Travel to Ukraine started at about 11pm on the 14th and I had to get the PCR test to travel on the 13th. Why do I bring up the dates? It will be revealed later with the story. The wait at the airport before our first flight was 6 hours with a 1hr 15min flight to Austria. Of which we had a 6 hour layover in. The final flight to Ukraine was 5 minutes less than the first flight. When we landed they checked for vaccine card. Of course I didn’t have one only a negative PCR as required when it was last updated on the US Embassy. On the website it said either vaccine card or negative PCR to enter or you’d have to download an app to quarantine. Unfortunately, I guess they ended up changing it where you had to have vaccine card and if not you quarantine for the 10 days even if having a negative PCR test or something like that, they wouldn’t even look at our negative tests. However, I just looked at the website today and the US Embassy website related to COVID says vaccine or negative test if no vaccine. That one has to get the app if no vaccine and no negative PCR test which makes no sense because literally every country makes you show vaccine card or negative test now to fly.
Luckily for us and by the grace of God the app wasn’t working for most of us. Which was even better because when getting the app you have to quarantine for 10 days. You can get a negative PCR test on day 5 and if negative you’re able to be out of quarantine. Along with getting the app you agreed for Ukrainian government to monitor you at all times and they tracked if you left the quarantine address. Along with the monitoring the agreement when getting it is also allowing them to watch you on your own camera. So if you’re using the bathroom and have your phone on hand, yep they watching you. So because the app didn’t work for most of us they still allowed us to go through. I even witnessed one of the uniformed officers (not TSA agents back in states, this uniform looked military) turn off their body cam to talk with someone in the booth when I was handing them my passport to be stamped.
It was soon on to waiting for our 12 hour train ride to our ministry site with a 6-7 hour wait at the train station. As we went for our train they ended up checking for you guess it… vaccine cards. I showed my negative PCR test and they tried saying it needed to be within 3 days.. of which we were only on day 2 of having a valid PCR test. They finally decided not to argue and allowed us to enter the train. I think partly because of a language barrier. I know for sure God’s hand was for sure on the midst of our travel day. Seven of us could have easily of not been able to leave the airport. Or taken somewhere by the government to quarantine.
While on the train it was very hard to sleep for the 12 hour ride. I tend to snore while sleeping for various reasons. One of which is a sleeping disorder of some sort which is why I’m always tired. Due to being by myself with strangers I ended up constantly being woken up from one of the people due to me snoring so loudly.
What an adventure! Jealous of your travels, minus having to deal with all the insanity. Be safe nephew! Love you so much! God’s got you all and is with you!
Praise God He allowed you all you get into the country. These rules are getting crazier to figure out. I am sure that was a very long and tiring trip, but so glad you made it! Now onto ministry- hope it is amazing!