Day two in Konotop started with the UCF students and the Ukranian peers waking up and enjoying a breakfast at the Konotop Hesed. After breakfast, we proceeded to break up into groups and visit the homes of a few of the elderly members that receive goods and services from nthe Hesed. Immediatedly after this, the group had lunch again and began work at the Hesed.
At the Hesed, the UCF students and the Ukranian peers worked together on everything from picking pears and apples and making juice, to chopping wood and laying down new flooring. This was a really great experience for all of us as we were able to work together and create a special bond that would continue to grow throughout the trip.
After the long and hard days work, the students and peers again came together to have a "restaurant cookoff" for dinner. This cookoff consisted of breaking everyone into three groups and giving each group the same ingedients, a lot of which came from the fruits and vegetables that we had picked earlier in the day. Each team was responsible for creating their own dish from the ingredients which again helped the entire group to create a much deeper and long last connection. Once all of the dishes were completed, the entire group proceeded to each and celebrate throughout the night at the Hesed with music and dancing. This was especially meaningful to me as I really felt that I had helped out a community and that I had done something that I could feel very proud about.
Jon
