Dan and Pris Gollan

Today’s the day.  We expect to hear this afternoon the results of the retrial.  We aren’t expecting justice, but would love it if God chose to remind us of His power over the affairs of men.  Our prayers have been that He would free Vlad.  Our trust is in our all-wise, all-powerful, loving Heavenly Father.

It’s Monday morning and our entrance-way is still full of bags from camp.  We had fun.  With only a smattering of rain Friday night, we can also say that we had superb weather.  Sunshine all week.  A gastro bug hit the camp and took out most of the little kids and a few adults.  Shane built a waterslide with a couple of the guys and due to the fact that no one died, it was acclaimed to be the best thing yet!  A few times we came close to serious harm!  As it was, many of us came home with bruises, scratches, sand rash and some sprains/twists.  What a blast though!

All systems go for camp week…

The island is well set up.  About 10 people have done a good job of making sure everything is ship-shape and we’ll go out tomorrow afternoon. 

Tom, Vika, (Vlad’s wife), Vlad’s dad and I went in to see him today.  It seemed like he was on a much more solid footing than last time we went.  He was relaxed and happy.  He is talking about getting moved to a jail about 20 minutes away from Rzhyshchiv and thinking that there is a distinct possibility that that could be arranged.  On Monday, we should be hearing what the next date is for his retrial to start. 

I took a magnet game with me and we all played it for about an hour or more throughout the day.  It was good to laugh with him.  (The aim of the game is to get rid of your magnets by setting them on the board without causing any other magnets to “click” together.) 

Bed-time.  I’ve had a few nights in a row with less than six hours sleep.  The ol’ brain gets a bit tired.  Tonight should be a regular night!  :)

Value your freedom!

We are fine.

It’s been a ball of action and fun the last couple of weeks as we’ve had Esther and Timo and Daniella here visiting.  Then this week, Nathan and Rachel H. from Ohio arrived for a month’s visit.  “People” are great.  Our lives are enriched so much by the variety and by the love of people.

Jesse is 16.  We went paintballing for his birthday.  :)  I still sport seven bruises. 

We went to see Figaro performed by a ballet troupe in the Kiev Opera House a couple of nights ago.  (Horrific story, actually!)  We had the best accident I’ve ever on the way out of Kiev.  A lady in a nice car didn’t stop in time and ran up the back of us.  I hopped out expecting to see the rear door of our van bashed up.  Nothing.  Not a scratch.  (Well, not a scratch that wasn’t there before the accident.)  Her bumper and lights were broken but we were clean.  Our tow bar saved us.  :)  I gave them a tract and got back in our van and off we drove with thankful hearts.

We have camp week approaching.  We’ll get boated over there Sunday afternoon weather permitting.  We are expecting about 70 people to come which will be a good number.  Each year, God has blessed us with safety.  May this year be no different!

Oh!  I am going to visit Vlad again this Saturday.  Apparently, his parents pulled out of the allotted monthly visit and we can go in their stead.  Looking forward to it.

Pictures next week.  :)