House Hunting in Zhitomir

*If you are a local reader/fan of Wide Awake we would LOVE to see you this Friday night, June 14th at Broadway Coffeehouse, Peru Room #306 at 7:00pm.  We'll be sharing the story and vision of Wide Awake International.  It will be a great time to get the big picture of what God is doing.  All are welcome!  Bring a friend!*  

I've decided to stop apologizing for my lack of posting and complaining about my lame finger.  So there. That's the last you'll hear of those two things...but I just had to get them out there one more time.  I'm turning a new leaf today.  Aren't you glad? 

Housing.

House Hunters International Ukraine went pretty well!   I spent a few hours with Sveta, our realtor, and saw several places for rent. It was productive and necessary.  It gave Sveta a chance to see what we liked and didn't like in a rental, and it gave me a chance to see what Zhitomir has to offer.  One thing I wasn't anticipating was that our kids would be a major factor in us finding a place to live.  When Sveta found out we have 4 kids I thought she was going to have a coronary.  Ha!  It's uncommon for people who live in the city to have as many kids as we do, and many landlords don't want to rent to people wih a whole passel o' kids.  Maybe they think we'll be too noisy.  My kids?  Noisy?  Hehehe....whaaaaaaa.....

Sveta just kept saying (in Russian, or maybe Ukrainian) "Four kids is very difficult!"  Oops.  :)

Who could say no to this cuteness?

We saw some okay flats and a big house for rent.  But then we got a brilliant idea, and all credit goes to my smarty Mother-in-Law. :) You see, while in Zhitomir we were staying in a house that a Ukrainian man renovated into a sort of guest house, or hostel for people who come to visit MTU.  This owner lives in Israel and his mother manages the house.  We really liked the house!  It has 3 rooms upstairs and space for a living room downstairs, a pretty open kitchen/dining area, and it's a house...not 9 stories up!  The best part about that particular house is its location.  It's literally a 4 minute walk from there to MTU.  Best location ever!!!  My oh so smart Mother-in-Law, Cindy, suggested we ask if we could rent that house for our first year.  Normally it is rented out, a room at a time, and charged by night.  But, what if the owner would let us lease it for a year?  What if?  Why not ask?  So, Jed asked Ira, the director of MTU, if she would contact the owner and ask him about us renting it.  Now we just wait for an answer.

We would love it if you would pray with us that God would provide the perfect house for us, and if it's that one that the owner would say yes right away!  Rentals aren't usually agreed upon in advance, so this would be a truly unique and wonderful situation.  It would be so nice to prepare for our move and already have in mind the house we'll be at.  Thank you for praying with us!

So, that's the skinny on housing. :)

On another note, we have been blown away by the generosity of donors in the last couple of days.  Oh, My. Word.  Seriously!  We have gotten big donations from people we don't even know personally!!!  Incredible!!!  Oh the ugly cry, I couldn't hold it back.  Generous supporters, if you are reading this, please know we are so incredibly humbled and blessed.  Thank you doesn't seem adequate.  But, THANK YOU anyway.  THANK YOU!!!!

"Mommy, take a picture of Seth Kitty!"

One step at a time, one foot in front of the other.  God is making the path straight.  Wahooooo!!!!