Starting From the Beginning

 Even after twenty hours of traveling, Julia was all smiles to finally land in Ukraine.  We made it!

Though I had tried to get some sleep during a four hour layover, I was still very tired when we first arrived.

Bogdan and Allosha showed us where the store was across from the orphanage.  There we were able to get something refreshing to drink.

This hat display right outside the door was very pretty.  Hats varied in price from 15 up to 60 grivna.

Inside the orphanage that Bogdan works with seems to be in wonderful condition.  I love the set up-- very open and inviting.  Here I am with David the founder of  River of Joy.  Click on the name to check out the minstry.

This puzzle was on display in the eating area so we took a picture.

Here are some of the eating areas in the orphanage.  This particular orphanage houses older kids with slight delays.  Here they go to school and learn how to make something out of their lives often times sticking around to help out within the organization.  I do not explain his amazing minstry very well, but it is very apparent how vital Bogdan's ministry is to this area of Kiev and to the children.  Please continue to pray for this minstry-- it is in constant battle with the government and people who see the land that this orphanage takes up more suitable for apartment buildings in the ever growing Kiev.

Here is another eating area. We didn't get to see many of the kids who were away at camps.

The orphanage kitchen is open and cheery.  Here the kids learn to cook, clean, and serve-- one of the kids works in a restaurant as a result.

The kids were shy, but very proud of the meal they served.  Like I had said in a previous post-- it was very delicious.

Here is Allosha, the guy who picked us up from the airport.  He has aged out of the system but has not let that stop him.  He drives, he mentors the younger kids, and honestly I couldn't be more impressed with a young man.  He is one of the countless examples as to why it is so important to invest time and love and money into orphans.   They have so much potential!

For dessert we had cheese verenki with smetana.

Here we are on the train down to Simferopol, Crimea.