Empty nest

 

We have an empty nest here. At least it's just temporary. I had planned that Bogdan, Asya, and I would all travel to help with a winter Christmas program, but I also agreed to be here to watch two little girls from Kherson when their baby brother is born. I thought he would have made his appearance well before it was time for us to go, but he had other plans. So, on Monday Asya went off by herself to serve. Her little dog, Leo, actually cried when we saw her off. Of course, he misses her when she is gone, but he hasn't seemed to understand the actual leaving before. Then, on Tuesday Bogdan went with his local friends to help in a program for kids in a nearby village. He's staying out there until Saturday. We hear very little from him, so I guess all is going well.

And we're not exactly sitting around crying here. Last night our small group came, getting restarted and catching up after a short break for the holidays. I have already been working through a good bit of reading, writing, and watching videos to catch up on a Young Life course I need to finish taking, and I'm working with the other Sunday school teachers to plan what's next there.

I'm waiting for this baby to be born....

Jaan's visit

Jaan and his girlfriend Yana came to visit us for part of his holiday break. They started out from Lithuania on Christmas Day, but didn't get here until the 27th. We really enjoyed our time together. Bogdan was especially glued to Jaan the whole time. He misses his big brother a lot! We ate good food, went on lots of walks, played, painted, celebrated the New Year together, and then said goodbye again.

Here are tons of photos:

(That's a baby nutria.)

Meanwhile, in Lithuania Raia was going for lots of walks with the cat and dog she's caring for and enjoying the holidays there:

We missed her! But we were glad she could rest there and that we could see Jaan and Yana here.