We're Stuck (and we had a great party)
Our summer plans to be in the States have been cancelled, but we've been busy!
Maybe in December?
We had plans to travel to the States for the month of July. Plans to see family, visit supporters.
Yeah, that's not happening.
This virus has changed the world in so many unexpected ways. Things will probably never go back to the way they were, but we are praying for when a certain flow of daily life returns. When there are fewer unknowns and we have more clarity on what we're doing tomorrow.
For now, we're more or less stuck here.
Getting Settled
But being stuck hasn't been a bad thing. It's allowed me to focus more on getting settled in at UBI. After Jay Don moved his things out, the office went through a small renovation—new linoleum, new paint, new furniture. It's still a ways from done, but I'm glad to have an office, a desk, and a chair to be able to sit and focus on things in a way I haven't been able to in a long time. (Unrelated: Justus will be three and a half next month.)
There's a lot that needs to happen during this transition. Getting my name on a bank account, registering me as president of the school, making plans for this next school year—making contingency plans for this next school year—and preparing the new classes I'll be teaching.
Justus is doing well. His Russian acquisition has recently gone into high gear. He's conversing pretty freely and even praying in Russian now. It's adorable, and infuriating. He’s also now riding his bike without training wheels which he is really enjoying. This kid isn’t afraid of anything, and it scares us to death!
Katie is co-teaching a children's English club on Saturday mornings for a few of the kids from church. She is also planning to teach one of the ladies' classes this fall and is in the early stages of preparing for that. So, even though we may be stuck, we have certainly been busy.
Surprise Going-Away Party
The staff and I have been exceptionally busy over these last several weeks getting Jay Don and Mary Lee's surprise going-away party planned. Initially it was going to be held at the end of May, but because of the ban on mass gatherings, everything was put on hold. Plus there was also the issue of their own departure plans. The Rogers have had their flights cancelled five times. Knowing when and how to throw them this party was a real challenge.
Thankfully the quarantine measures were relaxed and, with just a few weeks to go, we were able to put together such a wonderful day. Over fifty friends from throughout their nineteen years in Ukraine traveled to Kyiv to attend. There were games, gifts, food, and even a video with messages from many people who were not able to be there. And we managed to keep the whole thing a complete surprise.
The Rogers are leaving quite a legacy, and it was so special to see how many people have been touched by their wisdom, generosity, and hospitality throughout all these years. They will be dearly missed.
Upcoming
We're hoping to take some time to visit Kharkov in the coming weeks. It's been more than six months since our last visit and we want to check in and see how things are going there. We also hope to find some family vacation time for ourselves outside of Kyiv somewhere.
We had planned to spend Christmas in Ukraine this year, but that would now mean keeping Justus away from family for a year and a half, and we certainly don't want to do that. So our new penciled-in plans are to return for a short trip to spend Christmas with family, then be in the States for a longer trip next summer when we will be able to visit supporters. Between now and then, we hope to check in with our partnering churches through video calls.
Thank you so much for your constant care. Thank you for your prayers and notes. Thank you for your encouragement in our new work here.
Very sincerely,
Brandon and Katie
Last night, I watched as Justus got dressed for bed all on his own. As he pulled his shirt over his head, I asked him when it was he grew up so fast.
“On the seventeenth.”
There you go.