Pics from Odessa- and beyond!

Okay, so I've only got a minute before I go to school. (Last day- *tear*) But I'm gonna post the update email I sent out, so if you've already read it, just ignore it. Or read it again, I may have a test at the bottom. (There are pics at the bottom, so at least look at those.)


Dear Friends and Family,

Wow, I am checking my email for the first time in what seems like forever. Thank you so much for your sweet emails and all of your prayers. I don't even know where to start about this weekend. It was pretty much the most amazing weekend I've had since being in Ukraine.

We hopped on a train Thursday night to head for Odessa. The Radooga Staff, me, and the Student Life people who came (Ronnie Brock, and the video crew- Erin, Chappy, Drew and Taylor) went on the train and Oleg Vasilevsky drove the youth pastors who came in a van (Clinton, Jeff, Chris, Ivan, Bodie, and Kevin) We had a fun time on the train and I got to room with Ira, Veronica and Olya and I love them a lot. :0)

We set up for conference on Saturday and Lori, Ira and I took the youth pastors on a "tour" of Odessa. That was exciting because none of us really knew what we were doing or where we were going. But I think we made it fun anyway. Surprisingly the weather was almost on the verge of being warm.

The conference was great. We had about 200 teenagers come and I saw some girls that had been in my English class two years ago, Masha and Ira, so that was fun. The theme of conference was "A Call to Freedom" and Oleg preached and we had a hilarious drama based on the story of the little gingerbread man. Nikita, Tyoma and Pasha were our gingerbread men. (Those who know them will find that very amusing. :0) They even did a rap.

The conference was mainly for teenagers who had already committed their lives to Christ, but many of them made decisions to live their lives according to the freedom that God offers and that was so good.

Right after the conference, me, Lori, and Oleg Magdych took the youth pastors to dinner and got some Shuarma and then headed to the train station. Adventures on the train…that was exciting. I got to room with Madison!!! Yay!!!

Sunday morning we got to the train station and found Jenn Smith. She'd been doing ministry in some other orphanages, so me, Lori, Maddie and Mark met her there. She had gotten in earlier that morning and we got in at about 8:30. Mark and Jenn headed to Orphanage 21 and me, Lori and Madison went to church. I don't think I've ever felt so gross going to church…straight from the train…but I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Remember how I told you about Mohammad, who led Fashid to Christ, who led his friend to Christ this week? Well, Fashid and his friend got baptized on Sunday morning along with a Chinese girl who had become a Christian Saturday night and another Iranian guy who lives a couple hours away in Kharkiv. Damoon called Mohammad and asked if he could get baptized and Mohammad said well, sure, but you have to find a church who will baptize you. Damoon said, "Can I come get baptized in your church?" Mohammad said, "Well, we're having baptism on Sunday, but we live in Kyiv, Damoon…" Damoon took an overnight train and got to church at 9:30 to be baptized. It was absolutely incredible.

We met Mark and Jenn downtown and sadly said goodbye to Madison. :0( But me, Mark, Lori and Jenn had such a good time hanging out. We went to Puzata Khata and just talked about our weeks. Mark and Jenn are adopting 6 children from Ukraine and we are ecstatic. :0) We came home and then took them to the airport in the morning. Jenn has a way of saying exactly what you need to hear when you need to hear it.

Jenn and Mark, we enjoyed every minute spent with you and I can't wait until we all get to heaven and can hang out all the time. Thank you for everything. We're glad we could be "something" for you. ;0)

Thank you for praying this weekend. God is going so many awesome things in Ukraine and I really can't keep track of it all!!! I'm so excited about the youth pastors who are bringing teams this summer. God is going to do amazing things through the groups they bring, I can already tell. They were such an encouragement to me.

For the Tallahassee peeps, I will see you all in a couple days. I can't wait to get your hugs. (And Carlitchka, I'll see you 5 days after that. ;0)

Grace and peace,

Calyn

"Look, among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days you would not believe if you were told." –Habakuk 1:5




Nikita getting left on the train. Poor Freakita...



I'm lovin' Ronald.




Everybody who's anybody..."touring" Odessa....




Me and Maddie!!!!



Pasha, Tyoma and Nikita taking a break from their backbreaking labor...



Kevin said he was trying to look Ukrainian in this picture.



Magdych with his favorite drink, Schweppes. Awwwwwww.



Tyoma working hard.







Lori, Mark, Magdych and Madison



I wanted the same picture, but Magdych had different ideas....



LOST!!!




We hung out with 2 girls from the conference in the train station, Ivana and Angelina. They were so sweet.



Me and Magdych



Drew, Chappy, Erin and Taylor at the coffee shop



The other side of the table



Ira and Serozha singing on stage



Veronica and Valera at the Vasilevsky's house for a pizza party




Chris, Vitaliy and Jeff. They all look kinda drugged...



Much better.



Me and Erin



Ronnie, Taylor and Ivan



Ronnie really wanted to be in that picture...



Everybody getting baptized on Sunday.







I led art class at the office on Thursday. To relieve stress, you know. :0)



Serozha doing some hard core drawing.



My picture for Vitaly. It's St. Sopfia's and Bogdan Xlemenskiy. Yeeesssss.



Roma and Arielle.



My picture for Magdych



My picture for Kevin. Awwwwww.



Serozha holding his finished work. Awwwww.



Vitaly holding his masterpiece



Me with mine. Yeeessss!!!