Today we went caroling in Omelyonova.  Igor insisted that Keith dress up like Santa and we walked from house to house.  We sang, the Pastors gave a message of hope, they handed out books and Santa gave out candy to the children and the gifts of dish clothes and hand lotion that we brought to the ladies.  It was really fun driving back to Kalinovka with Santa in the front seat.  We got some great looks from passerbys.

While in Omelyonova we came upon a funeral procession.  The people walk from the Church to the cemetary following a man holding a cross on a pole.  Then women come two by two carrying large flower arrangements followed by six women carrying the top of the casket.  Next is the Orthodox Priest and more women with arm bands.  Then a flat bed truck comes carrying the open casket which is followed by family and finally men at the end.  They stopped and sang a song asking God for mercy.  It was very interesting.

Back in Kalinovka we practiced with the new Praise Team which will lead worship for the first time this coming Sunday.  There are two guitars, drums and a keyboard.  We are singing the songs in English and they will sing in Ukrainian.  Please pray, these are new musicians and they are very nervous.

Tonight at 11:45 we finished Christmas Eve Dinner.  It is traditional to have 12 different dishes.  Some of what we had were red bortsh, pork, stewed prunes, perogi w/potatoes, pickles and a dish made from buckwheat, raisins and poppy seeds.  The family gathers, reads the Christmas story, prays, eats and then we sang Christmas songs.

We made Nina sit down and rest while we washed all the dishes.

Tomorrow there will be a service at 10:00 a.m. and then we will go to a Christmas service in Irpin where Alex is in charge of the music.

Sunday we will conduct the entire service.  Please pray for us.

Thank you for reading out blog!

Darla for the Team