Hot Tuesday

Hi all,

Just a quick post to keep you up to date. Vitaly was unable to submit our documents Friday because the SDA wanted more information. He was supposed to get that info Monday, but is still waiting for it today. The SDA has since taken the documents but is waiting for the last bit. Our cell phone ran out of minutes so we can’t call out to find out what’s happening we have to wait for Vitaly’s calls. (He doesn’t like to call because of the cost.)We are told if the document comes in we will still have everything on Friday, but by now you know how things work in Ukraine.

We have the added joy that the temperature has risen over 30 and is happy to stay there. Riding the bus has taken on a whole new meaning. Imagine a whole bunch of play-doh pieces crammed together. Now put them in a steel drum in this temperature with only a small vent at either end. Fortunately there is a nice potpourri of sweat, stale tobacco, and cheap perfume to make it bearable. Oh yeah, and the occasional guy passed out in the seat beside you. Did I tell you that some of the beers here are 11%-14%? Not to mention Vodka isn’t controlled by the MLCC so the proofs run pretty high.

I noticed last night the water had stopped working. We hoped for the best and went to sleep. This morning there was still no water. Corrine met a neighbor who told us that it would be out for 3 days (I hope he didn’t mean 3 weeks) He then took us to a well at the local church so we could fill up a 6 litre jug. When I went back this afternoon it wasn’t working either. We are now officially on the “If it’s yellow let it mellow….if it’s brown flush it down” program. The water is working at the orphanage so we are trying to make bathroom stops there when possible. Did I mention it’s hot and the bath tub won’t fill? We’re getting pretty ripe fast!

The kids are doing fine. Lisa has made a game of taking the garbage to the can with me. She has me pick her up and away we go. We then sing the ABC’s together. She can get to “G” by herself, and do the rest with me. After the drop she has me put her down while she goes and picks me a handful of wild flowers. Then back we go singing ABC’s. Usually while we do this Corrine is working with Bart trying to teach him to read the ABC’s he’s getting better at it all the time. We started bringing cat food to the group cat. It took a few days before Corrine could get Lisa to stop eating it, and she’s fast! (Her coat is nice and shiny, and her teeth seem to be cleaner, but her breath is worse.) Corrine asked if we could take a watermelon for the whole groupa (12 kids). We think the caregiver said it was OK. If not tough for her she’s getting a melon. It’s 3:00 in the afternoon now. I’ll wait until 8:00 this evening to post in case there is some good news, and internet rates drop considerably.

Well the call came at 6:00 the documents have been picked up. Full Steam Ahead until the next problem arises.
The really good news is the water is back on!

A quick note for the Hydro/Electricians in the group. The city is putting in high voltage buried cable for several miles mainly uphill. The entire cable run is being dug by hand in this heat. This includes paved driveway crossings.

Insanely yours,
R&C