Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #19

Friday Nov 6 Report # 19

We had a bad day today, we were heading off to go to see the gypsies and two other places when Ruslan noticed a problem with the right front wheel. We reckoned that a bearing had gone so picked one up at the Auto market and crept along to a garage. It is a very nice modern one with 4 hoists. We put the van up and found the outer bearing had given out, not only given out but damaged the spindle. Well to make a long story short, the parts were so hard to get off the mechanic had to take the whole axle assembly off the van and we had to go get a new one. It took about 3 and a half hours to get the parts and then install them. What a way to start the day. While we were waiting, we called Stephan, another driver we use at times and he took Flo to get some produce for the gypsies and others.

Well we got loaded into our van and headed off to the gypsies. By the time we got there it was dark.

hese gypsies live in an old collective farm. They seem to have electricity as there was a light on but no cookers or other appliances. They all gathered outside and we gave a little word and then gave out candies and took their pictures. They get sooo excited to see themselves on the camera.

We had taken a sample plastic tarp over to see if they would be suitable for their tents. They were sure they would be absolutely suited for that. There are several different camps of Gypsies, only these ones live in a building part of the year.

We left there and went to visit a Christian lady named Vera with 4 little children. Her husband was saved with 2 other man while in prison. He was away working in Moscow and so we didn’t see him but according to Flo he is a lovely Christian man. The eldest child was a boy aged 6 and the 3 girls went down to a year old. It is so nice to be in a home where there is evidence of the peace of God in it.

Vera prepared us a lovely meal of home cooked and baked food. We left some bags of produce and clothes and headed home on dark country roads with people walking on the road and others on bikes with no lights or reflectors. It is no wonder there are so many crosses along the roads.

We got home very tired but were glad to have done something.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #18

Thursday November 5^th Report #18

It looked very much like snow when we got up and by noon it was snowing after a time of rain. Everywhere is a real mess but we headed out, after sorting a lot of boxes for Flo to empty, to pick up the two boys Vasil and Ura and their dad Roman. They had already had their eyes tested early in the morning so we met them to go and pick out some glasses frames. We got some nice ones, suitable for young boys and left them with the prescriptions. They will be ready tomorrow, good service for bi-focals. Both pairs cost us exactly $100.00 Cdn. That’s $50.00 each pair.

We then took them out for pizza at a lovely café in the Mall. All very new but good food. It was something to watch the boys, I doubt they have ever eaten out before.

We then headed out to a home for mentally challenged boys in a village named Starry Rosdeal, (that’s how it is pronounced). In Ukrainian that means “Old chapter”. It is well named as it is “old” and the last “chapter” as far as anything modern or clean and useful. The home is an old monastery and is probably almost forgotten by most people except the “health police” who come regularly to try and find something wrong so that they can fine the administrator. They found something not long ago and fined him personally 1.000R about $140.00 to us but a month’s wages to him. You wonder why they still carry on working. We left cleaning supplies, the most needed things and pampers for the bedridden.

We headed back to town and shopped at the large Metro store for product for several poor and sick people.

Flo made a good supper for us of chicken and the trimmings.

All for now.

Thank you for praying.

Malcolm and Howard and Flo.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #17

Wednesday Nov 4^th Report #17

Before we could get out, a shipment of33 boxes came from Seattle and had to be stacked in the various bedrooms. We were glad to get glasses but will not have much time to distribute any of them.

We then went to visit a family of 5 children who are being raised by a father and old uncle. There are 3 girls and 2 boys. Martha is the oldest at 14 and has to be mother as their mother left them when the youngest boy was 6 months old. The father, Roman, was at work but we were received royally. All the children were home as schools are all closed.

They live in an old log type house with 3 rooms. The middle one is a utility type room. The place was spotless, as usual, and everything was tidy. All the children are absolutely delightful. Happy and appreciative of what we brought them. Martha said that they all help to keep the house clean and clean it through twice a week.

I noticed that the one boy, Uri was wearing glasses that looked rather bent. I asked him for them and saw that they had been all soldered up by his father. We decided that we would get him some new glasses as he had to sit about 12 inches away from something to read it. We found out that his little brother Vasil needed glasses but had never had any. We planned to contact their father when he came home.

Flo had brought a large bag of clothes and these were distributed much to their delight.

We left with a real feeling of sadness that these kids had no mother that loved and cared for them.

We came home and prepared for meeting. There were about 16 out as some were sick or working.

We both spoke as Misha had a head ache and was not out.

After meeting we had lunch and talked about the baptism of Vasil to be held on Saturday Noon at the Baptist church in Lviv. We were hoping for more than one to be baptized but as yet have not heard of any more.

All for now

Malcolm.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #16

Tuesday Nov.3^rd Report from Lviv # 16

Our day was not going to be a great day of visiting as most places are either closed or people don’t want visitors. The panic has really taken hold over here. Streets and stores almost deserted compared to usual. Most people wearing masks that the drug stores have boosted in price from 1 R to 5R or more.

People are being gouged by the pharmacies for their medications and yet I heard tonight that there is nothing like the number of pneumonia cases as there usually are at this time of year.

Well we went to get two more prescriptions for needy Christians. I don’t know how they pay for them when we are not here. Two of the people needed medication for liver problems.

We then went to a town 20 km away to see if we could find the grave of the grandfather of a brother in Winnipeg. We didn’t have too much to go on except a last name. I have never looked at so many old graves. It is amazing how many years they have been putting pictures on the headstones. Some photos are 50 to 60 years old and are still clear. We eventually found a grave of a man who may be the one we were looking for.

Our visit reaped something of a blessing when we met a man who was placing a new headstone on a grave. Howard gave him a John 3:16 fridge magnet, he was thrilled as he was a Christian. He willingly took Seed Sowers and a packet of New Testaments. He gave us his name and phone # and would like us to visit his village with Bibles and texts at a later date.

We headed home and had lunch and got ready for meeting at 5pm. Flo arrived from Lviv with Misha and Ruslan. There were about 25 people plus us so the room was well filled. Howard, I then Misha spoke and we were finished in the hour. Lots of farewells and hugs as we left for Lviv.

Misha is going to try to have meetings while we are away.

God bless and please keep praying that none will get the flu and that flights out of Ukraine will not be cancelled.

Malcolm

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #15

Monday Nov 2 Report #15

Thankfully Vadym was up before us this morning and although rather plugged up in his nose, will probably be ok now. Although there is a real paranoia about Swine Flu there are many people sick with the flu, not the Swine flu.

We decided to go to an old folks home today as there is no point going to schools or orphanages as they are closed. It is amazing how children without parents suddenly find someone to look after them for the short term.

I had to change some money in town. This might seem strange but Vadym phones a man on the street near the market and asks him what the exchange is on the Canadian Dollar. He phones back later and gives us his rate. It will be anywhere from 7.2 today to 7.4 the other day. The bank is paying 7.0 Hrivney for 1 Cdn dollar. We then drive up to him as he stands on the sidewalk and he give me the money through the van window. I don’t even have to count it, he is never wrong and is a friend of Vadym.

We bought a few items and then headed for the Meeting Room to pick up the boxes of clothing and adult pampers for the old people’s home in a little village near Rohatin. We talked with Marika who was busy again sorting the boxes we had brought over, with her mother and a young man who is helping.

We headed away a little later for the 1 hour or so trip through lovely fall countryside. This morning we had the first white frost on everything.

We did not stay long in the home as the Director was off sick with Pneumonia so we carried the boxes into the store room and left again for home.

One of the things they have the biggest problem funding is laundry and personal soap also toilet bowl cleaner. As soon as we got back to Ivano we bought the products and hope to get it to them very soon. We have been to this home several times and they all have bibles, Texts and glasses.

We went for a well earned coffee as we had not had one since breakfast and it was now after 3 pm.

Please note some of the hardships of the missionary in a land void of Tim Horton’s.

Hoping to do some visiting tomorrow but it really is a problem with so much sickness everywhere.

We have a meeting tomorrow at 5 pm and Flo and Ruslan are coming down for the meeting and we will go back with them to Lviv.

All for now.

Malcolm

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #14

Saturday

We are still well. We went to bed at 10;30 and a few minutes later we heard the front door open and a man’s voice call out for Vadym. He was in bed in the other room so I went to the top of the stairs and there was a doctor with a nurse. They came and checked him out and gave him a needle, and said his lungs were clear but he had a temp.

Went to visit Natalia with MS. The poor girl has an allergic reaction to medication with a massive red blistered area on her face. She is taking medication for it.

We gave her a set of Ukrainian NT on CD. She was thrilled.

Ps Vadym woke this morning (Sunday) feeling much better. His temperature was down. He stayed in bed most of the day but says he will be fine for Monday to take out some clothing boxes to an orphanage and may be an old folks home. We should be able to meet the old people.

We had 20 people out to meeting and they listened well. Again there were people asking for help with prescriptions for themselves and children. It never ends.

One lady who always has us over to her home for a rabbit meal, could not have us as she is renovating so brought us a pot with rabbit and potatoes, a jar of pickled tomatoes a bag of apples and a bag of walnuts. The rabbit was wonderful and there’s enough for tomorrow.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #13

Well the flu has hit Vadym. Woke up with it this am and went to the doctor even though his wife is a doctor. I guess everyone is worried about the H1N1 virus which starts with Flu like symptoms. He is home in bed and I just gave him Neo Citran Flue drink.

Well what would we do? We decided to get the bus to the centre and get Howards Bible that he left at the meeting Room last Thursday. We thought we would have coffee with Tania, if her coffee shop was open. It wasn’t, it was quarantined for Sat and Sunday. I phoned Tania, she was down town with her little brother so came to meet us at the White House Government building. We decided to find a coffee shop to talk in but every one was closed, a quarantined notice on the window. There were hardly any people around which was most unusual for a Saturday, most were wearing masks or covering their faces like Muslims, weird!

We didn’t have a key to the Meeting Room so phoned Marika who went and got the bible and brought it to us. The only place we found open was the Pizza Place so we met there, the only people in the restaurant.

We met for about one hour and had some good conversations about communication and Vadym etc. Marika is very protective of him as she appreciates all he does with regard to the boxes etc. We made the decision to use Tania as a contact person if and when we can’t reach Vadym. She will pass on messages to Marika or find the problem with Vadym not responding, if this happens again.

Marika is a most efficient and tireless worker, as is her mother. She talks a little too much but is a good communicator but not in English.

So we headed to get a bus home and the ladies saw us safely ON THE WRONG BUS! No problem, it went half way home and then turned of so we got off and walked the rest of the way, it was a nice walk.

As we walked we decided that we would load the small van with the boxes from the house hear and take them to the Meeting Room. We took to loads of 8 boxes each. I drove and we had no problem at all. Now there is more sorting for Marika to do on Monday or when ever.

We came home to a fish fry that Svetta had cooked us. It was very good and I came up to study for tomorrow, they want a meeting.

Malcolm

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #12

Friday October 30. Report #12.

The weather is rather unsettled, sunny and then light rain but not too uncomfortable.

We planned to do some necessary shopping for prescription drugs for 4 people who attend the meetings.

Things are very subdued in this area owing to the announcement this morning that several people who died within the last few days had H1N1 virus. There is a quiet panic of people cleaning out the pharmacies of cold remedies and face masks. We were in a large department store yesterday and all the staff had medical masks on. We were in the market today and many of the shoppers and store keepers were wearing masks.

So far about 20 deaths have been attributed to the virus. The Prime Minister broadcast today that all schools and daycares will be closed for 3 weeks. There are to be no public meetings, even the pre-election rallies have been cancelled.

So what does this mean to us? Namely two things, the one is that we cannot visit any schools or orphanages, at least to speak to children and secondly, we hope that Poland does not close the border, as it has said it might do, when we head home on Nov 11. We are also wondering about the wisdom to hold any more meetings.

Please pray for wisdom and good health and that things will settle down and the panic will subside.

All for now.

Malcolm

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #11

Thursday Oct.29 Report #11

We will try not to bore you with details today, but it was different ! We loaded the big van that seemed to be working fine and headed out to an orphanage in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains.

This is one of the best run orphanages we visit and the Director, Natalia, is probably the reason for it. She has 145 children with a school and workshops for the older children. She relies very much on sponsorship for many of the larger projects e.g. all new windows. She appreciates the clothing and craft items we bring. There were only 40 children there as there was a holiday and many of the other children had family members that can take them for short spells.

Her greatest need was the same as a year ago, namely winter boots. It is hard to believe that boots here often do not last more than one winter, but it is a fact. What she did was give us names and sizes for 45 children who have no family at all to help them with clothing.

We unloaded two boxes at an old folks home in the same village.

We then headed out of town to get diesel at a little service station, and would you believe it, the van would not start, the battery dead! We pushed it but for some reason it would not start. A man agreed to tow it and away they went leaving us to wait for them to come back. They did, about half an hour later.

We get in and head on to the road and clunk it stops again. No more details except that 2 hours later we headed home. The only problem now was that we had a meeting at 5 pm and it was now after 4 and we are still in the mountains. We got to meeting at 5.30 with everyone still happy and singing hymns as they waited.

We had an appointment with a lady who had surgery a week ago to take a tumor from behind her nose. They went in through the nose and got it all. She looked well but was tired. She is a regular attendee at our meeting and confirmed for us that she is born again.

We headed home very tired and enjoyed a good nights sleep.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #10

Wednesday Oct 28 Report # 10

I expect that Missionaries all have days like today. A day when nothing goes as planned or right. As we reported before, the big van we have had loaned to us was having charging problems and needed an alternator. Vadym took the van early to the garage that repairs and installs alternators.

Sveta, his wife had gone early to work so we were looking after their two and a half year old, Amelia. I should say that she is a little sweetheart and not hard to look after.

The job was to take about an hour which meant we could be on the road by 10:30 OR SO? Vadym told us to call if we had any problems. The first problem came at 12 noon when Amelia needed some potty care, but no answer from Vadym on his phone. After 10 or so attempts I gave up and assumed he was either dead or the van had run over his phone.

At 1pm Sveta arrived home from work, O joy, O rapture! She had been trying to get Vadym as well.

Howard and I decided we might as well busy ourselves with something, Howard read and I worked on a project on my computer copying CD’s of the Ukrainian bible for a blind Christian lady.

Vadym arrived home at about 5pm! To say the least of it, he was ready to burst. When he went to buy parts, he didn’t have enough money so he had to leave his phone as hock, hence no phone.: then the mechanic ? put the battery in the wrong way and blew the side out of it. The garage had to replace it but had a hard job finding the right one.

After Vadym had cleaned up and had something hot to eat as the temperature dropped rapidly in the afternoon and he was chilled through, we headed out to visit in the city. We called one lady but it was not convenient so then went to Dana and Ivan, the man suffering from radiation sickness since working to clean up the disaster at Chernobyl. I can never relate to such a family with so many health related problems. 5 children, 4 with health problems plus Ivan an Dana. Without repeating all their problems, enough to say they are deeply in debt to friends for repeated visits to hospital and purchase of medicines. The apartment is badly in need of renovating and over half of the family sleep on the floor on mattresses. We have one sponsor in Canada who is prepared to help with some renovations but help is also needed for their medical needs.

We had a good talk with them as to who was saved and it seems that at least 4 of them say they have trusted Christ for salvation, for which we thank God. We plan to purchase some folding beds for them because there is no room for permanent beds. We found some good ones for about $100.00CDN each.

Everyone is in a panic here because of a sickness that has killed 20 people already in the last week. Schools have been closed and people are rushing for cold medications. Seemingly it is not H1N1 but is very sudden and serious. One Catholic priest has died with it too. PLEASE PRAY FOR US.

All for now, hoping for a better day on Thursday.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #9

Tuesday Oct 27 Report #9

We headed out to a neighboring town to visit a man who had attended meetings for some time and used to live in Ivano. He has a severely mentally handicapped boy of over 30 years old. He has cared for him all his life and is paid a pension to do so. His wife obviously did not want the responsibility and went abroad to work and then came back and divorced him. He has now married a lovely lady who shares in looking after the boy, who of course is no longer a boy. He just lies in bed looking at the wall and making a sound now and then. It is very sad to see.

Vacilli is a saved man and told us that he was saved after Howard and Eric Fowler visited him over 2 years ago. He has read and studies his bible very well and was very good to talk with. He had visited several churches and was confused that they all said they were the right church. His most recent visit was to a large charismatic church in Ivano. He was not at all impressed but wanted to know what the bible said about their form of worship etc. We had a good time showing him the scriptures and left for home in the pouring rain that didn’t stop all day.

The big van that we were hoping to use on Wednesday was still in the garage while they tried to see why the battery would not keep charged, they charged the battery and said we could try it. More later!

We went to the market for some things, met Oleg who invited us again to his home for tea, we agreed for 8pm.

We went home and got ready for Meeting at 5pm. About 20 people came again and we had a good meeting. I spoke on prayer and Howard on baptism. We are hoping there will be a break with those who are saved and not baptized, that they may want to be baptized in Ivano on the 9^th of Nov with 2 or 3 others.

The rest of the story. The van was waiting for us after meeting; the mechanic had brought it over. He shut it off and it would not start! Battery flat again. We push started it and Vadym drove it home, I drove the little van. The rest is too long to relate but the mechanic and Vadym worked until 1am replacing a slipping pulley only to get it running and find the alternator was not charging enough either, this will be fixed today God willing !

While this was going on, we went to Oleg’s one and a hour late but had a good visit.

Frustrated? I suppose I could say that. Please pray for us that we will get to the places we want to get to with many boxes of clothing and bibles.

Keep praying that the home visits will bear fruit as well as the meetings.

Malcolm

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #8

Monday Oct.26 Report #8

Another day of running around trying to get organized as to who and where to visit.

We had planned to visit a man who has come to our meetings and had a severely mentally handicapped boy. He used to live in town but now lives in a village. We started out for the village only to find that he was in Ivano getting some meds for his boy. We turned around and went to the Half Way House home in town but found that the director was in a meeting until the afternoon. So goes the visitation in Ukraine sometimes. One may wonder why we don’t phone up first. There are two reasons. Firstly it is sometimes impossible to get a person on the phone. Secondly, the people we go to are usually at home or work.

We then went to visit a quite ill lady, Maria, who has had numerous spinal surgeries and uses 2 crutches. Needless to say she had cooked us a bountiful lunch which absolutely exhausted her. She lay on the couch while we ate but we did have a great conversation with her and I think that if she is not saved she is really thinking about it.

We then went to pick up a large van that Vadym can use when we go out to the country and take more boxes than before. Well the battery was dead and so I toed it until it went, but Vadym tested the battery and we think it is shot. Well he left it at his garage and we went on our way back to the Half way house and had a good talk with the administrator, Maria (Again!). We found out what the 25 children needed and will go back later and give them out and speak to the children She share with us how that she has to have 3 jobs to support her family, administrator, teacher and one other.

We were invited to visit Tania and her family for tea. Her mother who has had the problem with her nose is able to work again after 2 years of treatment for her loss of the skin on the end of her nose. It is still evident of there having been a problem but a skin graft has made a big difference. All the family were there for the first time, Tania the oldest at 25 and 4 brothers. They all profess to be saved and certainly seem like a very happy family.

We thank God for the opportunity to visit and encourage these different families. We then came home to bed.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #7

Sunday Oct 25^th Report # 7

We were up early Sunday as Vadym had to take the van we were using, back to the owner. Every Sunday there is a massive vehicle market just outside Ivano with literally hundreds of vehicles of every shape size and year. The van was left for the day and if not sold, we would get it back on Sunday night, which in fact we did.

As the meeting is at 3pm on Sunday, 5pm during the week, we spent our time getting ready. We went a little early so that we could put the heater on but it didn’t do too much as the room was very cold and is made of very thick concrete and so retains the cold.

Just over 20 people came to meeting and gave good attention. Howard gave gospel message and I spoke from 1 Peter 2 on the subject of “What does God expect in a New Testament Church?” It was obviously new to some there but I saw many nodding in agreement with the scriptures.

One of the young ladies who is usually at the meetings, Tania, had to work at the coffee shop she now works for, so we went to visit her. Some of you will remember that it is her mother that has been receiving “treatment” for want of a better word, for a problem with the end of her nose where the skin has “slid off”, which is the best way to describe it. Tania told us that they have spent somewhere near $8,000 in treatments and medications. Her nose has not healed but she is able at least to cover it, I suppose, and go to work.

We came home and are trying to plan our week of visitation and distribution.

Malcolm

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #6

Saturday Oct 24^th Report # 6

Our morning was taken up with transferring boxes to the Meeting room from Vadym’s home. There are about 75 boxes but we only took 35 over at one time so that the ladies can sort them out.

We also fixed another light in the room and installed a ceramic wall heater that may or may not help heat the room.

We were invited to Marika’s mother’s apartment for a late lunch and spent a nice time with her mother and her husband. Uri is a lovely man who is in the fourth stage cancer. He doesn’t know it because over here they don’t tell the patient, only the relatives.

He has multiple surgeries and is slated for another one. They told us that things in the hospital are so bad, we could hardly believe it. The elevator was not working to the top floor operating room and so Uri had to get some of his friends to carry him up the stairs. Reminds us of the man in mark 2 with his 4 friends. While he was in surgery, Marika was sent to buy some medication. Not once but 4 times!

Medications alone cost 4,500 R ($555US $608C)and an MRI cost 1700R. ($239 Cdn) . Altogether with doctors costs etc they have had to borrow over 6,000R. These figures may seem insignificant but to these people it is horrendous. When pensioners get just over $100US a month, it doesn’t leave much to live on or for emergencies.

We came home and got ready for Sunday meeting.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #5

Friday Oct 23^rd Report # 5

We had several things to do today that took a lot of running around. As I wrote before, we got the Meeting Room back but everything had been piled into boxes and the room was in a mess.

The first thing we did was go looking for a folding table for the ladies to sort clothing on. We went to three stores before settling for a drop leaf table for about $35.00. We then went to meet the banker and pay the room rent and talk about the situation with the room. It seems the building was rented by the local government and they have now found them government property, so the place is empty except for us. He says that we can stay until the end of the year as they are doing a total renovation of the building.

We then went to the Meeting Room and took out boxes of garbage that had accumulated and sorted out the bibles and the many Seed Sowers. We had also bought a wall hanging ceramic heater for the room as we can’t expect the ladies to work in a freezing cold room.

As we were going into the market to buy me some slippers (very expensive, about $5.00 ?) we met Ola one of the ladies who had worked at Solidarity ever since we had been coming. She told us she was no longer part of Solidarity nor was she or her husband going to the meeting at Solidarity. She had her own business now. We were invited to visit her and Oleg in the evening, but as I will relate, we never made it.

It might sound as if we are not doing much “missionary” work, but there are days when one has to get things in order and we do give out tracts and John 3:16 magnets as we shop.

Finale! After supper we headed out to visit Oleg and Ola in a nice Range Rover that Vadym had as he waited for some parts to fix it. We just got on to the main road and it ran out of gas, about 1,000 yds from a gas station. So we pushed it to the pumps and he puts gas in it. We went to leave but it won’t move.

The dash board reads “gear box not engaged” or something like that. We pushed it away from the pumps and after Vadym exhausting every possibility, we towed it home with his other vehicle.

Needless to say, it was too late to visit our friends as we didn’t get in until 10:45pm.

So went a busy day with many little but MOSTLY necessary things

Thank you for your interest and prayers.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #4

Thursday Oct 22 Report #4

The day dawned dry but overcast at about 7C. Ruslan arrived at 9:45 am and loaded us up, ready to move us to Ivano Frankivsk about one and a half hours away. The trip is quite good and very pretty through the countryside of hills and valleys. We say several large John Deere tractors on the road, pulling large American pieces equipment. Someone is obviously financing some farming operations .

We arrived in Ivano and went to the Meeting Room to see if we could get in. It was locked up and some men were working in the building doing renovations. The whole building was empty except for our room. We got hold of Marika who had keys and is the lady in charge of sorting the boxes of clothing that are sent. When we got into the room we found that all the metal shelving had gone and most of the cupboards. They were not ours but had been in the room when we rented it. The only thing that was ours and was missing, was the plywood that was laid in the shelving. Thankfully, all our chairs were there.

Vadym was at work so Ruslan took us to Vadym’s house where we unloaded our stuff. Sveta, Vadym’s wife warmed us soup and we settled into our bedroom.

Marika had phoned around to tell people about the meeting at 5pm and about 21 people came into the cold Meeting room, we all kept our coats on.

There were several new people came, 2 men and 3 women, they seemed very interested and we hope will come back on Sunday.

We went out for pizza and then came home to relax. I could not get on the internet last night, but will have to try today.

All for now.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #3

Wednesday October 21, 2009

We got up to a cloudy but dry day with temperature around 7C. We were to start a little earlier as we had to go into the country to a boy’s prison.

First we had to buy some bibles from the bible society for Ivano Frankivsk when we go on Thursday.

We headed out with the load of bibles as well as some boxes of school supplies for the school in the prison. The town is called San Bier and is an hour away from Lviv.

There have been several visits to this prison; I was there several years ago. We were met by a charming Christian lady who is in charge; it seems, of the religious education of these boys. We were ushered into the Head Warden’s office and treated to tea and cookies. After formal introductions, we went into the prison proper, through many locked gates, surrendered our passports and cell phones and made our way up to the nice auditorium on the top floor.

There were 60 or so of the population of 200 boys, aged from 10 or 11 to 18 or so. We didn’t get the actual figures but the last time Flo was there she met an 11 year old who had cut his mothers head off. There are some real young criminals there.

There were several warders with them and the boys looked the picture of misery and hopelessness.

Howard spoke first and I followed after. God gave help as I used the rope “trick” showing how there are not good sinners and bad sinners but rather we have ALL sinned and ALL need a Saviour.

We couldn’t have had a better audience. When we had finished a tall good looking prisoner stood up and thanked us very much for coming. They then all clapped.

We were able to give them John 3:16’s and I was even allowed to take a picture, something that is not usually allowed.

We stopped for a nice meal on the way home and then came and prepared for the meeting tonight in our apartment. There were 14 of us, some were sick and some were working. God gave help to Howard and we then had a birthday lunch for one of the ladies, with birthday cake and fruit salad and meats and pickled herrings. A really great combination!

We are now packed up ready to go to Ivano Frankivsk tomorrow at 9:30. DV.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #2

Monday Oct 19 09

Quite cold in our apartment due to little or no heat; it seems that “someone” who has the authority, only turns the heat on when THEY feel cold. The silly thing is that there is hot water and the heat for the apartments comes from the same central heating plant. The other thing that bugs the tenants is that they still pay for heat in October.

Well we have the gas stove burners on that warm up the kitchen, so at least we eat in comfort.

We started out, as usual, by buying food for a baby orphanage in the city that we have visited many times. They only get enough funding to buy the very basic baby foods with no meat products. We brought sliced bread and bologna and watched them eat it up like it was the tastiest steak. They are very well looked after but there are a fair number of mentally handicapped children among them.

We then went to a large market to see if we could get any good deals on winter coats for the children in Lopartin. We struck it good with a store owner and were able to get 25 coats for an average of 200Rhivney each. That is $27.00Cdn. each, We thought that was pretty good. We got 3 other smaller ones for 150R.from another stall. This was not enough for all the children but certainly would help.

Before we left the market, Flo met this old lady begging and was really touched with her story and so decided she would help her Tuesday with some produce.

Tuesday. October 20^th

Off to the Supermarket again to get produce for the beggar and two other families in need in a village.

We found the address of the beggar but it was an empty apartment being renovated. No one seemed to know who we were looking for. Flo doesn’t know what to think; either she is suffering a little dementure and gave a wrong address or she is a con woman, we may never know.

We headed off into the pouring rain, heading for Lopartin. I wish you could have seen the reception the kids gave us when we arrived. The usual confusion with the sizing and distribution of coats and more shoes and we were done. Every one given away but still half of the children not fitted with a good coat.

We really don’t have any more funds to spend on this orphanage as there are many more that have pressing needs too.

We were taken for tea by the deputy Administrator and her assistant. This proved to be one of the highlights of the day. We had been listening as they told us what they got for a salary, a mere 1,000R per month for teachers. That is $138.00Cdn. or $124US. Not much for a professional is it? I then asked what they thought the most important thing was in life ? They said it was good health. This then opened the subject of assurance of being in Heaven. We had a good conversation for over half an hour, it was very rewarding.

Off in the rain again for the village of Krasne, where a slightly simple lady lives in a large house alone, since her mother died a year ago. She seems to be managing but is very lonely. We had a talk about salvation and the left a food package.

In the same village live a family we have visited often, where grandparents are raising to lovely teenagers since their mother died of cancer and their father was killed by a train.

The girl Nadia, has the same problem with her kidneys that her mother died of but they think they may have it under control. She is very confident of being in Heaven as she has trusted Jesus to forgive her sins, she told us.

Her brother Volodia is attending a college in a close by town and is a lovely bright boy; however he does not profess to be saved yet. After a good conversation with Grandpa and Grandma we left in the pouring rain for home.

Everyone was very weary when we returned but Flo made a good fish dinner, so we are well fed and ready for bed.

Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #1

Friday October 16, 2009

I arrived in Lviv safely Thursday afternoon about 2 hours late. We had to wait for some passengers to arrive from New York and then were delayed by heavy wet snow in Lviv, not a nice time to land with wet slush on the runway, but a good pilot thankfully.

We awoke to most of the snow gone but very wet and cool. Still no heat on every day yet and no hot water. Two of the Christian men have been painting the apartment and were re-grouting the tile in the bathroom and so we couldn’t shower any way.

We decided to go to the orphanage in Lopartin with clothing, especially shoes and some housekeeping items. We got all the children (there a 135 in this orphanage) and began to fit the most needy ones first.

There were not enough for everyone but we got a list of sizes of the most needy ones and will get some in the market.

On Saturday we had a very interesting and we felt profitable visit to a house, for want of a better name, being used to rehabilitate drug and alcohol users. The Christian man running it has no support from government but just trusts the Lord to supply. He has eight men and boys at present and they were all ready for us, sitting on benches with their own well worn Bibles. Three of them told their testimonies of their former life and what God had done since they came there. It was a very emotional time with many tears.

Howard and I told our testimonies too and it seemed to be a help. We left them with clothes and food items which were well appreciated.

On our way back we stopped at one of the massive hardware stores called Epi Centre. One of the brethren here has been out of work for months but is able to do electrical work. The problem was that he did not have any tools suitable to work, so we felt it profitable to set him up with what he would need to start up. He was most appreciative and kept wanting to buy the cheapest tools but we persuaded him to take some that would last.

We had decided to go to Lutsk on our first Sunday and so two vans set out at 7:15 with 13 of us. We get there just in time for meeting at 10am. It is a long and very rough ride but worth it (once in a while) to encourage the Assembly there as well as Timothy Sloan, the full time missionary. It was good to hear all our men from Lviv take part in the meeting. Howard and I both spoke after the Breaking of Bread.

The work on their hall renovation goes on slowly but surely but is a long way from occupancy yet.

Malcolm & Howard.

New Charitable fund formed.

Christian Assembly Work in Ukraine Fund.

210 Alfred Ave, Portage la Prairie

Manitoba Canada. R1N 0H3

204-857-9074

To those brethren and sisters who have had an interest in What God is doing in Western Ukraine. I am happy to say that there is now an official Canadian charity account in the name of “Christian Assembly Work in Ukraine Fund” that can receive funds and is able to issue charitable tax receipts to both Canadian and U.S. donors.

These funds will be used exclusively in the purchase and distribution of Bibles and Christian literature and in the alleviation of suffering where appropriate.

At the present time one sister is working in Lviv and I and another brother are going back in October.

Malcolm Stanley

Meeting with the Christians in the Portage la Prairie Gospel Hall on First Street.

Manitoba. Canada.

Summary of Ukraine Visit: Future Needs and Opportunities (Part 3)

This is the final post in a series of three installments which provide an overview of our recent visit to Ukraine in both Lviv and Ivano Frankivsk. See the previous posts here and here.

FUTURE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

What the work in Ukraine needs is a couple who have God’s leading to full time service in this country. Presently, the door is wide open to the gospel and the distribution of the scriptures. There is no opposition to the preaching or teaching of the word.

Wisdom is needed in not preaching “religion” as most people are “religious” and never pass a church or shrine without crossing themselves. We find that if we preach Christ and Him crucified, they are willing to hear the rest of the story. At their Easter time, everyone is greeted with “Christ is risen”. It isn’t too hard to get into conversation and ask why He had to die in the first place.

The Ukrainian people have lived for centuries with hardship and sorrow. The present financial situation is nothing new to them, but it is hard to see and to hear of their problems such as loss of jobs, non-payment of salaries and pensions and an increase in theft and violence. Many people cannot afford their medications or the costs incurred if a hospital visit is needed.

Please pray for the people of Ukraine that the government will be able to survive the present problems and that things will begin to improve.

Thank you for your interest in this often forgotten part of the world.

Malcolm Stanley.
Portage la Prairie MB

Summary of Ukraine Visit: Ivano Frankivsk (Part 2)

This is second in a series of three installments which provide an overview of our recent visit to Ukraine in both Lviv and Ivano Frankivsk. See the first post here.

WORK IN IVANO FRANKIVSK

Several years ago now, some brethren were invited to go to the city of Ivano Frankivsk. Several of us went and met in a meeting room and several were saved and baptized at that time. An Assembly was started and went on well for a while, but then the brother who had invited the men and also owned the building where the assembly met, had a falling out and basically didn’t want any more Assembly men to come and teach. To many of us this was a very sad decision but we did not feel we could continue to support him when he decided to join up with a denomination and have their preachers speak.

We knew there were many of the people who attended this “Assembly” who wanted us to speak to them, and so we decided to meet for the gospel and teaching elsewhere with whoever would come.

We are glad to say that almost all of those in the former Assembly came and still come to the meetings that we hold. We are also happy that there has been no pressure put on anyone not to come to our meetings. We do not meet on the former Assembly meeting night but meet 3 times a week. On our visit this year we saw a maximum of 30 people come out and a minimum of 20. They wanted 3 meetings a week and so we met on Tuesday, Thursday at 5pm and Sunday afternoon at 3pm.

Our interpreter and driver in Ivano is a young married man named Vadym. He speaks English and was saved while being our driver about 3 years ago. He was baptized last year, along with 4 from Lviv. He is a most useful young man because he knows everyone in Ivano, or so it seems. Meetings had been held for a while in the home of another brother and sister who eventually could not manage the group in their apartment. This meant that we had to look for a meeting room and a room to unpack boxes of humanitarian aid sent for distribution. A year ago we found a very suitable room with cupboards and shelving and room for 35 chairs for meetings. The biggest problem was the price of rooms in the centre of town. As most of the people have to come on public transportation, we needed a central location. The building was owned by a bank and they have a set price per sq meter. Vadym was able to get the price down to $400.00US per month, including light and gas. This year, they put it up to $460.00 per month. We decided that that was too much to continue with and so when we met the bank manager on the street, we told him that we were going to look for something else. The next day, he called Vadym and said he had talked to his boss and asked how $250.00US a month sounded? We said it sounded much better. There are people in Ivano paying $1,000.00+ US a month for half the area we have and so we feel very blessed.

We wanted to make sure that the people had some reason to continue coming to meeting once we and others were not there. Vadym is willing to have one or two meetings a week and I have agreed to give him an outline to share with the people. Misha has agreed to go up to Ivano on the bus twice a month or more if necessary and have a meeting. We are hoping that this will work to keep the people coming while we are away.

Boxes of clothing and other items are sent from Canada and the USA to both Flo Kancir and to Vadym who take them to either Flo’s apartment or the meeting room where the clothing is sorted into sizes for both children and adults.

Both Flo and Vadym take these items as well as food and laundry products, to orphanages and old people’s homes around the areas. Schools as well are visited and the children presented with the gospel. If it is a first call they will take New Testaments and Children’s Bibles. These items must be bought from the Ukrainian Bible society. The price seems to go up regularly as printing and paper costs rise.

- Malcolm

To be continued...

Summary of Ukraine Visit: Lviv (Part 1)

This is first in a series of three installments which provide an overview of our recent visit to Ukraine in both Lviv and Ivano Frankivsk.

WORK IN LVIV

As you may know, there is only one Assembly operating in western Ukraine, at this time. This Assembly is in the city of Lusk. Timothy Sloan saw the Assembly formed in 2002. The assembly has about 20 in fellowship and is in the process of renovating the building they have bought. They are presently meeting in part of it.

The work in Lviv was started by Flo Kancir of Kapuskaping ON Canada and she now has a rented apartment in that city. Most of those from North America that come to Ukraine arrive in Lviv and usually spend time in visitation in the area under Flo’s guidance to schools and orphanages in the region. She speaks fluent Ukrainian and is a great asset to the work in Lviv.

Meetings are held twice a week in her apartment with as many as 20 or more attending. About half this number would be saved and baptized and break bread when the opportunity to go to Lusk is provided. Lusk is about 2 hours from Lviv.

The situation in Ukraine is the same as in many parts of the world I’m sure, where women get saved and seem to grow and come to meetings but the men get saved but stay bound to their work and do not grow in the things of God as they should, thus making it hard to find dedicated leadership when thinking about forming an Assembly.

There are 3 men in the meetings in Lviv who have been received into the fellowship in Lusk and we are trusting that the day will not be too far in the future when an Assembly meets in Lviv.

I want to mention one brother who has taken on the responsibility of teaching the Word of God when there is no visiting brother in Lviv. This is vital if the teaching is to continue once brethren leave and return to North America. His name is Misha or Michael; he has a good grasp of the Scriptures, having gone to a fundamental Bible School here in Ukraine. He is completely convinced about the Assembly and is a great soul winner.

He was laid off from his job some time ago and after a time of prayer had felt that God would have him trust the Lord and visit the Christians as well as speak in the meetings, leaving God to supply his need. He had not mentioned this exercise to us.

Two brethren felt that he should receive some financial support and so have commenced to do so for the present. He is a single man in his 40’s and supports and lives with his ailing Christian mother. There will be more about Misha later in this series.

- Malcolm

To be continued...

Apr 30/09

A little update on Lopatin. I spoke to Gilles yesterday. As many already know he is in Lviv with Flo at this time and will return with her on June 5th. They visited the Lopatin orphanage yesterday. The children were given John 3:16 to memorize on one of the last visits there. Yesterday all the children were gathered in the auditorium. Ruslan asked some of the children if they remembered the verse and many of the kids were able to say it. The guys spoke to the kids and afterwards one of the boys asked if they could please have another verse to memorize! So Ruslan gave them John 14:6 for the next time. It is encouraging to know that the kids are enjoy learning verses. We don't know what will happen to these children as they get older but the Word of God will stay with them. It is too bad the orphanage is over an hour away from Lviv. If it was closer it would be easier to visit there as there are many older kids who would benefit from a regular contact with people who care.
I'll try to add to the blog as I learn what is going on in Ukraine. The phone lines to our apartment were changed and now don't work at all! Flo's phone cannot call out of the country for some reason so communication is becoming more difficult.

Report #18

Report # 18 for Tuesday April 15, 2009

We had a long day planned to go to Lopartin Internat (Orphanage).We have had a lot to do with this orphanage for many years. You may remember that we financed a shower room for the 120 children, as they only had one tub and no shower.

We waited for Timothy and Rhoda Sloan to arrive, with another Irish brother Edmund Johnson, who is visiting Lutsk for a week. Also Jeanette and Anatoli came along as well. We had planned to all go in our vehicle but we discovered that Edmund suffers from car sickness and so we decided to take the two vehicles, just in case they had to stop suddenly. Thankfully, Edmund traveled without incident.

Our first visit, of course, was to the grocery store to get some supplies. Timothy and their group decided to buy the children a treat, so they bought 120 bags of corn puffs. You should have seen the load. One cart piled high and three people carrying large plastic bags. Well Flo was not too long and we got on our way. It was a lovely drive through the country for about the hour and a half.

We drove round the back of the nice new living accommodation the government built, but to our surprise, no children greeted us, as at other times. There was not a child on the premises! They had managed to find them all homes for the Easter season and they had all gone!

Usually, we will phone ahead but the phone number had been changed as well as a new administrator so Flo had no number to phone. I will say that we have been there numerous times and the children are always there, but not this time.

Well we gave what product we had brought as well as the corn puffs to the assistant administrator and headed home. We would have stopped at some school on the way home but we had no New Testaments with us.

When we got to Lviv, Timothy took his van load to see the centre of Lviv, while Flo got a 5-Star roast beef dinner ready. We ate at 5-30 and then got ready for meeting at 7pm.

A good number arrived, 18 in all and Timothy and Edmund spoke to us all.

We all felt very frustrated about the wasted trip but at least we all had a tour of the orphanage and met some of the staff.

The visitors left after a snack to head back to Lutsk, one and a half hours away.

One more report and that will be it for this trip.

Good night and God bless you all.

Malcolm and Louis.

Report #17

Report 17 Monday April 13, 2009

It is a very wet and cold morning but it is not raining. As we were having breakfast we got a phone call to say that Meest would be delivering 30 boxes at 10 am !

Panic stations to try and make room! The walls were lined with boxes already but with a lot of juggling and stacking, we were ready when the two men sweated to bring then all in.

Tomorrow is meeting night and we are expecting Timothy and Rhoda Sloan and a visiting brother from Ireland. If the usual number comes to meeting we will have to sit some people up on the boxes. Either that or sit knocking knees together.

Well after “shopping” for some supplies we eventually got away to visit our favourite orphanage in Yosopowich and also see the Doctor Michaelo in Stri. On the way to the orphanage we were amazed at the flooded fields and swollen rivers and streams, just from the 24 hours of rain. It will be days before they get on the fields again.

We had supplies for Yosopowich and they were very thankful. As this is not a Government home, it is only supported from the little village and humanitarian aid. We were told that the pump in the well had quit and needed replacing, so there was no water, also the drain from the kitchen was plugged and broken and they had the fire department “blow” it out and the water came up through the ground, At least that’s what the lady told us. They need help and so we bough a new pump, one of the best in the store for $35 Cdn. With a one year guarantee.

We are getting a price to replace the drain pipe as the water from the kitchen is now running on the surface towards the well, not too healthy we thought.

We then visited our doctor come wood carver and his wife and 6 children, 3 girls and 3 boys, all living in 2 rooms with no tub or indoor toilet. One of the boys is mentally and physically handicapped. I don’t think anyone reading this letter can imagine the conditions. There is no door or curtain between the two rooms and 2 of the girls and 1 of the boys are teens. The place is infested with cockroaches, not because it is dirty but they are in the walls. The wall separating their rooms and the next apartment is wet because water is either coming up or through the wall. Mould is starting.

The father was a GP but resigned because he would not double bill the poor patients which is what most of the doctors do. He is an accomplished wood carver and tries to make a living with these lovely nature carvings. He would love to renovate the rooms but cannot afford to do so on what he makes.

We had a very good opportunity to talk to the whole family about not needing anyone to pray to God for us, but that we could go straight to God through the Lord Jesus. The mother is very religious, as she has been at church a couple of times when we went. I think she understood a little more by the time we had each spoken and Misha had read several scriptures to her. Michaelo said he reads the New Testament to the family every day and later told us he was a believer. We really hope this is true.

We came home and Flo made us hamburgers and soup which put up her rating to a 5+ star eatery. Eat your heart out McDonalds!

Flo is now trying to sort out some of the boxes that came today and get them out of the way for the meeting tomorrow.

All for now, our time will soon be over for this trip.

In Him.

Malcolm and Louis

Report #16

Report # 16 Sunday April 12

We were up rather early as we had to pack and leave for Lviv today. It was raining hard and in fact rained all the way to Lviv, very dreary.

We arrived in good time for the meeting at 12 Noon and had time to have a sandwich before the people started arriving. Vadym had intended to stay for the meeting but his wife phoned on our way to Lviv and said that she had taken Amelia to the hospital with a high temp and constantly crying with her sore mouth. We think she has what we call Thrush, but they only have a medical name for it. He had a drink and sandwich and headed right back. We really appreciated our time with him for the past two weeks.

Some of the people who usually come to meeting were absent because of sickness or work out of town but their were still 13 of us. I and Louis spoke and then we sang some hymns while Flo got the homemade pizza warmed up. She has regained her 5 Star Rating as the pizza was lovely.

We had a long talk with Misha who has been keeping the meetings going before Flo came back and even now when we are not here. He has agreed to go up to Ivano Frankivsk while we are absent and take a meeting. We suggested alternate weeks and he is willing to do that. He is presently out of work and feels that God would not have him go back to work but rather work among the new Christians as well as preach the gospel.

Louis and I are prepared to send him some fellowship and he is very willing to do the work. He will go to Ivano on other days than the meeting in Lviv.

We planed to go to the Carpathian mountains tomorrow but on checking, we found they have had torrential rain again and the roads would be too bad, so we have made other plans for tomorrow.

God bless.

Louis and Malcolm.

Report #15 from Ivano

Cloudy again today but a cold wind blowing, not very nice for those who are putting in gardens.

Things did not get going until noon today as Vadym’s baby Amelia has an infection of some sort in her mouth and Sveta her mother, had a dentist appointment and so Vadym had to take Amelia to the doctor. “Won’t be long, the doctor is waiting!” I don’t know what he was waiting for but they were away an hour and a half or more. Nothing goes easily here. The doctor prescribed some medication that is bright blue and stains everything. Amelia looks as if she has been “beaten blue and blue”, she obviously fights when they paint her mouth.

Well we headed out at about 1PM, as we had some last minute calls to make and some shopping to do for the test strips for Louis’ blood sugar tester he was to give away. After numerous visits to Aptieka’s (Drug Stores) there were none to be found in Ivano. We are hoping there may be some in Lviv or else off the internet.

We returned some items and bought others and then were feeling a little hungry at about 2:30 so went for pizza before going to visit in the hospital.

The man we went to visit had fallen down his apartment stairs and had a concussion and a badly injured ear. Well the old hospital was something to behold once again. The ward reminded me of the one I was in 1944 in England, except mine did not have plaster falling off the walls and I think the beds were not too bad. I wonder how people ever get better with such depressing conditions.

Any way, excuse the diversion but it is so depressing to see. The young man (we can’t remember his name) is the husband of Lesia a young lady who is saved and has come to the meetings since we first came to Ivano. She has a speech impediment and walks with a limp. If I am correct, I believe she was either dropped of was thrown down when only a little girl. She married the young man we were visiting who was raised in an orphanage as I believe she was too. He is not educated and so does not have regular work and was out of work before his accident. They now have a lovely baby boy of about a year old or less. Things are so tough for these types of people with no trade and no help from government available. We helped as much as we can with any medication he may need and some financial help for daily living. Just to put things in perspective, Lesia was at most of our meetings, either with the baby or alone. We saw her standing outside after one of the meetings and asked if she had the fare to get home she didn’t have any money and had walked to the meeting. The fare is at least 2 Rhivney. There are 6 R to the Canadian Dollar! Poverty or not?

We left there and headed home to settle up our finances etc. before leaving for Lviv in the morning, hoping to be there for 12 noon and the meeting.

This will be all from Ivano Frankivsk at this time. I will keep you informed of happenings in Lviv.

Good night and God bless.

Malcolm and Louis.

Report #14 from Ivano

The day started rather cloudy but turned out rather hot although by evening it was raining quite heavily. The rain was needed as there has been none since the snow left.

We had some last minute visiting to do before we leave. The first was a lady we had visited in hospital. Her name is Maria. She is a very lovely lady who is suffering from some serious back problem that really affects her walking ability. She also has sugar diabetes and a liver problem, other than that she is fine! I don’t mean to be funny but you would not know she has these problems as she is not a complainer. When we arrived, her sister greeted us as she had come to be with Maria since she came out of hospital. They were determined to feed us with a full meal and soon had it on the table. We took the opportunity to speak to them about the gospel and at least Maria may be saved. We left her a new testament the last time we were here and she told her she had read through it and believed what it said and had preached it to people in the hospital.

Her sister Natasha listened very well and certainly has the fear of God about her. We took her phone # and will visit her when we go to her village.

Louis had brought his late wife Pat’s blood sugar tester to give to some one with diabetes and will leave this with Maria, once he gets the necessary test strips.

We then went to see an old friend Olegh from Solidarity in his stall at the market. We needed a receipt for some funds he had received some time ago. We will have to get it tomorrow as he did not have his stamp with him. It was good to see him again.

We then met Jania in the market with her handicapped daughter, to buy her daughter some shoes. She has very small feet and finds it very difficult to find shoes. We managed to find some which made them very happy and appreciative. They are both saved and attend all the meetings.

At 4pm we had arranged to meet all those who come to the meetings, to come to the park for a “picnic”. We bought a big box of mixed cookies and several bottles of pop and about 20 of us had a nice time together. At the end I spoke for a few moments about the sorrows of parting but as least those of us who are saved will all meet in Heaven one day. Of course there many tears as Louis finished off with a little farewell too.

They all said they would be faithful to attend any meetings that were held in our absence. It started to rain just as we finished.

We went home for a while and then went to Vadym’s old apartment where his wife had prepared us a nice supper. It is very interesting how laid back these people are about when supper time is. Vadym said she was expecting us just after 5pm. We eventually arrived just before 7pm and ate at about 7:30pm! No one gets flustered; just eat when you get there!

We came home after that as Vadym had to fix 2 cars that people had brought to the house for him to fix electrical problems. He really is very skilled at this, finding problems and the cure on the internet or his diagnostic equipment.

We headed to bed quite weary at 11pm.

All for now, one more day in Ivano and then we go back to Lviv.

Thanks for the interest.

Malcolm and Louis.

Report #13 from Ivano

Report #13 for Thursday April 9, 2009

The day started out looking like rain but did not rain until 8pm while we were in meeting with thunder and lightening. (The thunder was not in the meeting!)

We had a mixed day today with shopping for some medicines we could not get the other day. We now have fixed everyone who attends the meetings with the meds they need. We have no idea what they will do once they are used up as none of them can afford to buy them.

We visited one old lady, the mother of Luda who attends all our meetings and used to play the piano at Solidarity. She and her mother live in an almost unbelievably cramped room in an apartment. Luda’s daughter and husband live in the other part of the apartment with a child or two, plus 3 cats. We cannot imagine living like that but many people over here do. We had a good talk with the mother and hope that she has the truth of the matter of salvation.

We visited the warehouse for four more bags of product for four more very needy people, again happy to get the 5% discount.

We went for a quick lunch at the Carpathian Kitchen and then headed to visit Lesia who has been to every meeting since we first came to Ivano. She told us she had been saved at the first meetings we had when meeting at Solidarity. That was good news. Her husband was there but does not come out to meeting; he is out of work at present. He is a driver and used to drink but Lesia told him that if he didn’t quit, she would divorce him and so he quit. Now if only he would get saved.

We went straight from lunch to her house and she had prepared lunch for us. We had to decline as we were more than full. She has 4 children so it will not be wasted.

It was then time to visit Tania and her mother who has just returned from surgery in Kiev. This is a very sad situation as mother (can’t remember her name, think it is Luba) has had to spend thousands of Rhivney going back and forth to Kiev to try and find what is wrong with her nose. The end is now raw and red and always wet. Nothing they can do makes it heal. Part, or may be all of the problem is that the first thing they did was freeze her nose and they admitted freezing it too much. It is so sad as she is still a young woman and is so embarrassed by it. It has tested not to be cancer but may need skin grafting which is way out of her range to afford.

I took close up pictures and hope to show them to some doctor who may have a remedy.

At 5pm we had what may be our last meeting with the room almost full again. God gave help I felt.

We may have a light “going away” picnic tomorrow at 4pm if the weather is nice.

All for today, good night and thank you for all your prayer support, it has been felt.

Louis and Malcolm

Report #6 from Ivano

Report #6 Wednesday April 1.

We woke to a nice morning with dry streets and overcast. We were not sure what to expect today as this was the day Vadym took possession of the house we rented. We had agreed to help him move in, although he didn’t have much to move as they had lived in furnished rooms since they were married.

Well we didn’t have to worry as he did not intend to move until afternoon or evening. He had a list of people we could visit but, as Easter is very near, many of the families who attend the meetings do not have the food necessities to bake for Easter or even have family over. So we went to get some products for 20 people from the wholesale warehouse. I suppose the saying “It’s not WHAT you know but rather WHO you know” is good in any country, but it is especially helpful in the former Soviet Union! Vadym had fixed the car of the owner of the warehouse and so called him and told him what we were doing. He told us to meet him there, which we did and he gave 5% off the wholesale price. Every little helps over here.

We delivered the product to the Meeting Room where some of the ladies will sort it all into big plastic carrier bags for later delivery.

We then went to visit Luba and her daughter and son. She is the lady whose apartment we had renovated last year. She is a dear sister with epilepsy and a son who is mentally challenged but she is always rejoicing and never complains. Her daughter goes to a Christian school sponsored for children of parents with medical problems.

We then visited an old soldier who loves to talk of his past. He might well be a Christian but cannot get out to meeting because of leg problems. We had a good, though rather one way, conversation and gave him the gospel one more time. He is 85 or so and lives alone except that his daughter looks after him, very well I might say, the apartment was spotless.

We tried to visit others but to no avail so will try again tomorrow DV.

Good night and God bless.

PS. It’s rather strange, but at 10 o’clock I realized we had no bread for breakfast, so went around the corner and bought bread warm from the bakery. I think may be open all night. So much for 7-11 !