::Change::

"All changes, even the most longed for, 
have their melancholy; 
for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; 
we must die to one life before we can enter another." 
::Anatole France::

I am sorry to have left this blog so forgotten!

After living in Ukraine for 18 months, I returned to the US on December 14, 2012 and stayed with my family to celebrate Christmas and New Year's. In January, I moved to Arkansas to begin the next adventure! I am back in school taking pre-medical courses. It'll take around a year and a half to finish up all the pre-reqs, but then I'll be applying to medical school!

My life has been changing, and it is time that this blog changed with it. I'm still figuring out how this will work, but I'm planning to update this blog to my new adventure as a post-baccalaureate pre-med student. I'll leave all the posts from Ukraine able to be found, but they may be moved.

I'm thinking right now I'll be of course updating on life as a pre-med, but also sharing stories from Ukraine and things that are important to me.

If you have any ideas of what direction you think my blog should go, let me know what you'd like to hear!

-ej

::Thank You, America::

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, 

one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and 

justice for all."

I currently live in a place where the 4th of July is simply that...July 4, 2012, a day like any other. Even our American-style Independence Day party has been delayed until the 7th of July (crazy, I know!) for our Ukrainian friends and contacts.But the significance of the day is not lost on me. This is the second Independence Day that I have spent as an "expat;" an American living abroad. And I hope it's not my last.

If I was given the choice to live anywhere in the world, I wouldn't pick the United States. My dreams involve living abroad as much as possible. God has given me a heart for missions, and more specifically foreign missions. I want to live abroad, whether its full-time missions or vocational ministry. I would love to live in the United Kingdom, in a jungle in Nicaragua, on an island in the Pacific, in New Zealand, in a hut in Ghana, in the mountains of Tibet, everywhere in the EU, and all over the world.

I really don't plan on living the rest of my life in the US. In fact, I pray for God to give me opportunities not to live in the US.

The fact that I currently live in Ukraine qualifies me as an "expatriot," by the literal sense of the word: a person living in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing. And most likely, I will be an "expat" again in the future. However, I've never liked the term "expatriot," because it sounds like I've renounced my allegiance. My allegiance has not changed. Despite things I don't like about America, there are more things I am grateful for including freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom to assemble. I can travel around the world and know that the US government will do what it can to protect me as a citizen.

I am proud to be an American.

Traveling opens my eyes to make me that much more grateful for freedom. So, as I celebrate this 4th of July while living in a country that only recently gained its own freedom, I want to say thank you.

Thank you, America, for all who have ever fought for my freedom, especially my own friends and family.

Thank you, America, for giving me freedom so that I can live all over the world. 

Thank you, America, for giving me the opportunity to live in Ukraine. I am so grateful to live here.

Thank you, America, for giving me opportunities in the past to travel to Nicaragua, Mexico, England, Ghana and Italy. Places I dream about seeing again.

Thank you, America, for fueling my dream to live and travel all over the world.

But most of all, thank you, America, for always welcoming me back home.

(credit to Bethany B)

Happy 4th of July.

::Three Days in Donetsk::

"A group is a bunch of people in an elevator. A team is also a bunch of people in an elevator, but the elevator is broken!" ::Bonnie Edelstein::

Last week, the five of us AIMers had to make a trip to Donetsk to fulfill part of our visa process. In order for us to remain in Ukraine, we must be registered. We were hopeful that all would be smooth sailing, but this is, after all, Ukraine. Instead of a quick one day trip, we were there for 3 days and on the third day we actually had to start the process over. We are still waiting to hear the final word on our registration.

The trip was at times very frustrating, because we never knew when we would get the ok to go home. We didn't take much stuff with us, so we made do with the little we had. We also had a whole lot of down time. In this case though, boredom bred creativity!

And so, without further ado, I present to you the world premiere of "Three Days in Donetsk"!
(I highly recommend you watch it full-screen!)

Please comment and let us know what you think! :)

-ej

::EURO 2012- Kharkov::

"Souls and bodies we'll lay down, all for our freedom,

And we will show that we, brothers, 
are of the Cossack nation!"
::Ukrainian National Anthem::

This month there is an international championship soccer tournament going on! Have you heard of it? Probably not, if you live in the US. It's the European Football (aka Soccer) Cup! And Ukraine is co-hosting the matches, along with Poland!

Kharkov, where I have lived for the past year, is one of the host cities of the EuroCup. It has been at times something laughable to imagine Ukraine hosting such an important international championship. Streets were torn up, buildings torn down, and ambitious projects started that had no chance of finishing in time. I even heard of a small village near Donetsk (another host city) that was closing its streets to visitors because they were so unprepared. Some of the changes here in Kharkov include English signs and announcements in the metro, new high-speed trains to the capital Kiev, and more miltia (police) than ever before.

However, as the fans began arriving this month, I have been happily surprised at the changes I've seen in the people of Kharkov! They have been so welcoming to foreigners. Smiles come more easily, and I have watched Ukrainians willingly struggle to communicate in English to help the fans. It is truly inspiring! There's been positive news reports, especially about Kharkov like this one: "Foreign Guests Blown off Their Feet in Ukraine".

I am so proud of the people of Ukraine! Experiencing the EuroCup, even as an outsider, has made me sentimental. Right now the world gets to see the best of Ukraine, and seeing through their eyes makes me love Ukraine more than ever!

Thanks to the EuroCup, I can share with you a few glimpses into my home: Kharkov, Ukraine.

A commercial for Ukraine during the EuroCup:

"Switch on Ukraine"

Here's a music video filmed completely in Kharkov!

"Welcome to Kharkiv!" by Anastasia Blinkova

And a short, funny commercial about Americans and the EuroCup in Ukraine:

"Euro 2012 Couple"

With Love from Ukraine,

-ej

::Orthodox Easter::

"Where, O death, is your victory? 
Where, O death, is your sting?"
::1 Corinthians 15:55::

As Orthodox Easter was a week ago, I thought I would share a post about Russian and Easter. If you weren't aware, Christian holidays fall on different days in the Orthodox calendar. When my Ukrainian friends ask me about when Christmas or Easter is in America, they identify it as from the Catholic calendar. Now I haven't done a lot of research into why these calendars are misaligned, but basically Orthodox holidays (including Christmas, New Year's and Easter) all fall exactly one week behind when they are traditionally celebrated in America.

For our worship assembly on Orthodox Easter, we invited families with children to come celebrate with a few American Easter traditions including an Easter egg hunt. For most Ukrainians, this was the first egg hunt they had ever been to! It was so much fun!

Ukrainian traditions for Easter are different. One thing that you hear everyone say is "Christ-os Vos-kress!" (Христос Воскрес!) It means "Christ is Risen!" On Easter, you can greet everyone this way, whether they are Christians, friends, religious, or even strangers, and they will reply with the phrase "Va-i-sti-nu Vos-kress!" (Воистину Воскрес!) meaning "He is Risen Indeed!"

Another interesting thing about Easter in Ukraine is Pas-ka! Easter bread/cake! It doesn't exactly have an English counterpart, so you can call it what you like :). As a friend explained to me, the word for Easter is only one letter difference from the word for Easter bread: Пасха (Easter) and Паска (Easter bread).

The bread/cake is in the shape of a giant cupcake (although they vary in sizes), usually with frosting and sprinkles on top. They are sold everywhere in the days before and after Easter, although every different Paska I tried was rather dry with raisins. Perfect with a cup of tea :). I really like them! If you're curious, here's a Paska Recipe.

Traditional Paska

Many Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter by waking up before the sun and lining up at a cathedral to have the priest bless them with holy water. A common sight on Easter was women in skirts with their heads covered by scarves (required for entry into an Orthodox church) carrying a basket full of Paska cakes. The priest would sprinkle holy water on the Paska to bless it, and then some of them would take the Paska to a graveyard and leave it on the grave of their loved ones.

I was personally given two different delicious Paska cakes from friends (one even home-made by her mother!). For me, celebrating Easter in Ukraine was another wonderful insight into Ukrainian culture, which is intrinsically Orthodox. Experiencing traditional holidays is definitely one of the most amazing things about living in a foreign culture.

Христос Воскрес!!!

-ej

::A Support Request::

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."
::Galatians 6:9::

I have been here in Ukraine for 9 months! It has been quite the adventure! It's hard to believe that my commitment is half-way over. As such, I am looking ahead to the next 9 months, and I am in need of support for a visa renewal trip (my current one will expire in May) and eventually a flight home. I need $2500 total.

Here is my support letter with more details about the work:
(if it's not loading, click to read it on Dropbox or Google Docs)

You can even donate quickly and safely online below:

Raise Money Online

Every little bit really does help from $5 to $50! Thank you so much for your help and your support! If you'd like to receive my newsletter, let me know!

Where God leads, He provides.
-ej

::The One in Control::

"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
::James 1:27::

I'm the one on the far left!

Most Thursdays I go to a hospital here in Kharkov, to visit a ward for abandoned babies. These babies are in a state of limbo, waiting on paperwork and formalities before the government takes them to an orphanage. There have been as many as 8 or 9 babies, but right now there are only around 4. The oldest is 2 years old (we were there on his birthday), and the youngest is only a few months old.

I really enjoy getting to hold the babies and love of them and wish it was longer each week. It's a time when God shows me that He is the One in control. I can wish a better life for them, I can pray for a beautiful future, but only God can give it to them. I have NO CONTROL over what happens to them. I can't make it better. I can give them the only thing I can: love. They won't remember me, but I pray they remember the One Who IS LOVE.

A few weeks ago, a group of medical students came in to look at the babies while we were there. They were foreign students from all over the world: India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Morocco are the places I remember. Their classes are in English, and so after an awkward length of time when the teacher kept speaking to me in Russian (assuming I was Ukrainian), I initiated a conversation with the students. We shared where we were from, what we are doing here and contact information.

I have no idea what will come from this, but God seems to have an additional purpose for our time with these sweet babies. As much as I want to, I can't adopt each of these babies. I can only love them. But as I love them, God is showing His love to more and more people. He is the One in control!

-ej

::Out with the Old, In with the New::

"Christmas is over. Do not despair but rather be glad. We had a good year, now let's have another. remembering all the good times that we had. Oh no more lights glistening, no more carols to sing, but Christmas- it makes way for spring."
::Relient K::

Well, I guess it's about time for a new post!

We celebrated Thanksgiving the American way, sweet potatoes and pie included. It was wonderful to take a day to remember everything I have to be thankful for, including being here in Ukraine!

Ukraine doesn't celebrate December 25, but rather January 7 is Christmas day in the Orthodox calendar. The big holiday for Ukrainians is New Year's! A family meal, presents, Grandfather Frost (aka Santa Claus), and New Year's tree (aka Christmas tree) are all part of the New Year's holiday.

For us missionaries, we shared food, fun and gifts on December 24th. My family sent some gifts that I then opened Christmas day after skyping them the night before. Despite being my first Christmas away from my own family, I enjoyed celebrating with my friends here who have become family to me.

New Year's was quite a big celebration for all of us with friends here in Kharkov! We counted down the New Year's, greeted the New Year with hugs, celebrated with sparklers, watched fireworks all around, and played games until 5am before calling it quits! It was quite the party, and a great way to bring in 2012 here in Ukraine!

Here's a few pics from the last of 2011:

 The Sky Highway over Kharkov

 Me & Canaan at the Halloween Party

Christmas gifts sent from my family!

 In Kharkov's Freedom Square

 The 2012 New Year Dragon in Freedom Square

Happy New Year to all of you!

-ej

::Bruchko::

"A tall prophet with yellow hair will come to us carrying banana stalks. Knowledge of life and God will come out of those stalks, and God will show us the way back to him."
::Ancient Motilone Legend::

Yesterday I read a book titled "Bruchko" by Bruce Olson  (originally titled "For This Cross I'll Kill You"). I've been sick for the last couple of days, and so I had time to read it straight through. I am glad, since it turned out to be a page-turner. I first heard about this book when I was at Harding. Many of my friends, including my sister, had to read it in various missions classes, but it was never assigned in mine. It's about a 19-year-old missionary who went to the South American jungle to share the Good News with uncivilized tribes.

I want to share more about this book to show that it is definitely worth reading. But if you are worried about "spoilers", feel free to stop reading here.

The stories in this book are incredible and inspiring. Bruce followed what He believed was an immediate calling at 19 years old to be a missionary to South America. He felt called to the unreached tribes in the jungle of Colombia and Venezuela, but literally took a "leap of faith." He left with a one way plane ticket and $70 of cash. A missionary had agreed to meet him at the airport, but never showed. Ultimately, when he met other missionaries, they shunned him and ultimately disfellowshipped him, because he did not have a missionary board backing him. To read about his experiences makes me incredibly grateful to have my supporters, AIM, my coordinator and a mission team to work with here in Ukraine.

Despite all of this opposition, Bruce wouldn't go home. He somehow managed to find his way into the jungle. His goal was to reach the Motilone tribe. They were known for killing white oil company employees with bows and arrows. No one had ever been able to communicate with them. His first contact was an arrow in his leg. He was rescued from the jungle to heal, and then returned to the same people.

The natives couldn't say "Bruce", and so they called him "Bruchko." One of the most amazing things about this story is how he chose to share the Gospel. He didn't try to "Westernize" the people. He lived with them to first learn about their world view. He wasn't looking to destroy their way of life, but rather show them how Jesus could better their way of life. Because of this, it took him 4 years of first learning the language and gaining their trust and friendship before he even told them about Jesus.

Some could argue that this was not the most "efficient" way of teaching them about Jesus. But I would argue that Bruchko was showing them Jesus by the way he lived. He first shared the truth about Jesus with his closest friend in the tribe. And then he waited for this friend to share the truth about Jesus with the rest of his tribe, in a way that they would understand.

The Motilone word for faith means "to tie their hammock strings to," because the Motilone people slept in hammocks. They understood the idea of hanging their hammock string and trusting it to suspend them and hold them up. Isn't that a beautiful description of faith?

Far too often I have trouble differentiating between Christianity and western theology. I expect Christianity to always look like it does in America: pews, song-leaders, church buildings, Sunday services and Wednesday night services, invitation songs. I would never argue that any of those things are wrong. But is that all Christianity is?

I am so blessed to have worshipped with brothers and sisters here in Ukraine, in Mexico, Nicaragua and Ghana, as well as all over the United States. All over the world, to be a Christian means the same thing: to be a follower of Christ.

You don't need a church building. You don't need to speak English. You don't need trees to meet under. You don't need to be a part of "Western culture." You don't need to "clock-in" at three assemblies every week. You don't need to wear shoes. You don't need to wear a suit and tie or a dress. You don't need an Ichthys decal on your car.

You need Christ.

And HE will change your life.

-ej

::I AM WHO I AM::

"God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' God also said to Moses, 'Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.''"
::Exodus 3:14-15::

I have been blessed to help lead a girls' Bible study with Olivia on Saturdays, and we just started a new study on the Names of God. I got to make the cover page for our notebooks with many of the names the Bible uses to refer to God. It was a fun project to work on as well as a good reminder of Who God is, so I thought I'd share how it turned out.

Servant of the King of Glory,

-ej

::The Black Sea::

"For whatever we lose (like a you or a me),
It's always our self we find in the sea."
::e.e. cummings::

A few weeks ago, our team went on a retreat to Crimea and stayed in a camp near Yalta, overlooking the Black Sea. It was beautiful!

Here is a video I took of us in the taxi from Simferopol to Yalta, trying to find where we were staying. Our taxi driver did not know where it was, nor did the lady he stopped to ask. The funny thing is that we were actually just barely down the hill from it when I stopped filming, we just didn't know it.

And a few pictures!

a Superhero :)

our Superhero poses

the Black Sea

Caleb on a boat ride

in Yalta

a castle known as the Swallow's Nest

-ej

::Trust Me, You Don't Want the American Cookies::

"If you give a mouse a cookie, 
he's going to ask for a glass of milk."
::from the children's book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie::

Every Monday night, we host an English movie night with subtitles for whoever wants to come. We usually have a good crowd of Nigerians, Ukrainians and Americans. On the way home from the guys' apartments tonight, some cookies called to me from a bakery window. They were larger than most "store-bought" cookies sold here in Ukraine, and looked truly like sugar cookies! Now, I have been here long enough to know that everything (especially FOOD) is not as it appears, but I was willing to give these cookies a try.

So Jordan and I stop, and I look to figure out what they are called in Russian: "AMERIKANO." Seriously, I spotted the only "American" cookies! I ask the lady for three of these "Amerikano" cookies, and she tells me (in Russian), 

"They are NOT SWEET. They are BAD!" 

I am left with nothing to say! It's not everyday you get talked OUT of buying something by the salesperson. I stand back to regroup with Jordan. We decide to watch what other people are buying and decide to buy the same. However, these are little cookies, and the price is by kilogram. Well, I have no idea how many cookies are in 1 kilogram, AND I only had 8 griven (~1 dollar), not enough for a whole kilogram.

We try to guess how many cookies we can buy with 8 griven, but really, we are CLUELESS. And it's always easier when things are simple. We've been standing here for a while now, but an idea finally came to me. I muster up all of my Russian knowledge, go up to the counter with a smile on my face, and say this:

"I have 8 griven. I want lemon cookies."

"Is that all?"

"Yes! Thank you very much."

Although the cookies tasted nothing like American OR lemon cookies, I say that it was a very successful Ukrainian adventure! Because trust me, you don't WANT the American cookies! :)

-ej

::A Day in the Life::

"This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." ::Lamentations 3:21-24::

***This post is meant to be long and give you an example of a day in my life in Ukraine.

Every day is truly an adventure in Ukraine, and I love it. Yesterday (Friday) was a very busy day for me, but a really good day. It seems I can make all the plans in the world, but they never go as planned. Some days I look back and think of what could've been done to make it more efficient or what I can do differently in the future, but really, it's just life in Ukraine. If it's not this, it's something else...that's the adventure!

I started the day off with a meeting with our coordinator, Dougle, at a coffee shop in the center of the city. We have been going through the book of James as a devotional, and then we just talk about whatever is going on. It's a good time for our team. Our Russian class starts at 10am at a university not too far from the coffee shop. Today was a perfect example of a typical Russian class for us. We spent the majority of time going over three questions which all translate to "Where?" in English, or more specifically "To where?", "From where?" and the basic "Where?" Each question has to be answered a different way. Yep, that's Russian for you.

After class, I met up with one of the missionaries, Katie, for coffee. We talked for a little over an hour, and then I headed off to get some lunch. I had in mind this Georgian place that sells what can best be described as grilled cheese croissants. They are SO yummy. However, after paying our teacher for the week of classes, I had only 5 griven in my wallet; the equivalent of a little over 50 cents. So I went looking for an ATM.

Some ATMs will only give out 200 griven bills when you pull out large amounts, but I knew of one not too far that would give nothing bigger than 100 (8 griven=1 US dollar). This makes life a lot easier, because so many places need close to exact change. An ATM a few weeks ago gave me 800 griven in all 20s, because it was out of big bills! It was great! So I try that ATM, but it won't take my card. I knew I had a 10ish minute walk to a different metro stop, so I figured I would find one on the way. The next ATM I tried told me it "Couldn't make the Transaction," and the third ATM was only in Ukrainian. I don't like agreeing to things I don't understand, so I kept going. Finally, right across from the metro was a line for a working ATM. I got my money and asked for a receipt. The machine then made me ask a second time as it told me "Consider Saving the Forest by Not Printing a Receipt!"

By now, I had long since walked past the Georgian place, and it wasn't worth the trip back. I was near a McDonald's (which I had eaten at for only the third time on Thursday), and a sandwich place I had tried only once before with a bad experience. But, armed with more Russian, I was ready to give it another try. I asked for a chicken sandwich, picked one of the two bread choices offered (having no idea what they were, just repeating one back), and watched as she began making my chicken sandwich.

She began by buttering the bread. Okay, I'm thinking, sure, butter on a sandwich can work. She layers on the chicken. A little processed, but very edible. Some other kind of meat. Must be more chicken? Cucumbers go on. Now we're talking. Common, and actually quite tasty on  sandwich. Cabbage. Not a big fan, but I can eat it. Unidentified, green slimy stuff. Uh-oh, here we go. More of it, slathered all over. Can't figure out how to tell her I don't want any more. Some funny black stuff. What is that? Mayonnaise-based sauce. Sometimes good, maybe there's enough to hide the other flavors.

I get it to go, pay and decide to take this sandwich outside and eat on a park bench. It was a really beautiful day. All of this took much longer than expected. I eat as much of the sandwich as I can so that it's not wasted, then buy orange juice and a Twix in the metro to get rid of the taste in my mouth. Next time, I'm just going to bring a list in Russian of exactly what I want on my sandwich.

The metro took me to some of the missionaries' home, where I was meeting Olivia to prepare for a Bible study I'm helping her lead tonight. I stayed for English Bible study, which was also at their place, and they even fed me dinner! It was wonderful, and I am so grateful. Cody, one of my teammates, led the Bible study in Mark and did an awesome job, then we ate sopapilla cheesecake. It was heavenly. An hour-long trip via the metro finished off my day, and I was home around 9:30pm for the first time since 8am. I love that tired feeling after a busy, but really great day. 

Every day in Ukraine comes with a new adventure, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.

-ej

::First Brownbag Letter::

"Why are trying so hard to fit in when you are born to stand out?" ::from the movie What a Girl Wants::

AIM in Lubbock has a tradition that every Wednesday at noon, the directors Kris and Pat read letters from AIMers who are on the field written to the new AIM class. It's a sack lunch day, so it is affectionately known as "brownbag." The new AIMers will write notes and encouragement and send it back to those spread out around the world. This week was the second brownbag for the 2011 AIM class, and I sent a letter. I actually wrote it last week, but it wasn't read until today. I thought I'd share it here as well.

Priv-yet! (That’s hello in Russian):

My name is ErinJoy, and yes, I go by both names together or even better just call me “EJ.” I am on the AIM team in Kharkov, Ukraine. The other day my teammate Jordan and I were coming home, and Jordan held the outer door open for a Ukrainian Babooshka (grandmother). She was asking something in Russian that took us a few tries to figure out, but she was asking if the door was open for her. We let her in, and Jordan told her we were studying Russian. As we walked into the stairwell, she said, “Yes, yes, I understand. You are the American girls living on the second floor, yes?” The most incredible part is that during this conversation, I had come to the realization that she was blind. I don’t remember ever seeing her before in our neighborhood, and yet this kind, old, blind Ukrainian lady knew exactly who we were.

The three of us girls (me, Jordan and Dawna) live in the most populated region of Kharkov. We live in a soviet-era 13-floor apartment building with 13 separate entrances, so you can begin to picture how big it is. And yet, as we befriend our numerous neighbors, it is clear that they all know exactly who we are. Our entire neighborhood talks about us. We are the “A-mer-i-kan-key”; the American girls who have come to live in Kharkov. We clearly stand out.

Being AIMers, believe me, we stand out, even in Lubbock. People don’t understand us. We become the “talk of the neighborhood.” We are doing something that is crazy in the world’s eyes. Paul gives this challenge: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2). Every day, we struggle against this world. We have to fight against the way the world wants us to be. We should stand out.

We have to be transformed, each and every single day into HIS image. As an AIMer, you already stand out as different. You have chosen a path that seems crazy. Always remember that the way we show Christ to the world is by how we live. It’s not the easy path. Some days I hate the fact that I will never truly “fit in” here in Ukraine. But I am not here to fit in. I am here to stand out and show Christ in my own life.

Don’t be discouraged when friends or family or even strangers don’t understand what you are doing. Continue to be transformed into the image of Christ. AIM is a great place for transformation. And when that stranger tells you, “I already know who you are…” my hope is that they don’t just see you, but they see Christ in you.

Still being transformed,

-ej

::Bethany's Sister::

"Both within the family and without, our sisters hold up our mirrors: our images of who we are and of who we can dare to be." ::Elizabeth Fishel::

Growing up, I hated it when people said me and my sister looked alike. I was the older sister. She was the little sister. Could people not see how different we are? Now, I love being known as Bethany's sister. I want people to say we are alike, because she is the most beautiful person I know. We are 2 and a half years apart in age, just enough to be really close but also fight a lot as kids. We became very close when I left for college as we still talked often. Then my sister came to Harding as a freshman when I was a senior, and I know I wouldn't have made it through that year without her. I loved being asked if I was Bethany's sister, as I proudly answered, "Yes, I am!"

I knew when I decided to do mission work, that the hardest person to leave would be my sister. She is still the person I miss the most. Every day. Every moment. But I also knew that of everyone I had to leave, she was the one I could count on to always be there. I trust her more than anyone else on this planet. And I knew that she would be the one who knew all of my dreams and would never let me NOT move to Ukraine. Those last days before I left when I started doubting what I was doing, even as I stood in LAX crying, she is the one who made sure I got on my plane.

My sister is one of the biggest reasons I am here in Ukraine right now. I would not be who I am today without her. She is stronger than me. She has an unshakable faith. Her faith could move mountains. Her character has been tried and tested as true. She loves sacrificially and unconditionally and shows that in her actions. I have been challenged time and time again just because of who she is in Christ.

Tomorrow my sister Bethany leaves for Ghana, West Africa. She is going on a two-week mission trip with World Bible School, led by our Uncle Joel and Aunt Pat Coppinger. It's her first time to leave the U.S. It is an incredible opportunity for her to use the many talents God has given her and let God's power work through her in a new place. I know what a blessing she will be to the people of Ghana, because I know what a blessing she has been to me.

I also know there may be hard times. Any foreign culture is difficult, but I know that she has a willing heart and open hands to serve. She will be challenged, and I believe she will rise to them with even greater grace. As long as her trust remains in God, she will do incredible things through Him. She has already changed me for good.

April 2011

My sister is my best friend.
my strength. my fellow dreamer. 
my encourager. my sister in Christ. 
my honey. my accomplice. 
my love. my confidante. 
my co-conspirator. my dear.
my safety net. my other half.
my support. my mentor. 
my heart. my person. 
my little sister.
my Bessie.

She is amazing. wonderful. incredible. fabulous. gorgeous.  smart. a great listener. the funniest person i know. wise.
beautiful inside and out. i love her with all my heart.

Please pray for my sister, as well as my aunt and uncle and the rest of their team as they travel to Ghana and minister there for 2 weeks. Pray that doors are opened for the Gospel to be heard and taken to heart, and that the team remains safe and healthy. And please pray for my parents as their two daughters will be away from them on two different continents.

I hope that if you have not yet met my sister, that you will one day. I am blessed beyond measure to know my amazing sister, and this is a feeble attempt to say just how proud I am to be

Bethany's sister.

-ej (aka Ery)

Summer 2009

::A Trip to the Mall::

"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered." ::G.K. Chesterton::

Here's a little video Jordan and I made on a recent trip to Karavan, the closest mall here in Kharkov. We go to the supermarket there fairly often, where we can find many familiar or similar things to what we have in the states. There's even a McDonald's.

-ej

::June 2011::

"‎Say to those who are fearful-hearted, 'Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.'" 
::Isaiah 35:4::

I realized yesterday that I have failed to post my most recent newsletters on my blog! I apologize for this and will strive to keep them posted from now on. So without any further delay I present my June 2011 Newsletter coming to you in your choice of high or low resolution.

Just follow the links:

High Res Newsletter

Low Res Newsletter

If you'd like to receive the newsletter by email, please leave your email through Kontactr.

In the service of an AWESOME God.

-ej

::The White House::

"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." ::From the movie Casablanca::

The other day during Russian class we learned how to ask and answer the question "where?" We have learned how to say we live "in" a city, for example: Я живу в Харькове (I live in Kharkov), pronounced something like "Ya zhvoo vHarkovye." In previous classes we've discussed where we've been, what state certain cities are in, and which US cities have metros. We've talked about the capitals of countries, including of the US. 

So when our teacher asked in Russian something that sounded a lot like "Gdey (where) Casa Blanca?" I immediately answered, "In Washintgton," thinking that "Casa Blanca" meant "White House." Which it does; in Spanish! However, if you recall your geography (as I did not), Casablanca is also the largest city of Morocco! My teacher just looked at me and shook her said saying, "No, no, no." I also was very confused, because of course the White House is in Washington! It took me a few moments, but it finally dawned on me that I was trying to understand two different languages! My silly mind didn't even realize the difference.

Often when I am trying to speak in Russian, my mind finds Spanish words more easily than Russian, but that is changing the more I learn Russian. Spanish has given me a helpful framework to learn a new language. I seek to understand Russian grammar compared to Spanish, not English. And even though it can be difficult at times to not immediately go to Spanish in my mind (which is easier for me), it has been exponentially more helpful to have studied Spanish and some French first. I better understand how languages fit together, and for that I am grateful as I struggle through a much more difficult language to learn.

Russian is my focus right now, and I can see so many benefits of speaking to people in their own language. It is important to show people that we want to be here and that we care about them. We are not outsiders, but equals. It shows a respect for the culture and who they are. As I am able to put more and more sentences together, I look forward to when I can better communicate in conversation.

-ej

::Caught in the Rain::

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow." 
::G.K. Chesterton::

Today a group of us headed via metro from English worship assembly at one home to the Russian assembly across town, and when we surfaced, we were caught in a downpour! We called ahead and decided to wait out the rain, at least until it had lessened. We joined the crowd of Ukrainians around the metro exit, and I took a couple short videos of us for your enjoyment :).

Waiting in the Metro:

Walking in the Rain:

Thank you to each and every one of you who spend a few moments of your time on my little blog :). Feel free to say hello!

-ej

::Я говорю по-русски немного::

"A different language is a different vision of life." 
::Federico Fellini::

For the last month we have been in Russian classes almost 4 hours a day, 5 days a week. It's a very intensive way to learn Russian, and we still have homework every day. The five of us on my AIM team all are in class together at a university in the center of Kharkov. The university is Kharkov National Automobile and Highway University (ХНАДУ). Our teacher changes every 2 weeks because it is summer break, so we have just started with our 3rd teacher.

While it can be truly exhausting mentally, I have furthered realized how much I love languages. After studying Spanish and French, I can say Russian is much more difficult to learn. It has been a struggle to be patient, but a rewarding one. Looking back over this month, I am so much more willing and eager to start a conversation in Russian as limited as it may be. I am not afraid to walk into a store or up to a stand and ask for things in Russian. I have seen how much can be understood without knowing what was even said.

Our main focus for these 3 months is language, but I can already see what a blessing it will be. It means a lot to people when you try to speak their language, whether fellow Christians at our assembly or the girl at McDonald's yesterday who struggled not to laugh at my bad grammar but was as nice as could be. I have bought fruit, vegetables, even a backpack at a market, which is so much easier now that I understand numbers and can describe what I want.

I know I won't become fluent in Russian in just a year and a half. I may not ever understand everything in conversations. However, I want people to know at the end of these 18 months that I was willing to give it my all to communicate Jesus' love to them whether simply through actions, in my English or through a truly heartfelt attempt to communicate in their own language.

We ride the Metro every day to and from school,
and nearly everywhere else.

Most mornings we meet here with our coordinator.

The main entrance to our University. Our class meets in a building across an inner courtyard.

Ukrainian coat of arms, flag and national anthem on a poster.

Russian lesson

my desk during break

self-portrait of me surviving another day of Russian class :)

In His Service.

-ej