Amy's Blog....

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Home.

Ukraine trip 2011 has come and gone. It was beautiful, and so many other things. It was a wonderful two weeks, it felt really long and really short at the same time. My heart is heavy. I am thankful. I am glad to be home and want to go back.

There were tears and laughs, and ups and downs. I loved it. I have a Ukrainian "family," and I tried to embrace my time there, definitely more so than I did last year, including eating a tongue and mushroom salad, better known as "meat salad" and my fair share of lard in various forms. I have been deemed a "Ukrainian Girl," so it's official.

My new motto: when given the chance, eat the fat sandwich.

We loved on kids, served families, and strengthened relationships. I got to see parents meet their child for the first time. I got to hold and love kids. I am so thankful to know that He created each of them and I am thankful to know they are His children, every single one of them.

I was reminded of what is important, and what isn't.

I got into the states and had a message to report to jury duty first thing Monday morning at 8:45. I did a weird laughing and crying thing when i listened to the message sunday at the chicago airport. I drug myself to jury duty monday morning, still carrying my ukrainian adventure fanny pack. just a fun tidbit. and come to find out, it was a murder trial. When they said murder trial, I immediately teared up...I have been reminded so many times these past two weeks of the value of a life. Every life. And thankfully, it turns out, I was dismissed for "knowing of" one of the attorney's on the case. Thank God from whom all blessings flow!! I ran out of the washington county courthouse, by Mama Carmen's for an almond latte (which tasted very different after 2 weeks of delicious ukraine cappuccino's) and headed to work. I was thankful to go to work and see MY kids at TEAM.

I have so much to share, so i just loaded some pictures that caught my eye today...from week #1. I plan on adding some every couple of days while things are fresh in my mind.

i saw some beautiful views....

i got to spend time with wonderful people...especially my dear Abby. and she has the best facial expressions ever, and it makes me love her even more.

one of the sweetest moments i have ever had the privilege to see in my life....so appreciative i got to spend time with them and their sweet girl.

it was a perfect fall in Ukraine. It's my favorite season and I got to enjoy it in two different countries. you can't beat that.

i got to snuggle sweet, sweet babies. my desire to snuggle often made doing my job of speech therapy a little more difficult. i am glad.

i got to teach and be taught. i learned SO much this trip. i love that.

i have so many beautiful pictures. my ukrainian friend Alex took some great pictures with my camera.
i am forever grateful!

i saw stuff that made my heart ache.

i got to watch things come to life and my heart was full.

i ate wonderful food.

as mentioned earlier, i ate unusual things, and loved them!
exhibit A. fruit/crab/mayo salad on the left....

we got to enjoy the company of the people around us, and slow down enough to get to know them better...mainly over hot tea and food.

an ukrainian accordion player made me very happy....

Can't wait to post more later.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Ukraine, tomorrow.

We leave tomorrow. After a quick shuffle, bag packing and lots of love from our friends and family to get us all together, we are almost off! Abby and I will work for a week at the orphanage we went to last year. Our hope is to establish a therapy routine, engage the children, and LOVE them!

My sweet Carmen is still not feeling great, and is super, super heart broken about not going on the trip, but resting up and feeling better is #1 priority. I'll miss you Missa Carmen.

We will be traveling with the Mooney's who will meet their daughter for the first time. What a special trip.

I am always reminded at how God is completely in control, and I should stop trying to figure things out...or worry about them.

Prayers that children are loved, hearts are changed, Jesus is shown through us...and for safe and smooth travels for our groups.

Follow TEAMWorks Ukraine here! (click on the blog link)

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Had's 3!

Happy 3rd Birthday HJL!

2008

2009

2010

2011

Your Ahmi loves you! :)

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

TEAMWorks Ukraine Trip 2011

So excited. SO, SO, SO excited.

We have been talking Ukraine the past several months, making plans, picking dates, getting together the group. I was on the fence about this year, couldn't decide if I should go...or sit this one out. I prayed about it, asked B to pray about it, talked it over...and basically wore myself out thinking!

And then, I woke up one morning, and my first thought was just "yes, send me, I'll go!" I had that thought, felt good about it, and then back came all the doubts and reasons why I shouldn't.

Is this the right timing? Am I the best person to go? What about other plans? There are other people, with more experience, they would do better than I would! It's so much work! It's such a long trip! There's so many unknowns. It's hard. Blah, blah, blah.

I let all those questions and doubts come in and leave me restless for a couple of weeks....all while praying for clarity about my decision, and for God's will to be done. And then one morning, listening to a song on the radio (that's when I do my thinking...and sometimes my crying) I knew, yes, send me. I'll go!

God has His hands on all of the children we will meet, on our plans, and His guidance on our work and our group. This work has brought me to have a love for these children, and a desire to help! And really, it's not about me. It's about serving Him, and being his hands and feet. It's about hope for these children and families. It's about helping form a network of support systems to allow people to raise their children, who are ALL fearfully, and wonderfully made!

I would have laughed in your face if you would have told me 10 years ago, I would be about to travel on my second mission trip to Eastern Europe. Laughed! (I use the 10 year mark, because while I am traveling, we will have my 10 year high school reunion, how did that happen?!?! Gotta love those Alma Airedales!) Not that I wouldn't have thought then that it was good work...cause I would have, but I would have thought that other people go and do that stuff. Not me. Those other people!

I feel Him softening my heart all the time. I know this because I pray that it's softened, and because I can burst into tears at any given moment. Letting yourself experience need and hurt and pain is hard and uncomfortable.

And the way the trip works is "we go to help" but really, we are the ones who are helped. Funny how that works out.

On another funny note, when I told my partner in crime, Carmen out of the blue one day at work awhile back that I was in for traveling again this year.....she cried, in a happy way. And then we hugged, and I laughed because she was crying, and then I cried a little too (notice the crying pattern). Last year while in Ukraine, Carmen and I said so many times how we wanted to work in the orphanage and really show them what we do. We will be going the week before the group to assess the kids, set up a speech schedule, and do what we do, all day for 5 days! A special prayer request is that during our time of working in the orphanage that we are able to form good relationships with the staff, show improvement with all of the sweet kids we get to work with, take the right materials, and most importantly share our faith and Jesus' love while we work.

Join us in praying over our trip. Praying that lives are changed, people are touched, children are loved, and our work helps raise the status of all the children we meet.

PS Every day (well, when I can...is more like it) I am practicing Russian Rosetta Stone, so far my favorite word is "Yablakah" which means apple. I don't know why, I just like it. :) www.teamworksukraine.com