Ministry News from Ukraine

Blessings on you this day! Pat and I just finished teaching and are at the Internet Cafe. Pat is teaching the girls a dance to a Jewish Song and they have been practicing all week in preparation for their celebration dance on Friday, our last day of ministry here. They have been practicing and preparing after lunch for four days so we know that they will certainly do well. There is a real hunger to dance unto the Lord here as many are so gifted with coordination, balance, and are natural dancers.

Our class today was special; I ministered on the "Heart like David" and used the demos that I use for ministry as the students were extremelyh receptive. Luba, the sister of Liya from Moscow was our translator today and did a great job. She has been accepted to work at a Christian Camp in New Jersey this coming summer and is excited about the opportunity to come to the USA. We prayed individually over every person, students and staff and even Luba our cook came into the classroom and wanted prayer along with Luda's two grandchildren! Thank you Lord for this great opportunity! The Lord spoke loud and clear to them and were encouraged that the Lord does have a special plan and purpose for their lives. Pat did another interpetive dance this morning; there was lots of joy and a real desire to allow God to touch their hearts.

Our health is very good thanks to our wonderful Lord! Pat and I are both real tired at night and our sleeping conditions are good. The weather is about 50-60 degrees each day with some sunshine and clouds as well. Each day we take the bus to the Bible School which is about twenty minutes away as the bus is generally very crowded and have to stand up most of the way. On Monday we had a very slow bus going up the steep hills here which I named the "Kremenents Krawler" as went extremely slow.

Hi this is Pat now. Yes, classes are going so very well! We are so enjoying teaching them. Gary is teaching in the mornings, me in the afternoon! They are truly hungry. I think we are learning some things too from them as we have some interactive time! This has been such a worthwhile time! And yes, I am loving teaching them a dance! I am just loving the simplicity here and the joy of being part of them. If we come again, we will stay at the school. It will be great to have even more time with them! Until later.

Saturday in Kremenets

On Saturday, we had a wonderful time just touring this old, beautiful city of Kremenets, located in Western Ukraine. Our driver knew the city very well and took us to the castle located on a high mountain above the city where you can see for miles around. The weather was wonderful, 60 degrees and lots of sunshine so we took some pictures and enjoyed our time here. I though about Jesus when he was praying for Jerusalem. He said why are you "not willing" to listen to me; to become a part of My kingdom! The picture located on our newsletter is what we saw here on Saturday.

We also traveled to a forestry college in another part of the city. It was located in a scenic spot and the spring flowers and scents were just perfect. This was Easter Weekend in Ukraine so no students were around. Then we drove to a Catholic Monastary where they had a fresh water baptism pool in which both men and women were baptizing themselves in this pool. Having baptized literally thousands over the years, this proved really interesting and tested my faith concerning what this really means. Will perhaps write later about this.

Tried to post some photos on the blog but were unable to get connected so no luck today. The teaching sessions are going very well. Today was real good but only three days left here at the school. Will post again tomorrow. Bless you all real good.

Glorious Easter Sunday

Christ has died, Christ has risen, and Christ will come again!

What a glorious Easter Sunday in Ukraine!! This is a very compelling place. The students and leaders are so very hungry. Classes are going so well. Today the people really rejoiced that Jesus truly is risen! Ah, I think I saw an example of a New Testament Church. One had a hymn, spiritual song, word, etc.

Then we had a long table and bench and sat down and celebrated by eating and fellowshipping.

God's people are truly one! "He has made from one blood every nation."

This afternoon I spent a couple of hours teaching some wonderful ladies a dance. They will practice and do it by themselves on Friday!

There really aren't any words to express how glorious it is!!!!

Love to all!
Pat

Purpose of our Mission

Before Pat and I left home to come to Ukraine, the Lord gave to us a specific direction for our trip and even several scriptures to keep us moving forward. In 1 Thessalonians 3:1, Paul said he sent Timothy our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ TO ESTABLISH YOU and ENCOURAGE YOU concerning your faith. We believe that this is our mission for the students here; to establish and ground them deeper in God's Word, to encourage them to go deeper in the things of God, and to LOVE THEM UNCONDITIONALLY as many have not experienced the Father's Love in their lives.

We are thankful to our wonderful Savior who sent us here for His glory and for His pleasure. Continue to pray for us that the Lord would continue to give us fresh revelation for these hungry students.

Good Friday Blessings

It's Good Friday here in Ukraine as they celebrate this Holy Season the same weekend every year! We didn't know this but many are preparing for a big celebration this weekend. Some of the students are fasting today and a few didn't come to class today because of their commitment to fast and pray! They asked Pat and I to be a part of their Easter Celebration service on Sunday so we look forward to enjoying God's presence here!

Pat is visiting a Jevish Cemetery as I write this blog. There were many Jews who were killed in this area during the second war and nobody in the city will take responsibility for caring for their cemetery; mow the grass, trim the shrubs, etc. EXCEPT the students here in the bible school who have volunteered to do this all spring and summer long!

It is really a blessing to experience the commitment of these students who were born and raised in Russia, have come to Ukraine to understand the things of the Spirit, and then return back to Russia.

Yes, the language and culture are so vastly different from ours but we are made from "One Blood"; every tribe and nation will be feasting with the Lord at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and it's great just to be near some of these people.

Bless each one of you richly! Pat and I are doing well and we will continue to keep you posted on a regular basis as we attempt to be relevant in a world where computers aren't very important. Yesterday, as I went to the market to get some breakfast for us, they had no cash register or calculator for adding the items being purchased, but they had a real abacus that they used instead! Just a little behind our times huh!

Arrival In Kremenets

Hello everybody,

Sorry about the delay in posting this blog but there is no internet cafe in little town, and the computer here was unable work properly until today. Thank you Lord that you always communicate with us even though we don't work well sometimes and are too busy to listen.

We arrived in Krements on Tuesday at 5:00 PM after a six hour bus ride from Kiev. Yes, the trip from New York to Kiev was about long, nine hours but we did enjoy a little bit of sleep and they fed us twice on the flight. We do want to be here.

Liya and Michael were at the Kiev Airport to pick us up, a bus ride to Kiev, a little bit of food, and then onto Kremenets, Ukraine. We settled into our hotel and had a good night's sleep before our first time of ministry on Wednesday. The students welcomed us as Fred, and Kevin and Cecelia had prepared the way for us to teach in the school here. We introduced ourselves briefly and then began to speak the truth of God's Word in their lives. They are hungry for change, hungry for more transformation in their lives and just want more of God. Pat did an interpetive dance before she ministered in the afternoon as the ladies all want to learn how to dance like her! Thank you Lord!

The biggest problem we face is the language barrier. Only Liya our translator can speak English and she is from Russia, doesn't know where things are in the town, but she is very sweet and receptive to what our needs are. It's really different to be in a country where you are the only Americans in the whole town; it feels like we are strangers and pilgrims in this land!

The food is typical Ukranian food; soup and potatoes or beets for lunch at 2:00 PM. The bread is dark and Pat is really in heaven without any meat! She wanted me to tell everyone that she wants to stay here for at least four more months.

Will post later on today. We are doing well and God be praised!

Preparing For Success

As Pat and I prepare for our trip to Kremenets, Ukraine we are keeping in mind the quote we live by each day. "The more you prepare yourself, the more opportunities God will give you". Good advice to stay in state of constant preparation.

We leave Portland at 7:10 AM on Monday and arrive in New York at 3:35 PM. Our plane departs to Kiev, Ukraine at 4:20 PM so we have a very close connection. We are believing that the Lord will work out all things for His glory.

Pray for health and strength, clear direction, and God's divine protection in our lives. We will keep in touch.

Preperation for Ukraine Trip

Pat and I are preparing our hearts, minds, and bodies for our Ukraine Trip in less than two weeks. We want to be full of God's Word and His love so that it will overflow onto the students during our teaching time. Please pray that God would continue to give us wisdom and understanding as we prepare. I will praise the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be on in my mouth. Psalm 34:1