7:20 am

Waking up in Krasny Mak is a unique experience at any time of year, it just starts earlier now that it's summer: dog's barking, roosters crowing, ganders gendering, and birdsong everywhere. Sara didn't wear ear plugs like I did, but I think she will tonight!

It was very good to see Maxim last night at the airport. Some things just have a rightness to them and being here again, seeing him and Jhenya definitely fit the bill. It was funny at one point as we talked because at the same time we were saying the same things. Not realizing obviously until the interpreter translated for us. Yes, he arrived with Katya who will be translating for us throughout the week.

They were both very encouraging about the Russian I've been learning so far and I think will be enthusiastic teacher's over the next couple weeks.

We arrived at about 11:30 to some pretty intense Ukrainian pizza and coffee. It was quite delicious. The air is surprisingly humid and very warm at about 30 degrees. It probably won't vary much throughout our stay.

I'll get my first chance to preach in the church here tomorrow morning and Maxim and Luke will go to the airport to pick up the rest of the team as they arrive around 9am this morning. They should be back in time for church, but if not, he instructs me that someone connected to the church has died this week, and to pray for their family, and that someone else in the church has had a birthday. I tell Katya to just keep me on track if I forget.

Our room was just right this morning, but is rapidly heating up!

9:48 pm

It's been a great. With the absence of the worship leader and Maxim, our team stepped in and led the Sunday morning service here in Krasny Mak. Tiana and Jordyn led some worship, picking songs that they knew. It was kind of cool to here our small group (maybe 25) all together belting out "How Great is Our God", Russian and English side by side in a cacophony of praise!

Tiana shared about inner beauty, which only God can create, verses outer beauty, which quickly fades. I know she speaking to the other teen girls in the room her age and encouraging them to pursue the kind of beauty that is from the inside out. It's a great service. Folks like Nadia continue to stand out as key movers and shakers in the small congregation and we have a heart to see them experience all that God has for them. It's to be noted that they notice, with disappointment, the absence of the former team (Pomeroy's, Smiths, Vanderlindes, Voorhees, and Terry) and it's obvious that they made a huge impact last November.