so i have come to the conclusion that kiev has to be one of the coolest cities in the world.. the hustle and bustle of new people, tourist, and people just chilling.  Its so amazing.. it was hard to say goodbye to lutsk but we are gone.. no more tears.. kiev is where we are.. time for ministry.. sort of..

with three leaders there is always the opportunity for three teams to go three different places.. right? right!!  and thats what is going to be happening.. lori is taking a team to a village about 4 hours away.. for a couple of days the know they are going to be working with the churches and local children.. then after a while they are just going to be going on the voice of God and where he says to go.. Libby is buying a train ticket to... somewhere and going.. she has no idea but really feels peace and safety in knowing that she is just... to go.. how rad is that.. and for me.. well i am staying in kiev.. staying out on the streets late at night and ministering to the people on the streets.. wicked cool.. God is going to be doing so much in the next couple weeks.. its going to be so rad.. i can't wait.. God take control.. anwyays i got to scoot.. peace

--if your going to run.. how fast you going to run--  TFK

                  -ryan-

so holy cow.. its been a long stinkin time since my last update.. i am a loser and i am sorry.. but lets see if i can remember everything that has happened..

well.. lets see.. sunday-easter- that was amazing.. we had a long lunch and just hung out and relaxed.. it was a big time blast.. the teamjust needed some time to just chill and be a team togethor.. .. it was so nice just to be us.. a team.. then the next day we didn't do much.. hung out and went do some little things.. we went to the center that night.. and things got pretty interesting..

we were there and there was like 400 kids there.. it was awesome.. we could just preach the gospel and let everyone know what was going on.. with us.. the church.. our belief and then stuff started happening.. this guys came up and was drunk and i talked with him.. he was drunk so alot of stuff didn't make sense so i said thank you.. shook his hand and walked away.. i thought it was fine.. then he came up later and was like.. get the f-- out of our town.. and just shouting.. pushing and shoving and just being a jerk.. it was bad.. he saw duncan and started calling him some really deroggerator black names.. it was horrible.. after the whole thing we ended up with two fights.. we didn't retaliate.. alot of harsh words and a whole heck of alot of close calls.. it could of been really really bad.. but it wasn't.. a student and i took a couple of hits in the face.. and alot of kicks in the back.. but we didn't retaliate.. all thought iw ould of been so easy too.. God really protected us... so after that

my small group and i went to kiev and just hung out for the day.. just to chill and do nothing but be tourist on our day off.. it was awesome.. we were completely relaxed and could be ourselves.. and then we saw "the place" the new center.. skateboarders, bladers, bmx'ers and everything.. kids just doing kid things.. we talked and hung out.. and thats were we are going to be hanging out when we get there.. thats going to be so rad.. more ministry on our day off.. that was cool.. the past couple of days have been busy.. churches at night.. preparing to leave but its all been good.. God has been especially good in keeping us safe.. building friendships.. and just doing wonders with others.. God is good.. not always safe but good.. anwyays.. this is long and i hope that it gives you kinda of an upto date status.. so..i will talk to you more later..

--i think i will stand for the last time.. good-bye--                          blindside

                        -ryan-

so whats up fellas.. a whole heaping lot here.. which is way cool.. so let me tell you whats up

our new ministry as of lately is to go to the center of town.. sit under a huge statue and play guitar and hang out.. we have met like so many people lately.. its been way way cool.. the first night we did it there was like 60 people there.. ranging from 70's wanna be rockers... punks.. preppys.. druggies.. rappers.. anyone and everyone.. it was so awesome.. and we have been going every night.. its been so cool. lots and lots of new opportunities.. one cool story is titus and jordan were talking to the punk kids and they asked if we smoked or drank or did drugs.. they said no and they were like isn't that like bees without honey?  they explained that being punk is being different and not doing what everyone else is doing.. everyone is smoking, drinkin, and doing drugs.. so who is actually a true punk?  they were amazed.. it was so stinkin rad.. lots of ministry going on to everyone.. God specifically designed this team to reach every possible person we could.. its way cool.. in the mornings to church we wear suits.. in the afternoons we were preppy jock clothes for basketball and at night. we are punks, gansters, rappers, whatever.. its been so much fun.. .. God is so awesome..

well.. i finally saw orest the other day.. his mum is somewhere far away.. he was really down.. we told him that we were praying for him and that he should be praying.. he said he lost his cross necklace and we explained that you don't need a necklace to pray.. he sometimes eems to get it and sometimes he has no idea.. oh well. we will help him to get it.. anyways.. i have to go.. my small group is looking at going to kiev next wednesday so that should be right wicked cool. peace

-- on the way home.. this car is my confession-- dashboard confessional

                -ryan-

hey everybody.. whats going on doggie-fizzles.. yeah that is what we are teaching the translators to say.. cool huh.. yeah i know i am a dork but Jesus still loves me.. so um.. yeah

basketball has been awesome.. we play alot and with alot of people as of lately.. we played again yesterday, friday, and it was crazy alot of new people came.. all guys..i dont think i have every seen a girl come but that is okay.. we just had fun yesterday and it was alot of fun.. we all laughed and had a good time.. we even got a couple of them to come with us to church on sunday.. thats way way cool and thats our main purpose.. to get them to come with us to church or just to fall in love with Jesus.. its going to work.. i KNOW it.. God willing.. we also visitted another Gypsy village today and that was fun.. duncan and i met a lady that would believe in Jesus because she smoked.. we had the opportunity to tell her that that is not what matters.. the heart is what matters. God has grace for her. and that He loves her even if she smokes.. that was really cool. and a really good time.. also..i bet we drank a gallon of tea... they give us tea everywhere we go.. good thing its good tea..

so.. some new stuff.. we are going to be starting an "America" night where people from the college can come and just hang out and learn about american culuture and stuff and hopefully then we can tell them even more about Jesus and stuff.. its something that looks like it is going to be way cool.. another awesome opportunity.. its been really cool just being here in lutsk.. things are changing for the better.. some of us have bought suits and are just going to do whatever it takes.. thats going to be awesome.. we will be the best dressed people around.. oh yeah.. here we come Orthodox Church.. we are coming to serve!!!

as far as Orest.. i can't find the guy.. last time i talked to him.. he had to make the choice to tell the government that his mom was dead-- a lie-- or let her go to jail for no less then 7 years.. man i got to find him and just see how he is doing.. be praying for him and for his pregnant fiance/girlfriend.. anyways peace out till later

-- good good bye lullybye..good good bye you'll be fine.. good good bye i'll be fine--    jimmy eat world

                  -ryan-