HORODOK - BOYS' PRISON ENGLISH DAYCAMP

Walking into the "prison" I expected little ... I expected bad behavior ... I expected to feel suspicious ... I expected to feel uncomfortable ... I expected trashy ... I expected so very little. God completely crushed my expectations within the first hour.

Last week we had our first English camp of the summer. It was in Horodok (city right outside Lviv) at a boys' prison. They call it a prison, but it's more like a social rehabilitation center for 9 to 16-year-old boys who have committed crimes ranging from theft to murder (so no stripped suits, armed guards, and bars; just a camp facility-type set up with a wall around it & guarded gate). Ben & Kristy's church (New Life) has been working with this facility for a long time, and they thought this summer we should try an English camp. As I said, I had such low expectations of the week and, honestly, was a little nervous of how it would go. I just wasn't that into it. My mind was all over the place, but I NEVER thought I'd come out feeling the way I do now. Hands down, that camp was one of the most influential camps I have ever done. I feel forever impacted by those boys.

While watching the soccer game, amazed by the skill of some of the boys, I decided to go sit by Oleg and try to start a conversation with him. Anticipating a mediocre and fruitless talk--as my Ukrainian still leaves much to be desired--I was blown away by Oleg's desire to talk to me and perseverance through the language barrier. We talked about our favorite sports, the Lviv city center, where he lived in Lviv, and how beautiful the city is. I then asked him about living in the prison. He'd only been there three months and has three years to go. I don't know why Oleg is in there...didn't think I should ask. I do know that he is one of the sweetest boys, and all I wanted to do the rest of the week was hug him and connect with him as much as I could.

I had similar talks in the days that followed. Talks with Sasha, Andre, Igor, Vitya, and others. We talked about silly stuff like movies and food, but I also got to share why I live in Ukraine and why I was there to serve them that week. I just couldn't get it. I still don't. I just couldn't figure out why they were in there. How could those boys do anything to merit being in prison! I expected punks and jerks, but God gave us polite young men who were willing to talk, listen, and participate in just about everything. Sure there were a couple guys who were the exception, but two out of 19 ain't bad! Sometimes the chaperons were more of a pain than the boys! There was something so different about these boys. Yes, they are alleged criminals, but there's more. Some seemed sad, lonely, and hard; you could see in their eyes the hard life they have already lived. Others acted as though this was the best week of their lives; a little love and kindness is all they needed. I've never seen someone get so excited about winning the Human Knot game as I saw a boy did last week. He just kept hugging me, cheering, and grinning from ear to ear.

My heart hurts just thinking about those boys. I wanted to hug them all and tell them I love them and, more importantly, that God loves them...more than any screwed up parent or relative they've ever known...more than any friend...more than anything that got them where they are. I'm not sure why being there hit me so hard...why I was so affected. Maybe it's because I was in a place where depravity, sinfulness, is so known/blatant that I just felt such urgency to love...like I only had five days before the world ended and the opportunity would be lost! Why is it so much harder to do that in "the real world"...so much harder to feel that? I want to feel that at every camp...no matter how exhausting it is and how hard it is on my heart.

I pray they felt loved. I pray they saw something special and different in us. I pray some made steps toward Christ. I pray I get to see them again. I am so thankful for those boys and the experience I had last week. I'm thankful for the reminder of why I'm here.

Here's a short video of us playing the game Mingle with the boys. I hope to put more videos up soon. Also check out the "Snapshots" for pictures. AND go to Ben & Kristy's blog for more stories and pictures. For those who don't know the game Mingle and are a bit confused by the video, here's how it works: You run around aimlessly saying "mingle mingle mingle", then the leader calls out a number. You have to find that many people then squat down. The last group to squat (or if you don't have the right number of people) is out. It's a fun, silly game.

FOUR COUNTRIES IN THREE DAYS

Just last week we were at JV Summer Intern Training. Training is always kicked off with JV's own mini-version of the Amazing Race. It's intense, exhausting, super cool, and worth all the crap we go through! :-) Each country (9 this year, I think) has its intern teams, and we all race against each other. This year all interns flew into Vienna, Austria, and as soon as they all got in the race began. We had to go all over Vienna conquering challenges like finding this statue and that church, getting locals to say something in another language, and searching an amusement park to name pictures! It was an insane but super fun first day. The day ended with a train ride to Bratislava, Slovakia. Much to our amazement we came in first place the first night (along with Czech Team Leah--we held hands and shared the first place victory)! The second day was much more trying. We had to make our way to Budapest, Hungary, climb mountains (well, they felt like mountains to me), eat super crazy spicy soup, act out a movie scene with a local, and balance baseball bats on our hands. It was a crazy day! We then went back to Bratislava. AGAIN much to our surprise, we got first place the second day. Day three mainly consisted of a small "find this statue" challenge in Bratislava then making our way to Malenovice, Czech Republic, where all our conferences/trainings are held. It was a blur really, BUT we made it all in one piece. The end result from all three days and all challenges...VICTORY TEAM UKRAINE!! Every year we have gotten third place (three years straight), and finally we have broken the cycle! At Prater Park in Vienna. We finished the challenge & decided to celebrate with silliness...as always.

Team Picture on top of this monster hill in Budapest...Syava (far right) and his friend Ura made our "Jesus Loves Ukraine" t-shirts! They're awesome! So many amazing conversations and interactions came out of our t-shirts...plus you could always spot us coming!

We made it!

COUPLING

What is it about Spring/warm weather that makes everyone pair up? The other day I walked outside, pleasantly surprised by the lovely warm weather (it has been chilly earlier this month). As I walked through the nearby park area I noticed something rather interesting: pairs, or couples rather...everywhere! Everywhere I looked there was a man and a woman paired up having their own little one-on-one time! No lie! Where did all these couples come from?!

I have been walking this particular path at least twice a day for a year, and never have I seen such a sight. She's on his lap. He's on her lap! They're making out. He's whispering something in her ear. His hands on her rear, and hers in on his (very Sixteen Candles). This couple has contorted themselves into a human pretzel while maintaining their make-out session--I stopped to applaud them...ok, not really. They're looking longily into each others eyes. She's feeding him. He's tickling her. Giggle giggle giggle. Poke poke poke. End scene.

You may be thinking, "oh, Brittney, you're just imagining all that. I'm sure not everyone was coupled up." Wrong. It's true. No exaggeration. I mean, I really did consider this...that maybe my singleness is only allowing me to see what I do not have because of some inner desire to have such a relationship, but in this situation this is not the case. Where have all these couples been? What is it about the warm air of spring that makes people pair up? Or was it that they were already paired up, but it was too cold to make-out outside...so they were reduced to doing such things inside, less visible to all passersby. Sure. Maybe that's it.

Side Note: I'm not so much bothered by the PDA. Having been here for a while, I'm kinda just used to it, though it can sometimes get a little ridiculous. That's not what the post is about. I was just shocked by all the couples and how weird it seemed that literally everywhere I looked there was a couple. Rather than some families, singles, friends, and couples all walking around, it was just couples.

ONE YEAR

April 30, 2009...two days ago...was my official moving overseas one-year anniversary. Wow. I can't believe I've been here for a whole year. It has gone by so fast, yet so slow at times. I can, with full confidence, say that this has been one of the hardest, most growing years of my life. I have learned so much about myself and about my relationship with my Heavenly Father. For the first time I really feel a year older and wiser. hahaha There's so much to reflect upon, and so much to look forward too. We shall see what this next year brings! Here we go! I had the opportunity to spend my anniversary with my parents in Prague! This is the amazing view from our apartment.

THEY'RE HERE!!

My parents are in Lviv, and we are having a great time! I'm so happy to have them here. It's been almost a year since I've seen them (skype video chat doesn't count). We leave for Prague tomorrow to continue our sweet time together. In front of the Opera House And people wonder where I get my weirdness

WET MONDAY

Today is the day after Easter in Ukraine. They follow the Orthodox calendar as far as holidays go. Part of this tradition is Wet Monday, which is the Monday after Easter Sunday when boys are allowed to soak unsuspecting ladies in water. This is considered lucky for the victims. I had forgotten about this tradition until I got off the marshrutka to walk home after our team meeting. As I was walking past a major square, I noticed a large group of guys pouring water all over these poor girls...well, maybe the girls were playing along, but still. I saw this and began to walk faster just incase I was deemed the next victim. Thankfully I passed the crowd unnoticed and confidently continued my walk home. I was almost to my street when I looked ahead and saw two guys with water bottles in hand. I quickly looked down to the ground, hoping they hadn't noticed me. Unfortunately, though, they did. I watched, via peripheral vision, as they began to pull up more, fuller bottles of water preparing to strike their next victim...ME! You could tell they were getting excited about dousing me with water, so it was even more fun for me to watch their disappointment as I turned down my street just a few feet from where they were standing! HAHA! I rushed quickly to my building door, just incase they decided to come after me. Today I escaped my first Ukrainian Wet Monday.

SPRING IS WINNING

Fall has always been my favorite season. All the colors and the cooler air. After long hot summers, Fall is just such a gift. However, lately the weather has just been so beautiful here in Lviv. Winter was so long, cold, and dark. I usually like cold weather, but months upon months of it was far too much for me. Spring has been such a blessing. I just walk outside, feel the sun shining on my face, and I look up--soaking it in--thanking God for the day. Flowers are blooming...the trees outside my window now are sprouting green leaves and white flowers. Life is happening, and I am in awe.

Another perk are the flowers and fresh fruit and vegetables that you can by at the street markets all over the city. Today I went out and bought some lovely vegetables, and treated myself to some beautiful flowers! They are so inexpensive, that you just can't help to partake. I feel so alive. Who knew Spring could have such an affect on a person?! Spring is definitely quickly becoming my favorite season.

Update: Cameron went back to Metro this week, and she brought me back a special present. She found more bags of salad, which you can buy separately! She bought me one. I was thrilled. Smiles all around.