some more bee..utiful pics

On our trip to Ukraine the bees were very active

Mission trip to Ukraine

Ron and I had the opportunity to go to Ukraine to work with a UK mission team visiting the small village of Noviy Posoliok near Kirovograd. A school holiday program was the main activity but there was also opportunity to engage with the elderly and homeless people of the area.

Face painting was a big hit and 2 afternoons were spent decorating kids faces.

The end of the week brought an outing to the fun park and the kids had some rides and an icecream....greatly enjoyed by all!

The morning activity was story and craft and up to 35 kids crammed into the tiny hall

The team brought over 20 timbrels and the kids were introdued to how to play. After 2 lessons there was a not too bad display in the Sunday morning meeting.

Kids enjoyed singing and the language barrier was broken with some carefully selected songs.

The games were taken out on the park area and sometimes onto the small street. Village life......we could do so much more than what is possible in the big city. The kids loved the games and the sports equipment that team brought with them and then donated for future corps activities.

Sunday morning crowd was too big for the hall so we took the meeting out of doors to the common area in front of the hall. A great way to end a big week all together worshipping God

Visitors

Visitors from home - started and finished at Red Square - it was a great couple of weeks.The 2 brothers at red square

We visited parks, gardens and found so many staues - this one at the Novadavichy graveyard - can you guess his occupation?

we have been amazed at the flowershops every where - but this display was impressive.

The month of June saw our first visitors from Aus. It had only taken 22 months for someone to have the cash and desire to visit Moscow. Ron's brother Kingsley and wife Margaret spent 3 great weeks with us. We took 2 weeks of our holiday time to travel around with them. At first we had all these great plans to head off to St Petersburg and maybe to the outside of Moscow to some villages, but the time went so quick. We were flat out discovering all we wanted to see just in Moscow.

There were a few places we had saved up - we would go there when someone came from home. Well we covered most things but there is still more to see. The days went so quickly. Summer had come at last so no need for coats - it was hats and blockout every day.

Parks, gardens, statues, museums, long walks, boat rides, as well as trips to Red Square in day and night kept us busy.

We tried to ban Kingsley from using the words 'unbelievable' but it kept coming. Margaret is a bell collector and I think she may have seen and heard enough to satisfy for some time- the bell in the neighboring cathedral rings hourly all through the night.

Thanks for the company Kingsley & Margaret and for all the little goodies you brought over for us!!!

July some old friends from Glenroy passed through on their way back home and so it was good to have a day with them. Connections to home are important and these days skype and email help to lesson the distance. Thanks to everyone who takes the time in some way to support us during these days - we value your support.