IN THE HOMESTRETCH

Sunday, May 15, 2011
We arrived in Kiev on time after a bouncy train ride.  Watching the sun rise at 4 am in Eastern Europe from the cabin of a clickety-clackety is not something I do everyday.  Our facilitator, Sasha, met us at the station.  He wrecked his car earlier, and therefore, had a friend, Uri, who was kind enough to shuttle us about in his SUV.  How nice!!!  Leg room!!!  We went to McDonalds for breakfast.  Then, to kill time until our apartment became available at noon, we toured the town.  We visited an outdoor war museum and took lots of pictures.  We bought groceries and then checked into the apartment that has high speed Internet.

Monday, May 16, 2011
We slept past 8 and had breakfast.  Then, some former apartment guest was kind enough to leave behind a map of Kiev in English.  With a little help from Sasha during a brief morning visit, we got our bearings.  Later, we ventured out to the market for more supplies.  (Everything is expensive in downtown Kiev.)  Later, we walked up a high hill (many of those around here), and then went several blocks to a nice park that overlooks at least in 1 place, the river.  We enjoyed ice cream and entertainment by skateboard enthusiasts.  Then we paid for Jonathan to slide for a few minutes.  Afterwards, we played on the free park equipment and enjoyed a long time swinging, Jonathan and I that is.  Lisa's equilibrium and swinging do not get along together.  After a while, Jonathan slipped out of the swing but was still caught by his arms and therefore his feet and knees drug.  He jumped up and acted more concerned over his blue jeans than his body.  Though we was not crying, Momma came and kissed his bobos and made them better.  He was sitting in the swing that I had occupied most of the time.  While she was nursing her little one back to quick health, a discourteous pigeon bombed her from the air.  Splat went the bomb smack in the top of her freshly washed hair!  Momma was not happy, but Jonathan and Papa laughed until we cried.

Later that evening, Jonathan entertained us with about 30 minutes of handstands and backflips.  He likes all the attention and he is pretty agile and nimble.

Finally, we got a call from Sasha telling us the name change had posted in the system.  The passport application would go in immediately.  He would try to get us an appointment at the embassy for a medical on Wednesday and for a visa on Thursday.  Thank the Lord!  Please keep praying for our quick and safe return.

Jonathan is becoming more and more willing to try out English words.  So there is progress on all fronts.

Our goal is still to fly out this coming weekend but that depends on many variables.