Thankful For This Life

I just finished my August newsletter. (You can go to the sidebar and add your email to subscribe if you don't already receive it) I had the pleasure of writing it in a coffee shop where I have a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean.  My friend told me that screen writers and pulitzer prize winning writers frequent this place.  Add to that list a somewhat culture shocked missionary in the corner sweating over her monthly newsletter.  My life is truly odd sometimes.

I have about a month left before I return to Ukraine.  When I look back to last March, I felt like I had arrived from the dark side of the moon.  I had not seen sun for like six months and lived through the coldest weather I had ever experienced. (-30C)  My cat died and I sprained my back lifting my bag at Borispol.  Before I left, I was questioned by border guards as I sat carefully in their office while spasms in my back, arms and legs contracted painfully. (They were very gracious and kind to me but it's always an intimidating experience.)  When my family arrived home from the airport, my parents played their answering machine and found out that my grandmother had been admitted to the hospital earlier that day for a stroke.  Being close, we felt guilty that no one was with her at the time.  I spent my first day stateside in the hospital with my grandmother. I had so much culture shock I was having anxiety attacks at times.

Fortunately time, rest and a bit of physical therapy healed most of what I went through and I think my sense of humor also helps tremendously.  Those were the hardest days and since then, life has evened out quite a bit.

I wasn't sure what it would be like staying home for such a long period of time and was kind of intimidated by the thought of it, but now that time has passed, I realize that the Lord did want me home this long to reconnect with family and friends and to have a time to rest and regroup.  I realize now that I don't have to think about everything from either one culture's point of view or the other and feel the tons of anxiety that comes with having to decide which culture to relate to.  I have a multi-cultural life in a globalized world and it's all good.  I have friends who live in Palm Springs and friends who live in tiny villages in Ukraine.  Thanks to the internet, I have social media friends from all over the world that I can connect to through my computer.  (Is there a world clock app?  I need one.)

The world is changing everywhere and it's okay.  We're gonna get through.  Everything is going to be okay.

Be thankful for your life.

Strength Thru Grace

"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."...... Hebrews 12:28 KJV

Happy 4th of July!

I am missing Ukraine more than I can explain right now, but I know I am where God has me and that I need to rest so that I am prepared for my next season of ministry there!  Until then, I am enjoying being in the states to celebrate our nation's birthday for the first time in about 7 or 8 years!  (I honestly can't remember!)

Here's Norman Rockwell's interpretation of "Rosie The Riveter," one of American's cultural icons that celebrates American womanhood!  If you want to learn more about her, click HERE!

Coffee And Trust

Today I had my first cup of coffee at 4:20pm and then finally felt focused and energized enough to "seize the day!"

Now just because I had a cup of coffee at 4:20pm doesn't mean that I woke up in the afternoon.  I actually got up early, avoided the caffeine and had a smoothie (I'm know I'm SO not in Ukraine when I write that!) and then took a 5 K walk. (Please don't ask me how long that is in miles, I have no clue.)  Unfortunately even with the exercise I was not able to get going, but I plugged through emails and messages anyway and tried to work through my small mound of never ending ministry/life stuff that has to be done.

The coffee break came at around 4pm.  I suddenly felt caffeine fueled and felt focused enough to figure out how to open up a Pay Pal account.  Then I found out I needed something called a "router number."  The router number is on checks.  There are no checks for this account.  I write about two checks a year now.  I have run out of checks and have no idea how to get more.  I became completely lost and the caffeine effect waned.  Soon, I will take yet another trip to the bank with weird questions from the woman who does not understand how to do things in her own culture anymore.

I almost have life as a foreigner in Eastern Europe down to a science.  I have to say "almost" because I have to constantly adapt to huge challenges daily.  But even with the craziness, I kind of have figured out a rhythm to the chaos and try flow with it.

I don't have that in my own country anymore.

Here I fumble and flail through stuff and through it all thank God that at least I speak English which is still an easier language for me even though I frequently forget words.

Not just with reverse culture shock, but in my own life I'm going through a lot right now.  I find myself more often than not having a hard time processing everything that's going on around me.

But even with all the stuff going on, I have the reassurance that God is in control if I continue to trust in Him and not get freaked out.  I am being blessed by many people and also understanding that God is using me to bless many people in the states as well as Ukraine.  I am very humbled because honestly, most of my days feel like the above, I get up and get through life the best that I can.

That is all any of us can do.

Wherever you are today, have some coffee and trust God a little more to get you through.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."......Proverbs 3:5,6 (NKJV)

My June Newsletter

 Below is an excerpt from my last newsletter.  If you would like to be added to my newsletter list, you can subscribe on my sidebar or email me your name and email at semkee@yahoo.com

I've had a really good time the last couple of months spending time in California.  In fact, I'm still here.   It's very encouraging to realize how many amazing people have come into my life the last thirteen years, not to mention the pretty awesome ones that I knew before then too!  I love hearing what others are doing or what is happening in their lives.  It has really helped me put some perspective on my life in Ukraine and it actually relieves some pressure as I sometimes feel life in Ukraine can really feel like I'm living in this tight space and am always focused forward with blinders on if I want to accomplish anything.

In our world today, I have noticed that there are a lot of people who genuinely care and want to help others.  This is an admirable quality and I deeply admire anyone who wants to make a difference in our world.   Some get on the conveyer belt of movements like, "let's save the world," "let's stop hunger,"  "let's bring about world peace."  These are all very admirable goals and some people are working very hard to accomplish these things and some even make incredible inroads towards these goals. I do think that it is what God is doing through us that really counts.  The movements he starts in our hearts could be something that is big and wonderful to many or it could be small and important to only a few.  It might be beautiful and it might be a bit messy.

I think that as Christians, we have to do things different from the world.  The Bible tells us to live "in the world but not to be of the world." We have something the world does not have and Jesus should be the one we are following.  His goals should be our goals and his mission statement should become our mission statement.

When we help people knowing we have something more to give them than what the world can offer, it's then that we can make a real difference in their lives. It's Christ that will change people, not a program or a movement.

I have been blessed to see this work first hand in our ministry over and over again:

Helping to counsel a young mother desperate for marriage support who rededicated her life to Jesus, went to rehab and now has a blossoming marriage relationship.

Meeting a young girl who is pregnant who has no clue how to interact in a healthy relationship with her baby's father and being able to encourage her and teach her life skills.

Watching at risk children blossom in a positive, loving environment where they can get emotional support as they grow up.

Praying for a mother with TB and teaching other mothers to give her emotional support and take care of her child while she spends two months in the hospital.

The absolute blessing of working with an Ukrainian ministry that can help a mom with two babies who has been living on the street for 11 years get proper help and support to change her life.

We are to not just give those hungry a loaf of bread, but we have to also give them the bread of life.  When we follow Christ and have open hands as we help others, that is when he can work best in the people's lives that we are trying to help. It takes more than good intentions.  We have to be humble enough to follow Jesus where he leads and not give in to the expectations or pressures of others.

Blog Update!

I'm updating the look of my blog!  Easy to read?  Colors okay?   Let me know what you think by leaving a comment!  Thanks!

Craving Borscht!

I had planned on keeping this blog updated at least once a week and as you can see that has not happened.  I think sometimes it's better to choose spending time with people instead of worrying about blog posts!

I have been spending extra time with my family as well as visiting churches/small groups and working in seeing friends.  Everything is a bit slower this year as I am borrowing a car so have to coordinate my schedule a bit, but it is all happening!

I am hoping things can slow down a bit this week as I need to rest as well.  Now that I've had my fill of Mexican food I am starting to crave......borscht!  Yes!  Borscht!  I bought some veggies at my local super market and lamented on the looks of the produce.  I am seriously missing my market in Ukraine big time!

I have been talking with lots of people stateside about orphan/at risk children care and have some thoughts I will share with you later this week.  Tomorrow I will be participating in a photography project called, "A Day."  The goal is for photographers to take photographs during their day and share them with others at the website.  You can get more information if you want to participate by visiting their website by clicking, HERE.