sometimes things don't turn out exactly as you plan
We left Moldova on a Saturday. Packed up our bags the night before, we only had a few more things to gather before stepping out the door. It was a little tough for Lauren and I to leave our host who had become such a large part of our experience in the last country of our World Race.
She had just joined the church we were working with one week before we rolled up in Moldova. One of the ladies at the church asked her if she'd be willing to take two girls in for 2 weeks, let them sleep at her place and cook them breakfast. She selflessly agreed and that how we met Valya.
She would take Lauren and I out around the town and show us the Balti she grew up in. We walked around a lake on the outer part of town. We asked her about her childhood and growing up. It wasn't an easy one for her, she didn't have her parents growing up, but she said she always clung to hope that God would take care of her.
One of her good friends came over one night and Laurenand I introduced the two of them to UNO. Sitting around the kitchen table, we drank tea and laughed. Our lighthearted game turned into a riveting discussion about healings and supernatural spiritual realm. Valya was a bit of a skeptic, we discussed what the bible said and shared our thoughts. Our conversation died down and we got back to our game. I lost.
Lauren and I felt pretty strongly that a huge part of our ministry in Moldova was with Valya - to get to know her, to encourage her. She was getting into regular bible studies at the church and we'd discuss the Bible and God at various points during our stay.
Valya was a feisty one. She had the biggest personality I met on the race.
I had got a nasty cold during the two weeks we stayed in Moldova. Despite all the refusal of meds and fuss over me, Valya made me many home remedies and bought me nasal spray and insisted I take all of them. She nursed me back to health, the fact that she was 3 years younger than me didn't stop her from taking that motherly role.
We left and I was excited about the connection we made. I was so excited to see her grow in her relationship with God.
So much of our time there was laying a foundation.
That's what I thought.
Less than a week later we landed in the U.S. We flew into New York and I decided to stay a few days. I was in Penn station just off a train and I got a phone call from one of my team mates. "I don't know how to tell you this, but Valya is dead"
What?
For real? This doesn't seem real. Are you sure? What happened? I don't understand.
My team mate said that she died in a car accident.
I was stunned and void of emotion. I don't really know exactly how to deal with death anyway and I know I take it much lighter than the average individual. It just didn't make sense to me. I was so looking forward to hearing about Valya in the future. I thought there would be a future. I thought God put us there with her to invest in her.
God did put us there. But not to invest in the way I had once thought.
I suppose we'll never truly understand these things.
Although most know her from Calcutta, Mother Theresa was born in Skopje, Macadonia - right where we happened to be for ministry in the month of October. There's a museum set up for her in the middle of center which we visited while there.
I never knew much about Mother Theresa other than the world knew her as a saint. When I walked into the Museum, I met Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu - a young girl with a dream to devote her life to God.
"I, sister Mary Teresa, vow and promise to Almighty God and to the blessed Virgin Mary in the hands of your grace, the archbishop of Calcutta, for life. Poverty, chastity, obedience and also to devote myself to the service to the poor."
There were many documents on display in the museum, she would write on any scrap of paper she found, envelopes, bills, etc. She was a simple woman with a determined heart. As I browsed her writings and looked at old pictures I realized that she's not that different from any of us. Most of her writing are things I hear echoed from the people I've meet here on the world race, they are things that echo in my own heart.
She had a pure and honest way of looking a Christ, and simple resolve to follow Him.
What makes us different than Mother Teresa?
Laziness, loss of vision, priorities, family, money, comfort.
She wasn't any more special than making a simple commitment to God and giving herself fully to it.
We have this potential.
All of us.
Imagine what an army of fully committed followers of Christ can do.
Macedonia was a month spent in Skopje (pronounced like skopia) with Campus Crusade. Any time we go to a new country, we're there to help. And help comes in a variety of forms. With Crusade, they had 3 teams to impact Skopje - a strategy and team for the Albanians, the Macedonians and a catalytic team to reach students all around Macedonia. It was our job to spend a week with each one assisting in any way they needed. One of the strategies crusade will uses in their ministry is handing out student planners is one strategy. They contain a calendar for the year and articles geared toward a people group in their native language. With this small briefing before meeting the teams, we were ready to jump in and help out.
It's starting to get chilly here in Europe. We're bundled up to take our 20 minute walk to the office for a short prayer meeting with staff. Upon arrival, we'd fix ourselves a cup of tea to warm back up as the team assembles one by one and each member arrives. We're working with the Albanian team first. (and I love these people!)
There's something quite friendly about all the Albanians I've met. Firm and forward (reminiscent of other cultures I've experienced this year) but kind and gentle at the same time.
We're having a gathering here at the office tonight. We're not sure exactly what they're going to be telling the students as it's all in Albanian. But they let us know that they want to invite students to hang out and introduce themselves as a resource to university students for academic and spiritual needs. They tell us we can help out by making signs to direct students, plans games and entertainment. We all pick our tasks and get to work. Jake and Lauren with some crayons for signs, Emily and Tanna writing on slips of paper for a game and Caleb and I learning some music for entertainment.
It's time to leave, we're going to a University to hand out student planners. Each one has a short survey on the front for students to fill out and give their contact information for Crusade to follow up with later. Quickly realizing we don't speak Albanian and most don't speak English, we become tag-along side kicks to our new friends on staff, but we're not third wheels in this situation either. Somehow we fit.
We're in the cafeteria of Fon university having tea with students. Laughing and carrying on, there are limited words of English, but it doesn't matter. I'm enjoying just being here and that's more than enough. We hand out planners and flyers for our gathering that evening. After a few hours we head back to the office.
Many students turned out to the gathering and we had a great time. We showed them an American dance and they showed us several Albanian ones. The evening went late and we danced until we couldn't move out feet anymore.
The next day I was thinking to myself that it may look small what we did - tagged along to hand out flyers, were extra bodies sitting at the table for tea, made simple signs to direct students. But I couldn't sell short the impact it made. These were simple things our contacts no longer had to worry about, our presence handing out flyers and hanging at the university was something novel to these students. We can't always measure success or the level of help by our idea of what is big or small. These things were important and I'm so glad I could be there.
you should always listen to what you're parents say...
My dad said this thing once when I bought my korg keyboard that is at home waiting for my return, stands almost as tall as me on it's side and weight 80lbs, "if you're going to buy it, you need to be able to carry it. You can't always rely on help to come because there will be moments you have to do it on your own."
And as his wisdom resounds in my head, I've developed one of my packing convictions. YOU CAN PACK AS MUCH AS YOU WANT AND HAVE AS HEAVY A BAG AS YOU WANT AS LONG AS YOU CAN CARRY IT.
Most of the time, this isn't put to the test. Carrying a bag outside someplace we're staying and into a pile for the bus doesn't require much effort no matter how large or heavy the bag. Kyiv was different, however. We took the metro from our place by Kontraktova Ploshcha to the main train station. I have my large backpack strapped on, my camera backpack on the front, a bag on the side that holds my projector (yes, I'm now traveling with a projector, long story - but it's awesome) and a didgeridoo that I've been holding onto since Australia back in February. One transfer, 25 minutes of standing and balancing between a car jam packed with people and the abrupt starts and stops on the line made it more than your run of the mill metro ride.
You know that moment when you have been exercising for a while and then your muscles get put to the test by something as simple as walking down stairs. This is the moment when I think to my self, 'pull it together, if you collapse now your going to look like such a pansy!' And this has become my reality at this point, but I'm determined. I was week in my legs and sort of felt like throwing up from all the weight on my body and being a bit dehydrated. A few readjustments and belabored moments, soon we would be at the station. We arrive and I'm a little sweaty under my clothes despite the 48f degree weather. An understated feel of accomplishment rushes through me - I carried everything!
We made some great friends in Ukraine and many of them came to the station to see us off. It was one of our best months and one of the few I can very practically see going back to some day. Our friends made a sign, hugs and last minute goodbyes on the train and a woman yelling at them to get off was our last view of Kyiv. As a few ran with the train as we departed from the city, I was sad but so satisfied in my heart.
Leaving is a part of this trip. It's a part of life. Sometimes it's harder than others.
Kyiv, we will miss you dearly and all of your wonderful people, our dear friends.
it's a new playing field, not so foreign like Africa or Asia. We're in Europe now, so much more like home and what's ordinary. But I have something new in my heart, a growing triumph through struggles I've come across this year. What will be different this time around?
We landed in Kyiv in a sea of black and braids as hundreds of Hasidic Jews arrived to the city and flooded customs as our World Race team of 50something pushed though. Things are starting to look more familiar as we depart for the city. As we drive excitement grows as I know we'll be spending the month in a city. FINALLY! Growing up and living a city all my life, I've been waiting all year to have a city to live in (I've had my fill of the village for a while).
We were working with CCX who works with university students.
"Uh, oh. I'm going to have a month of hanging out with students and being sociable...we'll have to see how well I've overcome that hurdle in my life as the month progresses", I thought in my head.
It's hard to get into the swing of things when you have a crippling over-thinking mental struggle. When you're in front of a challenge, there's this big black cloud in your face. As I look into someones eyes and try hard to listen, the narrative in my head screams, "run, get out of here, you don't know what to say, you're not relating". But I dove in anyway, ready for the task before me.
It was a bit awkward at first, but then again, I often feel I am. A gathering here, hosting English speaking club there, going out to tea after with students. There's progress and I'm pleased. But one day changed the course of the month. We had a photo scavenger hunt and I got a lot more comfortable. "ok. I can do this thing."
We would host a weekly bible study and worship night for the students at our apartment. I had so many opportunities to practice overcoming my insecurities. I had conversations of God and spirituality, passions, interests, America, Ukraine, culture and life.
Sometimes the conversations were meaningful, sometimes they were just for fun, some made an impact that will last for years, other fainted as the night went on.
But the conversations happened.
I was in them.
I didn't let them rule me.
A month of purely social ministry.
I conquered.
World Race + Ashley Huizenga = One of the most amazing experiences ever
$14,000 to raise + amazing supporters = only a little over $2000 to raise
a few simple ideas to raise the rest:
$2000 / average blog views = $7 per viewer
$2000 / number of subscribers to my blog = $33 per subscriber
Don't get me wrong, this blog is yours to read and view freely and I want anyone and everyone to.
But if you want to help out, anything large or small makes a huge difference!
This trip isn't possible without people like you to pray, support, read the blog, see the pictures and be a part of this thing with me, even if it is only by proxy. If you would like to support me, or continue to support me, I'd be so thankful!
movies have hit this concept. For Forrest Gump, it was a box of chocolates and for Alicia Nash it was sticking with and loving a crazy man.
CCX movie club on Friday night the first week we were in Kyiv played the classic, A Beautiful Mind. It's been a while since I've seen that movie, so aside from a few major plot points,
it was like watching the film for the first time. And as the movie progressed, I couldn't help but be in aspiring awe of John Nash's wife. I don't know exactly how closely this movie follows the life of the real mr and mrs Nash. But one thing is for sure, without the support, determination and patience of Alicia, John would have fallen apart and succumbed to his illness.
As we were walking to the metro with a few students, chatting along the way, something hit me rather hard. When you open yourself up, for ministry, in life, in marriage or anything really, you open a can of worms in a way. You never really know what people or what circumstances will show up. You kind of just have to take what you get to a certain extent.
And it was then that I could see a clear difference between success and failure. Those who are able to really embrace whatever life throws at them - be it people, problems, tragedy, fortune, etc, those are the ones that make a difference in the world. Those are the ones that really effect the people around them.
Then I asked myself, is that me? Am I really that open.
As I evaluated I realized that I can definitely be idealistic when it comes to this fork in the road and it can largely hold me back from embracing life fully.
Then I looked at the CCX staff that we were walking with and how they interacted with the students who showed up. How they were excited to get to know them and discuss life, no matter who may have showed up.
I want to be like that. To be as brave and unwavering as Alicia Nash.
It's funny, it's not like God backed out when He made the choice to send His son.
When Jesus hung on a cross, He didn't think about certain types of people He'd want to die for.
Oct. 1 is my birthday. This year it was celebrated in the fine city of Kyiv, Urkaine.
As most birthdays go, some are memorable, others are forgotten. But this past Oct 1 being the former for me, I will take a few paragraphs to tell you the tale...
The night before, Thursday:
We would have a weekly bible study/worship time with the students we met during the week doing english speaking clubs at various universities with CCX. We had our bible study and after almost all had left, there were a few who remained and wanted to play a game. It was sort of clapping timing game, like concentration if you know it. Quickly explaining, we'd have to make gestures of animals really quick in time with the clapping rhythm and pass to another player. I was going first and having never played this game before, I was a bit overzealous on my first animal gesture. I was an elephant and had to put one arm out and cross the other over and hold my nose - like I had a trunk. I was a little too quick and dug my fingernail deep into my nose scrambling into position and producing a lovely gash. A half hour later it was midnight, and thus began my birthday, being attacked by an elephant.
My day began by sleeping in, which is a highly recommended way to start all birthdays. When I arose, I made a plan to go to a coffee shop to use the internet for an hour or so. Friday nights is movie club with CCX and I was in charge of picking the movie, making a list of vocabulary and discussion questions. The list was made but still in need of emailing to the office to be printed for club.
There was a particular coffee house nearby, not the best internet and a bit smoky, but if you order before noon everything is 30% off. As I was quite hungry and looking to take advantage of the deal every since I saw it was available, it was perfect. A nice cheep birthday meal.
I ordered an omelet and hot chocolate, both delicious! I did my business on the internet as was ready to leave after a while so I asked for the bill.
A few minutes later, a waitress brought me some mill-k.
"No", I fumble out in confusion. "Bill....check..." as I gesture out a receipt. She seems to understand, took the milk and left.
Not a moment later my main waitress shows up and questions, "bill?"
"yes", I reply. "Check"
She sets down my receipt on the table. Then the glass of milk and leaves.
I look at the bill and of course the milk is on it costing me 8г.
The 30% savings came out to 7.30г.
I came back to our apartment and was greeted by a lovely bouquet of flowers, a coca-cola and an awesome note from my teammate, Emily, which completely brightening my now afternoon and smoothed over the frustration of being ripped off by the coffee shop.
My day was joined by Gus, a friend from home, who is living in Ukraine for a year just a few hours outside of the city. We decide to go for a walk.
I was hoping to see an art museum or two, we both had our cameras and I still had to buy the movie for movie club.
The plan was to wonder until club which started at 5:30 and take care of our todo's in between.
We wondered. And wondered.
I figured I'd eventually run into an area I recognized now having lived in Kyiv for about 3 weeks and having a generally good working knowledge of the area.
We wondered some more.
Unfortunately my knowledge didn't expand to this particular area of town and as the time approached 4pm, I didn't have a copy of the movie in my possession yet nor did I know where a nearby metro was to get to a store or the university where club was at.
We asked some locals about a metro, took a mashutka and arrived in the metro station around 4:45. Clearly we had to get serious about getting this movie as there would be maybe 30 students ready and waiting to be entertained in just over half an hour. Crap.
I knew of a mall-like building a 5 minutes walk from the university. It's the best plan I had to obtaining a copy of the disk, but we were running out of time, Thankfully the movie isn't supposed to start until 6pm anyway...we'll be fine.
I hope.
As we reached the mall, we tried to find one store listed on the directory but it was nowhere to be found. We asked a woman there, she said it didn't exist anymore and to try the computer store across the street. We headed over to the computer store, they didn't have anything close to movies. They suggest going back to the mall and down to the ground floor at the supermarket. We ran back over and as we turned the corner, we saw it...a DVD store!
It was 5:45pm.
We looked around for a minute, then we asked for help. All the titles were in Ukrainian and I got nervous. The point of English movie club is to have the movie in English. A dubbed movie would not suffice. The sales associate pulled the movie off the shelf, Ukrainian title. We asked him if it was in English and he said he thought it was, but he proceed to check for us by breaking the plastic seal and popping the disk into their store DVD player. (Man, they really get things done here in Ukraine!).
It loads.
We fast forward.
It's English!
As I finish at the register, it's 5:57pm
We run.
We arrive at the university and take the elevator up.
As we approach the room, I look down at my watch. 6:05pm.
Close enough.
At least I have the DVD and we didn't have to bust out our acting skills like we joked about showing up with no film and making it a play instead.
We enter the room and a chorus of happy birthday starts.
It began sounding like Spanish words.
But then it blended into various forms of Russian, Ukrainian and English. A smile creeps onto my face as the now 4 songs end at different moments.
I was bombarded by a few students rushing to give me some of the most awesome birthday presents.
My face was flushed and I was dripping sweat from running despite the 50 degree weather.
All was well.
I grabbed some tea and a cookie
shhhhsh, the movie is about to start....
After movie club, Gus and I went for ПУЗАТА ХАТА - borscht, of course. We walked around Independence Square and Khreshchatyk street and talked for hours. About life, about following God, about ministry, etc. It was perfect between our conversation, our cameras and sitting watching the world go by in one of the most interesting and beautiful areas of Kyiv.
We walked home and arrived to a house of people ready to hang out and watch a movie. We started it at about 1:45am. I fell asleep about halfway through.
It was a long day, an exciting day and one I won't forget for a while.
Turning 25 isn't that bad after all.
the town and show us the Balti she grew up in. We walked around a lake on the outer part of town. We asked her about her childhood and growing up. It wasn't an easy one for her, she didn't have her parents growing up, but she said she always clung to hope that God would take care of her.
There were many documents on display in the museum, she would write on any scrap of paper she found, envelopes, bills, etc. She was a simple woman with a determined heart. As I browsed her writings and looked at old pictures I realized that she's not that different from any of us. Most of her writing are things I hear echoed from the people I've meet here on the world race, they are things that echo in my own heart.
We're having a gathering here at the office tonight. We're not sure exactly what they're going to be telling the students as it's all in Albanian. But they let us know that they want to invite students to hang out and introduce themselves as a resource to university students for academic and spiritual needs. They tell us we can help out by making signs to direct students, plans games and entertainment. We all pick our tasks and get to work. Jake and Lauren with some crayons for signs, Emily and Tanna writing on slips of paper for a game and Caleb and I learning some music for entertainment.
it's a new playing field, not so foreign like Africa or Asia. We're in Europe now, so much more like home and what's ordinary. But I have something new in my heart, a growing triumph through struggles I've come across this year. 
What will be different this time around?
We were working with CCX who works with university students.
There's progress and I'm pleased. But one day changed the course of the month. We had a photo scavenger hunt and I got a lot more comfortable. "ok. I can do this thing." 
Then I asked myself, is that me? Am I really that open.
When I arose, I made a plan to go to a coffee shop to use the internet for an hour or so. Friday nights is movie club with CCX and I was in charge of picking the movie, making a list of vocabulary and discussion questions. The list was made but still in need of emailing to the office to be printed for club. 
and I still had to buy the movie for movie club.
