More translation help from Youtube

This has to be the funniest...somewhat offensive...Youtube video in reference to translating!

Enjoy.

Week 7- Almost Done

• I slipped and fell on the ice while wandering around downtown last Saturday. Other than being embarrassed, it didn't hurt. Until the next morning. Finally, it's sort of "not" hurting today.

• Sunday morning I went to church at Kiev International Bible Church. A great experience. Like "International" churches in most big, foreign (non American) cities, they worship in English. I had already met one of the worship leaders a couple weeks ago. International Churches are always great- here there were Ukrainians and Americans and South Africans and Iranians...who knows who else. Not a big crowd, but intimate. We shared the Lord's Supper. They had a great twist...as they passed the elements...the bread for example... I broke off a piece of it and handed it to the person next to me (behind me actually) and said "Christ Body broken for you", and received it likewise from the person in front of me. After church there was a potluck and it was nice to have some variety in a meal. When I cook for myself, I'm pretty much a one-dish wonder!
• On Tuesday night I was invited to have dinner with the Peipons. They are American Medical Missionaries here that I first heard about from my Birmingham friends- the Halls- back in 2006. My friend Allyson was there- actually, she cooked the meal I think...and it was FABULOUS!! Also, there was a group of young Ukrainians from their church having a prayer meeting and worship band practice and I got to play the guitar with them for a few minutes.
• On Wednesday I met with Alan- one of the pastors at the International Church. We ran into Bruce and Mark- my language class cohorts at the pizza place. Then I opened an account in a local bank...after all the processing is complete I should be able to wire money from home to this account and not have to pay anymore exorbitant Foreign Transaction Fees for using my credit card in an ATM. I also did some grocery shopping and got a haircut. I thought of my niece Brittany the whole time I was getting the haircut because the girl cutting my hair was cute like Brit and the "Salon" was pretty hip like the places Brit has worked at. Think all black and white decor with loud techno music!
  
• My teacher Galina wrote a note for me to give to the lady that "guards" the apartment door downstairs asking if she knows anyone I can hire to do my laundry. I gave her the note today and THAT was interesting! However...I think I understood her- she's going to speak to a lady in the building and get back with me.
• Next Thursday three World Racers (including one of my former fellow racers) will be in town to begin logistics for the World Race Squad that will be here April. I'm looking forward to spending some time with them and putting what little command of the language I have into practice on their behalf.

I have been pretty good to post a few pictures on my Facebook page...but if you haven't been there here's one from this past weekend- it's the Statue of the Archangel Michael atop the Pecherska Gate in Independence Square.

That's easy for you to say!

меня зовут клинтон, я из Америки, штат Мисисипи. Сейчас я изучаю Русски язык. Потом я буду работать в Киеве. Но сейчас я не знаю где я буду работать.

That's not much of a "speech" or testimony...it was probably the shortest of all the students. It was a cool event though. It was a fellowship/testimony event for the whole language school, particularly for everyone to get to know the first year students. Some performed skits (that were really good), some taught a short Bible study or shared scripture.

Afterwards we enjoyed a meal together and after that several of us stayed around for some English language worship time. Me and a guy from Texas helped lead that time. John is a superb guitar player; it was really fun to do that with him.

Pictured above is my class (l to r) is Mark Canada from Indiana. He and his wife Charlene are missionaries with SEND. He's a practicing attorney, really bright guy! He read a full page thing he wrote about a favorite song. Mark & Charlene will be providing Pastoral Care ministry for pretty much all the Russian Language speaking SEND Missionaries. They'll be great at that! Next to him is our very patient teacher Galina. As soon as she senses that we've "got it" she moves right into the next thing....there's no slowing down. She's pretty strict but she is patient and has a great sense of humor. Then again, I can see where we as a class would be a great source of humor! When I can't quite get a 'sound' right, she'll look at me and just keep repeating it and so will I. But I usually get tickled doing that- like the scene from the Pink Panther where Steve Martins Clouseau character is trying to say Hamburger. I think she's seen the movie and gets the reference! Bruce McKay is a Canadian Artist. Among other things he wants to teach Russian speaking adults and church leaders how to teach children using the Arts. And then there's me.

Six Weeks Exams...just kidding.

Has it really been six weeks of classes already? I'm in my 6th week. And I think I have a Six Weeks Exam this week. Well, sort of. We're having a fellowship-type event this Thursday. I guess all the first year students have to share...in Russian... a very short testimony. Funny thing...one guy- Mark the practicing Attorney, has a whole page to share. Bruce the artist has a paragraph. I have about 3 short sentences. I asked my teacher today if I should add to it but she said no- that's plenty for me!! In English it amounts to: "My name is Clinton. I'm from America, the State of Mississippi. Now I'm studying the Russian Language. Afterwards I will work in Kiev. Right now I don't know what kind of work I will do." And by golly I can say it in RUSSIAN!! I was also asked to lead some worship in English afterwards.

This past week was sort of eventful I guess. Not really...but. I finally found a street vendor that sells Shaurma. It's a wrap sort of thing with yummy grilled chicken and potatoes inside with cabbage and peppers and sauces. Was a bit pricey at $1.50!

My buddy Darrell carted me around one day to shop for and buy a small TV. I brought my Playstation with me so now I basically have no need for relationships or getting out of the apartment. If I can figure out how to order Pizza by phone, I may never leave.

Classes last Tuesday were cancelled due to flooding (broken pipe) at the school. I ended up tagging along with Darrell and company all day as they (Darrell and some of his IMB staff) hosted a Banquet for some of the Ukrainian young adults at church. One of Darrell's newest guys was in my small group at the IMB Candidate Conference in Richmond last July! Anyway, we cooked (actually, Darrell cooked and I entertained and was entertained by...his kids while he cooked) Chili with all the fixins. There was a lot left over so I ate Chili and Chili Mac all week.

What else? Oh, I got to meet and have coffee with a couple of fellow blog stalkers. Two girls that have lived and worked here in Kyiv for some time now. We all sort of discovered one another through our blogs before I ever moved here. Was nice to actually meet them and I'm looking forward to getting to see more of what they do here. Emily, among other things, leads worship at the International Church (English Service). I'm gonna try to go to church there next weekend. Michelle works with street kids among other things.

So here I am in Week 6. And I have homework to do (between winning World War 2 and the next Mississippi State Football game on Playstation!)

A month down...23ish to go??

I can hardly believe I've been here a month already. I finished my 4th week of classes this past Friday and true to what some of the "veterans" told me, yes, it does make a little more sense now...much moreso than it did those first two brutal weeks!

Granted of course, that most of those same veterans have also told me to expect to take the full two years to be really comfortable!

I have found that being in contact with some folks back home is more important to me now than it was when I was on The World Race. Probably because during TWR I was constantly surrounded by people and was trying to find some "alone" time anywhere I could get it. I do have some friends here and honestly, I need to spend more time with them. I need to get out more.

I keep meeting people that have very similar ministry interest- to work orphans, to lead them to Christ and to prepare them for life after the orphanage, to see a viable Foster Care system here. I'm a little surprised though when I meet someone like that who doesn't already know someone else that I know with that same interest. Does that make sense? In other words... God is at work here in a lot of little streams but those streams are far from coming together. But it is encouraging just to know that God is putting the people in place.

I find myself thinking often...particularly on Fridays and especially if I've had a good day in class... that this is a life I could live. I like being here. I desperately need to get outside my comfort zone and start practicing speaking...but I am enjoying the challenge and I know the "ministry" part of it will take care of itself in time.

I'm looking forward to this week. We'll have a special schoolwide Overview (in English!) this Wednesday. I might have a lead on someone that can help me find that Hillsong Church next weekend. I'm ready to buy a TV as soon as one of my friends here has time to give me a ride! I think I'll get to meet one of my "facebook" friends that works here later this week.

Finally- keep the prayers and the encouragment coming. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I still have some issues back home that weigh heavily on me. I told my oldest sister the other day that these weekends seem to be the hardest on me. Until I can establish some sort of routine or at least get out of the apartment more, the weekends are a little too much downtime even for me!

Honesty, is such a lonely word...so says Billy Joel....aka, the Pigeon Drop Scam?!

Well, I survived another week of classes. My third week. And it wasn't a bad week at all. I actually "got it" I felt like. Yeah, that's right, I'm an expert at Russian Adjectives. NOT! But I didn't feel completely humiliated too often this past week.

I have made arrangements to meet my teacher for a couple hours extra the next couple of Wednesdays (my day off) hopefully to practice speaking.

I did get a little bit of practice today. I ventured out into downtown in search of Hillsong Kiev Church. I didn't find it, but I had an adventure anyway.

I was walking down this one beautiful street lined with big government buildings and museums and such. I thought I was on the right street but not sure I was walking in the right direction so finally I ventured to ask a guy if the street I was on was in fact the right street. "Eta Vladymirskaya Ulitsa?"..."Da" the man replied. Yes, it is. So then I started to tell him where I wanted to go and he just happened to have a map in his hand that he unfolded and there we stood on the sidewalk trying to figure everything out. He finally decided I was walking the wrong direction... and I was OK with that...but then he decided he would walk with me to show me the way. No problem. We introduced ourselves and he spoke a little bit of broken English. Enough to make the obligatory connection between my name and "Bill Clinton". Da, da...similar, Da.

As we were walking down the street, he suddenly stopped and walked over to the fence and picked up a HUGE wad of cash in a plastic bag. Lots of USD and EURO. A WAD, I tell ya! His first reaction was to sort of shout down the street but there was no one nearby that looked like they were frantically searching for their lost money.

So Yura and I continued walking towards the next intersection and all the while I get the impression he's explaining to me something like, "finders keepers, losers weepers." I don't know enough Russian to do anything more than shrug and say, "yeah, I guess so."

At the intersection a frantic guy approached us and started talking about losing a lot of money. At this point, I was wondering what Yura would do...and in short time he starts playing dumb. The frantic guy is demanding we empty our pockets and wallets...he was really frantic! I thought for sure Yura wasn't going to give him the money and I was praying under my breath because I really didn't know what to do. Actually, I guess I did know what to do, but I guess I was afraid to turn on the guy. Finally, Yura pulled the money out and made like it was a big joke and pretty quickly walked away from me and the still frantic, somewhat confused, but now very relieved guy.

I kept thinking of how much I've heard that it is almost 2nd nature to people here to steal and take bribes and basically thrive on dishonesty. But really...I don't know if anyone in Gulfport, MS or anywhere else in the world would have reacted much differently than Yura did when he first found the money. I know one thing: he walked away having given up a LOT of money. I have a feeling he gave in, in part, because I was standing there with him and I knew the truth. I may never know for sure.

As for other adventures: I got word this week that The World Race will be here in April. I'm going to get the word out among my new friends here and try to find them a place to stay and Debrief at the end of March when they arrive here. I'll be busy with classes while they are here, but I hope to spend some time with them. Their advance team will be here early next month.

As always, I sincerely appreciate your prayers and encouragment. Comments, facebook messages and emails are all eagerly welcome.