Featured Photo: The Church of Christ in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine assembles for Bible study.
This will probably be the last report on this trip until I send the final “All arrived back!” I am currently in Poland and will be meeting the guys in Warsaw after they take a long trip and cross the border. My to-do tasks are almost “done” and I have one more meeting tomorrow.
The guys have been really great sending reports. In fact they have sent more than I could possibly publish. But I appreciate their reports as you get to see the trip through their eyes. I know every team member will say this trip is memorably forever etched in their mind’s museum! Much more will be reported on the events of this trip.
Sunday
It is always wonderful to praise God on the Lord’s! This Sunday I counted 32 including the children with 4 new visitors. As the service began Ivan introduced everyone that’s taking part and then opened with prayer. Mac’s lead the song service, I had the privilege to give the lesson, Ruslan and Vova the Lord’s supper and Chip closed with prayer. Chip and I were surprised when the children gave us these drawings, they did in class for us. I do not have a picture of Chips. Refreshments were served and we visited for about an hour following Worship. I had a wonderful conversation with Ivan Mykhalovch who comes with Maria about my hope and prayer they would what to be Christians according to God’s word and his response was they are thinking about it because of being recipients of kindness from the church and see what true Christianity is. Please pray as we are for Maria and Ivan Mykhalovch. As scripture tells us some plant, some water but God gives the increase. It was a great day!
Perry
Tuesday
Our day began with an overcast day and cold weather but warmed when the sun came out later. We had breakfast at 8:00am with a plan to leave near noon for a visit to a kindergarten in Ugorniky where the Principal, Marianna, is the daughter of Mayor Lubov. The saying “like mother, like daughter!” Is true with this pair for sure! They are full of energy and both have beautiful smiles and genuine care for their students and citizens. Later in the day we left and arrived at 6:00pm at the Church for a leadership class discussion and we had a great meeting with good class participation and had to finally quit at 7:20pm (over an hour and 20 minutes). We came back to the hotel and then met a doctor friend of Annya Skloeba and shared tea and ice cream with chocolate to get to know Maria! I left Perry and Gif and came back to finish my daily reports and activities. Please continue to pray for our efforts on this mission and pray for Perry, Gif, and me as we strive to finish strong this week!
Chip
Wednesday
Today started out sunny and cool with breakfast at 8:00am with Perry. Plan for today was to spend the day with my translator, Natalya, to talk about her thoughts about the Ivano-Frankivsk Church and her own spiritual situation. I had been told she was an atheist and thus not an immersed member and I wanted to get to know why on my own. Good thing because some things I had been told weren’t correct. I asked her why she was not an immersed Christian and listened to her story. We talked about what the Bible teaches and I believe she understands but is still holding back. I told her I hoped to hear one day soon that she was immersed so I could call her my sister! We ended the day and she attended the Wednesday services where Gif presented a lesson and led the discussion which lasted 1.5 hours. Then we headed home to the hotel!
Chip
Thursday
Well today started with a sunny dawn and warmer temps. Met Perry for breakfast at 9:00am and then prepared to meet again with my translator, Natalya, for another discussion on Christianity. She arrived and we talked for 3 hours until she had to go teach some afternoon class sections. She came back at 5:30pm and we walked to the English teaching school for her night class of adults. I asked to open the class with a prayer and during the class worked some Bible examples into the discussions. I had been assigned to make a presentation on. the Oblast/State of Alabama. It was a sad time but joyful since tomorrow I will be heading home and will miss these fine people next week. Tonight, I hope to get some sleep as I wake up to travel back to Warsaw on our return itinerary! God is good and I pray for fruit to grow in the good soil we have planted the seed…please pray for our safe travels home!
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