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The team of 5 arrived safely on Friday.  Our flights were great and we had no problems with baggage.  Even Shirley’s 8 coffee cakes arrived safely in Keith’s backpack.

On Saturday it was decided it would be our only day to go into Keiv.  So Valera drove us to the Hebrew Market where you can buy any type of fruit, spice, vegetables, pickles, meat and cheese.  The colors are amazing, the aromas were captivating.    We then went to St. Andrews Church, a beautiful place overlooking Keiv.  We did have a dusting of snow in the morning, but not too cold to walk outside.

Valera then took is to the catacombs in an active monestary.  We descended into narrow tunnels where many men locked themselves into cells.  In the walls you could see tiny windows where bread and water were passed to the occupant.  There are now many caskets with the bodies of these men.  We walked with candle light among worshippers praying and kissing the caskets of these saints.

We returned to Kalinovka for the New Year’s service that began at 8:00 p.m and lasted until 10:00 p.m.  It was wonderful as people shared their blessings of the past year and wishes for the new year.  The service was ended with corporate prayer.

Following the service the New Year’s Eve party began.  Games, music and of course food were enjoyed by all.  Santa Clause made a surprise visit and everyone loved it!  He gave out Christmas candy to all.  The party lasted until 2:30 a.m.!  After helping clean up the dishes, we finally got to bed about 4:00 a.m.

This morning, Sunday, service was postponed until 12:00 (for this we were very thankful).  The service lasted two hours. It was so good to fellowship with our dear friends once again.

This afternoon part of the team spent a long afternoon/evening talking with a man who is searching for answers in his life.  It was very good and ended in prayer for him.  The other part of the team spent the evening in a home where the believers invited their friends who are not believers.

We have seen Alla, however not Bogdan.  He is being isolated due to the many germs that would put him back into the hospital.  We hope to see him tomorrow night when we will be having dinner at Igor and Alla’s house.  Alla is no longer able to go to Church as he needs constant care.

Tomorrow we will go to Omelyonovo for a service and John and Keith will begin tiling the walls in the Fellowship Hall here in Kalinovka.  There has been much discussion about what “design” the tiles should be made into.  It will be interesting to see how it turns out

Thank you for your prayers and comments.  We feel your prayers.  Everyone is well and we are catching up on our hours lost to jet lag.