Scary

The top numbers are Russian Rubles, the middle line is US Dollars, and the bottom line is Euros. The left column is exchange from dollars into griven, the right column is buying dollars with griven.

So I look at these numbers and I think, "I wish I had a couple thousand dollars to exchange right now." And then I think, "I wonder if this is the beginning of the collapse of the Ukrainian economy? The president dissolved Parliament and called for new elections that may or may not happen any time soon - no one knows for sure. Now the exchange rate is on a roller coaster ride." A year ago the exchange rate was at a stable $1 = 5.4 to 5.42 griven (UAH). This summer it started to go way down, back down to $1 = 4.45 to 4.5 UAH at the lowest that I saw. Now, suddenly, it is spiking higher than it's ever been before at this $1 = 6.96 UAH.

Prices were rising like crazy while the exchange rate plunged, then they leveled out and even dropped a bit on major items like meat and cheese. Now - who knows what is going to happen? All we can do is trust God to care for us and for our Ukrainian friends and loved ones. Economies are no threat to God - He does with them what He wants to do, in His own perfect wisdom.

Pray for Ukraine. Just one block down the street from where I took the top photo. Yesterday Mel saw $1 = 6.05 UAH. I wonder what it will be tomorrow?

By the way, the exchange rate in Kherson has always been higher than in Odessa or Kiev. No one we know knows why this is, but we have always tried to exchange money here first before we go to any other city.