Oct 18 - First day in Ukraine

We landed in Kiev at 9:40

Welcome to Ukraine.  We were picked up at the airport by a wonderful young lady by the name of Karen Springs.  She took us to her home for the night.  There we learned about her beautiful walk with the Lord.  The next morning Alek, with his wife Vera and daughter Maria, picked us up from Karen's and we drove to Kherson.

Before we left the city we stopped at a store and Alek bought his wife a coat for their anniversary which is in the next couple of weeks.  Since we were there and I did not have the appropriate coat I bought a small down coat as well.

You need to experience the parking in the city.  If you can get your car into a spot it is yours.  They were on the sidewalk, half on the street half off, crooked; you name it we saw it.

While we were driving to Kherson Alek and Vera were telling us about the rules of the road and the way to handle the police if we got stopped.  Well Alek gave Bill an opportunity to drive.  They do have speed limits, but everyone drives like they are on the autobahn in Germany.  The key is when you see a policeman you slow down.  We passed a couple of police stops and everything was fine until the next one.  Bill did not see it in time and they got him.  It is not the same as back home.  They just stand in the middle of the road and point to the side and that is where you pull over.  The police asked us for our registration and insurance like normal, but when you hand it over you have some money folded up in the papers.  The bribe was  40 Grevnia ($5.00).

It is a six hour drive to Kherson from Kiev so we needed to stop for lunch.  We stopped on the roadside at an Armenian restaurant and had kabobs that were very good.

When we got to Kherson there was a crusade going on, which was a play followed by some praise and worship.  It is very interesting to listen to speakers and bible readings in a different language, but you feel the spirit with you and you are able to follow along.  Alek had Bill stand up and say a few words.  He gave the basics of who we are and what the Lord has done for us.

Afterward we went to the house that we are staying in.  It is the same house we'll live in when we return in January.  We got to meet all the kids, but we were very tired so we did not spent much time with them.

Until tomorrow; God Bless, and good night.