Monday - Tuesday, October 13-14

Back in Kiev!

Monday was a day off, if that is what you can call it! We got everything packed that we could before breakfast – you know I can’t believe I eat breakfast in Ukraine when I do not in the US except on special occasions – and then were taken downtown Makeevka, population 400,000 to see some sites and to stop at a Baptist printing plant.

The city was a coal mining center during the Soviet occupation. It was built around the mines and specifically for the mines and miners. The processing area covers hundreds of acres but the majority of the buildings and accompanying tracks, lifts, conveyors, etc. are in terrible condition and the majority of the facility is not being used. We are told that one hundred plus miners are killed per month in the mines. But it doesn’t make the news because it is such a regular occurrence. The sad thing is that the coal is not mined for the Ukrainians, nor is the coke made from the coal used by Ukraine, but is exported primarily to Russia.

We returned to the Church for lunch and then took a trip to downtown Donetsk which has a population of over one-million. We walked around the center area and through one of the many parks lined with outside eateries, playgrounds for children and benches filled with the “young-and-in-love”; the babushka’s (grandmothers) with their grandchildren; and many others. The city plant over one-million roses each year in the city. Can you imagine what it looks like and smells like when they are in bloom? And that is only the beginning of the many flowers and flowering plants as well as a variety of trees the fill the landscape.

Supper came too soon and we begged off with just something to drink and saved that delightful occasion for the train ride which began at 7:25 p.m. and ended at 7:01 precisely as listed in Kiev. I think we have probably mastered the time and meal changes because we both slept relatively good on the trip. Hallelujah! We were on Track #1. I know that doesn’t mean anything to you, but when we bring you to Ukraine and you have to take your luggage off the train with the narrow steps down and the up the equivalent of three flights of stairs, then across the walkway covering the 15 tracks and then out to the van one to two blocks away, you will appreciate that we came in on Track #1! All we had to do was walk out the gate beside the station house about one block to wait on our ride. Just think – nine (9) pieces of luggage and two ladies and ME! Come on now, have SOME mercy!

A side stop on the way to our accommodations to pick an item to take to the states for a friend along with a stop at McDonald’s for a bite of breakfast. Then a quick shower and jump in the car by 10:30 to make my twelve o’clock appointment. The traffic is horrendous at this hour and we had to go all the way to downtown Kiev and meet Vadim Uruymagov who was to be my interpreter for this meeting with Bishop Valeriy Reshetinsky to discuss the registration process of Covenant Life University way Ukraine. On our way a phone call informed us that he was called by the Mayor of Kiev to a meeting. The Mayor is a believer and often calls upon some of the pastors for assistance in various ways. It was rescheduled for Wednesday. Since we were to meet Vadim at McDonald’s (a different one from my breakfast encounter) and he had been promised a meal, we (Eugene and I) dined with him.

Meanwhile back at the ranch (I mean the flat) Marilyn was catching up on some happenings from Ira Ivanov – the pastor’s wife of Abundant Life – some of you may remember that she and her husband Andre were with us in Life Church in 2006. And she was preparing her suitcases for her early morning departure from the flat (4:00 a.m.) to meet her 6:45 a.m. departure from Kiev and schedule arrival in Ft. Myers at 6:10 p.m. with a stop in Amsterdam and Newark.

We are presently taking care of the final details and trying to determine how to get to some sleep before we ride the elevator down to the car and then travel completely through the city to the Borispol airport 10-15 miles outside the city. I will remain alone for one more week to take care of some college business and scheduled ministry.

God bless and thanks again and again for your prayers,

Dr. D. & Marilyn