Back in Kyiv, Part 1

Sunday, July 15

Back to Kyiv – on the home stretch

During the night in Rivne, a cool front came through with a bit of rain. As I opened the window of my room, the waft of cool fresh air was such a blessing this Sunday morning. We could even drive the bus without the A/C on, and it was still comfortable! Slava Bohu. This break in the weather will be helpful as we push toward the end of our tour. 

Today, we learned that the cost of the damage from the accident to our bus in L'viv, though it was clearly the fault of the other driver, will be borne personally by our bus driver Oleg. Estimated repairs somewhere in the neighborhood of $450 (3500 UKR hrivna). A hat was passed through the bus, and due to the generosity of our members, nearly 4000 hrivna appeared in it. We presented it to Oleg during the drive to Kyiv this afternoon. He was speechless, tried to decline it, and then nearly cried. (FYI: Russian men do not cry). Evangelion = bearing good news. Good news indeed today for Oleg.

Proverbs 11: 24-25

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

²⁵ A generous person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will themselves be refreshed.

 

In many ways, our next two days in Kyiv will be the culminating experience of the entire trip. We are excited to be able to record our concert at Central Baptist tonight, which has great acoustics for sound and we anticipate a full house. We miss our home chorale members, but this will also be our only chance to hear what we sound like with our 7 Ukrainian singers in our midst. If we could only bring The Seven home with us, and add them to our home chorale members. What a sound that would be! 

Thankfully, we have a little time in the hotel to rest and prepare for our second to last concert. Keep us in your prayers. Ending strong is always good.

Rivne

Saturday, July 14

Rivne

We had the luxury of a later, early afternoon departure from L’viv this morning, and many of us took advantage of the extra time to shop and do a bit of last minute sightseeing and buying of "tchachkiys" (souvenirs) or even more in this remarkably beautiful city. This is one place where it would be fun to spend a whole week, a luxury we cannot afford! This city is a tourist heaven.

En route to Rivne, we did not have a terribly long bus ride, but once again our route featured the picturesque countryside from gleaming new 4-lane highways which were built especially for our tour (that is, according to Sasha Kreschuk). I think it’s wonderful that the many people visiting Ukraine for the recent EuroCup soccer games could also benefit from “our” new roads! One of the trends in the “new” Ukraine is the proliferation of gas stations along these new freeways (and the older roads as well), most of which easily rival or surpass our own SuperAmerica or Holiday gas stations. We chose one of the best, with clean bathrooms, great snack and beverage options, and plenty of room to accommodate a group of our size.

Eventually we arrived in Rivne, and made a quick check-in to the Hotel Mir (Mir = peace) built for the Soviets 40 years ago by Boris Kreschuk, the father of our dear Oleksandr “Sasha” Kreschuk who grew up here in Rivne. An evangelical pastor, Boris was also a civil engineer, and his building projects were part of the leverage he used with the communists to barter for the safety of his family as believers. I had heard many “horror” stories about this hotel from past Evangelion trips, but other than its address and square footage, this hotel clearly bore no resemblance to that one whatsoever. Extensive remodeling and renovation have made this one of the more beautiful and well-appointed hotels in our experience here. It seemed another symbol of all things becoming new here in Ukraine. We could not help but be struck by the mowed lawns, sculpted flowerbeds and gardens, and a growing sense of ownership and pride that pervades the cities where we have visited. More than just capitalism at work, this pride is a sign of a healthy culture and free people.

We had a quick turnaround (less than 45 minutes) to get into concert attire before boarding the bus to head for the Rivne Organ Hall. With its pipe organ, green “faux marble” columns and green velvet chairs, this is a building with an interesting history. Originally a Catholic church, this was used as an ammunition dump during WW2, then it was made into a movie cinema during the communist era. A dropped ceiling, fake walls and a movie screen on the altar apparently seemed to the communists to be the most reasonable use for this once sacred space! We were told it was only around 20 years ago that it was restored into a concert hall. No longer active as a worship space, there are some things (like stained glass windows) that simply can’t be covered or hidden from view. Aside from mold and mildew older than God living in the lower level, it’s a remarkable music space with clean acoustics and good sightlines.

We sang to a small but appreciative audience, and leaving the doors open during the concert caused our audience to grow steadily during the performance. We sang a great performance, which was warmly received. Looking out into the audience, it was once again remarkable to see the wide range of ages in attendance. Some of the older men had that rumpled “Soviet look” and there were many children and younger people there as well. It was also wonderful to see Masha (Ryiaba) Dunina, our almost Evangelion alto, with her new husband Viktor. Pastor Nestaryuk of the Second Baptist Church was also there to provide closing remarks and a benediction. In attendance there was a blend of church people and those from the wider community. We can feel a bit of corporate exhaustion setting in from the concert grind. Two more to go, and then a break! The end is coming quickly, so it’s important we savor the final moments. It will be good to be in the same bed for two nights in a row.

To L’viv on Friday the Thirteenth

To L’viv – Friday, July 13

We awoke to a clear blue and sunny sky, with clear air and a mercifully balmy temperature. The rain of yesterday has brought a brand new climate. Slava Bohu! Today’s bus route headed for L’viv through some of the most beautiful countryside in Ukraine.

In addition to the change in weather, what made today remarkable was that we watched the movie "Everything is Illuminated" – a story of a young Jewish boy’s return to Ukraine to find his grandfather’s family tree and the painful secrets contained within that history. It is not only humorous, historically informed and deeply moving, but also depicts the same Ukrainian countryside through which we were driving as we watched. “It is a premium movie!” (only those of you who have watched it will appreciate this reference) and a great introduction to 21st century Ukrainian culture.

Our route to L’viv took us through MIWC’s Sasha Kreschuk’s home town of Rivne, where we will return for another concert the following night. Our arrival in L’viv was widely cheered – Evangelion members seasoned and new all love this beautiful city, sometimes referred to as “the Vienna of western Ukraine.” A city full of interesting history, it has at one time or another been a Ukrainian city, a Polish city, a German city, and once again, after WW2 – a Ukrainian city. This is why it is known as L’vov, Lemberg and L’viv depending on whom you ask. L’viv is home or ancestral birthplace of many famous musicians. Among the many notable musicians who have lived and worked here are Franz Xaver Mozart, one (of six) and second surviving son of Wolfgang and Constanze, and also the family of Leonard Bernstein, named after the town of Burshtyn, which means "amber." (we visited that town and the amber factory earlier in the trip). Small world!

Upon our arrival we checked into our hotel right at the center of the city, and it was once again time to grab some lunch and see whatever part of the city we could in the time before heading to the church for the concert. I took a small delegation to Cafe Veronika, a place I have loved to visit during previous times in: L’viv, and where the NWC Choir seniors had a wonderful adventure and meal back in 2006. (remember it, you guys?!) The food there is some of the best in L’viv, not to mention the different kinds of verenikiy, the most amazing are the cherry filled. It was a 3-hour meal, served slowly and deliberately, in the most European way possible. We had a delightful time. Following that, we boarded the bus for our concert at Central Baptist. As we approached the church compound, we were greeted with new paint on the outside – new green accents, and much enhanced landscaping, ornamental trees and flowers in the courtyard. This church is such a beautiful gem in the midst of older buildings, still in need of renovation! We sang to our smallest audience so far, no doubt in part due to the weeknight placement of our concert. The audience again included a wide spectrum: children, youth, older folks and many in between. There were attentive and appreciate. As they stood while we sang “America, the Beautiful” I could not help but be transfixed (sorry, DP…you were in my peripheral vision, I promise!) by a woman who had her hands in the air, eyes locked on me and the rest of us, who was fervently praying. mouth moving intently as we sang. When the song changed to “Prayer for Ukraine” naturally she joined in the singing. Following that, she again turned her eyes my way. It was a motivation to sing the best I could. I never got to greet her after the concert. The connection can sometimes be intense.

After the concert, we headed out to the courtyard outside the front door, but I stopped in the sanctuary to greet an American man from Oregon (what are the odds of that!) who was teaching at the University here for a year. In the very next row I was more than delighted to see my dear Konstantin “Kostya” Chuparski – our cellist from 2005 Colonial Chorale tour, together with his wife Yulia and adorable 1-year-old son Matthew “Mattvi”. Kostya had caught my eye (again, sorry DP) as we were singing the Rutter “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” as he sang along with us. We embraced, he kissed me and said “Tim, I love you, my brother, my father!” Not a bad way to end a great concert!  Back in 2005, we so enjoyed meeting him (one week a newlywed) and his playing for our tour. During that visit, he had been the recipient of 2 sets of new cello strings for his barely-student-model instrument. The strings were a gift, compliments of the Colonial Chorale. In those days, new strings were usually out of reach for average Ukrainians, and could only be acquired in Germany or Poland, and travelling that far, as well as the cost of the strings was out of the question. No “Schmitt Music” here in L’viv in those days! As long as I live, I will always remember the big tears in his smiling eyes, as he held those packages of strings and later proudly played on them. His wedding had taken place just before our 2005 tour, and I still cherish the photo of he and his newlywed bride Yulia, whom he left for a week in order to join our tour. These are the kinds of stories so many of the Evangelion members and MIWC participants have of ministry to and with our dear friends here.

I wish the story had a glowing ending, but…. After a glorious concert and wonderful audience interaction, our bus was in a minor accident a block away from the church, and this necessitated having the group walk ten blocks or so back to the hotel. We were able to get DP into a cab, which saved him having to walk (his hip would not have withstood it). Interesting how The Evil One tries to thwart us in every way possible. This was not a very subtle skirmish, I must say! He did not win, despite the damage to the side of the bus. I hope those negotiations went smoothly.

I spent the rest of the evening, into the wee hours of the morning, back at Café Veronika with our MIWC ministry team of Sasha Kreschuk, Serhiy Bilokin, Vitaliy Bolgar planning next week’s activities, an August church congress in L'viv and generally dreaming of the future. With us also were a young couple – Serhiy Jakobchuk and his wife Martha. He works with the music ministry of Central Baptist, is also the conductor of a famous local choir here. Martha is a singer and voice teacher, and Serhiy is also finishing his doctorate in choral conducting at Lysenko Conservatory here in L'viv. (Lysenko Conservatory is named after a famous Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko, who wrote the Prayer for Ukraine) It is a fascinating world to step into. Rich in history we are just learning for the first time. Jakobchuk heard Evangelion in 1998, and it was one of his inspirations for pursuing music and ministry. He is an important link in the “chain” of young evangelicals who are working and studying at high levels of artistic achievement here. This new generation is some of the “fruit” of the labors of MIWC and Evangelion have seen toward elevating the musical and artistic standards of Christian believers in this culture. I know Dennis and others have similar stories of those connections that have been made over the years. It's reassuring to know the influence and God's work here is clear. Slava Bohu!

1 Timothy 4:11-13 (NIV)  Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

To Luts'k – Thursday, July 12

Sorry that I am a little behind in my posting...trying to catch up!

To Luts'k – Thursday, July 12

Our trip to Luts’k was our first rainy day on the trip. We were grateful for the change, and a break from the intense heat. A long road trip is sometimes easier when it’s rainy outside….except when the bus roof leaks. Eventually the sun came out for a while, and then turned back to rain. The road to Luts'k took us through Rivne (to which we will return in a few days) and included a picturesque countryside restroom stop at a gas station that had only one restroom. In that case, the women rightfully get the bathroom and the men get to enjoy a "green stop" out in the field, behind the bushes and trees. The only problem was that the view from the bus was excellent due to the height of the passenger deck level and the view of the countryside! Rumor has it that DP himself may or may not have gotten caught in that one….and some of us chose a more remote spot! Another great spontaneous moment in this stop was the creation of a 4-level human pyramid under the cherry trees. That was likely a first for our Ukrainian singers! (and for some of us, as well).

We eventually arrived in Luts'k, where we unloaded the bus in the rain. After checking into the Hotel Ukraina, it was time to grab a quick lunch (at 4pm!) and get ready for the concert. Our concert was incredibly well received, and another full house. It was great to see Lydia Hlinska and my friend Yuri, the successful young businesman/sub-basso/sax player who conducts the youth choir at the church in Luts’k. I met him at last year’s conferences/teaching sessions here with Steve Benham, Heather Hood, Mark Stover, and Sergey Bogza; Yuri is also a "Beemer buddy" for those of you who know of my love for German engineering. After the concert I had the great honor of attending a party for Serhiy Bilokin, together with our Ukrainian delegation, at a small folk-themed restaurant where there was every possible kind of Ukrainian food served. Songs were sung, toasts made and Serhiy was blessed and prayed over. On a separate note, I ate salo for the first time, and I actually liked it. (For those of you who are not as familiar with Ukrainian cuisine: "salo" is thinkly sliced lard, flavored with herbs, or garlic, or meat flavoring. Kind of like the white part of bacon without the meat. It is a delicacy here). 

At the end of the day (literally) Serhiy sweetly and humbly accepted the honor and tributes to him, with these dear friends of his generation. By God's grace, he has already accomplished a lot in his 30 years. It was holy ground. After an exciting ride over wet cobblestone streets back to the hotel, I fell into bed totally exhausted, but very happy. I'm sure it's one birthday Serhiy will never forget!

Kyiv en route to Zhitomir: Part 1 and 2

Kyiv en route to Zhitomir: Part 1

Wednesday, July 11

We began our day in Kyiv, on the famous “St. Andrew’s Descent” the so-called Andriskiy Street - the winding and picturesque street next to the gleaming green and gold St. Andrew’s Orthodox Cathedral on the hill. (sorry, here these colors are not for you Green Bay Packers and John Deere fans!) This is not far from the famous pair of colorful cathedrals St. Sophia (beige) and St. Michael (robin’s egg blue) which face one another on the other end of the hill overlooking the city.

During the years I have been here, the street has undergone continuous upgrades. Today, those were clearly obvious. The buildings along the street have all either received or are in the process of receiving façade facelifts and structural repair both inside and out. Even the brick paver sidewalks on either side of the street are new. Even today, portions were being carefully replaced, straightened and tamped down and the cracks in between filled with sand. In many ways, this kind of work is transforming Kyiv into “the new Prague” and in very little time, this city will become one of those preferred European destinations. It is moving quickly in that direction.

This is an important street and area of Kyiv almost purely for economic reasons. This is place tourists come to get souvenirs, gifts and “tschachkiys” that come home with us and adorn our homes and offices with memories of time spent in Ukraine, and the memories that accompany them. (shhhh….don’t tell anyone, but many of you are going to benefit from this shopping spree) Part of the challenge in this shopping is the traditional bartering that is done to get the best price. These folks are used to Americans buying things at face value, but since I grew up in South America, I enjoy the thrill of the barter. Proud to say that I escaped with minimal damage to my personal financial portfolio. Others may not have been so fortunate! We still managed to contribute significantly to the local economy. These businesses are controlled by a, let’s call them a dynamic “band of brothers” (think Tony or Vladimir Soprano!) so they are skilled at what they do. It’s always an interesting experience. I will leave it at that.

There was ample time for both shopping and finding lunch, but since all good things (like meals) take longer here, as they do in many other parts of Europe, many of us discovered (or rediscovered) that it is not unusual for meals to take an hour or more to order and enjoy. That pace is one of the delights of Ukraine, but can interrupt the best-laid plans of tour organizers. Dennis and I chose a slower descent than most from our group, due in part to his soon-to-be-replaced right hip, and that we have “been here, done that” a few times before. Our wives are not keen on either of us bringing home more curios for those already burgeoning cabinets! He and I found a little French bistro with a charming wait staff and the most wonderful, stylish, cleanest and best-smelling bathrooms (and photo worthy) in all of Ukraine. Amazing how a good bathroom is memory-making here. A lovely Croque monsieur, pommes frites, good coffee (old fashioned, hand made lemon iced tea with fresh mint leaf for me), and apple torte made our 2-hour conversation even more memorable. A few Evangelion members joined us at the Bistro, and others discovered other options and Ukrainian fare along the descent. 

Kyiv en route to Zhitomir: Part 2

Wednesday, July 11

We left Kyiv en route west to Zhitomir, another city I am visiting for the first time. Upon arrival, it was clear this was our most “Soviet style” city experience. Our soprano-translator Marina Khrapak is from this city, and her father Pavlo is the pastor of the House of Prayer church hosting our concert. The word Zhitomir, means “Living in Peace” and this would take on important meaning as we checked into the Zhitomir Hotel, a Soviet-era hotel struggling to find its place in the new Ukraine. Slowly moving into the 21^st century, this hotel is clearly a relic of the past, and aside from the ATM by the door, entering it felt like stepping into a 1970’s Soviet time machine. We received our room assignments in a darkened lobby with one operational light, followed by the adventure of riding the smallest and sketchiest (is that a word? if not, it is now) elevators yet – not to hold more than three people, or two people and luggage. And, they don’t stop at the Second Floor by the way… Fortunately, it did stop at floors 3-8, and the doors have opened consistently.

Our concert again went very well, singing to a warm and full church full of appreciative audience members of all generations. I was drawn in particular to a young man and his wife, who were unusually joyful as we were singing. Joy. Radist. There is is again. I spoke to them briefly after the concert. Their love for Christ and for music about that love was palpable. Our concert was followed by a rousing song, sung by the congregation – an old Jewish tune called Shalom Eleichem (not the author). Then, we had a wonderful, life-giving time of meeting and greeting outside the front door of the church, with stories and scenes that can hardly be described. Those of you who have been there know what I mean. By that point, I was low on “fuel,” so I sat and observed many of these interactions. Pam Sohriakoff, our amazing pianist was approached by an entire family of the same name, hoping her family tree intersected with theirs back in 1945 Germany during WW2, but it was not to be. The initial hopefulness and then disappointment and tears of the old man whose father went to war and never came back was clearly palpable in that moment. Heartbreaking. A quintessential group dinner in the fellowship hall featured all of the typical Ukrainian delights, and cold Coke products! It’s the little blessings….

Back at the hotel, I am in my room on the 7^th floor. From the window of my room I can see the gleaming gold towers of the Russian Orthodox Church, of which there are two here. Pastor Khrapak told us of two Catholic Churches here as well, since this was once part of Poland and there are many people of Polish descent living in Zhitomir. Contrasting that, there are bands of dogs, barking and fighting in the town square, even as I write this early in the morning! To complete the human symphony, there are people conversing loudly with one another in the streets, even this early in the morning. But on a positive note, there is a delightful lack of car traffic on the main square. Not to be overly detailed here, but the hotel water was turned off from midnight to 6am – not exactly helpful if a 3am trip to the bathroom is unavoidable, if you know what I mean. All in a day’s work. Fortunately, the electricity was not shut off – this is good, because I have music playing on my computer and my phone charging as I write this in the middle of the night in Ukraine! Let me be clear: this is really not hardship whatsoever! These are just the small inconveniences caused by the absence of things we have come to expect and sometimes hold too dear as Americans living in 2012. Compared to the suffering and even torture experienced by our sisters and brothers here in Zhitomir during Communist occupation, these are nothing in comparison.

One of our favorite songs by Knut Nystedt is called “Be Not Afraid.” The prophet quotes the Lord, who says: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. I am with thee, tremble not for I am thy God.” (Isaiah 43: 1b)

At the same time, I was pondering this passage from Psalm 112 which was used in worship the Sunday before our departure, which I felt was a sort of personal encouragement and ministry commission to me, though I did not share this out loud until now. Once again, in it, I saw so much of our trip, our concerts, our hosts and the Ukrainians for whom we sing, and ourselves:

Psalm 112: 2b-8a

The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their house, and their righteousness endures forever. Even in darkness, light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous ones. Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear…

Slava Bohu, indeed.

All roads lead to Kyiv (then to Zhitomir)

We spent the day traveling back to Kyiv from Poltava. Long travel day. The roads started out awful, and gradually got nicer the closer we got to Kyiv. The EuroCup's presence has made a tangible difference in the infrastructure here. Major road construction, and reconstruction. Those of you who remember long road trips in Ukraine will appreciate this: new, 4-lane paved asphalt highways with lights and guardrails, punctuated regularly by charming roadside gas stations (with clean bathrooms) have transformed the experience of traveling through Ukraine. Charm lost, yes. Progress marches on, welcome nevertheless. No "green stops" behind the trees necessary thus far! After checking back into the Hotel Rus in the late afternoon, around 30 of us boarded the bus and headed to a "folk" resort down on the banks of the Dnipro, across from what the locals call "The Chicago Coast," which is much like the Gold Coast on the shores of Lake Michigan. From our bank of the Dnipro, we could see the gleaming, high skyscrapers with their Penthouse apartments on top. This restaurant was near a marina full of Minnesota-worthy boats of all sizes, and the air was gratefully cooler with its proximity to the river. At the restaurant, we enjoyed a delicious multi-course Ukrainian meal which included our first red borscht and other delicacies served by waitresses in traditional Ukrainian costumes, it was a welcome break from form-fitting bus seats and trail mix! Much laughter and great fellowship. Time for a good night's sleep we head for Zhitomir tomorrow. (Sleep which I am not currently enjoying because here I am on my computer at 4am Ukraine time!). Thankful for WiFi, however. Keep us in your prayers. There is still much ahead of us!

A Long, Hot Day

Boarded the bus for a moderately long travel day from Cherkassy to Poltava, another city where I have not yet visited. These were some of the worst roads on which I can ever remember traveling, but even those roads end eventually. En route, we made a fascinating stop just outside of Kremenchuk at an outdoor market/road side bazaar. Finding the restrooms was interesting; admittance was by walking through a fish market. Another "first" experience...plenty of fresh fish, smoked fish, all shapes and sizes, and the combination of smells on a hot, humid day was fascinating. Another distintively Ukrainian memory. As we traversed the narrow walkways of the bazaars, there were lots of shish-kabobs grilling on open-air grills, and a variety of things for sale including soft drinks, coffee, tea, bottled water and ice cream. We dutifully added to the local economy, and entertained a lot of people who had apparently never seen a tour bus or a bunch of raucous Americans! Upon our arrival in Poltava, we checked into a lovely Hotel Palazzo with (wait for it....) A/C units in every room. Heaven. Just enough time for a quick lunch, then to get dressed and board the bus to head to the church for a concert. A church in the round, the choir loft was the perfect size for us, and we settled in for some pre-concert rehearsing and refinement. The Gretchaninoff "Lord's Prayer" was one of the pieces we have continued to tweak, and this time was for adding in the incantations of the priests at the very end. It was a wonderful way to feature our resident "priests" from the priesthood of believers - tenor Serhiy Bilokin and bass Oleksandr "Sasha" Korchevniy. Steve Calvin shared thoughts on these newly-added texts before our concert; "the Lord be with you; and also with you" and "in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" as essentials of what we do and who we are on this tour and in our singing. The Lord was with us, and with them, and indeed we invoked the Trinity as we sang of the joy of our faith, through all the aspects and trials of life. Radist (Joy) + Perezhevanya (living life through its difficulties) = Abundant Life.

Ephesians 3: 20-21 - Now to Him who is able to do 
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,

according to His power that is at work within us, 

to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus 
throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

All of this energized us for a blazing hot concert, describing not only the performance, but the unusually elevated temperature in the room, (even with windows wide open, another delightful first!) for a packed roomful of appreciative audience members. Our printed programs thankfully provided a complimentary fan for many of them! Our concert was well-received, and afterward there were lots of warm interactions with audience members, young and old and in between. I happened to be standing near DP when some admiring teen age girls told him he was the most joyful conductor they had ever seen, and he had inspired them. (what a wonderful thing to say!) He graciously responded that this was precisely why we had come:  to bring inspiration through our music, and that we did tonight. Ironic that just before the concert, I had shared the Ukrainian word for joy (radist - pronounced RAH deest). Thanks, God! Several phrases struck me personally tonight: first from the spiritual Sweet Home which which features the soaring soprano solo by Gwen (Clanton) Budish. We sing: "I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn, and I found in Him a resting place, and he has made me glad" which connected my mind to another phrase from My Song in the Night -"O why should I wander, and alien from Thee, or cry in the desert Thy face to see? My comfort and joy, my soul's delight, O Jesus, my Savior, my song in the night."  So far, I cannot even sing that phrase. I cry and mouth the words. Finally, both heaven and earth join together beginning with the angels' perspective of praise taken from My God My Portion and My Love - "Let all that dwell above the sky, and air and earth, and seas, conspire to lift Thy glories high and speak Thine endless praise." And, that is just what we have sought to do: conspire to lift high the glorious praise of Almighty God. In our entertainment-starved world, and even here in the "new" Ukraine, this makes it sound exactly like the audaciously counter-cultural act that it is. Slava Bohu. SDG