Love in Ukraine (Written May 29, 2007)

Next Monday, at 7:30am I will get on a plane and travel for 21 hours until I reach Kiev, Ukraine. I will then travel by bus to an orphanage where I will spend a month living with orphans, showing them the love of Christ Who lives in me. I did this last June as well. Here are some of the ways my teamate Amanda Kane and I were able to see love during that month....this is why I'm going back...

Love was hand games until your hands turned red.
Love was holding those red hands.
Love was playing with a little girl's hair, and letting her play with mine.
Love was bedtime prayers, and mornings full of "rise-and-shine" singing.
Love was running laps while holding a little boy's hand.
Love was picking up that little guy when he fell and giving him a band-aid.
Love was helping kids with morning chores of gardening, shoveling rocks, white-washing, and wallpapering.
Love was filling our pockets with sunflower seeds that the kids would not let us refuse.
Love was learning "kavitochka" (flower), and "ya tibia lublu" (I love you).
Love was hugs so tight we thought our lungs might pop.
Love was receiving a gift of wild strawberries strung on a long wheat blade.
Love was letting a child feed you a sweet red cherry.
Love was wiping tears away from chubby cheeks.
Love was finding a smile that tried to remain hidden.
Love was skipping and jumping rope.
Love was drinking thick sour milk and eating stale wafer cookies at snacktime.
Love was rolling up pant-legs to wade through massive puddles after the rain.
Love was swimming in the "river" that turned out to be a mucky pond.
Love was repainting the play ground, and letting the girls clean the paint from our skin with paint thinner.
Love was holding a little one and playing peek-a-boo.
Love was lying on a blanket under a shade tree with the girls while the boys learned "Americansi Futbol."
Love was kisses on the cheek and kisses on the nose.
Love was sitting on a bench with an 8-year old boy who was showing off his reading skills while I didn’t understand a word of it.
Love was letting them use my shampoo to make more bubbles when we ran out.
Love was a little girl standing in a hug for over an hour while everyone around us played.
Love was finding Ps. 27:10 in a Russian Bible and watching a little boy's face light up........