Welcome to My World

A Girl After My Own Heart

2011-10-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

I just read about Katie Davis and absolutely fell in love with her. I am dying to read her book!!

Sometimes I want to spend hours talking with my best friends about boys and fashion and school and life. I want to go to the gym; I want my hair to look nice; I want to be allowed to wear jeans. I want to be a normal young woman living in America, sometimes.

But I want other things more. All the time. I want to be spiritually and emotionally filled every day. I want to be loved and cuddled by a hundred children and never go a day without laughing. I want to wake up to a rooster’s crow and open my eyes to see lush green trees that seem to pulse with life against a piercing blue sky and the rusty red soil of Uganda. I want to be challenged endlessly. I want to be taught by those I teach, and I want to share God’s love with people who otherwise might not know it. I want to work so hard that I end every day filthy and too tired to move. I want to make some kind of difference, no matter how small, and I want to follow the calling God has placed on my heart. I want to give my life away, to serve the Lord with each breath. At the end of the day, no matter how hard, I want to be right here in Uganda.
-Katie Davis

I Love Me Some Lviv

2011-05-09T05:17:00.000-07:00

Lviv 2011 from olya velichko on Vimeo.

Fun Day with The Fam

2011-04-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

2011-03-22T14:24:00.000-07:00

It was so awesome to have the guys from the Halle project visit with us and shoot videos about the ministry here in Chernigov.

They inspired me in so many ways, creatively and spiritualy. Thank you!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Coca Cola Glaze.

2011-03-22T13:52:00.000-07:00

everything is covedred with chocolate.. lots of laughter.. lots of dirty dishes. yup, auntie Olya and Katya are baking again.

Reverse Thinking

2011-03-15T22:52:00.000-07:00

Little Munchkins

2011-03-12T04:24:00.000-08:00

- Why are you so sad?
- Cause I'm new at this orphanage. And no one wants to be friends with me.
- I do!
- Really?

I'll never forget this 1st conversation with Ira when I came up to her standing all by herself while the rest of the kids were jumping and laughing excited to meet their guests...She's been very special to me ever since.

Tonight I'ma talk to the assistant of the orphanage to see if she lets Ira and also Valya's little buddy Vova come to Chernigov for this spring break.

Would you please pray with us for favor with the assistant?
Thanks a million =)

It's Poached Eggs Kind of Morning

2011-03-11T21:57:00.000-08:00

just like at Pam von Gohren's cute wooden house in MN.

'Radical' by David Platt

2011-03-10T12:12:00.000-08:00

So how do we respond to the Gospel? Suddenly contemporary Christianity
sales pitches donʼt seem adequate anymore. Ask Jesus to come into your
heart. Invite Jesus to come into your life. Pray this prayer, sign this card,
walk down the aisle, and accept Jesus as your personal Savior. Our
attempt to reduce the Gospel to a shrink-wrapped presentation that
persuades someone to say or pray the right things back to us no longer
seem appropriate.

That is why none of these man-made catch phrases are in the Bible.
You will not find...bow your heads, close your eyes, and repeat after
me...you will not find...a superstitious sinnerʼs prayer...you will not find an
emphasis on accepting Jesus.

We have taken the infinitely glorious Son of God, who endured the infinitely terrible wrath of God who now reigns as the infinitely worthy Lord of all, and we have reduced him to a poor, puny Savior who is just begging for us to accept him. Accept him? Do we really think Jesus needs our acceptance? Don't we need HIM?

In Lumine Story

2011-03-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

Below is an article that was put together by our friends at Desiring God about the work of In Lumine. We are so grateful for this partnership and friendship.
Please pray for us here in Ukraine!

PdfIn Lumine

I Heart Chernigov

2011-02-11T23:12:00.000-08:00

2011-02-05T21:28:00.001-08:00

US Trip Flashback

2011-01-29T06:45:00.000-08:00

Central Asia is Calling My Name!

2011-01-26T03:18:00.000-08:00

Kyrgyzstan stole a piece of my heart after I spent there my winter and summer break of 2006. It's so great to see an amazing work of the Lord in this country.

When I went to Kyrgyzstan for the 1st time it was right after my dear friends moved there to plant a church. God used their faithful service and saved dozens of people there. It's encouraging beyond words.

I'm praying about making another trip there sometimes in late Spring! Desire to go there increases daily. My heart was so heavy after hearing about terracts in Moscow airport and people hating on Muslims who live in Russia and post Soviet Republics. Everything that has happened is horrible. But it just reminds me that we were in the same position - wretched blind sinners. We did not deserve anything but God by His grace revealed Himself to us. And now He tells us not to judge those who are lost but 'Go and teach all nations'.

I can not wait to go back!

Happy New Year!!

2011-01-01T07:27:00.000-08:00

Jesus Storybook Bible Russian Translation Project

2010-12-30T23:07:00.000-08:00

via Jake Knotts

PDF

In The Middle Of Nowhere

2010-12-28T02:13:00.000-08:00

Can not wait to have my sis back and hear all of her stories!!

Precious Dima... Things That Have To Be Written In My Quote Book

2010-12-26T06:33:00.000-08:00

oh wow look at all those tall buildings, must be like in New York City (first night in Chernigov)

I loved reading the Bible at the youth group. I can not believe I could understand it. I should try to read it again.

I spent here 3 days and I know all your friends now.

When I go back no one will ever believe me when I tell them about all the stuff I saw and did

I had prayed to God before but I think today was the first time when I sincerely asked him to forgive me. I want to change.. (after the church service)

The Best Christmas Gift I've Ever Received

2010-12-23T00:25:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite time of the year and I always wait like a little baby for it.

But I know some kids that are deprived of all that... They have a school break and spend almost all of their time in a cold dorm .. longing to be loved.. wishing that their parents had not abandoned them.

This year my girlies and I decided to do something different. Instead of exchanging gifts we are going to bring some of these kids to Chernigov. Love on them and share the real meaning of Christmas. Please pray with us that thru all this kids would see how much they are loved by their Heavenly Father. That they would come to know Him and when they go back to school they would remember that He is their Greatest Treasure. That their loving God is there for them no matter what!

Dima is coming up tomorrow! And Maryana and Natasha a little later.

Borodianka

2010-12-21T12:44:00.001-08:00

spreading the cheer

Seeing These Kids Made My Month!!

2010-12-19T23:58:00.001-08:00

Maryana, Dima and Natasha

Weekend Is Here

2010-12-17T03:33:00.000-08:00

2010-12-15T07:29:00.000-08:00

I Do Not Believe in Accidents

2010-09-21T22:55:00.000-07:00

I made it and so did my luggage!!! The funny thing about the luggage tho..when I was at our airport. Security guys started to give me a hard time. That I did not have all the proper paperwork on our brouchures and can not take them to the States... why is Ukraine so obsessed with paperworks? ughhh...They wanted me to talk to someone but before that they had to scan all the cases. While doing that the scanning machine broke... And I did not have time for them to figure out what was wrong so they allowed me to proceed to the check-in counter.

I couldn't hide my ear to ear grin.

Off to America-nski Land

2010-09-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

Today at 5pm Ukraine time I am flying out to Moscow. And will stay over night there at my relatives'..relatives that I've never even met..gotta be fun!
And then Tuesday morning - NYC flight.

I'd appreciate your prayers for all my travels and luggage. I am taking three 50lb cases (they are so heavy that I can not even pick them up, lol) of In Lumine brouchures and hand-outs for the National Conference in Minneapolis. I hope those cases make it alright to NYC and I can ship them there to their final destination with no problems!

I am not going to have a cell phone on me. so if you need to reach me - shoot me an e-mail or facebook me!

Welcome To My World

The 1st Bell

2010-09-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

Today's been a very special day.. and not just because I did not have to go back to school again =)

But because my niece Katya started elementary school!!

She will continue the family tradition and will attend School #3. Pretty much the best school in the city ;)

Welcome To My World

Think Outside the Box

2010-08-28T04:49:00.000-07:00

Here are 2 videos that I think are so inspiring. With God's strength we are all able to make a difference to other people's lives in one way or another.

The question is... do we care enough?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt3BQQ6dQaQ

Reef Uganda from Russell Brownley on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/5702469

BT kiddos

2010-08-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

Meet my favorite kids ever. They live in an orphanage by Bila Tserkva and stole my heart once and for ever. Almost nothing makes me happier than being with them and sharing an amazing love of Father of fatherless with them.

Can not wait to go see them in the Fall again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FALJ1ENgEC0

National Conference

2010-08-05T01:14:00.000-07:00

"Think: The Life of the Mind & the Love of God"

This is going to be a great conference. If you will be in Twin Cities area I encourage you to attend it. Besides, our whole In Lumine team will be there :) It's a great privilege for us to participate in this year's conference as one of the exhibitors.

Blog Resurrection

2010-08-05T00:46:00.000-07:00

Hi all!

Welcome To My World is back! It was originally created for my family and friends so that they would be able to keep track of my life while I was doing an internship in Desiring God, Minneapolis, MN.

Next month I'll be heading back to good ol' Minnesota. I am really excited to visit my Minnesota family and friends and be attending Desiring God National Conference. But this time not like a DG intern but In Lumine Media manager :)

It's been an amazing life journey and I praise God for every second of it!

Easter Morning

2010-04-04T05:44:00.000-07:00

Fun Times With My Niece

2010-03-28T11:43:00.001-07:00

Truth or Myth?

2010-03-20T06:29:00.000-07:00

When I was little I heard a lot of stories about homeless people who lived in the massive city dump. So this morning Valya and I decided to take a trip there to see if there is really life at the dump. We bought some bread, made tea and took some clothes that our church received from Christians in Germany.

When we got there we could tell it was the right place because of the pervasive odor. To our surprise there was garbage security and a ton of dogs. All the trash that is brought there by dump trucks is burned. I don't think there is a chance for a homeless person to get in and find something of any use and especially to stay there and build a community.

So we hopped on a bus, drank the tea we made and decided that the myth is busted..

Don't Waste Your Life by J. Piper \ Не трать свою жизнь напрасно, Джон Пайпер

2010-03-19T12:40:00.000-07:00

It's a book that I keep going back to over and over again.

"God created us to live with a single passion to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion."

My prayer is that God would keep me from getting caught up in a life focused on comfort and pleasure that counts for nothing.

IL Office

2010-03-13T02:45:00.000-08:00

We started a renovation project in our new little office. It's been so exciting to look back and see God's faithfulness and all his blessings for In Lumine.

After 4 years of working from home I am thrilled to have a workstation.

Maybe I'll even get one of these :)))

Eek...

2010-03-12T06:11:00.001-08:00

I can't think of anything else that I hate as much as I hate ....walking in the dark... in Chernigov. And, yet, ironically enough I do it almost every day.

Mornings like this don't help much. I wish I could say in a Central Asia manner - oh that was just a cow that got slaughtered by your house..

Are You Back Yet, Spring?

2010-03-11T06:36:00.000-08:00

Here is a pic that I took today...what an ice age. I literally think the Narnia White Witch froze Ukraine for 100 years

What's Next?

2010-03-10T02:47:00.001-08:00

I know many of you have been asking me this question. And it's my pleasure to announce that I'm moving to Zimbabwe. Well.. not quite.. altho I do pray that I have a sensitive heart and would echo Isaiah's words "Here am I, send me" if needed.

After some prayer and consideration I decided not to change anything and keep doing what I've been doing this past year. Work for in Lumine part time, tutor kids and work with short-term mission teams.

Last Day @ School

2010-03-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

I'm gonna miss it

One More Try

2010-03-03T06:35:00.000-08:00

This one is not as depressing, I will miss the stairs tho :)

New Template

2010-03-02T22:35:00.001-08:00

New Gadget

2010-02-26T05:36:00.000-08:00

Every day a new information about one of the unreached nations will pop up on my blog.
this is just a little reminder for me to

think globally........forget about selfhood
pray for those who never heard of Jesus....be willing to be used by God

Global Statistics just blow my mind:

Global Total 6.70 billion
Unreached / Least-Reached 2.75 billion (41.0 %)

These websites made my year!
http://www.joshuaproject.net/
http://www.operationworld.org/

Wedding Entrance

2010-02-18T09:35:00.000-08:00

Here comes the bride

Bogdan and Mira's Wedding

2010-02-18T09:29:00.001-08:00

here you go, Anzhelika :)

Waffles.....mmmmmm

2010-02-07T09:46:00.000-08:00

I got a waffle iron...finally!!! I've been wanting to buy one for almost 2 years now but never saw it in our stores.

I love it that specific scents always bring back memories. The glorious aroma of waffles and maple syrop is definitely the scent of America for me.

It's been too long, time for a visit ;)

No More Classes, No More Tests, No More SCHOOL

2010-02-04T08:05:00.000-08:00

I passed my master's thesis defense!!!!!!! Here are a couple of cell phone pictures that were snapped by my crazy friend.

Thesis Examination Committee..

I'm Beginnig To See The Light

2010-01-30T23:24:00.000-08:00

My master's thesis was printed and binded. Now I have to take my final af all finals on Monday and then thesis' defense on Wednesday.

And that's pretty much it

A Walk Downtown Kiev

2010-01-16T23:29:00.000-08:00

New Year's Resolution

2009-12-30T23:14:00.000-08:00

# 1 actually make one!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

2009-12-29T05:49:00.000-08:00

This has been an amazingly snowy winter.

I am loving every second of it..

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

2009-12-25T01:45:00.000-08:00

I love, love, love winter and its holidays. Every year I am waiting anxiously for this time of the year!! It's here and it makes me very happy!!

Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate it on Dec 25th!!!! I hope it is a joyous one and you're making much of the world's greatest gift!!

Aqua Park

2009-12-24T05:46:00.001-08:00

A brand new water park was open by Kiev! It is the funnest place ever.

If you have not gone there yet you should definitely go!! It's amazing!

I can not wait to go back!

A Great Example to Follow

2009-12-21T12:40:00.000-08:00

RT @JohnPiper: I have only loved one woman, kissed one woman's lips, lain with one woman. Today we mark 41 years of God's gift: Marriage.

My Master's Thesis

2009-12-16T03:17:00.000-08:00

I am finishing writing my thesis, which makes me real happy, cuz I def have love-hate attitude towards it. It's on American English and simplified spelling,
which is very interesting and very practical but at the same time it is SO time consuming.

HRU, MF? AINT it AMZ? AW, H2G. TTYL! GBU

Dropping Off The Radar

2009-12-13T02:39:00.000-08:00

Master's thesis defence and finals are just around the corner. This means I won't get to post much all this while.

Thanks for stopping by!

New Season - New Template

2009-12-13T00:52:00.000-08:00

Dnepropetrovsk

2009-12-11T10:42:00.000-08:00

Last weekend ХБЦ team was invited to visit an Ark church down in Dnepropetrovsk. We had an amazing time there!! Made new friends, lead worship and heard Jake preach.

It's so amazing that we met Michael (Ark's pastor) thru In Lumine and the books we publish. Lord's been using our ministry in amazing ways.
Please visit Michael's blog for some more pictures of our time in Dnepropetrovsk.

Proud Auntie

2009-12-08T12:38:00.000-08:00

My niece Katya was chosen to be a part of a program that was put together for our mayor. She was really excited about it.

My cutie pie is between 2 boys :)

What's Your Favorite Bible Verse?

2009-12-04T02:44:00.000-08:00

I always find it hard to answer that question. There are just way too many :) But I think I finally decided what my favorite Psalm is - Psalm 29

1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!

so powerful!

John Piper's Resources in Russian

2009-12-01T12:49:00.000-08:00

I am very excited about a new site that In Lumine team launched.
Please check it out! There you can watch, listen and read Russian translation of John Piper's sermons and download his books that we published for free!!

Thank you Danny for putting so much effort into this project!

Good Evening, Mr. President!

2009-11-29T08:09:00.000-08:00

Now I can say that everyone in my immediate family has met our president. That's actually pretty insane.

Here is a pic that my dad took at a concert where my brother and his orchestra played.

God can do what? Use social networking sites?

2009-11-27T12:17:00.000-08:00

You all probably know that I've been volunteering at In Lumine for quite a while and now I am working there half time. IL's goal is to equip the church for the furthering of the gospel through creating, publishing, and spreading God-centered Christian resources.

How do you do the spreading part? We try to make our resources as accessible as possible. People can download all the books that we publish @ Desiring God website. I wrote about it on V Kontakte (Russian networking site) and then in 2 months I got a phone call from a pastor in Belrus who saw a link that I posted, never heard of John Piper. But was intrigued by "Don't Waste Your Life" title, got interested, downloaded the book.... and it knocked him out! He printed it out, handmade a hard cover for it. Ordered other Piper titles. Loved them and started giving them away to his friends. Piper's message that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him blew them away.

And it blows me away that it all happened because of 1 link that was posted on a social networking site

How I Feel Today

2009-11-20T01:26:00.000-08:00

graduateish

pressing on trying to focus

looking for direction

waiting for the Lord

small

broken-hearted

but blessed

Happy Students' Day

2009-11-17T13:11:00.000-08:00

A day of mixed feelings. It hit me today that very soon I'll be done with school forever (at least that's what the plan is now)

Lord willing I'll get my master's in a couple of months and I am really excited about it. But at the same time I'll MISS everything about my school, no joke.

World Orphan Day

2009-11-13T01:27:00.000-08:00

This next post is more of a journal entry that I wrote on World Orphan day. Something that touched my heart and I do not want to forget.

O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed (Ps 10: 17-18)

Maryana's Story

2009-11-12T08:07:00.000-08:00

Let me share with you a story of a girl who's gripped my heart. Her name is Maryana. She's been one of those naughty orphans who always ends up getting into trouble. That's why teachers and everyone around her would constantly be saying that there is no bright future for her ahead. Her parents left her, she has no money, no good skills, no nothing.

I met her at the orphanage where I was translating for VU team in May. She was standing with a bunch of friends giggling and probably talking about us. I came up to them and said hello and they were so surprised that I did it that they almost laughed in my face. Every day they were just ignoring us probably thinking they're too cool for all those silly games and Bible stories. When once I was talking to my friend Qwest and they all came up to us and started asking a bunch of questions and asked us if we wanted to go to their classroom and see them dance. Not giving it a second thought we followed them. Kids turned on a ghetto stereo system and started dancing. It was the most beautiful dance routine I've ever seen. Not because it was technically perfect, no... but there was so much passion that it was almost overwhelming. Dancing and music was all they had. Those were the only things that were making the orphans happy.

After getting to know them a little we asked them to write what would be one or two things that they would ask God to do or maybe change. And Maryana gave us her letter in which she was asking God to help her get into a school in Boocha, something that everyone was telling her would never happen. Cause she was not good enough for that. We promised that we'd be praying for her. And told her that there is nothing impossible for God. He is not partial. He loves each and every one of us!

3 months later I got a phone call from Maryana she told me the greatest news crying and yelling into her phone that she got into that school. She was praising the Lord saying that it's only because of him and our prayers she now would be studying in Boocha. I was so stocked for her.

A month later I decided to go to that place and visit her. I was shocked when I saw the school. It was so nice, much better than the one I had gone to. But... for some reason Maryana was not there. No one knew where she was. One of the teachers said she went to another city. And I thought she probably went to a camp or something. When after sometime I found out that she was actually forced to leave that wonderful school because her former principal wanted that. This principal's daughter did not get enough students this year at her school and because of that she would not get as much money from the government. I could not believe my ears. How can someone take control of other people's lives and make them do something that they do not want to. Maryana was broke, she could not understand why this all was happening to her. Has not she had too many trials already?

This whole story breaks my heart because I realize that there are thousands of orphans like Maryana who are hurting and were abandoned and forsaken by people but not the Lord And on this World Orphan Day I want to pray for Maryana and all the orphans I know that they would come to know the perfect Father who is always there for them and loves them unconditionally.

Trip to Russia / Pastors' Conference

2009-11-11T07:20:00.000-08:00

Here is a short video that I made when Jake, Marina and I went to pastors' conference in Russia.

Hope you enjoy it! God bless!

Happy Birthday, Papa

2009-11-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

I am blessed beyond measure and so incredibly thankful for my family. Looking at all the broken families of almost all of my friends in Ukraine I realise it's a blessing from the Lord. And I keep praying that my fam would come to know the One who is faithful and true and greater than anything in this world!

2009-11-06T22:13:00.000-08:00

If you think you are too small to make a difference, you've never spent the night w/ a mosquito. ~saying in Kenya

Welcome To My World

2009-11-05T01:38:00.000-08:00

My blog is so random you never know what's gonna pop up onhere. I love it.

I Have Way Too Much Fun With My Nephew

2009-11-03T23:09:00.001-08:00

Is Ignorance a Bliss?

2009-11-03T08:19:00.000-08:00

- it's one of our greatest enemies

Castle

2009-10-31T23:32:00.000-07:00

We started a new English club for kids - "Castle"! We do crafts together, sing, play fun games and share a Bible story.

you might recognize my niece Katya in the pic :)

only 4 kids showed up the 1st time. And yesterday we already had 10. Please pray with us that these kids would get to know our great Saviour.

Oper House

2009-10-30T23:19:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to Opera House in Kiev? I highly recommend it!!

I got to go to ROMEO & JULIET ballet and loved it. Sergei Prokofiev is amazing. I learned about his music at my music school. And was really excited to recognize different parts. My friends thought it was really funny to hear me talk about leitmotifs, flute and cello duets and stuff like that

Anyone up for opera or ballet? :) THE NUTCRACKER would be amazing

2009-10-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

wow it's been a crazy busy month. Sorry for not posting much on here. School takes up way too much time... But hey I am almost done. I am starting my school practice next week. And will be teaching at MY University. Now I'll be in Kiev every week!

Free Music at Come & Live!

2009-10-17T23:49:00.000-07:00

Great music, great mission. Check it out!

@RT DWYL

COME&LIVE! is dedicated to honoring our God-given gifts by giving back to others. In joining hands with our artists we aim to provide them guidance to live a life of faith and keeping focus on the only enduring effort — loving and sharing JESUS. “Missions is bidding the nations: SING WITH US!” — John Piper

Samara

2009-10-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

Jake, Marina and I came back from Samara, Russia where we attended pastors conference and were selling In Lumine books.

It was very exciting for us to finally be able to get our books into Russia. We've been working on it for a long time.

The guest speaker was John Piper. It was great to hear him preach again. And spend some time with my dear Minnesotans from Desiring God.

Moscow

2009-10-11T19:18:00.001-07:00

Russia

2009-10-11T01:31:00.001-07:00

I am having an awesome time in Russia

I Am Blessed by These Kids

2009-10-07T05:09:00.001-07:00

Meet some friends of mine who have been very special to me. They live at the orphanage in Vysoke Polovetske, little village by Bila Tserkva. They stole my heart. I do not think I've ever met anyone who would be so loving, so welcoming, so eager to learn more about the Lord.
I am praying for them daily and hope that they would seek God and would love Him with all their hearts. And see Him as their greatest Treasure.

Valya and I are going to visit them sometime in November. Seems like we already have a small team. Let me know if you'd like to go with us and share God's love with them!

Belarus

2009-09-28T22:50:00.000-07:00

a country where it feels that you're back to the Soviet Union

Happy Friday

2009-09-18T12:13:00.001-07:00

Thank You Jesus for Being Our Propitiation

2009-09-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

Here is an extract from Christian Beliefs by W. Grudem that gives me chills every time I read it

When crucified, Christ was forced to endure a slow death by suffocation, brought on by the weight of his own body. He was stretched out and fastened by nails to the cross. His arms supported most of the weight of his body. His chest cavity was pulled upward and outward, making it difficult to exhale and then draw in a fresh breath. To breathe, he had to push up with his legs, putting all the weight on the nails through his hands, sending fiery pain though nerves of his arms and legs. His back, already whipped raw, scraped against the rough, splinter-filled wooden cross with each breath he took.

I could not finish up reading this passage. But that's not it. He also

bore the full wrath of God upon Himself..Jesus became the object of the intense hatred of sin and vengeance against sin that God had patiently stored up since the beginning of the world.

Jesus paid the highest price possibly to be paid. I do not think we can even fathom that.

Life is Never Boring in My World

2009-09-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

a HAND GRENADE was found in my apartment building today! combat engineers and cops were roaming around our neighborhood the whole day! Crazy!

Some Things I've Been Enjoying

2009-09-09T23:47:00.000-07:00

I finished reading Blue Like Jazz. Some people were about to stone me when they heard I was reading it. And heck yes. It was one interesting read. It reminded me of Catcher in the Rye, that was my favorite book at Music School

and here is what I find myself listening to a lot lately. indie electronic - Helios
And I got Jake hooked up on it! ha!

The Fall is Here

2009-09-05T09:17:00.000-07:00

new template for my blog... new desktop wallpaper for my computer =)

Love Fall!

Only in Ukraine

2009-08-29T05:53:00.001-07:00

you'll see a pair of random shoes in the middle of a sidewalk

and people could care less

Independence day

2009-08-24T12:36:00.000-07:00

While our city was getting ready for the festivities and streets were getting filled with people who in excitement were waiting for a parade... some of my girlfriends and I took off to Sedniv, a place where orphans from all over our region spend their summer.

We did not get to go there often this summer. That's why I was so excited to see their radiant faces and unconditional love and to hear them shout our names and remember everything we did the previous time.

Thank you Lord that you reveal yourself to them. And even though they do not have much here on Earth. They have you, the greatest Treasure!

"He executes justice for the orphan and.. defends the fatherless and the oppressed"(Deut.10:17, Ps 10:18)

getting excited for fall

2009-08-22T22:20:00.000-07:00

It is almost that time again for the leaves to start turning.... for the ground to get covered by a colorful carpet. Love it!

Sweet summer days seem to fly by so quickly!

2009-08-20T01:31:00.000-07:00

Wow, what an amazing summer it's been. It's so good to sit back and just think of all the things that've happened. I dreamed about going to Kyrgyzstan but God had totally different plans for me. I love that A Man's Heart Plans His Way, But The Lord Directs His Steps (Proverbs 16:9)

Ithank God for my awesome job at In Lumine and for allowing me to be involved in so many other ministries. It's a privilege that I did not deserve.

Hedgehog hunt

2009-08-17T03:34:00.000-07:00

just being silly

Minnesota Tribute.

2009-08-15T00:03:00.000-07:00

I came, I thawed, I transferred.
Survive Minnesota and the rest of the World is easy.
If you love Minnesota, raise your right ski.
Minnesota - where visitors turn blue with envy.
One day it's warm, the rest of the year it's cold.
Minnesota - come fall in love with a loon.
Minnesota - home of the Mispi-Mispp-Missispp (Where the damn river starts!)
Where the elite meet sleet.
Land of 2 seasons: Winter is coming, Winter is here.
Minnesota - glove it or leave it.
Many are cold, but few are frozen.
Land of the ski and home of the crazed.

I HEART THIS STATE!

Arthur's Going Away Party

2009-08-14T22:15:00.000-07:00

Today Mira's nephew, Arthur, is taking off and going back to Spain. Finally... haha..j/k

Mira threw him a great party. Great food, great friends and one intense mafia game

It's been one awesome year of Lord's faithfulness in Arthur's life.

I am gonna miss my buddy!

This Shot Made My Day.

2009-08-12T21:43:00.000-07:00

my brother and a bunch of crazy friends from my Music School.

What’s For Lunch?

2009-08-11T00:32:00.000-07:00

Today my granny tried to teach me how to cook an old school chicken broth....mmm

I think I'll make myself some salad

.........

2009-07-31T03:30:00.000-07:00

I miss my friends who are scattered all over the place terribly...

Prague and Dresden

2009-07-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

Last week my mom and I took a trip around Central Europe. It was a surprise that I had set up for her 55th birthday. I'll never forget the face she had when I told her about it!

We got on a tour bus in Kiev went thru entire Poland spent 3 days in Czeck Republic, Prague and 1 day in Dresden, Germany

it was fun =)

Do We Mean What We Say?

2009-07-19T04:31:00.000-07:00

Have you ever talked to somebody and said:
I'll be praying for you or about it.
And then found yourself not praying about it at all and not even thinking about it. It's interesting that saying that became a part of our Christian culture and often we say it not really meaning it. All we mean is "I am sorry. I'll be thinking about you" if even that.

Or ( this is something that I heard @ DG's conference and still chewing on) often we say :
Love ya
when we leave. And it seems that these words do not have much weight now. It's almost like we say good bye or see ya. But then when we try to stick I in there. And say
I love you.

It feels totally different. So interesting. Lord help me to mean what I say and say what I mean.

Good biography is history and guards us against chronological snobbery (as C. S. Lewis calls it) J.Piper

2009-07-17T02:12:00.000-07:00

This is a book that I've just started to read. "It is about 5 ordinary women who trusted in their extraordinary God as he led them to great things for his kingdom." I am so loving it. I always thought that biographies were not that exciting since people that you read about lived in a different era, their lives were way different from ours. But this month I had to do some proof reading of St. Augustine and Jonathan Edward's biographies. And I was so blessed and encouraged by reading them that I decided to read more bios.

The first lady that I am reading about is Sarah Edwards. She is a great woman of God and a great example to follow. She was a good wife and a mom of 11 children. Her husband as Noel puts it was not easy to live with. But she found the ways to make a happy home for him and made him sure of her steady love. She constantly and earnestly prayed for her children and bore them on her heart before God...and that even before they were born. She was a woman adorned with a meek and quiet spirit, talked feelingly and solidly of the Things of God.

This woman is a great inspiration for me.

Way to Go Dad

2009-07-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

This is just too funny. I came home today and here is what I saw: my dad reading Harry Potter and stuffing his face with peanut butter.

This is why I guess whenever I get a jar of peanut butter from my friends it just disappears in a day, lol. I love my family!