The above is the translation of a bumper sticker on the back of Sergei’s car, and were I more spritually deft, I could write a lean but meaty sermon series exploring it’s many layers, How we, as Christians, are called to be different in battle, even announcing the victor while the battle still rages and skillfully weaving in John 13:35…..but, of course, I’m not and besides, that bumper sticker is, quite possibly, just the Ukrainian version of “My other car is a piece of junk too. This morning we set a few more rows of block, shared a few more laughs and asked Ira take a few more pictures before cleaning up the site for the final time. I am overjoyed to report that good progress was made, at least from our limited perspective. And just as exciting…every trowel of mud slung built not only walls but relationships as well. We are all grateful for the construction of these new friendships and the strengthening of existing ones and we pray that the residents of eagle village and anyone else that we came in contact with saw more than the obvious differences…We will all have many stories to tell upon our return, whether it be Gullible Travels, Broke Bike Mountain or Thumb And Dumber but ultimately we are just grateful for the priviledge to participate in the greatest of stories……the one thing that could take us away from our families, friends and loved ones at this moment of our lives…Like this train we are riding in now, we are all just trying to stay on the track layed out before us. Finally, to PETA and pachyderm (sp?) lovers everywhere, no elephants were harmed at any time during this trip. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers…In His service, Doc, Mudder, the Smart One, Sparky, Art, Michael, Lee, Shawn and Troy signing off…. See you soon…all our love.

A third truckload of block arrived this morning and registered a first round TKO. No, there will be no boasting in our efforts, niether will there be complaining for the blessings have far exceded the burdens….isn’t that just like God? We are very close to our goal…Just a few hours on Friday will get us there. We try not to think about the fact that Sergei will do as much by himself in less time…Sergei knows very English and most of us know even less Ukrainian and Russian, Yuri forbids us to use Russian on site anyway but, every once in a while a successful exchange of communication occurs. When perhaps a certain tool or more mud is needed and there is feeling of satisfaction that comes with that, but I wish for more…to invite Sergei into our laughter without an interpreter. And nothing holds us back but our laziness…even if we did learn, would we have courage to use it? I can say “Slava Boga” and, in my head, know that I am praising God, but one missed accent or pronounciation and I might find myself praising the outdoor toilet which, don’t get me wrong, can be praiseworthy at times, but it is not the Savior. Oh how we limit ourselves though God heaps the blessings on us. Tonight we had dinner in Sevastopol then visited the Fedoretz family and the first from-the-ground-up HopeHouse we worked on two years ago. Both the family and the house look great. The grounds are beautiful…much different when we last saw it, at least from an esoteric perspective…And Joe and Art found recipients for the balls, matchbox cars and stuffed animals. It was a great encouragement for all to see what our efforts to lead to. Though we are not building a house for a HopeHouse family…we are building a house for a generation of families…it’s a bit like eating an elephant, but Yuri would say “I like elephants, but I don’t like to eat them.” We will see you soon…All our love…

The florida guys took control on “make or break” day by laying two long walls of block, even with Mudder finding it difficult to share his mud. The Tennessee effort was hampered when Troy dumped an entire load of mixed cement on the ground. Both teams found out later, however, that we failed to meet a goal we didn’t know we had. For those counting at home, another truckload of block was delivered and unloaded. In all seriousness, the work is hard. There are plenty of blisters, aches and ego bruises but, luckily laughter is in great supply as well. And there are no state lines here, just citizens of heaven on sojourn, who, in a brief moment of unselfishness, are afforded an opportunity to see the rocks that Rex’s team planted sprout into walls…walls that symbolize freedom. The present variety that is both the gift and the promise of our Heavenly Father…the kind that makes it possible for nine weary sinners to be here. And a future freedom for orphaned boys and girls who’ll be the beneficiaries of HopeHouse’s passion and vision. I said previously that we laugh to keep from crying…that was misleading. We laugh in celebration…for it is the greatest of joys to serve the Lord. All our love…

Good news! Jim finally has a nickname…”The Smart One”…and it wasn’t even given to him by Sparky, Doc or Mudder. Still no nicknames for the Nashville guys…at least nothing we can blog. Joe should be about fed up with Troy by now…but somehow he’s not. Today we built up the foundation to level and began work a wall for the main compound. Though we know that God, mercifully, does not keep score, Sergei gave the thumbs up to the Tennessee section of the wall while the Florida section met with a non-committal shrug. Tennessee 1 Florida 0, and how often does that happen. Art and Michael…..representing! In the afternoon we unloaded our first truckload of block…18 tons…we laughed to keep from crying…over future chiropractic co-payments. It was a long, full, rich day…I want to ask you all to pray for and praise God for Ira…she has the unenviable and unforgiving job of wrangling and disciplining the nine of us. I will have fond memories of being on the receiving end of her fantastic wit and humor. Tonight she took us to Yalta for a “peaceful” dinner. Afterwards, Shawn showed off his “shrewd” money management skills by trading 20 grivna for 1 in return. Way to go Shawn. Now sleep comes quickly unless your roommate wants to stay up talking about how great his wife is…Your comments bring us joy and motivation…keep them coming. All our love

This morning we ripped down the forms and ‘de-nailed’ the wood….before finally giving way to the block work. Art, Jim, Joe, the Kevins and Michael did a fantastic job discovering their masonry talents while chef’s Troy and Lee cooked up the sweetest batch of cement this side of the Prime Meridian. A brief, misguided critique of their output was met with a stern response. Shawn acted as the special projects manager, which any special projects manager will tell you, is never a good idea. Sergei looks completely different with his Beatle cut. We almost didn’t recognize him. It is great to be working for and around him again. Rex, you’ve set the bar pretty high and I can say, almost to a man, that we won’t come close to matching it, but we’re going to have a blast trying, which prompts me to mention, Troy’s practical jokes are probably going to get him in trouble at some point on this trip. Now…must…go……..sore…and….tired.