Our trip in photos, Part 2

On Saturday we went to the 411 Memorial Battery, a neat place that isn't in most Odessa guidebooks and websites. There are tons of tanks, cannons, other artillery, and even a submarine to explore. Anna said that she's gone with lots of groups, but never stayed as long as we did.



Asya liked looking at the horses and donkey as much at least as the military equipment, and she asked me to take the above photo. We took many more than these three, so if you want to see them, head over to the separate album (pages 2-4 there).

On the way back, we rode a tramvai. We had to wait a long time, but it was worth it. Jaan had been asking and asking to do that, and he enjoyed it just as much has he thought he would. It was almost completely empty, too, so he and Raia explored it thoroughly.

Sunday morning we went to Anna's church, and Sunday evening she invited the students at the missionary training center to come over.

We really, really enjoyed getting to know everyone a little. The flow of languages was really fun, too. Most of the students speak Russian and English, but two are Polish, and they don't know Russian. Their English is great, but when they got silly with our children, they were using a lot of Polish. Polish is very close to Ukrainian, and it was funny to see Jaan picking it right up and answering back. At one point, I heard him say, "Hey, 'Lemon! Иди сюда! I caught your мавпа." That was English, then Russian, English, and a Ukrainian word that sounds like something Philemon had been saying, all in one breath. (And he called Philemon Lemon. )

Masha read stories with GREAT expression.

Alyona braided Raia's hair.

Philemon acted like a monkey

Asya also really liked Alyona.

Amadeus and Raia really hit it off.

Then after they all left, we quickly settled down for our First Night of Advent. I'll tell you about that tomorrow. . . .