Work has started

We started work this morning by moving all the boxes of tiles and bags of tile cement up to the second floor, by the time we had done that we were all ready for a break, but strangely, Sasha the builder (who is overseeing our work) looked at his watch and just laughed, which we understood (without an interpreter) to mean, forget it and get to work!

 

So we did, we split off into groups and started to sort out tools, tiles, cement, steel channel and ceiling tiles.

It took a little while for us to get going but soon we were all back into the swing of things.

 

By the end of a very tiring day we have, completed 3 ceilings (including metalwork to support the tiles), tiled 2 walls and fitted some trunking for ventilation.

Not a bad effort for the first day, time for a shower and rest, before we start again tomorrow.

Sunday -Wedding Day

This morning we went to Grace Baptist Church for the day, the church was prepared for a wedding, due to take place after the normal service.

The first part of the service was as usual, with singing, prayers and two sermons,

then the wedding service started. It was different to an English wedding as the Pastor addressed the bride and groom first then the vows were taken.

At the end of the service, the ushers and bridesmaids came round the whole congregation handing out gifts of chocolates. Afterwards we had lunch at the church with the Pastor.

We then went out to down town Odessa sightseeing.

We walked across town past the Opera House to the seaport where we stopped for a break at a cafe.

Then posed for a team photo

Tomorrow we start work - with boxes of tiles waiting to be laid

Arrived

The team have arrived safely in Odessa, after a long day travelling.

Our day started at 6.30am, travelling from Woodgreen by minibus to London Gatwick airport. We arrived just after the check in opened and were soon waiting for our flight.

We boarded slightly late, then had to wait whilst freight and luggage was loaded onto the aircraft. We eventually took off 1 hour 20 minutes late. It wasn't until part way through our flight that we found out that Ukraine Airways no longer serve a meal during the flight.

We arrived late at Kiev airport and after passport control, a shuttle bus trip between terminals and having to put our luggage through 2 x-ray machines finally managed to arrive at the boarding gate just before it closed.

Our second flight was uneventful and we arrived in Odessa to be met by Peter and Alex, both with beaming smiles.

After a very welcome cup of tea with biscuits we are now settled into our rooms in Transition House, looking forward to a good nights sleep and breakfast.

Tomorrow we will be going to church, where we are told there is to be a wedding followed by lunch.

More about that later.

Goodnight

Next trip starts tomorrow

The team are flying out tomorrow for a week, they leave Woodgreen at 6.30 in the morning to travel to London Gatwick airport.

They expect to arrive in Odessa at about 8.30 in the evening (Ukraine time, 2 hours ahead of UK)

Keep looking at the blog for updates or sign up for a link to your email, on the right.

Next trip

The team are getting ready for the next trip to Odessa which takes place from Saturday 27th September to Saturday 4th October.

Seven men are going out to continue work at Transition House.

 

Watch the blog for updates on our work - why not sign up for a link to your email each time there is a new blog. Just enter your email address in the box on the right and click submit.

Car wash latest

Many thanks to everyone who came along to the car wash and breakfast, we collected £292

Why not come to John & Rob's trip update, tomorrow afternoon,

  at Woodgreen Evangelical Church, starting at 4.30pm

followed by 'Tea & Toast'