Sorry for the delay in posting. The summer has been moving very quickly…
Guess which picture has food in it!
One night, one of my friends and I were eating dinner together. As we finished eating we both agreed that we were full. We cleared the dishes from the table and she looked at me and said, “I will wash some sweet cherries.” My response was, I thought we were full. Her response? “Oh, cherries are not food.” Naturally, my question was, if cherries are not food what are they? The answer? “They are for spending time together.” She then went down a list of edible items that are not categorized as food. Bananas, oranges, and most fruits, cakes, cookies, ice-cream, having tea are all for spending time together. I know this is a big relief to anyone who is currently on a diet. Her entire explanation started out as a joke but in the end it turned out to reveal an important truth about Ukrainian culture. I exclaimed, “Oh, so now I understand why every time you visit someone you are served tea because it is a way to spend time together. Even if you visit 10 houses in one day, chances are you will have tea 13 times (3 times at home).” She said, yes, they are not feeding you, if you want to eat, you can eat at home. A lot of things became clear after this conversation.
So, after packing my bag and heading to Rivne for the summer to practice my language, I spent a week in the woods at a Youth Festival. From 6:00am until well after midnight 98 percent of the time I had to think and speak in Ukrainian. One percent was spent asleep and the other on percent was getting clarification for important instructions and taking a mental break from time to time. Here are a few pictures from my visa trip to Krakow, Poland http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=94469&id=550104316&l=23363e9aef and the Youth Festival http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=94475&id=550104316&l=29c11b2393.
8 responses so far ↓
1 Pastor Billy // Jul 22, 2009 at 4:21 am
Hey Tania, well the summer is here now and we’re on our way to the Ukraine, see you in a few hours.
2 Carolyn R. O'Bryant // Jul 22, 2009 at 5:35 am
Thanks Tania for the update. Now when I go to visit my friends or relatives I will reflect on what you said as it relate to fruits, desserts, tea and coffee – its all about fellowshipping and spending time with one another. Take care!
Your Sister in Christ – Carolyn
3 Dick Dickinson // Jul 22, 2009 at 6:49 am
That’s the kind of hanging out ministry I love!!!!!! We start language in September…most people don’t give us much hope for learning the language at this age but w/ God, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE…I’m banking on His promise coupled w/ hard work.
Blessings! Dick
4 Audree Arrington // Jul 22, 2009 at 7:43 am
Hey Tania, thanks for the update. It was very insightful. I now have a new perspective on having tea and fruits.
Take good care, I miss you much!
5 Melanie // Jul 22, 2009 at 12:05 pm
God bless you Tania, good to see your face. I am amazed that you look so good after so little sleep! Praise the Lord for your diligence in learning the language. You will make a great impact upon the people when you can express what you KNOW about the Lord in their language. Keep up the good work.
6 Hans Anderson // Jul 23, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Hey Tania,
Praying for your language acquisition etc… hope to hear more storeis about time well septn in the Ukraine.
Blessings,
Hans
7 Corrine Davis // Jul 24, 2009 at 8:59 am
Good to hear from you. You are in my prayers. What good news. I will try to make sure I have fruit for my friends. Be blessed. Get some rest.
Ma Davis
8 tyrone stevenson // Jul 25, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Tania, bless God for ýou and the work you are doing. Our church is so excited to be apart of Gods work in tje Ukraine. Thank you for letting me know that some stuff is not food, now I can eat “non food”. Praying for you
Pastor Stevenson
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