October 31

Today we got up at 8ish again. We then went down and ate breakfast with bro Milko and packed our bags and left to drive south. We left right after 10. We drove for a while and then stopped at the Canadian war memorial in Groesbeek. So sad!!! Some of those guys were only 18 when they died. Some of them were like 20 and they said on their stone Beloved Husband and Father. Those children of those soldiers wouldn't even have known their fathers. And also, if those guys were that young and married, their wives must have been also quite young. I can't imagine being married at my age let alone married and then having my husband die! Its so sad!! They gave their lives so that I would not have to live in a world ruled by Nazism or a dictator or anything! Even though it is sad, I am thankful for them giving their lives. After we left there, we went into Groesbeek and bought some fruit and then went for lunch at De Wolfsberg. It was good. Then we continued on our way to the camp. When we got there, we went to the bungalow and put our stuff in there and then John and I went out and looked for people. We found the Norwegian young people. So we visited with them for a while and then went back to the bungalow to get ready for church. I did ironing and got dads stuff ready for him. Then I got my stuff ready for church. Then we went to church. We were late so we had to sit in the back. It was really distracting for dad cuz he isn't used to noise and stuff so the translators behind us were really distracting for him. It was kids normal for me tho...... Cuz I usually sit in the back and where there's kids and stuff. Anyways, bro sergay from Moscow preached tonight. It was really good. We left right after service which annoyed me cuz I was hoping to like actually talk to people..... But whatever. Life goes on. When we got back to our bungalow, we just sat around the four of us and ate and talked and laughed. Bro Milko tried to get John to tell him who he liked. Lol. That was interesting. Then I cleaned up and we all went to bed. My room is freezing cold :( cuz my window doesn't shut all the way :( 

The view from the restaurant we had lunch at. 

October 29

Today I got up at I think like 8. Dad thought it was almost 9 tho cuz he forgot to change his watch from Ukraine time so ya..... Anyways, I got up and went down for breakfast. It was typical European breakfast which I love :) lol. Like pastries and stuff.  So I ate croissants and Nutella :) today, I woke up with a major neck ache :/ and I also am not feeling well. But I didn't want to say anything to dad cuz I didn't want him to be concerned or anything. So I just lived with it for the day. (Oh by the way, for everyone who has been asking, dad is feeling much better. Thank you all for your prayers.) Anyways, after breakfast we just kinda vegged and then went out. We went to Clara Maria Cheese Farm and Clog Factory. It was really cool like seeing how they make cheese and stuff. After there, we went downtown to the Dutch resistance museum. It was interesting and so sad!!!!! The Nazis were not human I think. No human could do that kind of brutal and oppressive things to other humans. It is so sad!!!! After the museum, we went for a walk by the canals. It was nice :) we then had dinner at a pizza place. It was pretty good pizza I thought. When the waitress brought me my drink, my cup was broken and there were glass shards in my drink :/ so I got her to bring me a new drink.... Lol. When we were done eating, we went out to go back to the car and it was raining :/ and none of us had rain jackets or umbrellas. So we got pretty wet..... Lol. We stopped at a Russian grocery store on the way to the car. Which I found kinda funny since we just left Ukraine and then we went to a Russian store in holland for snacks and such. Lol. When we got back to the hotel dad had a nap and John and I just sat around and texted. Then I laid on my bed and fell asleep. And now I'm going to go back to sleep..... I want to be feeling better tomorrow... Good night :) 

Amsterdam is so quaint!! 

I felt so exotic eating my pizza with a knife and fork... Lol. 

October 28

So we caved and slept from 230-430. I woulda been fine but Christina was super tired and so she wanted to sleep. So I let her :) and I fell asleep watching the service from home. When we woke up, we put our stuff by the front door and waited for bro viktor to come pick us up. We were going to take a taxi but bro Vladimir called Leanna and told her that he would pick us up. So we made him a coffee and then he came and picked us up and took us to the airport. It was so sad. At the airport I had to say bye to Leanna and Christina. I already miss then so much!!!! I didn't want to leave. But we are going to holland. Which will be fun and I'm super excited. But I miss Leanna and Christina!!!!! I cried. I will keep in contact with Christina but I can't really with Leanna since she doesn't know English. I really hope that one day I can go back to Donetsk. It is definitely a place I would return in a heartbeat. The people are amazing and I love them. We went through security and they all stood and waved to us until we were out of sight. The airport was so hot!!!!! We were just sitting there in our tshirts melting waiting for our flight to board. Our flight was 40 minutes late. So we flew to Kiev, checked into the hotel bro Milko got us and ate lunch. The waitress at the restaurant didn't speak any English which was mucho annoying!!! And then we went up to the room and used the bathroom and then John and I left so dad could rest. We went to the swimming pool but then some dude came and yelled at us in Russian and I didn't know what was going on so we just left cuz I was super confused. Lol. So we ended up just sitting on the sofa in the lobby. Well actually, I was sleeping on the couch. For like 3 hours. Which was good :) cuz I was tired. Now I want coffee. And coke..... At 315, we took the shuttle to the airport. I thought the bus was gonna fall apart. It was rattling a lot and there was like a gap between the door and the bus. Lol. When we got to the airport, we got ice cream and then played a random golf game for a chance to win free tickets to some golf tournament. We didn't get the tickets but we got little prizes. John and I got notebooks and Dad got a iPad cover. Then we went through security and then customs. We weren't supposed to board yet so we walked the airport and went to a little store and spend the remainder of our greibens. And then we walked a little bit longer and then boarded our plane. Our plane was kinda empty. Like there is noone in business class. Except an off duty stewardess. I think she is off duty since she is just sitting there not doing anything. I had to use the bathroom and so I went back, shut the door and locked it and BANG BANG BANG!!!!! The stewardess is banging on the door "madder than a rattle snake" (that was for you Bake. Lol) and telling me that I have to get outta there cuz they are gonna do a safety demonstration. It was stupid. I told her fine but she can clean up if my bladder explodes. Lol. I anyways didn't explode and so I went once we were in the air :) the flight was good. I was exhausted tho and so I was trying to sleep but John was being annoying and kept waking me up. The flight was 3 hours long. Once we got to Amsterdam, we went and rented a car. Then I had to attempt to figure out how to use the GPS. Which was hard but I got it figure out :) it's easier to understand things here because I can decipher what things are by reading them but in Ukraine the language wasn't in normal letters so it was harder. When we got to the hotel, we ate dinner and then John and I went to the exercise room while dad worked with bro Murphy on the Chinese bible project. Then John and I came up to the room and dad wanted some water. The only place to get a bottle of water here is the bar. So... I went down to check how much it cost and then I went back to the room to get money from dad and then when I went back down to buy the water, this guy came over and he was like what brought you back? Like I saw you here and then you left and then you came back. So I told him I went up to get money cuz we needed water in our room and he was like what??? You're just here for water??? And I told him I'm too young to drink even if I wanted to and he said there was no such thing as too young. And then he walked away and was telling his buddies that I was just there for water. Lol. It was really funny. And the guy was like forty. Which made it kinda creepy..... Lol. After I went and got the water, I went to bed and fell asleep almost right away. 

Cool clouds again. 

John and I on the plane 

I wasted on John in Life. I was Mary he was bob. Lol 

October 27

Today I woke up I think at 7. Then I got up and had chocolate and pancakes with meat for breakfast. Then we went to church cuz we had to be there at 9 to practice. So we took the taxi to church and then we practiced our song. I sang a solo part :/ it was nerve wreaking.... But I got thru it :) dad didn't get the pulpit until like 1130 (service started at 10) because it was 10th anniversary meetings and so bro Vladimir talked for a long time. And then dad talked about missions for a long time too. By the time dad started preaching, it was probably after 12 and when he finished was 2. He preached on The Dynamics of Marriage. After service, we had tea and sweets and then had young people's service at 3. Dad spoke and then John got up and greeted the people and dad interviewed him about his life. Then dad looked at me and I vehemently shook my head no so he wouldn't make me go up too and so he just talked about me. And I pretty much kinda cried. Lol. Then we all went to McDonald's. Which was fun. I ordered cheese sauce stuff in Russian. Which was fun. Lol. Christina and Karin came with me so I would have a backup. Lol. Christina just took video. Lol. The cashier just looked at me like I was an idiot. Lol. After McDonald's, we went to te stadium and walked around. And John was racing with a bunch of guys and fell and broke his tooth.... Just kidding. But he got super winded and I had to run and buy him a water. That's the bad thing of traveling with John. I worry about him. I worry about dad too. Especially when he gets up behind the pulpit and says he didn't sleep at all. Anyways, after the park, we went back go the tabernacle and had sweets and tea. And Levon interviewed me about life at home. So I did end up speaking. Lol. Then, we went to Julia's and had coke and saw her. And they sang happy birthday to John and I for some reason. Lol. And gave us a bag full of candy..... Lol. And Julia gave me a small gift and a gift for dianna. Then we went and dropped John at the hotel where he is staying tonight. With dad and bro Milko. Then we took Eugene to his house because he missed his bus. I pretty much slept the whole way. And then we got there and I really had to use the w/c really bad (since I drank a LOT of coke at Julia's) so pasha, Christina, Eugene (of course) and I went into Eugene's house. Christina and pasha wanted coffee so I had one too (since I'm trying to stay up tonight since it will be easier to just not sleep rather than waking up at 4) except I don't like coffee so I put cold water in it and just chugged it. And then they were laughing at me for that too. Lol. So we four were sitting inside and drinking coffee and laughing (quietly so as to not wake up my future sister in law) and then Eugene brought out his German flag and we all broke loose into giggle fits. Lol. It was fun :) then we decided to go out to the van to go to Leanna's (who i found out today is actually Lena and I've had it wrong the whole time. But to not confuse you, I will keep calling her Leanna) since Andrew was waiting in the van and we were supposed to just be using the w/c. And he said if we took too long he would just leave. But he didn't :) so we were safe :) but i had to say goodbye to Eugene :( it was sad. I hate goodbyes!!!! I wish that we never had to say them!! I think that there needs to be planned a Canada trip. And Eugene, pasha, Christina, Leanna, and Levon need to come. That would be the awesomest time ever!!!!!!! I would like it very much. That's the problem with staying at someone's house. You get close to them and it is hard to leave. Anyways, we drove with Andrew back to Leanna's house. We arrived at like quarter after twelve. When we arrived, i had to say bye to pasha. It was sad. I invited him to Canada and he invited me back to Ukraine any time. Lol. We are going to pull an all nighter since its no sense sleeping for one hour so I'm posting now instead of before I sleep. Lol. Since the day is technically over. Lol. 

Pasha and John (Auntie Debbie I told him to lose the hat and he just laughed at me. Lol) 

Sweets 

Levon 

Karin

October 26

Today was Christina's birthday. She is 20 now. This morning I woke up at 8. Then we had breakfast and went to the church. It was good. Then we took the taxi to church. It was a good service. Dad preached on Devoted to Character. It was good. After service, Andre took Leanna, Christina, Julia, Sergei, pasha, John, Eugene and I to Leanna's house for lunch. We had borsht and fruit. It was good. Then we had to go back to church for evening service. I sat between Eugene and pasha and they translated for me. And then when dad walked out of church, he gave me this look like umm what are you doing between two guys?? Lol. It was funny. I went and explained to him after church. Lol. Oh ya. Dad preached on The End of Argument. It was good. After evening service, we practiced our song (which we are singing tomorrow if you care to listen.... I am singing a solo part..... It's at midnight your time.... Or maybe 1 cuz of the time change) and then went to pizza at Julia's pizzeria. It was super good!!! I ate too much tho. Pasha kept giving me more pizza :( but it's all good :) I love it here!!!! I don't wanna go home!! After pizza, we went home. Christina and I sat on our beds and talked and texted for a while and then we had tea and prayed and then I went to bed. Oh and today, I forgot I take some pictures on my iPod. Sorry... 

October 25

Today I woke up at about 7. But I was sleeping on a trundle bed with Kristina and she was on the pullout part so I didn't want to wake her by climbing over her. So I layed in bed for like an hour and a half till she woke up. Then I got up and had a quick shower. I got all dressed and did my hair and everything and then Kristina told me that we weren't going to be coming back to the house before church so I should go ready for church. So I ironed my skirt and then got dressed for church. Then I ate breakfast. It was really good. We had some pancakes but they were rolled up and stuffed with I think cream cheese or something and then you put sour cream on them. They are so good!! And also, we had little sandwiches with meat and cheese in them. They were good too. Then we just sat around and waited for Leanna to come home so we could go out. She came and got us and then we went to where she works. She is a speech therapist at the best kindergarten in Donetsk. We took a tour of the school and it is pretty cool!! There's like a swimming pool even!! Leanna said there is about 400 children there. They are ages 3-6. It was really cool. After we finished our tour, we got on the bus and went to a park. There we met some other young people. They were all guys. There was John, Eugene (the guy whose house John is staying at), Pasha, and Levon. We walked around the park and went on the Ferris wheel and went in a house of mirrors. And we took lots of pictures. On my camera. Which is why I can't post them till I get home cuz I am blogging from my iPod.... But I will post my pictures when I get home :) after we finished at that park, we went to a park with lots of cool iron statues and sculptures. It was neat. Then we went to a Ukrainian cafeteria for lunch. It was yummy :) then we walked around and saw the football stadium. Which was pretty neat. We once again took a lot of pictures. Then we went to the bank and outside there were people protesting and sticking stickers on people's windshields. About hating their city or something. We walked for a while longer and got on the bus to go to the church. Church was good. Pasha sat between John and I and translated for the song service and after service. But I didn't go back there for the after service cuz I was feeling self conscious and like I was disturbing people. Bro Vladimir introduced me as Ruth... lol. Dad preached on The Inheritance of the Elect. I hate jet lag. I kept falling asleep :( it was so annoying. After service I shook a whole bunch of hands and we were supposed to practice a song but we couldn't so we will tomorrow and then sing tomorrow night or Sunday morning. I found Dad tho and said hi to him. We took a taxi back to the flat. Back at the flat, we ate dinner (borsht and oatmeal) and then had tea and I went to bed. 

John and Eugene on the Ferris wheel. 

Walking in the park 

John with a steel sculpture 

John 'riding' the horse sculpture. Lol 

Lunch 

The first rat I've ever seen. 

October 24

I slept good last night. I went to sleep at like 9 and then woke up at 2 and then didn't wake up till 730. Which was pretty good for the first night. Once I woke up I layed in bed and John brought me breakfast to get a break from his homework (yes I love the fact that I'm graduated and I don't have to do homework on vacation. Lol). Then I got up and had a shower and then John and I went to the fitness suite. Just to check it out since we had both just had showers. Lol. Then we went back to the room and John did homework and I edited messages. Then we went down to the lobby for lunch and then packed up. At 230, we went down to the lobby and embarked on a tour. Our tour guide was named oxanya or something like that. She took us to a lot of different cathedrals and also to the top of a hill to overlook the city, to Independence Square and to where the president works. Right beside where the president works, there was a house that an architect build himself. It was pretty funky. It had statues of rhinos and deer and frogs and snakes and elephants on it. Our tour was about 3 hours long and very informative. Once we got back to the hotel, we called a taxi to take us to the airport. While we were waiting for the taxi, we talked to an American dude in the lobby. He was from Nebraska and he sells farm equipment. When the taxi came, we drove in it to the airport. The taxi driver didn't speak English and so it was a very quiet drive... Lol. At the airport we went through security pretty much right away and then just sat in the secure area until our plane was ready. There were no restaurants so we ate chocolate bars and soda. We had to take a trolley to get to the plane.  That was kinda weird. Lol. I slept pretty much the whole plane ride. I was exhausted. When we landed, we got greeted by bro Milko's smiling face (I was so happy to see him. I was like yes!! Someone who speaks English!!) and bro Vladimir and bro Alex and another brother. We loaded our luggage into a van and then loaded up in a separate van. I was getting really worried cuz I was like umm they just left all our luggage just in that van alone. But halfway to the place I'm staying, I realized that the other brother (whose name I don't know) wasn't in the van with us and then I looked behind us and realized he was driving the van with our luggage. So that made me happy... Lol. We then came to a place and I was greeted with a warm welcome :) there was 2 girls outside and they were my people :) I am staying at a house of a family with a 24 year old daughter and also, bro Alex's 20 year old daughter Kristina is also staying here and she knows English so she is translating for me :) we unloaded my stuff and then everyone left and I stayed. It was kinda awkward for the first little bit but now I love it here and I feel very welcome. We sat around and talked and stuff :) and told each other stuff about ourselves. Now I'm going to sleep. Good night :) 

A cool restaurant we passed. 

October 22/23 - The Flight

So today, we flew. It was a pretty ordinary flying day I think. Abby dropped us at the airport at 2 and we went through security and had Starbucks and then boarded our plane. Then we flew for 9 hours to Amsterdam. It was a looooooong flight!!!! We got economy comfort seats which was super nice cuz there was a lot more legroom. We were supposed to sleep cuz it was morning in Amsterdam when we got there. So Dad hunkered down in his seat and put his legs under the seat ahead of him. Then John laid on the floor in front of our seats and I curled up in a ball on mine and John's seats. I think I got the short end of the deal cuz I got no sleep on that flight :/ we landed in Amsterdam at about 10:30 AM local time. We had a 2.5 hour layover so we started walking. John found a baby grand and sat down and started playing. So he entertained all the people in that area for a while. When we went through security for our plane to Kiev, we had to stand and wait for them to let us on the plane for like 20 minutes. The flight to Kiev was uneventful but there were some pretty cool clouds!! In Kiev, we had to take a taxi to our hotel. It was the first time I ever took a taxi that I can remember. So the taxi took us across town to our hotel and once we got there, Dad had to run inside the hotel to get some local currency. The taxi driver was getting so anxious!! He didn't think Dad was coming back. Lol. Once we got that all sorted out, we went up to our hotel room and freshened up and then went out for dinner. We went to a quaint little restaurant a little ways down the road. It was really good. I had like perogie things. They were super good!!! The place was so cool tho!! They had live music.  Like a guy with an accordion and then some people with tambourines and shakers and stuff and they were all singing. It was really cool. After dinner we stopped at a little shop and picked up some breakfast foods. The storekeeper was very wise and just wrote out how much our total was and didn't try to get the message across. Lol. Then we came back to the hotel and I fell asleep pretty much right away. At like 9.  

John and I ready to go 

John was feeling all important with his laptop, kindle, blackberry, and tablet. Lol. 

Sunrise over England. 

Starbucks in Amsterdam. 

John playing piano. 

Epic clouds 

These clouds reminded me of Oren telling Sam that when you are mountain climbing and you climb past the clouds, you can walk on them. Lol. 

Kiev 

My "water no gas"

My yummy dinner :) 

Starting tomorrow I am using my actual camera to take pictures and so there will probably be little to no pictures on here... But I will upload them when I get home.