Leaving Ukraine Behind

I have been going to Ukraine every major school holiday to see my family and to get my braces seen to this year. My family have been missionaries out in Ukraine for the past 5 and a half years and this August they moved back to UK to be closer to me and my brother (who has recently moved back to the UK as well) and for my younger sister's education. 

I have found it difficult going back and forth between England and Ukraine over the past year. Although my family were still living over there, I have moved on a lot since moving back to the UK in January 2014. I have found it difficult to constantly say hello and goodbye to people and not be around to build/carry on building relationships with them because I no longer live there. 

I knew that going to Ukraine this summer would be emotional. It would be my last trip to Ukraine for a long time and I knew that, although I may not have wanted to, I needed to make the most of it. The past few months I have been blocking out a lot of my emotion towards my life in Ukraine to make room for my settling in England.

I traveled to Ukraine overnight. I passed the time watching the new Partners in Crime series (EPIIIIIC - although I do prefer the 1983 version with Francesca Annis and James Warwick) and a bit of Fred and Ginger. 

The original duo. They are - how you say? - ze best.

I also made friends with a really lovely Norwegian guy who happened to be a Christian too! It was awesome. 

When I arrived in Ukraine I took a breather before getting on with saying goodbye. Between orthodontic appointments and packing up the house, I saw and said goodbye to a handful of special people who have been consistent friends during the past 5 and a half years in Ukraine. Some I hadn't seen for a while, but by taking time out to come and see me I could tell that they cared. It was very touching especially as I haven't been around much recently.

The tears first came when we said goodbye to Yann and Lucie's best mate. This guy has been like one of the family and saying goodbye to him made the move all the more real. 

I went to our church in the village with my parents for our last Sunday. It was very emotional. I haven't been to the church there since Christmas and it was difficult to see some of the people that have caused so much trouble and pain in the church (you can read more about that here). As we drove to the village that morning everything in me made me want to turn around and go back home, but I really felt God pushing me forwards and telling me to give it a chance.

Even though there has been so much conflict and disappointment in the church over the past 5 years, some of the damage has started to be resolved. One of the ladies who caused trouble repented before the whole church the Sunday before I came and the church family there has grown.

At the end of the service we all sat around a table drinking tea and eating cake and pizza (??). It was really lovely. I took one last wander around the building and the "manse" next door before we left for old time's sake. 

Afterwards I waited for my parents in the car. While I was waiting I took a good look at the street where our church is. The sky was blue, the sun was shining and all the grass and trees were nice and green from the summer showers. The street stretched right over the main road that runs through the village, down and on past the local shops, to the nursery and eventually the school. So many memories surfaced in those moments as I sat in the car: walking to school with a heavy heart wishing I was still in bed, trudging through the snow in my big boots and coat, marching with my class to the village memorial on May 1st and walking around the village on cool summer evenings with a burning desire to see the village come to Christ.

Me on my first day of school. Didn't know what to do with my
bouquet and at the end of the day I just handed it to a random
teacher although I was actually supposed to give it to my
 "homeroom" teacher :3 #awkward (2010)

I won't be seeing that village for a couple/few years now. In a way I'm glad... I hope that time will carry on its healing process and I can go back there one day and truly appreciate the village. 

The hardest part of leaving Ukraine was saying goodbye to my youth leaders and very dear friends, Tanya and Venya. They helped my family to pack up the house and get rid of things until the minute we left our town, Svitlovods'k. They have shown nothing but steadfast love to us and even though they have difficulties of their own, they have had open hearts and taken time to come alongside my family and help out on a personal level but also in ministry. As we drove away from Tanya and Venya's house we all welled up. I am going to miss them so much.

All in all, my last time in Ukraine (for now) was very positive. It's good to go back to England with the closure I have been anticipating and waiting for for quite a few months now. And bonus, I got my braces off!

Though I'll miss Ukraine and my friends there, I look forward to traveling and living in new places (Asia, I am coming!). 

Now to move forward where God has put me for the moment...