Day 3: July 4th - Independence Day in Ukraine!

Hello Ukraine mission team followers!
Today we got a good look of L'viv and packed quite a lot in! The day began with breakfast, consisting of delicious bread and jam, fruit, cereal, yogurt, and tea and coffee, upstairs in the student center. We shared our company with the Goran's (wee Jesse included) and Michael, despite some late arrivals from some select individuals. After breakfast, several Ukrainian students arrived for our trip to a nearby lake. While preparing to go, Somala, a 14 year old girl, sang and wowed us with her beautiful voice. Shortly thereafter, we embarked on foot to the bus stop, then took a short ride over to the lake and our barbecue area! Despite a little early rain, we got the kabob grills going and started to fill skewers with shashlik - a delectable assortment of meats marinated with an even more so tantalizing spices and sauces. (Also Meredith and Eric deserve Kudos for filling the skewers for quite literally the entire meal. We also enjoyed vegetables, and summer drinks which included a sparkling juice type of thing and a fermented bread drink. Throughout the the time, we shared fellowship with numerous students. Each and every one were very exuberant to talk and share stories, hobbies, and interests, regardless of English levels. Julie and Camille also had an interesting experience with the nearby bathroom, which was decidedly unused and un-photographed. Full of food and newfound friends, we headed back to the hostel. The bus ride back was perhaps the most sweaty, cramped, and awkward experience of mass transit for many due to excessive overcrowding in the vehicle. After a short rest and change into fancier get-up at the hostel, we headed up to the student center for the church service. The unique time was marked by prayer, scripture, sermon, song, and overall worship expressed in both Ukrainian and English. We were undoubtedly different cultures speaking different languages, but we were one people loving the same God. Another unique facet was that the pastor was a product of the student center who had initially wanted no part of Methodism but eventually became one of the few Ukrainian United Methodist ministers to go to seminary in Moscow. Upon the end of the service, all hung around and chit chatted with fellow worshipers before enjoying a dinner of NY style pizza and assorted salads. The group then took some time for reflection and then time to hammer out details for English camp tomorrow. After consolidating suitcases we are a mere seven hours before heading to the train station for the Carpathian mountains. So I bid you all farewell and look out for more updates.
Goodnight & God Bless!
The Ukraine Mission Team

P.S. Sorry for the lack of paragraphs and overabundance of multiple clause sentences.