All Aboard

Dobre Dien. Many things have happened since our last visit together..... Nah, just kidding :)

Really though. It is a good time up here. Yana and Sergey have been doing a fine job at showing me a nice time. I'm learning more and more that it is really what I needed. God has been teaching me how to take in my surroundings before jumping in and being a difference in the system. As I said it before, it is hard for me to really to be taken care of. Mom, you know I am independent ;) Anywho, though it was kind of a struggle for a while, I am very grateful for my 2 weeks of ministry and rest.

Nothing out of the ordinary has really taken place. I have gone back and forth to the city several times. I'm pro at the subway now. Read about half of an interesting book during that time. First book I've read for pleasure in a LOOONNNNNGGGGG time. In the city we toured a sand sculpting art show depicting many of the Russian and Ukrainian fairy tales. Sergey and I visited an old friend of his. Together the three of us (sergey, vierra and myself) got our nipples pierced.





Sergey, Yana and I went to the river for a few hours one day. Wipe what you think of rivers away from your mind... it was totally different. Not that it was bad.. but it was... different. Trash might has well been the carpet of the dirt and grassy landscape. All around us were people in speedos and super-duper short swimming shorts (and mullets galore). The air was a smoky haze. Everyone smokes out here... but they do it in a more attractive way than back in the states. I'm telling you the scene is straight out of a 1950s movie, when people wore those kind of things and smoked in experimental ways that made the Camel proud. All that was missing was leather jackets and pinned up hair.

So today we leave for Kerch. I catch a train in about 2 hours. If history has taught me anything, it will be a sketchy train car without doors to the cabins and I will be a Ukrainian student named Daneel. :) I'm dressing the part. Sergey has given me linen pants which are all the rage out here. Look out America, Europe is about to take over the fashion scene.

I probably won't have as much access to the internet for the next month. I will update as much as I can... and yes mom, I will call when I can as well ;)

Here is the planned agenda. Arrive tomorrow morning. Go to the Hope Center to make my rounds with my future coworkers. Then Yana's for some G-ma cooking. For the next week I'll be helping an orphanage that I went to twice last year. Then, I'll be in camp as the intern... more details on what that means when i have them :) Then, back up to Kiev to get Ash... then down to Bila to visit some old friends at God's Hidden Treasures and the boys home. Then London. Then LA.

I love you all. No I didn't get my nipples pierced, but thanks for reading intently. I will see you all on here ASAP. Pray pray pray. Much love. Much peace. Much respect. Much God. AMEN!

-Tommy

Here are a few more photos from my photoshoot :)