"Normal" life

      Well, had another busy yet "normal" week.  As normal as it will be for the next month, starting tomorrow!  Last Thursday in art class, we painted sunsets and then glued black paper on them as the silhouettes of mountains and cactus and whatever else their creative minds came up with.  Today, we looked at close up pictures of different flowers and they had to draw what they saw and all the little details.  I think they were all challenged by this, which was great seeing them accomplish something more than they thought they could do, but it also frustrated some.  Poor little Abby was literally brought to tears because she thought her drawing wasn't good enough.  Naomi was about at that point too, but after some consoling and encouraging, and helping them draw some petals on their flowers, they perked up and finished their beautiful artwork.  I love just getting to hang out with the kids and the comments like "I wish art was our only class"  and "Art is always fun"  always make my day! 

The goofballs

Aren't they just adorable?

Abby is in the grey hoodie... I think this was right before she broke down haha

      I also have some exciting BCA news... I get to coach a girls' volleyball team!!!  Starting next week we'll have a gym to use every Wednesday after school, and once it gets warm, we can play outside more too!  I talked to a bunch of the girls at lunch today and they seem really excited to play and to learn some new skills!  I can't wait to get to know more of the older girls at BCA and build relationships with them, and what better way than by teaching them my favorite sport? 


      This past Friday, we got a couple more things on the list of visa stuff done!  Thank you Pratt for assisting me and Jess with your guidance!  We should be ready to turn in the paperwork for the Baptist Union, and then while we're waiting on that, we can get the stuff at the health insurance place taken care of.  And then hopefully we're nearing the end of the crazy process!  It is kind of nice that since I'm leaving the country 3 times in the next month, I'll get another stamp that's good for 90 days, but it still would be great to get all of this out of the way and behind us!

Amazing funnel cake/doughnut things called gogosi :]

Chillin on the bus as we run around taking care of visa stuff!  Pratt stole my camera and took a millon pics 

      This weekend I spent a lot of my free time working on Romanian homework.  I'm really trying to make the most of the little down time I have in the evenings to soak in the language, since I know my studies won't be as consistent in the month to come.  I had lessons 3 days in a row this week, which was a lot to take in, but I won't have another for about a week and I have plenty of homework to keep me busy on the long van ride to Ukraine!


      I've gotten to go to the baby hospital on both Monday and Wednesday for the past 2 weeks!  I really love that ministry, and of course have fallen in love with the babies.  I found out that Corny works there every afternoon, not just Mondays and Wednesdays like I was told, so I'll be trying to go on other days too, especially now that I'll have volleyball on Wednesday afternoons.  I have a confession to make though, I was totally judging this couple that came into the hospital last week to see Katia, my favorite one that I decided to steal.  They were there with her for about 20 min, and in my head I was thinking "Her parents can only give her 20 min of their time and just leave her at a place like this, how horrible."  And then I found out they were looking to adopt her!  And they did!  On Monday when I came in, she was already gone, and although I'll miss her, I'm glad she found a home and people to love her!  


      So tomorrow morning I'm leaving for Ukraine at 8 am!  Our team, consisting of myself, Tom, Kristie, Anca, Felix, Boing, and Andrew, had a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the plans for this weekend.  We will be going to a church where they had camp last summer, and putting on a seminar/retreat for 40-100 teens/adults.   There are still a lot of questions about the logistics that we really won't know until we get there, but flexibility is a necessity in missionary life!  I'll fill you in on everything when I get back, but all I really know right now is what the theme is for the weekend, and that I have to wear a skirt and a headscarf the entire weekend, so thus will be out of my usual comfort zone and a totally new experience!  Please be praying for safety as we drive (in Hillary! yes they named the van), for no problems as we cross the border, that the people's hearts will be soft, that we will be an encouragement but also challenge them, and that we will build relationships that we can invest in again this summer at camp!