Day 3 - Sunday in the Urkaine

Sunday, March 27

A sunny, chilly morning. We began it by a quick breakfast and then Lindsey, Jordan and I took a brisk walk to the Sunday Bazaar, which to most Americans would be rather bazaar!  For sale there was everything from clothing, home products, car parts, cool brooms, like they have in China, that I would love to bring home!  Huge, healthy chicken eggs, huge healthy chickens with no GMO’s, rabbits, cows pigs….all live.  Then there was the butchers’ row!  Levi would have loved this.  They had a huge pile of chicken feet!  Open air market with the meat just lying out.  Pig heads on a hook, livers, whole

chickens (with the heads).  Huge slabs of bacon fat.  Dan has told us that this is a favorite, and they cut off a piece of fat and eat it raw.  Well, I don’t know if they get sick much here from all the unrefrigerated or uncooked stuff, but they look healthy!  If we had had someone with us to interpret, I would have liked to take some pictures, but as it was, in this crowded arena,  foreigners such as ourselves, stick out.

We got back from the market in time to clean up then head in to church at 10.  They had 2 songs in Ukrainian that we knew in English, so we sang those with gusto!  Everyone from the church was very friendly…(outside the church, they don’t smile or acknowledge you.)   People would come up to me and just shake my hand and say “Mama” as in Lindsey and Jordan’s!     And then go on and on in Ukrainian with a big smile on their faces. 

The rest of the church service was embroiled in controversy in regards to installing a new pastor! Without going into lots of detail, even not speaking the same language, you could understand some of what was going on. So, amidst the words flying, and the women crying, we (Lyman’s), prayed and read some scripture.  Finally after an hour and a half, Jordan went out to keep the restless kids occupied, and I accompanied him, followed lastly by Lindsey. We played a crazy game of Uno, which I did not understand fully.  We danced and sang King of Kings, shared my gum from America….etc…until the meeting ended.

Lunch was at someone’s home from the church.  More well-to-do, it was interestingly nice but not fancy to our standards.  It would do us all good to visit a foreign country, either to count our blessings or to refocus our priorities.  We have so many privileges in America, we do not even begin to understand until we get outside of our country.  We also might see that one can be very happy without all the niceties we possess.   Although, I know that whatever culture one is in, there is excess and poverty, wrong hearts and covetousness.
Lunch was chicken with noodles, crab egg salad, pickled tomatoes, tortillas with ham and cheese, and a ham and cheese tray.  Compote to drink (cherry or apple juice.)  And I don’t mean some store bought kind.  This was made from their summer harvest and canned.  The apple was kind of sour, the cherry was really good.  After dinner came the Chai (tea), coffee and pastries.   Since their homes are small, their living rooms double as dining rooms.  They pull the table up to the sofa, then more chairs on the other side, and voila!

We spent the afternoon visiting.  It seems that languages can be overcome a
little with hand motions and a few simple words.  It is fun to watch Lindsey and Jordan
interact with these people after being here 2 months.  Jordan particularly jumps right in and Lindsey and I just sit and marvel with a smile!   When we returned to the church, of few of the people got together for discussion of the church.  I am sure there is a lot to discuss!  We babysat for the translator.  She has a 4 year old boy, Mark, and a 9 month old baby girl, Liza,  who is in love with Jordan.  She lights up and starts kicking her legs when comes in!  He can be seen in the  picture rocking her to sleep in her stroller.  He was also singing to her. 

Most Folks here still use outhouses, this is a pretty nice squatty potty

Day 2 is at it’s end!