Well, eleven people - it isn't that miraculous that we could feed them - perhaps the real miracle is that we could fit them on this dying couch! :)
If you're wondering about my counting skills, there really were eleven - number eleven (Tanya) is behind the camera in this shot!
For the first time, I actually hosted my own birthday party, which is the tradition here in Ukraine, a tradition I've 'passed' on several times. Especially since moving to Kiev, it's taken a little while to get to know people enough to invite them to something like this!
Even this night seemed a little bit like a random assortment of people - friends from two churches, a few of my small group 'regulars', a couple old friends - but food and music united us all!
Gorgeous Chopin filled the room when Denis (sitting at bottom right with the long hair tied back) played my new digital piano. Made us feel like we'd stepped out of a picture of a 19th-century dinner party! Then, with less-sophisticated but heart-felt worship, the believers in the room belted out 'I Could Sing of Your Love Forever' (in Ukrainian) and 'Above All' (in Russian) and a couple others.
I was amazed at how much Igor (the only young man actually sitting on the couch) has improved in his guitar playing and boldness in singing! He was among those first Bible college students that I worked with my first year here in Kiev. He and the two girls near him (Vika, at left, his fiancee, and Sasha, at right) are now serving in worship at the church in Vyshneve (which I sometimes attend on Sundays).
I should keep introducing you to people while I'm at it . . . to the left of Vika, is Natasha (in pink) Denis' mother. I met them both while teaching English last year at the music school. It was Denis' last year as a student and Natasha's last year as an adult guardian at the school dormitory. Natasha is a biologist at one of the big state universities.
Next to Natasha is Lena (in red), a young woman who has come pretty consistently to my home group. We met when Fifth Street Brass (Wenatchee) did their Ukraine tour in Fall of 2005. Her interest in English and movies led her to accept an invitation to 'Finding God at the Movies' that I was passing out at the time!
Next to Lena is Lilya, whom some of you know or have met! She was our translator and one of our earliest church members in Rivne for several years before moving to Kiev this year, and she's been my good friend since I've lived in this country! :)
Next to Lilya is, well, me! But then to the left and in front of me is a dear couple I met through the Nazarene Church: Lesya and Sergei. They have a church plant on the far eastern side of the city in a neighborhood that is just solid with huge concrete buildings, full of people (most of whom don't go to church anywhere yet). Last year, I started helping out a little with worship, attending their Saturday gatherings a few times a month, and frequently going over to their place for guitar-playing, practicing, and drinking lots of good coffee! The ministry partnership gave me two great new friends!
Phoebe the cat, also present at the party, is absent in the pictures. She did her best to scratch almost everyone present.
Tanya, like I said, also not pictured, was a real trooper! Though she got a bad cold the day before the party (and had it throughout the day of, I think) she did tons of cooking with me (fixed the horrible job I did of cutting meat for 'myaso po-fransuski'), made it through the party without looking sick, and stayed up after the last guests left at eleven to eat leftovers with me (you're always hungrier after hosting! :)
