Just Laugh About It

This weekend, we had the opportunity to Skype with our missions pastor and his wife, Dave and Irina. It was so encouraging to talk to them, and they really helped us to have the perspective we need to keep going here in Ukraine. We still really love it here, but lately we've been feeling kind of discouraged. I guess the holiday season isn't as easy as we thought it would be. But as we explained to Dave and Ira everything we've been feeling, and some of the things that have been making us feel frustrated, Dave gave us some pretty amazing advice... "Just laugh about it."

So, Dave, this post is for you! Here's some things we've decided to laugh about:

1) The time when we were trying to order pizza and our Ukrainian knowledge of pizza toppings wasn't as polished as it is now. We tried to order pizza with chicken, pineapples, tomatoes, and olives on it. Instead, we got a pizza that was 100% covered in green dill.

2) The first time we had a package sent to us was also the first time we ever stepped foot into the local post office. We went into the post office, opened up our PO box, and found a little slip with our names on it. Of course, that was all we could figure out because the rest was in Ukrainian. We went to the desk clerk and showed her the slip. She said quite a bit to us in Ukrainian (which we didn't understand), and she also said the number three and pointed outside. So, we went outside. We were totally confounded. We paced around outside for a while, trying to decode the message, and then decided to go back into the post office. We asked the same woman for help and showed her the slip. She promptly sent us back outside and was very frustrated with us. We still couldn't figure out what the "3" meant, so we paced around a bit more and then went back into the post office again. We tried a different clerk. Same response and we were sent out of the post office again. So, we paced around some more outside of the post office for a bit and then went back in again. This time, everyone in the post office sent us back out again, but this time with the number "6." We went back to pacing. Eventually, our friend Marilyn found us pacing around on the street and helped us sort the whole thing out. Our package was at the third post office, which is building 6. The whole process took about an hour, and now, we're confident that we would lose if we were on the Amazing Race.

3) We've discovered that whenever we are confused or don't know what to do, we pace around. And it probably looks ridiculous.

4) One time we were on the train heading to Kyiv and Byron dropped a bed on a little boy's head. It's kind of a long story...

5) Every time we step into the post office, there is a collective sigh.

6) The first time we really tried to speak in Ukrainian to one of our friends, he laughed so hard, he almost fell out of his chair.

7) One time, I lost my right slipper in our apartment, but my feet were really cold. So, I walked around the house all day with one slipper on until I found the missing slipper.

8) Our shower leaks water about 30 minutes AFTER we finish using the shower. So, about twice a week, one of us steps in puddle of water with our socks on. The funny part is, the puddle is always in the same place, so it's a reoccurring mistake.

9) Yesterday, it was really cold and icy (it's probably cold and icy today too haha). There were women walking around on the ice in stiletto heals, no problem, while Byron and I slid all over the place in our flats, holding onto poles, railings, walls, and each other in an attempt to not "bite the dust" as we were walking to church.

10) It is, in fact (I just checked), cold and icy today. I'm choosing to put this on the "just laugh about it list."




Hopefully, this post has been somewhat humorous to you... I definitely laughed to myself off and on the whole time I was writing it. Thanks for all of your prayers and support as we figure out life here in Ternopil. We love you guys!

Emily