4.23.08
Hey everyone, it’s been a while, and I am so sorry for my lack of updates! I got home from outreach in Ternopil, Ukraine and hit the ground running with all the things that were due for my classes: 2 research papers, 1 book report, my post outreach paper, and the Sunday school curriculum that is required for my James class. But God remains so faithful to give the strength to finish well for His glory! He is so good.
Ukraine was such a wonderful experience. It really was a time of God teaching me of what it really looks like to be on the field full time, with all of the little details of daily living as well as the ministry aspect of things. When we arrived, Marilyn Gibbs, a women who has been serving on the mission field for 15 years in five different countries, told us that she wanted us to really experience what it was like to live on the mission field, and so we needed to figure out how the transportation in the city worked, getting food for the week, and finding our way around the city by ourselves, without really using a translator! It was amazing, sometimes difficult, but such a great experience.
In addition to the practical aspect of mission life, we had the great opportunity of speaking to students at the International Economics University (two different classes), teaching English at the High School (six classes in all), help out at English club where we were allowed to share our faith, hang out with the students we had formed relationships with during the week, street evangelize, and work along side the university students who are from Africa who are believers (speak to students in the dorms, visit a family of children who had lost both their parents, and speak at the African Bible study). Spending time with the students from Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe was such an amazing experience. They have such a love for their Ukrainian classmates and a desire to share Christ with them. Worshiping with them was unlike anything I have EVER experienced! I knew, as we sang and all prayed simultaneously, that we were in the presence of God! I was afraid to open my eyes that I would see the angles surrounding us! What a blessing to meet these brothers and sisters this side of heaven. I look forward to worshipping with them again, if not in this life, then around the throne of God when we are face to face with our Savior!
Hey everyone, it’s been a while, and I am so sorry for my lack of updates! I got home from outreach in Ternopil, Ukraine and hit the ground running with all the things that were due for my classes: 2 research papers, 1 book report, my post outreach paper, and the Sunday school curriculum that is required for my James class. But God remains so faithful to give the strength to finish well for His glory! He is so good.
Ukraine was such a wonderful experience. It really was a time of God teaching me of what it really looks like to be on the field full time, with all of the little details of daily living as well as the ministry aspect of things. When we arrived, Marilyn Gibbs, a women who has been serving on the mission field for 15 years in five different countries, told us that she wanted us to really experience what it was like to live on the mission field, and so we needed to figure out how the transportation in the city worked, getting food for the week, and finding our way around the city by ourselves, without really using a translator! It was amazing, sometimes difficult, but such a great experience.
In addition to the practical aspect of mission life, we had the great opportunity of speaking to students at the International Economics University (two different classes), teaching English at the High School (six classes in all), help out at English club where we were allowed to share our faith, hang out with the students we had formed relationships with during the week, street evangelize, and work along side the university students who are from Africa who are believers (speak to students in the dorms, visit a family of children who had lost both their parents, and speak at the African Bible study). Spending time with the students from Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe was such an amazing experience. They have such a love for their Ukrainian classmates and a desire to share Christ with them. Worshiping with them was unlike anything I have EVER experienced! I knew, as we sang and all prayed simultaneously, that we were in the presence of God! I was afraid to open my eyes that I would see the angles surrounding us! What a blessing to meet these brothers and sisters this side of heaven. I look forward to worshipping with them again, if not in this life, then around the throne of God when we are face to face with our Savior!
We also had the amazing opportunity of speaking with students who are studying at a mission school right outside of Ternopile. They are from Muslim countries that are closed to the gospel, yet they are getting more Biblical training to go back into their countries to share the gospel, fully aware of the risk to their lives and the lives of their familes. One pastor, his wife just had a baby two months ago, and it will be two more months before he will be able to meet his new little one. His congragation of 200 has been quickly dwindling as the police have come in on various occasions and brought many of the believers into custody, his flock is now down to 70 and the church has been locked up, leaving those attending to disburse and find homes to meet in secretly. Another women is going back to her country at the end of her schooling, knowing that in the region she is from, any women who turns away from the Mulim faith will be abducted and raped by the authorities. One man who came out of Islam and into a relationship with Jesus, his wife divorced him and took his two daughters who he has not seen or been allowed to have contact with them for three years! These are true heros of the faith - and I was so blessed to meet them, to personally hear their stories and lift them before the throne of Christ in prayer!
You can read more about what we did and see some of the pictures from our trip by visiting our outreach blog: http://www.teamukraineccbcce.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much for your faithful prayers as we headed out on the field to support the ministry there. Many doors were opened that will allow the missionaries there to go back into the schools on a regular basis and share with the students and build personal relationships with them outside the classroom, where they will be free to share about Jesus Christ and His gift of salvation. “It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For
we are both God’s workers.” – 1 Corinthians 3:7-9
You can read more about what we did and see some of the pictures from our trip by visiting our outreach blog: http://www.teamukraineccbcce.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much for your faithful prayers as we headed out on the field to support the ministry there. Many doors were opened that will allow the missionaries there to go back into the schools on a regular basis and share with the students and build personal relationships with them outside the classroom, where they will be free to share about Jesus Christ and His gift of salvation. “It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For
we are both God’s workers.” – 1 Corinthians 3:7-9
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