Daily Life

This morning, Mark and I did our laundry. (Boy, it is a slow news day if I'm talking about laundry!) The TLC has two washing machines. HOWEVER, appliances in Ukraine are generally much smaller than ours in America. The washing machines and the oven/stoves that we have seen are about half the size of those we have in America. In addition, the wording for the settings for cycles is in Russian. The temperature settings available are in Celsius, not in Farenheit. It took us awhile to figure it all out and get the clothes washed. There is no dryer, so we brought the clothes down to our room and hung them on the bedrails and on the radiator pipes that run the length of the room. There is no closet in our room and no hangers, and I haven't seen any hangers or clothing racks for sale in the stores. I don't think the orphanage has a washing machine. I think the kids all wash their clothing by hand in tubs in the shower, and hang them on cords strung across the living area.

As fashion conscious as this culture is, it is also curious to me how there is not much available in the way of clothing upkeep and care. We've also noticed that many people wear clothing over and over. Although food is quite inexpensive, clothing is as expensive as it is in the U.S., or more so. Therefore, people will save and buy really special clothing, but then wear it again and again. In many ways, it makes much more sense than buying the closet full of clothes that most of us own, and then only wearing things once or twice a season. We also usually wash things after one or two wearings back home. The Ukrainians only wash clothes when absolutely necessary and have no trouble wearing something, letting it air out a day or two, or overnight, and wearing it again and then again. Just interesting differences.

It was also cleaning day at the orphanage when we arrived this afternoon. There are old linoleum floors with ripples in them in the living quarters. There are large, heavy rugs covering most of that linoleum. I guess it is spring cleaning time, now that school is out, because the teachers had the kids rolling up all those rugs and carrying them downstairs with an old fashioned rugbeater. They hang those rugs over the delapidated metal playground structures and beat the dirt out of them. Meanwhile, others were sweeping and scrubbing and sorting through drawers and closets upstairs. It was a day of activity.

All the girls were able to take a break this afternoon when we arrived. They had Mark poke holes into the lids or the bottoms of empty water bottles they had been saving, and filled them with water. Then we all went outside and they had a splendid water fight. They kept going back inside to reload and then came out again to reattack. They were drenched by the time they had had enough. I thought it was so neat to see them having such "kid fun," in such a creative way. Kids in America think they have to have the biggest "super soaker," or the newest toy to make them happy or allow them to have fun. But these kids don't have much at all, and yet they invent their own fun.

After we all went in and the girls changed we just spent time playing funny games and looking at pictures on the camera. Zhanna was pretending to be a cat and she wanted me to be the "Mama" cat. She put her cheek next to mine and we both purred, then she kissed my cheek and I kissed hers, and she kissed my cheek, and I kissed hers. She giggled and giggled and wanted to do it again and again. Mark said he can tell that both girls are hungry for the affection of a real mom. The other kids look on when Zhanna and Ella are hugging and kissing me, and I detect a hint of longing in their faces. We try to smile and interact with them, and give them attention and hugs, too. I think they enjoy that, but it is obviously not the same. All kids need love!

Tonight we went back to the TLC a little earlier. The kids and adults there have been so wonderful to us - cooking for us every night and cleaning up after us. We wanted to do something fun and different for them in order to express our gratitude, so we decided we would take them all out to dinner! We had made arrangements with Tanya so no one would cook tonight, and we all walked down to the cafeteria at the Amstore and we let them get anything they wanted to eat and drink. Afterward, we bought everyone a gelato ice cream cone in the flavor of their choice. I think they enjoyed it, and we had a ball doing this for them. They are really a great group of teenagers - good natured and fun loving. Many of these kids grew up at the orphanage together (some were there 10 years or more). Now they are older and have been accepted at the TLC as they finish school and prepare for a future. They've been very kind to us and have included us as family, in spite of the language barrier. They rarely get out as a group, and they always cook at home and clean, so we hope the evening out was a treat. Food is so cheap here, that it was nothing for us, but I hope it was special for them.

So, I guess today, we just experienced the simple pleasures and common procedures of family life in Ukraine. Some differences, but truly, people are people all over the world. We have the same hopes, fears, needs and dreams. Everyone needs love and acceptance and home and family. Whether a person realizes it or not, we all need Jesus.

Through Him,
Bye for now, "Pakah!"
Dawn and Mark