DENTAL MISSION TO UKRAINE

by Suzan Johns and Nancy Stephens

September 25, 1997

Sunday, September 21

We had our usual cold shower this morning and headed down for breakfast. We took some candy down and put on the table by the door for each of the children to take some when they left. It turned out to be more like a free for all -- I know some did not get any.

We spent the rest of the morning packing and Victor picked us up at 12:00 & took us to Vasyl and Svetlana Mondich's for lunch. Ivan and Nina Urishko also came by. We had a very good visit. Vasyl told us a story that reminded very much of some of Mr. Armstrong's stories. He told us that one day he ws to go to a church conference of some type--something to do with the young people. He had no gas in his car and no money to buy any. He prayed that is God wanted him to go, he would provide him with 10 litres of gas. The morning he was to leave, he got up and on his front porch was a can with 10 litres of gas. He had not told anyone of his prayer. When he got back from the conference he found out where it came from. Ivan Urishko had had someone he knew show up at his house with this 10 litre can of gas. He said his tank was full and he didn't need it, but that maybe Vasyl could use some. He took it over and left it on Vasyl's porch. It reminded me of Mr. Armstrongs's stories about the coat incident, and different times he prayed and received just what he had asked for.

I know many of us have had similar stories as well.

After lunch Victor came to get us to go on our last excursion. We went to Rokosova to see the church there. It is very lovely, as you know. It is quite ornate, with the alabaster carvings in the wall and ceiling--we took pictures, maybe you can put one on later, if you haven't posted one before.

Then we headed up to the mountains. The scenery was very beautiful. All along the way there were people pulled over--Victor told us they were picking mushrooms in the forest. At the top of the mountain, the car was over heating. Nancy and I both gave him our water bottles to put in the radiator. He got some more from a stream, let it cool down for a few minutes, while we walked around a bit. Then we headed back down. We stopped at a scenic area and walked over to the stream, and Nelya and her family pulled in at the same time. We took some pictures of all of us. Then we spotted a young wolf right on the other side of the stream!! We were later told there are also wild boars in the woods. I'm glad I didn't know that before.

After we came down from the mountains we went back to the Mission and then Victor wanted to go over to the cafe -- so we went over and had a juice cocktail. Then we headed back to Turbaza. We wanted to catch the hot water agian. Victor was coming back with Maria at 8:00 -- she had prepared something for us for our journey home. They came and Maria had a large wooden butterfly- for a wall hanging for each of us as well as a tin of cakes for us. She said she was sad we were leaving but that we are friends in our hearts. I told here the butterfly will remind me of her and her dream every time I see it. I believe I neglected to mention we had had dinner at Maria's last Wednesday night. Her husband is working in the Czech Rep. because of the shortage of jobs here. They have two children, Oleg and Olga. Oleg is in 9th grade. He speaks fluent English--said he knows you--you were his first English teacher. Olga is learning, she is 11 years old. She plays the piano very well. They were both very polite, quiet and shy. We had a lovely dinner there, and Maria told us her dream is to come to the U.S. and study under an American Orthodontist for 2-3 weeks. I told her I wouldn't promise her anything, but do know a couple of orthodontists. Little do they know, I am going to be visiting them with the pictures of the state dental facility in Khust where Maria works and do a little heart tugging. She could live with us.

When Maria and Victor left we finished packing and caught up on our journals.

Monday, September 22

We wanted Victor to pick us up at 7:00, he wanted to come at 7:30. He showed up at 7:20 and said Ivan (not Urishko, but one who works at Turbaza, the same one who drove to pick us up) would be along at 8:00. He arrived at 8:10. then we went to get gas, then one tire was low, so we had to drive down to the market area and get some air put in the tire. By then it was 8:30 and we had to drive to Chop (Maurice Frohn is right it has an ominous name and for good reason!) and cross through both the Ukrainian and Hungarian border guards. We went through some nice countryside of vineyards and orchards. It was dark when we arrived so we did not see that on the way over. Once again we went right past the line of traffic and were ushered right through the border after having our passports checked, of course. At the Hungarian side they once again wanted to check our luggage. This time one of mine got opened. I guess it wasn't too interesting. He just looked around a little, then we were on our way.

Our train was to leave at 11:02 and it was now 10:50. I think Victor did that on purpose because he told the guards at the Hungarian border that we were two Americans and we had to be on the 11:00 train. So they waved us through. We got there with only a couple of minutes to spare, only to find out that there was no train to Budapest at 11:02. Victor said that the next one that went we would have to change trains. We said we didn't want to do that. He said the next straight thru one was at 11:52 so we decided on that one. Victor decided we should all go to a cafe, so back went the luggage in the car and off we went We finally found a cafe at 11:30 were served tea and bread and jelly at about 11:35. At 11:48 I told Victor we had to catch the train in 4 minutes. Out we went and got to the train just at 11:52. Fortunately, it didn't leave on time. Victor and Ivan helped us get on board, gave us a hug and kiss and disappeared.

We rode along enjoying the scenery for 3 1/2 hours when we stopped at a stop. An older woman who only spoke Hungarian was desperately trying to tell us something. We figured out whe was telling us to get off the train, because it wasn't going to Budapest, but we had reached the end of the line and it was headed back to Zahoney. So off we got, and after much adoo figured out which train we were supposed to get on to go to Budapest, but not to the Keleti train station where we wanted to go but to Nyugati. We arrived in Budapest at 5:30, found a taxi through a policeman who could speak English and went to our hotel. It was very nice and quaint. We went down to the restaurant and had a very nice meal, in very nice surroundings. Our room was very nice, small, but clean. Breakfast is also included in the cost of $38.

We were glad to go to bed early. It can be quite tension filled to try to figure out your way through an unfamiliar train system and city and not be able to speak a word of Hungarian. But we made it, and were quite tired. I slept fine but Nancy said she had nightmares all night reliving our experiences of the day.

Tuesday, September 23

We got up and had breakfast in the dining room. Gregory showed up to take us to the airport at 9:15. Our flight went well from Budapest to JFK. We went through passport control and through customs. Nancy was ushered right through, I was sent over to have my luggage searched. When it was my turn the lady looked at my form and asked what kind of humanitarian work I was doing. I told her we were setting up a dental clinic in Ukraine. She said "Welcome home, go!" and didn't have my stuff searched. So I went!!

We were so happy to back in the USA!! It seems strange to one day be in country on one side of the world where everything is so different and the next day be back here. It really makes you appreciate this country!

We got our connecting flight to Philadelphia with no problem and met up with Jim and Tammy right after getting our luggage. Off we went home! Nancy will return home tomorrow.

Thanks so much for all you did in helping us be able to make the trip such a success!! It was an invaluable experience for us. I hope more people will be able to go in the future.

Love,

Sue & Nancy