The Dad's Have Arrived!

After 36 exhausting hours of international travel, our dads arrived at the Hope Center 2am Thursday morning.  Thank you for the prayers!  They made all their connections (amazing since 1/2 of the trip was via standby) and made it through Ukrainian immigration without any hassles!  Other than trying to adjust to the 7-9 hour time change, they are doing great.  We are so excited to have them here and ask you to continue to pray for this next week.  There is so much we would love to do and accomplish but such little time.  Campbell had a big smile when he saw Pops and Grandpa and loves showing them and telling them (in his very serious babble) about everything here.  We will keep you posted on the upcoming adventures! 

Happy Birthday Mimi!

As has been our recent tradition, all grandparents get a little homage on their birthday and Mimi is no exception.  We go back a long way, she and I.  The earliest memory that I can recall off-hand is running home with her in my bare feet after having tripped during a walk to the elementary school.  I can still remember that though I ground off half of my face on the sidewalk, she seemed decidedly more upset than I felt.  This is what characterizes my life with my mom - compassion, empathy and sensitivity.  Even when I needed discipline, I always knew that it was a task that she loathed, but must do.  Despite my reputation (I assume), I inherited or learned much of this sensitivity (whether I wanted it or not).

Even with a touch of her in me, I still found it odd how emotional my mom could be about things that seemingly had no impact on her personally.  Over the years, I've come to realize that it is her gift.  She may have as close to the heart of Christ as I've ever seen in a human.  She unselfishly rejoices with strangers, she hurts for distant pain and she weeps for the injustice in this fallen world.  She feels EVERYTHING so much more intensely than I do and I love her for that.  If you have ever met my mom, you know this is true.

Ukraine is country where people can seem pretty cold in public (by American standards and I cannot wait for her to come visit.  The contrast will be so stark as she positively beams the love of Christ from her like a beacon.  They won't be able to resist her charm, her smile, her servant's heart or her giving spirit.

I love you Mommy, see you soon!

Why I Went to College... (and Big Igor)

I spent most of my working life prior to college doing manual labor.  I started by pulling down the glamourous gig of whipping-boy at a fencing (not dealing in stolen goods) company right out of high school.  Not only did I recieve the adoration commensurate with such a position, I also earned the princely wage of $4.25/hour, cash money - more than $2 below the minimum wage in those days.  Since then, I've also been fortunate enough to land such empire-building jobs as industrial painter's assistant, popcorn boy at a movie theater, warehouse chump, temporary laborer, and landscaper (with an incongruous stint as a part-time receptionist) until I lowered myself to accepting a degree in history from the University of Colorado @ Colorado Springs.

I took that supposedly valuable piece of card stock and moved into my second attempt as a warehouseman with Global Action.  Despite being forced into the office (I'm taking artistic license with facts here) for some period, I have finally returned to my first love...digging ditches.

We needed to run about 60 meters worth of 30-inch deep trench to lay electrical cable for 2 new outdoor lights in a dark corner of camp.  The real trick was the rather substantial tree (and the accompanying roots) that stood exactly between the two new light posts.  Everyone here is perplexed by my Lenco West coveralls that say Tim on the pocket, but I know they're just jealous.

All the boys were on the job this week.

Campbell gets to come out and play with the guys sometimes.  Today he was frustrated to discover that neither his drill nor his wrench would be very useful in our particular task.

This is unfortunately the last day that I will be able to work with my buddy Igor.  Tomorrow I will be taking him with me to Simferopol when I pick up Sarah's and my dads.  He is moving back there to take an HVAC job and be closer to his girlfriend.  He was given the nickname Hercules by work team members due to his truly amazing physical strength and he's not a bad shot with a pellet gun either!  I'll miss you, мои друг.

Like "Rudy" but better

If you have ever played, watched, read about, listened to or otherwise enjoyed a sport of any kind (for the sake of argument, I'll even include baseball in this one), you MUST read Aaron's post about the recent Liverpool-Havant and Waterlooville match.  Even if you have never given soccer or any other sport a second's thought, you will enjoy the sheer feel-good nature of this post...

I have rediscovered football

I have been without televised coverage of Liverpool since my move to Kerch and the Ukrainian league are the midst of their 3 month winter break (literally) so I was surprised when Jenya joyously announced that top flight football had returned this week.  The Channel 1 Cup is currently being played in Israel with entrants Shakhar Donetsk, Dynamo Kiev, CSKA and Spartak Moscow, Red Star Belgrade and Beitar Jeruselum.  The play is high enough quality for me and I have enjoyed the games nearly every night this week at 8pm sharp.  I have thus far seen both of the Ukrainian teams play twice each and I have decided who will be my local club...

Shakhtar Donetsk (written Шахтар Донецк in Russian and pronounced Shakhteur Donyetsk) has seized my attention and won't let go.  Earlier in the week, they thrashed Beitar 3-0 and tonight have just dismantled CSKA Moscow 3-1.  Here is what I love about this club:

• They play energetic, coordinated defense with a lot of strong back-line players that make an impact up front on set pieces.  These defenders are also terrific passers with a soft touch in controlling the ball.
• Their midfield has many take-aways due to pure guile and hustle.  In both games they gave their opponents fits trying to get across the mid-line.
• They are fierce on the counter-attack.  Frequently after an opponent's attack is stifled, the central defenders kick the ball the the wide backs who either redirect up the sidelines to their wingers or send a well-placed lob to the central midfielders or strikers.
• The offensive component of their team is almost entirely comprised of young Brazilians.  They pass through the midfield fluidly with nifty, one-touches and once they are in the box, they are unselfish and heads-up for available teammates...A thing of beauty!

Add to these the fact they are the Pittsburgh Steelers of Ukrainian football (working class with a storied history) and that I can go see them play in Simferopol this spring for $5-$8 a seat...

If any of you are coming in the spring, maybe I could coordinate seeing a game.