It’s always a bit strange to celebrate America’s Independence day when you are out of the country. No one else is taking the day off from work and things seem to be going on as usually. In fact I think there were a couple of years when the 4th of July just quietly passed us and we didn’t realize it until the 5th or 6th!
This year we decided to celebrate a little. We joined up with a few other Americans at a WWII memorial park on the south side of Odessa. The kids enjoyed climbing around on the artillery and being able to catch up with a few other American friends who live in town. At one point Naomi turned to me and said, “Papa, this is weird to be around so many Americans all at once!”
We ended our time by singing a stanza of the national anthem. I’m pretty sure that it was a strange sight for Ukrainians to see 40 Americans belting out the American national anthem in the middle of the park!
While I enjoy living in Ukraine, I still value my US citizenship and I am grateful for the privileges it affords me. One of the greatest blessings that America has bestowed upon the world is the idea of freedom of religion! May the USA continue to stand strong and free so that the Good New of Jesus Christ can be preached boldly within her borders. May the USA continue to prosper so that she can continue to be one the greatest sending nations of missionaries ever!
