YES, THIS IS AT SIX AM

On Thursday night before the big UEC second anniversary party, five of us spent the night cleaning all of the nooks and crannies of the always active Center. Beginning at 11 pm and finally finishing around 6 am, we concluded the night with pizza, pringles and coke, and then promptly fell asleep.

A SPECIAL DAY

Valya, one of our cell members, asked me to baptize her in late November, and this is the joyful, and wet, hug afterward. Read more about this humbling, nerve-racking, and powerful experience in my writings.

A JOYFUL NOISE

Eight of us brave souls, formed an "ensemble" near the beginning of the semester, and we finally performed our first concert at the UEC's anniversary party. The two crowd favorites were "The Greatest Commands" and "Shedriyck," which is "Carol of the Bells" in its original language - Ukrainian. We decided the most suitable name for our group would be "A Joyful Noise."

OH HAPPY DAY

Oksana (left) and Valya show off all the flowers they were given on the day of their dual baptism. Over 60 people, church members and friends attended the ceremony.

A FIRST FOR ME, CLEANING THE FAN

Obviously, when we decided to clean everthing, we meant everything.

I GOT A BOOK WITH A NUN ON IT!!

The Sunday of the baptisms was also Chris' birthday. Saturday night we had a party for him and presented him with this book about the history of Art.

CLEANING LIKE CRAZY

The girls attacked the kitchen, and it didn't stand a chance against their unrrelenting onslaught. From left: Anya, Lena, and Inna were not stopping until all was spotless. Lena and Inna would not even stop to look at me.

THE BACKBONE OF "A JOYFUL NOISE"

Can't you just hear the angelic voices of the female section of our ensemble? Lena, Anya, Lera, and Tanya make up for the male slackers.

ENCIRCLED BY LOVE

After Oksana's and Valya's baptisms, our cell group gathered around them and lifted them up in praise to the Lord, while the rest of the church observed in silence.

WHAT CAN WE PUT IN THE BLENDER NEXT?

Oleg and I created some great mixtures from all kinds of ingredients in Chris and Lena's new blender for his birthday celebration.

WHY AREN'T YOU WORKING?

Anya is determined, and that sticky rubber does not stand a chance.

"SNOW SHOW"

Oleg, his brother, and I got the opportunity to attend this hugely popular clown, comedy show at the theater one Saturday night. In this scence, the theme song to "Chariots of Fire" was blasting as the two characters sailed onto the stage on their bed frame, frightened by the "shark" approaching on the right. The show had me rolling for two hours straight.

MY SECOND HOME

Although I rarely get to sit in this main chair behind the library desk (due to my lack of ability to speak the Russian or Ukrainian language), I posed for a picture to show the main half of the library in the UEC. I spend most of my days to the right, in the staff room or at one of the library's four computers, but that was not as interesting of a picture.

AN OVERWHELMING EXPERIENCE

Oksana cannot contain the smile on her face as she comes up out of the water after being baptized by Oleg. She gave an extremely moving testimony before her baptism, saying all she had to give was her life, and she wanted nothing more than to give it to God.

CAN YOU FIND THE AMERICANS?

For the second anniversarty, David Ralston, a member of the board of the UEC and the pastor at his church, Highland Street Church of Christ in Memphis, came to Kyiv with their wives. Over 80 Ukrainians joined them to celebrate the service and resourcefulness of the UEC and listen to our ensemble perform.

TALKING OVER A CUP OF SOUP

At the end of October, Chris and Lena started a weekly "Soup Group on Friday afternoons in order to answer any questions students may have about Christianity or the talks Chris has been giving at "Student Night." Students come to warm up with a wholesome bowl of whatever Chris decided to throw in the pot, and voice their difficulties or questions.

PEACE AND BUNNY EARS

Anya gets bunny ears put on her by one of the homeless children whom they invited to the church building on Saturday for games, ping pong, a meal, and a little loving attention.

A BIG PILE OF FOOD

Believe it or not, we turned this random pile of food into a meal for about 40 hungry students in a little under an hour. Every week, Chris gives a talk introducing the basics of Christianity, we serve a meal, and then watch a movie or enjoy games like makeshift "Win, Lose, or Draw" with each other.

GETTING DIRTY TO MAKE THINGS CLEAN

I do not really remember when this picture was taken. Sometime after 4 am but before the pizza. In my hand I have "Mr. Mooskool" my cleaner of choice for the night. Fans, overhead lights, wallpaper, and cabinet fronts all yielded to its might.

YES, WE WIPED THE COUNTER LATER

Inna cleans the top of the refrigerator, or at least acts like she is. I actually think she just enjoys standing on the counter - a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"BASSI E TENORI"

As good as we look, if you could only hear us sing.

BEAUTIFUL BALLET

After cleaning for six hours, now waiting for the pizza to heat up, what else is there to do at six am besides ballet?

DO YOU WANT ME TO USE THIS ON YOU?

Lena went a little crazy with the vacuum as the night went on. I have the wounds to prove it.

CHRIS' CARD

We all signed a card for Chris on his birthday, a very masculine piece of art gracing the cover, of course.

HANDYMAN OLEG

Against my advice, Oleg decided to purchase glass for our broken windows and install it ourselves. Skeptical me was proven quite wrong, as we (I handed Oleg instruments as he applied his magic) succesfully installed unbroken glass to prepare for the frosty nights to come.

ME AS UKRAINIAN

Before class I pose in the staff room of the library in my new Ukrainian coat and hat, and with a typical Ukrainian expression on my face.

POST-SHOW MADNESS

At the end of the "Snow Show," the clowns released five enormous, inflated balls into the theater, and chaos ensued.