Kievan Observations

Since our SDA appointment has been rescheduled to next Thursday we are choosing to occupy our time taking in the sights in Kiev. I read a blog a while ago by Rick Morton (who we are hoping to link up with tonight) regarding a cultural craze that is very prevalent in Ukraine, the mullet! That's right, the mullet is very popular in Ukraine for those of you who do not know what a mullet is it is also referred to as: Mississippi Mud Flap, Kentucky Waterfall, Ape-Drape, Neck Warmer, Camaro cut, Hockey Hair, and Business in the Front party in the back. There are numerous other fashion faux-pauxs that just wouldn't fly in the states, but you know what they say, "When in Ukraine..."



We have decided to go and see one major sight per day for the next 6 days, the Rodina Mat tomorrow, Hillsong Church sunday, and who knows next week. We pushed ourselves Wednesday and walked over 22k steps trying to cram it all in, but since our first SDA appointment was not successful  we are going to retrace some of our steps. Today we went to, Бабин Яр (Babi Yar), this might be one of the most heart wrenching sights in all of Ukraine. In two days in 1941 over 33,771 Kievan Jews were massacred then shoved into a ravine. This is the single largest mass murder by the Nazi party in all of history. It is said that over 100,000 Jews, Gypsies, and Roma people were killed at this sight.



In independence square there are numerous fountains, one of them is a set of steps that the water just flows over and kids play in them and young girls practice their modeling poses, VERY FUNNY! There is another fountain that makes a ball with cold water and sprays everywhere, so we went and did our favorite thing, stick our feet in the cold fountain and people watch. We got to talk with a babushka, an old grandmother, she introduced us to her friend who was an ear doctor in Kazakhstan. She informed us that she was 72 years old and had one child, two grand children, and two great grand children. She asked us why we were in Ukraine, and we told her to adopt, in which she responded in amazement. She asked me what I did and I told her I was a christian pastor then she blessed me by making a cross on my head. Oh, did I mention she didn't speak a lick of English, we were able to find out all this information through charades and writing down numbers. She was a sweet old lady and we enjoyed trying to communicate with her.

Kate is taking a nap right now with our Ukrainian AC, a fan, and I am watching BBC and catching you guys up on what is going on. We know God is still at work and we trust that whatever his will is we continue to trust him. Our calling is to take care of these orphans so no matter the outcome our mission is to glorify Him. We firmly believe that the psychologist knows what we are looking for now and our second SDA appointment will introduce us to our child. No matter the outcome I will be flying home with Kate when she comes home, which prayerfully is during the 10 waiting period and I will return for our child if that is what God has in store for us. So be blessed and may God's mercy and peace move you today.