The above photo shows the snow-swept streets that greeted me as I arrived in Kyiv! Soon after this photo was taken the sidewalks were covered once again and the sweepers started over!
Greetings from Kyiv, Ukraine!
I left Montgomery Sunday afternoon after morning worship. I appreciated the comments from the Dalraida elders that Bob made at the beginning of the assembly and then the prayer that followed.
I arrived in Kyiv on time and thankfully all bags arrived with me!
The flight from Atlanta to Amsterdam started off good as we were boarded early. But then we sat on the plane 45+ minutes while they had to do some maintenance. They announced all was ready and take-off was to begin. But then all electrical suddenly shut down and we sat in the dark cabin for another lengthy period.
It is always a bit disconcerting when you are told there are mechanical problems with your aircraft and they send you out on that aircraft but even more disconcerting is the experience of an all-clear announcement and then a total electrical shut-down and then you go out on that aircraft!
We finally departed Atlanta 1 hour 15 minutes late. I had a very quick connection window in Amsterdam to Kyiv (only 45 minutes) so for the next 8+ hours in flight I expected to miss the connection and/or my checked bag miss the connection. Thankfully the pilot made up some time and we arrived in time for me to run from a far end of the arrival terminal to the far other direction of another terminal where my plane was departing. I made it to the gate as the last passengers were boarding. Somehow my checked bag also made it!
I arrived in Kyiv to a snow blanketed landscape. And…very cold temps! As soon as I cleared Customs I pulled out my scarf and hat and put on my winter coat.
Tuesday has been a good day but it has been VERY cold. Tenps were in the 20s all day and the wind chill was in the low teens.
Snow is piled up everywhere and your shoes get snow packed and then you go slip-sliding away! There was a brief period of sunshine but then clouds returned and it has been snowing since noon.
This is the first report of many that will be coming from this mission trip!
John L. Kachelman, Jr.
Kyiv, Ukraine
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