Four taxies, three flights, two passport controls and one extremely long bus ride and we have arrived and experienced our first day in Uzhhorod.

We arrived at the Nehemiah Center around 1:00 Saturday morning after leaving Oklahoma City at 4:30 Thursday afternoon …. We are looking for a shorter way.

We were able to make all of our connections – some of us running – and most of our bags made it with the exception for four --- which we are still waiting for; they have been promised to be delivered today, probably tomorrow as it is now 9:30 pm. Two of the suit cases contained part of our VBS supplies and Marci is hangin’ in there without her luggage.

Arriving at the Nehemiah Center at 1:00 am, fourteen very tired people looked forward to a bed with plans to meet for breakfast at 8:30, maybe 9:00 Stan said, after watching them lug their suitcases into the hotel. This all changed after arriving to no reservations! As we stood around the very small lobby Stan was able to work with the poor person we woke to arrange for everyone to have something to sleep on. I am not sure Stan got much sleep thinking about what he was going to do about rooms the next morning.

Saturday morning we did get to sleep in and meet at 10:00 to plan our day. Stan was able to work out the rooms and get most everyone placed shortly after breakfast with promises for everyone. We had the fortunate experience of meeting Mike, who is on the Board for the Nehemiah Center, from Buffalo, NY; we gathered and he explained the history of the Nehemiah Center.

With showers, clean clothes and an eagerness to see some of Uzhgorod we picked up some noncarbonated water and were off on foot. Ending up at the local mall – where several of us had the experience of meeting a vendor who was selling a Japanese head massage tool; of course we all had to experience it but for some reason, no one seemed inclined to take it home!

After lunch at the Center, we were off again, this time in four taxies to see the Folk Architecture and Life Museum, an area on a hill overlooking the town with replicas of the old houses of the area, one of the wooden churches of Uzhhorod and the Uzhhorod castle complete with moat (no water). We concluded that Saturday must be wedding day; there must have been a dozen wedding couples with their photographers and wedding parties looking for interesting places for their memorable photographs. This fascinating and beautiful part of town made great backgrounds for the wedding parties as they gathered for photos. The brides were beautiful as well as their floral arrangements attached to their cars. After walking several more miles through the downtown area we found our way to Sergei's Methodist Church who was kind enough to give us a ride back to the Center.

For the end of a wonderful day, several of the group walked the neighborhood, while others ended with a game of Phase 10 and some of us just sat out front and enjoyed each other’s company.

Weather today – hot.

Thanks to everyone for all your prayers...
Jaci and Doug Finch