Fall or Autumn are both here
Autumn… or Fall? It didn’t take me too many months of knocking around with Americans to lay off correcting their English. I guess it got old and a bit pointless making a fuss and laughing at the differences in language. I was talking with Simbo this last week and we were saying that we’d got to a place where we didn’t even know sometimes what our mother tongue was! And after 20 years here, it has become even more complicated by the addition of Russian and Ukrainian to my repertoire of words. I regularly have to pause and search my memory for the English word due to the only world coming to the fore being Russian! Will 20 more years see me become a mumbling idiot? Nah, mate. I’ll revert to what is most natural.
We are well.
Pris and Angel left for America this morning. All went perfectly… including passport control. The officer didn’t annul Angel’s old visa, which means they don’t need to get a new one in America for her to return to Ukraine. It’s a big money saver and we are very grateful. 
The student ministry has taken off again. This week, we had over 50 students attending different meetings we hold for them. As always, I love developing relationships with these young people… the vast majority who come from sad home situations. This morning, several came to the meeting of the church which was encouraging. Sergei, one of the blokes playing “Blokus” in the picture has been working with us on the building site. He is deaf and communicating is extremely hard. He was over the moon about Friday night though. He said that he’d never experienced anything like it and would come again.
Yesterday, we went outside for a bit to speak with our neighbors and rake leaves. Our kids raked while Pris and I chatted with Galya and Ivan. It was a nice time, even though chilly, (I thought I’d be fine in a T-shirt in 7 degrees)!
Wednesday, we are going to the local hall to hear Ura sing. He is in the upper left of this photo. He is a fascinating individual (is extremely gifted in so many ways), and has become a friend. He’s an orphan who I hope will receive God as his heavenly Father real soon.
I’m back to playing for our times of worship in song for church! I don’t feel naturally gifted in this area, but am glad to serve. This morning as I played, I found myself simply playing and singing. Worshipping God? Nah. Definitely not from my heart. I was reminded that admiration of God comes from meditating on who He is. And next week, I’ll do a bit more of that before serving in this way.
Here’s a photo of Angel and Elijah enjoying the colors and novelty of raking! 