Wow. We are recovering from an amazing, overwhelming weekend (which was almost a week) of events! In between shuttling children and friends' children (glad to do it, Jim and Dawn!), attending a book signing (that was barely attended and actually just gave me a chance to do some much-needed SITTING STILL), and hosting, feeding and chauffeuring guests from the Ukraine, we could barely breathe. I'm so proud that our family made it through without any major emotional crashes - there certainly was opportunity for plenty of them!

First we thought we were having two females … then two males … no, two females … the girls cleaned their rooms and scrubbed their bathtub and moved their things into the guest room and bath so the girls (guys?) could have their Jack and Jill suite all to themselves. (Guests are a great excuse for deep cleaning!)

Our church was organizing homes to keep the 200+ guests that were arriving, and at the last minute discovered that there were too many homes and not enough guests, so after some shuffling and a call from our friend who is part of Music Mission Kiev's staff, we agreed to take one woman, Helen, who actually is a good friend of ours from our last trips overseas. Helen is one of the administrators and a choral conductor. We love her dearly and she speaks much good English.

We had so much fun with Helen! She was glad to be in a household by herself for awhile, and was very interested in our family. Her friend Valentyna spent a day with us at the beach and coached our eldest daughter (who is becoming quite good at Russian) in the language constantly while she was with us.

The Ukrainians love to shop (at discount clothing stores), eat (Chinese buffet - that was the biggest treat because they hardly ever get good seafood - we went TWICE to buffet and once for sushi), and give gifts. They have a childlike enthusiasm about our culture and all its conveniences, so different from the hardships they endure with government-controlled heat, water, and all the leftovers of the Soviet regime.

Many of those on the choir/symphony tour have been here before. They work very hard and travel constantly to earn $25 a day, which is very good money for them. So their main reason for coming is not to sightsee, but to make money for their families. Their schedule with us was grueling, because Northland (a church of about 10,000) has seven services a weekend. They performed in every one and also gave an extra hour on Monday night after being at the beach all day!

These services were absolutely AMAZING. If you've been to the symphony or opera, you know how much those tickets cost - ridiculous! But we went to the service (actually, two services including the extra concert on Monday) for FREE. And I can say it was one of the mst moving experiences of my life. They began with Rimsky Korsakov's March of the Nobles and then did A Mighty Fortress is Our God, and I wept through most of it.

It wasn't just the stellar talent (I've never seen such diversity), but the pride with which they performed and the emotion it drew out of us. In American a choir is not a big thing, but these folks have all trained in special schools since they were 5 years old. The commitment Ukrainians have to the arts give them a performing ability that is world-renowned.

Not to mention that we saw some incredible choreography from the Russian Ballet of Orlando. Especially their performance of Mozart's funeral piece … how do you describe such feeling and beauty?

The director of the ballet said the event changed his ideas about church. Mine, too. The beauty and majesty of this music in this setting created an overpowering sense of God's presence and power. If you can ever see the KSOC in concert, don't miss it! (OK, ad here, Google Northland Church or Music Mission Kiev for more info - the KSOC will be on tour for a few more weeks, heading north - concert in Dayton, for our Ohio friends!).

So we've been recovering ever since - from missing Helen, from late nights, from running everywhere and everywhen.

We also got to meet with the church members we'll be visiting next month. Boy, will I adress some heavy issues of sexual purity. There are deep needs that need deep and lasting change. This is one of those times when I look at God and say, "You have to do this - how can I possibly speak to all this?" It is a special privilege to serve these friends overseas, and I really, really need everyone's prayer support to do it.

Our financial donations for the trip are not yet what they need to be - God is teaching us to walk in faith. The airline tickets have been purchased (yikes!) and arrangements are being made, and I'm in a hurry to get materials ready for the seminar as they will all have to be translated. Luckily, the Ukrainian gal who is doing it for us is also a good friend. But I know that it is very much work for her.

If you think of us this week, just pray. Pray that our time will be spent as it should be, our priorities in order, the chaos joyful. These are amazing times!!