Maine is the state of awesomeness. Full of lovely people and my relatives; they’re not the same people though, don’t get confused. Just kidding, I have fabulous relatives and luckily they married some amazing people ( Inna and Olya my darlings ). On top of these great things, Maine is mysteriously beautiful, and at this time of year it is exactly how people imagine perfect autumn to be. Fire red, burnt orange, and crispy yellow leaves. Just cold enough to wear sweaters and boots and hit up the local Starbucks for coffee with friends.

Which brings me to my next point. Maine is full of people who are what ideal friends should be like. Great listeners, interested in your well-being, there for you when you’re down, and stand-up comedians. I know personally what I said is true because a couple of them had to live with me for a month in an orphanage! For those of you that don’t know, I went on a missionary trip to Belarus over the summer. It was lovely and terrible all at the same time. The kids that you meet stay burned into your memories forever.

I had the privilege of having TWO Dennis’s on my team, one my cousin, and the other, an escapee from an institution. I’m just kidding he’s awesome. They would constantly humorously guilt-trip the rest of the team about the amount of sweets we ate. Well to be honest, Liana, who everyone called “L” because of her unique name and me were the only ones ever called out on our eating habits. Also, on our laughing habits. Which were pretty outrageous.
We had two other quiet souls on our team. Lovely Luda, and one of the kindest people I have ever been blessed to be related to, Inna. One time the escapee decided it would be a good idea to take the key off of the bathroom and give us some keys that looked identical. When we had walked across the entire building and to the dark creepy downstairs bathroom, we realized we didn’t have the key. I’ve never seen “L” run so fast in my life. Later on, the events back at the kitchen, where the escapee was attacked in what could only be described as a comical world war three. Those were good times, full of these kind of memories.

Luckily I got to see my team this weekend at my cousin Mathew’s wedding. I also got to see my darling Maria who graciously let us stay with her and waited on us hand and foot, and who is my encouragement. My darling cousin Karina who was a bridesmaid put the rest of the female population to shame in her beautiful dress and radiant smile. Also my good friends that also went to Belarus with us, the mischievous Anton, who made the flight back from Moscow somewhat entertaining, and Marina my blonde, blue-eyed doll. Overall, this weekend was everything I had hoped for and more!

The following letter is from a 10 year old girl in Maine to a resident of a nursing home for Christmas  thankfully it was intercepted. We wouldn’t anyone to have a heart attack! (Graciously submitted by Denis Gorelov, the escapee)

If I were there i’d say a prayer this is what it would be:

Dear Lord I pray you hear my prayer whoever is not saved touch there hearts help them get saved. I dont want them to burn in hell that is a Bad place but heaven. Think of that place so wonderful in the biginning God created the Heaven and the earth. Dont let your poor and haughty spirt win God. Do you understand, here are some bible verses Luke 2:11 for unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior wich is Christ the Lord. May this touch your heart if you love the Lord or not. You should follow the steps to the Lord. Step 1 read bible. Step 2 pray. Step 3 get saved. And u wont burn in Hell. Just tell yourself this over and over again. Dont burn in hell. Dont burn in hell. Dont burn in hell. Dont burn in hell. God is living and what I wanted to ask you, is Christ living in you and christmas is about Jesus being born in a dumb durty manger not about santa oh santa and I’m ten and I know Christ and your what 89 or something and you Dont know God he is the most famous and holy he is not a person he is Holy God. I just wanna say get saved you’ll have a better life I promise just get saved He’s better than us why not get saved. Im a dreadful horrible sinner and so are you get saved just have a merry merry christmas with God in your heart and with joy in your heart and with love in your heart.

Merry Christmas

amen

I am not a cathlik

Graciously submitted by Denis Gorelov