The Final Thursday?

Well, if all goes well, this is our final full Thursday in Ukraine as we'll be flying out one week from today. Or yesterday, as I'm typing this post-midnight Friday. Shannon talked to the folks at the embassy today, and we "should" be able to send up some of the paperwork early, fax the rest next Tuesday morning, then get the medical exam/visa interview/visa on Wednesday. That would enable us all to come home on the Thursday flight. Glitches push Shannon and Galya to later flights.

So, that was positive to hear. It's interesting to hear from a few folks here that the U.S. embassies really do well by American citizens compared to embassies for (some?) other countries. Not knowing that for sure, I have a hard time doubting it after what Shannon was told today.

The day was rather typical in that we hung out at the apartment and took a walk to Victory for provisions. I introduced Kate to the rest of the family, which was nice. Good for them to put faces to names. The two neighbor girls came over and played with the girls, too, which was boisterous and fun up until Amissa and one of the girls pulled down the curtain in the girls' room. Guess we need to pay for some new curtain wire (they don't use curtain rods in this apartment) before we leave! Oops. But she was sufficiently repentent and responsible that it all worked out for her.

Olga Z. came over for dinner, and we talked a while about a few things missions-related (Olga is a Russian citizen, here as a missionary.) It was an interesting conversation and good company. She'll be coming to the States shortly after we are, which was good news for the girls. They've come to really like Olga - which truth be told, is very easy to do!

A few things remain on our docket for the next few days, but we're starting to turn our minds toward preparing to leave. This is both sad and a relief as we'll be glad to see y'all again. But as always, I don't like leaving here. I've told Shannon I feel at home here too, and it's easy for me to be here. That might be different were I to live here permanently, of course, but for now there's a sense of peace about being here that I really like.

The next big day with Galya is this Saturday, we're hoping, and will be another trip downtown.

Until next time -

Ron