Gift and Latest Track Meet

I have been meaning to post these pictures for sometime now.  A few months ago the Altoona Surgery Center had a celebration for us to welcome Dima to America.  They also graciously donated money to us to give towards the Children's Center in Ukraine.  Luckily, we were able to have the Rose's hand deliver the money when they went to adopt Artyr.  If we would have mailed the money over, their was a good chance the missionaries would not have gotten it.  A check would  not have been an option as the missionaries would not have been able to cash it. Ukraine works only with "clean" cash. That means it has to be brand new dollar bills because counterfeiting is big there. Sending cash would have been like burning it because it probably would have not made it if you know what I mean.  So, we sent the money over with the Rose's and had them ask Artyr what was needed at the Children's Center.  These are the pictures of what was purchased.

Artyr with their teacher.  A camera and accessories were purchased.  The kids loved seeing pictures of themselves as they didn't get a chance to see pictures much.  Many of the children do not many pictures of themselves and the ones they did have mostly came from the missionaries.

The other purchase was something that was like gold in Ukraine, an electrical tea kettle! Chai (tea) was huge over there and the children would make chai at the Children's Center.  It was always cold in the rooms so I think it was a way to warm the poor children up!!

Thanks so much to all of those who helped donate the money! These gifts are were so welcomed as they were very well needed.  Not many gifts are given unless a family has adopted from the Center.  It is custom to give gifts back to those to cared for the children at the Center.  Not many children are adopted so not many gifts are given, until the hosting program in Tyrone! About eight kids have been adopted so far from Dima's old Center!

Also to be purchased with the money, yes money goes a long way in Ukraine, are some boxing gloves for the Center. We feel that Dima gained confidence from the boxing program that was at the Center and wanted to give back.  The missionaries that we were contact with over there are working on meeting with the boxing coach to help get some gloves that are needed badly!

Now onto the latest track meet in State College.  The meet was only for 8th graders, but I think there is something in the water in State College as the kids are tall and fast!!!! Dima had some extra cheer leaders as his best friend Artyr made it to the meet!  Here is a picure of them being blown away, it was pretty windy!

LOVE those smiles!!!!

Altoona tried their best to compete against the big SC field.  Dima ran in both the 1600m (1 mile) and 3200m (2 mile). Here are some pictures:

There were about 15 SC boys and only 3 Altoona boys.  Dima is the one in white on the far left.  The winner ran a 5:02 mile??? Dima did really well and ran a 6:05!

Running in the 1600m

Dima and one other Altoona runner for the 3200m.  Dima PR'd (he only ran the 2 mile one other time:) by 23 seconds to finish at 12:52!! 

Dima finishing the 3200m event

We are so proud of Dima for going out for a sport.  It has made a huge difference in his confidence and his English! I really feel all the other children that have been adopted should do some activity or sport outside of school with their peers.  I watched Dima interact with the other kids during the track meet and am amazed how far he's come in only 4 months.  I truly believe that being in an extra curricular activity was a huge help for him.  Being in an activity gives them a sense of belonging and goals to shoot for.  We thank God he was open to do it as it is really paying off!

 

Dima's Track Meet

Today was Dima's second track meet.  This past Saturday was a relay meet where Dima ran in the 1600m Relay and Distance Medley. It was a rough meet with the cold rain.  The poor kids just suffered through it.  Today's weather was much better so the kids could actually race their events.  Dima ran the 1600m event first and did a great job!  I think he finished 4th overall? His next event was the 3200m.  He did a great job by staying behind the boy in the lead.  He had a lot of support from all his coaches, Dusty and I telling him to stay behind him.  The last 100m, he sprinted out around him to win the event!!! He was so excited! We were all the excited to see him finish so well! Seeing his win was "icing on the cake" as he looked like he was having so much fun just being involved in a sport! I put the those words in quotations because he learned that phrase today so I thought it was appropriate to us it.  Here are some pictures from the meet. 

Dima running the 1600m.

Dima running in the 3200m.

Proud Papa and Mama with Dima.

Pictures!

Dima with his best friend Artyr. This was the first time they've seen each other in  2 months!

A picture from Artyr's party with all the kids that have been adopted so far with their new brothers and sisters.

Dima's Uncle John was home for a few weeks from Afghanistan.  This is a picture of the Kunstbeck boys!! What a handsome group!

Dima with his cousins Johanna, Joey, and Ben.

Dima before his first 5k run!

Dima giving me a high five after my half marathon.  I wish you could see his big smile in this picture!!



It's been a while.....

The last few weeks have been so crazy.  I have tried to sit down and write up something but it seems like I can't find the time.  Dima loves to hang out with us so we can't seem to sit down at the computer to write something on the blog without him trying to ask questions.  It's great that Dima wants to learn and asks a lot of questions, but man, he asks A LOT of questions!!! I want to post some pictures, but will have to later.

After the last post, we got the chance to visit Dusty's brother, who was home for a few weeks from Afghanistan.  Dima finally got the chance to meet his Uncle and had a blast with him and Dusty's family! He had so much fun that he was upset to leave! We had a blast playing games outside and finding Easter eggs.  Dima said the Easter egg hunt was for babies, but when it was the older kids turn to find them, he sure seemed like he liked the game!

The following Friday, Dima gave Dusty his report card.  He had no idea what it was.  I was in another room and heard Dusty say..."Did you show this to Mama?".  Dima made the honor roll!  He had no idea what that meant, but after seeing the excitement from Dusty, he was very excited too! He showed me his grades and even though we have been keeping track of his grades, it didn't cross our minds that he would make the honor roll! We are so proud of him and how much he has been working in school and his English!

That weekend we went to Cook Forest near Clarion to compete in a race.  Dima ran his first 5k race while I ran a half marathon.  Dusty unfortunately had to go to a seminar for work that day and couldn't come up until after the race.  A group of friends went up and we all stayed in cabins for the weekend.  We all had so much fun! Dima was a trooper and did great in his first race!  Of course he asked a lot of questions before the race! He hung out with some of my friends while I finished. When I came into the finish, the first person I saw was Dima with the camera taking pictures of me with a big smile on his face!! My heart just melted seeing him, what a great moment! The rest of the weekend we had fun making smores, mountain pies, and playing games.  Dima was a little unsure being around so many people and kids he didn't know, but he did so well after he relaxed.  The day after the race, Dusty, Dima and I walked around Clarion University to show Dima where I went to college.  It was fun to show him where I played basketball and the places I stayed. 

Today is Dima's first track meet.  Being in track has helped to improve his English even more and has helped him socially.  We can not wait to see how he does.  No matter what, we will be so proud of him for being brave and getting out of his comfort zone to participate in track! We will let you know how it goes!