No way!
We missed our flight back to Houston, BUT its so foggy and raining that we cant even see the street in front of the airport!!!!!!!
So, no Eiffel Tower. But it would probably cost 100 dollars to get their by Taxi. I have spent 100 in about 20 minutes. The dollar to Euro is 1/2!!! I better just go read.
I dont know when we will get home. Some time tonight I think. Its 1:30 here in gay ole Parie!!!!!
See ya when I get home.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Tuesday
We are still here in Budapest. I am at an internet cafe.
We are loving this town. There is so much history and beautiful buildings. We toured yesterday morning and went to the Market. Last night we went for a Cruise down the Danube. Today we are off the an Island to tour that and then fly home tomorrow.
I am still have stomach issues. More when we get home.
We are loving this town. There is so much history and beautiful buildings. We toured yesterday morning and went to the Market. Last night we went for a Cruise down the Danube. Today we are off the an Island to tour that and then fly home tomorrow.
I am still have stomach issues. More when we get home.
Friday, October 5, 2007
fun day
What a fun day…
The day started out pretty good. We went to the worksite. The guys started putting the big huge rocks in the ditch, then they will follow that with smaller rock and finally cement. They don’t just throw the rocks in. the make them fit into a pattern. They (Ukraine’s )are always very precise with their work The girls went on 2 home visits. The first was a lovely couple. They were so proud of their refrigerator and indoor toilet. Not flushable, but an indoor outhouse. The lady wanted to sing for us. She got out her Hymnal and began to sing ALL the verses to a few songs. She has a beautiful voice, but after 20 minutes of singing I was falling asleep! Then we went to another lady’s home. She lives with her daughter and son in law. They have TV, CD player and a modern washer and dryer and inside toilet- that flushed!
After we got back to the Church lunch was ready. Today we had mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy, bread- of course, and homemade sweetbreads and homemade donuts! My gosh, I am going to gain 15 lbs here. The mushrooms are picked daily in the forest.
After lunch we took some flyers about the Church through the village. This has never been something I am comfortable doing, but we had fun. We visited with people and saw beautiful flower gardens. They store their hay in big huge stacks by there homes. They keep their animals nearby, so they need to have access to the hay. We saw an older man that has passed by the church all week with his horse and cart. We were able to take a pic of him and the horse. We spent a couple of hours doing that and then had to get back to teach Bible School. The kids were there and ready to go. We learned about Zaccheaus and did a craft. They love the crafts; I think that’s why some of them come. They have never seen the kinds of crafts we brought from Oriental Trading Co. After Bible School they brought Pizza for us to eat. Yucky it was disgusting! I’m not sure what the meat was but it was nasty. I scraped of the stuff and ate the bread.
We left the church to go the Kamanitizia Church for the Youth Program.
We were changing clothes at the pastor’s house, which is upstairs form the church. I had noticed the buckets of mushrooms. I commented – (not a good thing to do), the pastor’s wife Anna decided to make us fried mushrooms to eat after Church. Oh my goodness, not more food. Whatever you comment about they want to give you, its their custom! yikes
I had volunteered to do 30 minutes of that. We had 2 testimonies and then exchanged names for prayer partners. After that, we went upstairs to eat those darn mushrooms. Yuk! Ok so we sit down to eat a little tiny bit of mushrooms, no, they had bread and then brought out black Russian tea, then chocolates!!!! This went on till 11:00. We were all so tired and about to fall asleep. When the pastor offered me more chocolates, I told him I would save them for breakfast! In the mean time Mike was getting an upset stomach. So the pastor gave him some milk. Mike finished what they had and we loaded up in the bus. We were almost home when he made a stop at a store. He came out with chocolates and more milk!!!!
We got home about midnight and went right to bed. During the night, Mike and I as well as 3 other people on our team became sick. We had some stomach problems and diarrhea. About 2-4 of us stayed at the Hotel today. We hope to meet them at the Church tonight.
Today the ones that went to the work site are cleaning the church and doing my bible school lesson. Then, they will go around the remainder of the village and pass out the rest of the flyers.
Tomorrow we sight see in all three villages. There is a castle and the forest to go see. Sunday we are off the Budapest for two days, and then home. I will post again on Sunday evening. Monday we have a 3 hour tour of Budapest then we are on our own to travel the city and do some site seeing and shopping. I have found a City Market that we are going to. They have handmade crafts etc. I would like to find some flea markets but I think this is the closest thing to that.
Better sign off,
I am getting so tired this week. I think I will have to have my sub work next Thursday. Our plane gets in to OKC at 8:00 pm after a 16 hour flight!!!! Then we drive 2 hours home. So, Mrs. Thomas you are working an extra day. I hope that’s OK. Ill bring you something special for all your hard work. You too Ms Sara!!!!
I found some cute things yesterday for my kiddos. I hope they like them and are being good, so they can have them.
Tootle loo,
The day started out pretty good. We went to the worksite. The guys started putting the big huge rocks in the ditch, then they will follow that with smaller rock and finally cement. They don’t just throw the rocks in. the make them fit into a pattern. They (Ukraine’s )are always very precise with their work The girls went on 2 home visits. The first was a lovely couple. They were so proud of their refrigerator and indoor toilet. Not flushable, but an indoor outhouse. The lady wanted to sing for us. She got out her Hymnal and began to sing ALL the verses to a few songs. She has a beautiful voice, but after 20 minutes of singing I was falling asleep! Then we went to another lady’s home. She lives with her daughter and son in law. They have TV, CD player and a modern washer and dryer and inside toilet- that flushed!
After we got back to the Church lunch was ready. Today we had mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy, bread- of course, and homemade sweetbreads and homemade donuts! My gosh, I am going to gain 15 lbs here. The mushrooms are picked daily in the forest.
After lunch we took some flyers about the Church through the village. This has never been something I am comfortable doing, but we had fun. We visited with people and saw beautiful flower gardens. They store their hay in big huge stacks by there homes. They keep their animals nearby, so they need to have access to the hay. We saw an older man that has passed by the church all week with his horse and cart. We were able to take a pic of him and the horse. We spent a couple of hours doing that and then had to get back to teach Bible School. The kids were there and ready to go. We learned about Zaccheaus and did a craft. They love the crafts; I think that’s why some of them come. They have never seen the kinds of crafts we brought from Oriental Trading Co. After Bible School they brought Pizza for us to eat. Yucky it was disgusting! I’m not sure what the meat was but it was nasty. I scraped of the stuff and ate the bread.
We left the church to go the Kamanitizia Church for the Youth Program.
We were changing clothes at the pastor’s house, which is upstairs form the church. I had noticed the buckets of mushrooms. I commented – (not a good thing to do), the pastor’s wife Anna decided to make us fried mushrooms to eat after Church. Oh my goodness, not more food. Whatever you comment about they want to give you, its their custom! yikes
I had volunteered to do 30 minutes of that. We had 2 testimonies and then exchanged names for prayer partners. After that, we went upstairs to eat those darn mushrooms. Yuk! Ok so we sit down to eat a little tiny bit of mushrooms, no, they had bread and then brought out black Russian tea, then chocolates!!!! This went on till 11:00. We were all so tired and about to fall asleep. When the pastor offered me more chocolates, I told him I would save them for breakfast! In the mean time Mike was getting an upset stomach. So the pastor gave him some milk. Mike finished what they had and we loaded up in the bus. We were almost home when he made a stop at a store. He came out with chocolates and more milk!!!!
We got home about midnight and went right to bed. During the night, Mike and I as well as 3 other people on our team became sick. We had some stomach problems and diarrhea. About 2-4 of us stayed at the Hotel today. We hope to meet them at the Church tonight.
Today the ones that went to the work site are cleaning the church and doing my bible school lesson. Then, they will go around the remainder of the village and pass out the rest of the flyers.
Tomorrow we sight see in all three villages. There is a castle and the forest to go see. Sunday we are off the Budapest for two days, and then home. I will post again on Sunday evening. Monday we have a 3 hour tour of Budapest then we are on our own to travel the city and do some site seeing and shopping. I have found a City Market that we are going to. They have handmade crafts etc. I would like to find some flea markets but I think this is the closest thing to that.
Better sign off,
I am getting so tired this week. I think I will have to have my sub work next Thursday. Our plane gets in to OKC at 8:00 pm after a 16 hour flight!!!! Then we drive 2 hours home. So, Mrs. Thomas you are working an extra day. I hope that’s OK. Ill bring you something special for all your hard work. You too Ms Sara!!!!
I found some cute things yesterday for my kiddos. I hope they like them and are being good, so they can have them.
Tootle loo,
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Church of the Servant Website
You can see some great pics at Church of the Servant blog website... Especially one of me coming out of the outhouse.
www.servantinukraine.blogspot.com
www.servantinukraine.blogspot.com
2 for 1 post
Howdy from Ukriane, Oct 2, 2007
Day 3 was great. We worked at the site and have almost all of the ditch/footings dug. Well the men do! I have helped as much as I can, but they can dig so much faster than me. But, I have been good with the pick axe.
We had a good lunch today too. Soup, noodles, chicken, and the best grapes you have ever seen. The have used pipes to build a structure (arbor) over the area where they park their cars, if they have one, or its used for an entrance to their property. Then the vines grow from that. They most beautiful grapes you have ever seen. They do not eat the outside of the grapes. They squish the grapes into their mouth and then spit out the seeds. I will try to post a picture of them.
I went with the visitation team again this afternoon. We went to a couple’s home. They have goats, chickens and ducks. It’s a custom here to offer guest something to eat. However you are suppose to say no thanks to them for a couple of time and then they continue to insist! Then you can eat. Well, the lady brought out these yummy looking pancake type things that were small and some homemade grape jelly. She offered them and we didn’t know the custom, so we grabbed them right up! They were so good. I’m sure I will gain about 10 lbs on this trip. LOTS of carbs!! We took pictures of the couple and the man grabbed me for a picture, I though he was going to kiss me! Anyway, after we took pics. , he wanted to show us the goats. He milked them and offered us the goat milk. No way… I refused that! One of the ladies on the team did drink it. She said it was good.
We had a good visit with one Volentia. He is the Father of the Pastor of the Church. He talked to us at length about the Soviets invasion and how a lot of his family was sent to Serbia. It was really interesting to hear first hand how the people of that time felt. Parts of Ukraine were under Hungarian-Austrian Rule for years as well as Soviet Rule. Its really amazing how although we speak a different language, we can somehow communicate.
We just got back from a walk to town. They have a grocery store and on the second floor, they have department stores. Oops, they closed at 9:00pm and we got there at 9:15. There is always tomorrow.
It’s about bedtime and I need to get a shower and off to bed.
I will try to post a few pics. It takes forever to get them downloaded!
Miss you all,
Oops, I ran out of time last night and could not post.
Today was pretty much the same, except it rained most of the time. A light drizzle, but enough to make things miserable. Mike worked in the ditch most of the day. I helped move a huge pile of gravel. Until a guy from Ukraine told us not to do it. They don’t really like women to do physical labor! My kind of country!!!!
We had 27 kids at VBS. We started on the wall hanging and made some crafts. Dinner was at 7:00. Team meeting was at 8:00 and I am about to fall asleep.
One thing about this mission trip is, I will not lose weight. Lots of bread, potatoes, cakes, pastries and yummy desserts! The ice cream is the best! Its so creamy. Tomorrow we will be throwing big rock into the ditch to stabilize it before the concrete on Friday. Oh, I almost forgot. One of our team members made a toilet seat!!!!! Yippee, you don’t realize how hard it is to go to the bathroom with just a hole in the floor!!
Two of the little girls at VBS are the cutest little things you have ever seen. I would love to bring them home. I hope to go to the orphanage or school tomorrow or Friday. Its customary to leave money or gifts when your visit either place. The kids sits perfectly still until they are told to do something. They hold their hands in their laps and don’t talk either. Hmmmm, what a difference. Their rooms are just plain, nothing on the walls, not teaching store anywhere. They really don’t have the money for stuff.
Better go down and get an internet card and get this posted. I have been looking for stuff to bring home to my boys and the kids in my classroom. I hope they are being good. Im sure they are! They are the smartest kids in 2nd grade!
See ya later
Tootle loo
Day 3 was great. We worked at the site and have almost all of the ditch/footings dug. Well the men do! I have helped as much as I can, but they can dig so much faster than me. But, I have been good with the pick axe.
We had a good lunch today too. Soup, noodles, chicken, and the best grapes you have ever seen. The have used pipes to build a structure (arbor) over the area where they park their cars, if they have one, or its used for an entrance to their property. Then the vines grow from that. They most beautiful grapes you have ever seen. They do not eat the outside of the grapes. They squish the grapes into their mouth and then spit out the seeds. I will try to post a picture of them.
I went with the visitation team again this afternoon. We went to a couple’s home. They have goats, chickens and ducks. It’s a custom here to offer guest something to eat. However you are suppose to say no thanks to them for a couple of time and then they continue to insist! Then you can eat. Well, the lady brought out these yummy looking pancake type things that were small and some homemade grape jelly. She offered them and we didn’t know the custom, so we grabbed them right up! They were so good. I’m sure I will gain about 10 lbs on this trip. LOTS of carbs!! We took pictures of the couple and the man grabbed me for a picture, I though he was going to kiss me! Anyway, after we took pics. , he wanted to show us the goats. He milked them and offered us the goat milk. No way… I refused that! One of the ladies on the team did drink it. She said it was good.
We had a good visit with one Volentia. He is the Father of the Pastor of the Church. He talked to us at length about the Soviets invasion and how a lot of his family was sent to Serbia. It was really interesting to hear first hand how the people of that time felt. Parts of Ukraine were under Hungarian-Austrian Rule for years as well as Soviet Rule. Its really amazing how although we speak a different language, we can somehow communicate.
We just got back from a walk to town. They have a grocery store and on the second floor, they have department stores. Oops, they closed at 9:00pm and we got there at 9:15. There is always tomorrow.
It’s about bedtime and I need to get a shower and off to bed.
I will try to post a few pics. It takes forever to get them downloaded!
Miss you all,
Oops, I ran out of time last night and could not post.
Today was pretty much the same, except it rained most of the time. A light drizzle, but enough to make things miserable. Mike worked in the ditch most of the day. I helped move a huge pile of gravel. Until a guy from Ukraine told us not to do it. They don’t really like women to do physical labor! My kind of country!!!!
We had 27 kids at VBS. We started on the wall hanging and made some crafts. Dinner was at 7:00. Team meeting was at 8:00 and I am about to fall asleep.
One thing about this mission trip is, I will not lose weight. Lots of bread, potatoes, cakes, pastries and yummy desserts! The ice cream is the best! Its so creamy. Tomorrow we will be throwing big rock into the ditch to stabilize it before the concrete on Friday. Oh, I almost forgot. One of our team members made a toilet seat!!!!! Yippee, you don’t realize how hard it is to go to the bathroom with just a hole in the floor!!
Two of the little girls at VBS are the cutest little things you have ever seen. I would love to bring them home. I hope to go to the orphanage or school tomorrow or Friday. Its customary to leave money or gifts when your visit either place. The kids sits perfectly still until they are told to do something. They hold their hands in their laps and don’t talk either. Hmmmm, what a difference. Their rooms are just plain, nothing on the walls, not teaching store anywhere. They really don’t have the money for stuff.
Better go down and get an internet card and get this posted. I have been looking for stuff to bring home to my boys and the kids in my classroom. I hope they are being good. Im sure they are! They are the smartest kids in 2nd grade!
See ya later
Tootle loo
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Day 2
Good morning.
Its 11:50 pm in the States and I am getting up here at 7:50 am. Today we are going to work back at the Church in Perechyn. More digging for the footings on the new Church. Its 1 meter deep by about 60 cm. I think its about a yard dep by about 30 inches.
Anyway, Yesterday we worked on digging the footings and some of us went with the minister to visit some of the elderly shut in at the Church. I went on that walking trip. They walk most everywhere. The lady live in an apt building, similar to those in Dr. Zhivago. Big building, with high ceilings. Lots of doors and two big staircases. Each apt is very ,very small. The living area has a 2 burner stove, table, couch and small cupboard. The second room is big enough for a bed. The lady lives on $80. per month. There is not running water or a bathroom in her apt. She must go outside and down the path. Speaking of bathroom, The toilet at the Church is new… but its outside and there is nothing for the females to sit on. You learn really fast to squat! I tried to send pics, but it takes forever to upload.
We worked until lunch then, some of the ladies brought yummy lunch. The bread is very yummy and the lunch was, soup, cabbage rolls, cake and juice. The cabbage rolls were similar to the ones we ate at school.
Bible School was great. We had 23 kids the first day ! Yikes I planned for about 12. So regroup fast!!!! Yesterday we learned about Moses and today is Noah. They know who God is but that is about all their Bible knowledge. We had M&M and raisins for snacks. They loved that.
Tonight we are serving dinner at the soup kitchen downtown in Uzaghrod. There are a lot of street children. They leave the orphanage at 16. They don’t have a skill, so they live off the street. A lot of them are children of the “Roma- Gypsies”. They are of India decent and treat much like outcasts. Hence the song – Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves…
The food is good, lots of starch and carbs. But filling and nothing like Mexico.
Rick has a sore throat so has not gone with us for 2 days. He stays at the Hotel.
Ii am going to go downstairs and eat breakfast and post this to the web, so I will see ya later.
Your can also read the Church of the Servant blog. Ill attach it in a few.
Tootle Loo,
Breakfast was yogurt, spam kind of meat- yukko, pastries and egg/flour mixture made into a pancake…. Get those cards going…..
Its 11:50 pm in the States and I am getting up here at 7:50 am. Today we are going to work back at the Church in Perechyn. More digging for the footings on the new Church. Its 1 meter deep by about 60 cm. I think its about a yard dep by about 30 inches.
Anyway, Yesterday we worked on digging the footings and some of us went with the minister to visit some of the elderly shut in at the Church. I went on that walking trip. They walk most everywhere. The lady live in an apt building, similar to those in Dr. Zhivago. Big building, with high ceilings. Lots of doors and two big staircases. Each apt is very ,very small. The living area has a 2 burner stove, table, couch and small cupboard. The second room is big enough for a bed. The lady lives on $80. per month. There is not running water or a bathroom in her apt. She must go outside and down the path. Speaking of bathroom, The toilet at the Church is new… but its outside and there is nothing for the females to sit on. You learn really fast to squat! I tried to send pics, but it takes forever to upload.
We worked until lunch then, some of the ladies brought yummy lunch. The bread is very yummy and the lunch was, soup, cabbage rolls, cake and juice. The cabbage rolls were similar to the ones we ate at school.
Bible School was great. We had 23 kids the first day ! Yikes I planned for about 12. So regroup fast!!!! Yesterday we learned about Moses and today is Noah. They know who God is but that is about all their Bible knowledge. We had M&M and raisins for snacks. They loved that.
Tonight we are serving dinner at the soup kitchen downtown in Uzaghrod. There are a lot of street children. They leave the orphanage at 16. They don’t have a skill, so they live off the street. A lot of them are children of the “Roma- Gypsies”. They are of India decent and treat much like outcasts. Hence the song – Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves…
The food is good, lots of starch and carbs. But filling and nothing like Mexico.
Rick has a sore throat so has not gone with us for 2 days. He stays at the Hotel.
Ii am going to go downstairs and eat breakfast and post this to the web, so I will see ya later.
Your can also read the Church of the Servant blog. Ill attach it in a few.
Tootle Loo,
Breakfast was yogurt, spam kind of meat- yukko, pastries and egg/flour mixture made into a pancake…. Get those cards going…..
Monday, October 1, 2007
Hi day 2
We are great!
Im really tired so this might be a quick post. Im having a hard time getting this done tonight
so, I will post more in the morning. Its late here and 2:30 pm there.
Im really tired so this might be a quick post. Im having a hard time getting this done tonight
so, I will post more in the morning. Its late here and 2:30 pm there.
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