Haircuts

This morning Garry took some of the boys who weren;t working into the city to the same place he got his haircut a couple weeks ago, it's only 40 grivna and they were all very happy with the results. We thought Losha must like long hair, because he's an artist and its been long since he came a year ago, but turns out he wanted it cut!

Trip to Kiev Farm show

Here are a few photos I have collected from the trip the students, Maria, Max and one of the group home families took to Kiev last week. They went by train, so it was about a 30 hour excursion.

escalator at the Metro - subway station

Besides the farm show they walked around downtown Kiev and visited an old Orthodox church.

The family from the "new House"

Excursion

Victor drove some of the students and group home families to Dnepro today where they enjoyed an outing to see the downtown dressed for the holidays, they ate at Puzata Hata too.

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Merry Christmas for the students

While the students are looking forward to the New Year holiday, which is the big day in Ukraine, they have been busy with Christmas celebrations. One Christmas day, Victor and Maria were in the village and all the group home families and students enjoyed a celebration and food at the classroom.

Maria handed out the gifts we had left for the students and staff.












The students who are going to the "evening school" went to a celebration there this week too. Looks like there were skits and other fun.

In the village

   the guys with Vova

 While we are in Canada, Victor, Maria, Max and the group home parents are busy with the students.

At the new house- Vika (in red) quit smoking three weeks ago

Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving again this year with everyone from the trade school invited with a potluck dinner (and turkey). Lots of food and fun with an opening devotional from our Ukrainian Hope for Each director Victor Danstev on Saturday evening. This year it was held in the new classroom with three sheets of chipboard over the desks to seat 38 people on a collection of chairs and benches from the houses. If you are wondering why November 4th, we chose it last week when the corn was all harvested.

Birthday party

some of the second year girls

Masha the newest student with Masha (Maria) and Garry

The whole gang

Vasili and Misha at left, they are Kolya's  brothers

Tonight the boys had a birthday party at their house. It was for Vasili. His twin Misha stayed in Kiroy Rog for this week (a bunch of students had gone for the weekend to visit a church that sent some of the them here), so the boys told me in English class today he doesn't get a birthday because he's not here. They worked very hard to make food for everyone. There was puree (mashed potatoes), beet salad, cutletta,(tiny meatloaves) hard boiled eggs, apple fritters, broeterbrot,(open-faced sandwiches) cookies, candy and cake.

Almost ready to start

Vasili the birthday boy, with Samson (Kolya) in his suit

Hungry anyone?

Yes they are

 Tomorrow  Losha (the artist, we have two Loshas now) will be 22 years old, he's the one with longer hair in the photo, sitting with Dima, who did a lot of the cooking for the party. Losha arrived back in March, and has been doing some painting with some oil paints some one left here a few years ago, he came by the house last month, he wanted to get some brushes because his were missing. I found the paintset and gave it to him, he was so excited I got a big hug, and he has a couple of his painting hanging in his bedroom.

This one is called October first