the last beat-boxing extravaganza...so apparently Annie told me that the next day, Losha brought up my mad crazy skills again, asking her where I learned how to do that, if I did it with other people... I had to demonstrate again last night for a couple more of the boys. Then tonight, Vitalik, Misha, Vova, Roman, and Losha asked me to do it again, and FINALLY attempted a couple beats with me. Even Losha, one of the kids who Anika and everyone else has told me just doesn't open up to or pay much attention to new people! We watched some videos on Youtube of pro beat boxers and break dancers--I attempted some moves, and Vitalik and Vova some beats. Fun times, a great night!)