Eric Fowler update #22

Day 22 Wednesday June 8

Last days are hard, like the Last day the lord spent with his own and then home to heaven.
Daniel said good-by to the ones here last night, very hard.
Early rise, read, prayer and little breakfast, no water, little cream wheat so right little breakfast. Little is much when God is behind it.
Daniel put his things in van and away to the market first to make pictures from his camera.
Then the long rough ride to Lviv. I instructed we leave little early but Daniel thought lots of time. Well he knew what we should have done by the time we got to the airport. His flight was to leave 1:40 we got there 1:10 or more like 1:12. The traffic at airport was heavy but we saw him through security so he is over the Atlantic now .
We went to MacDonald for a treat to our Driver as no Mac Donald’s in Ivano. Then you know,
I enjoyed it as well.
Then we went to the Prayer and Ministry meeting in Lviv. It made it a late night to get back here in Ivano but just had to give the little assembly a little food for the race.
13 were out with two unsaved ... one was a man who lost his son his only son last year in car crash. He has heard much Gospel but not yet saved. Amazing to see him there.  He watched the
first breaking of bread Last year when the assembly started.
Day over and very tired. Three visits tomorrow and we will have to eat at both places.
                                  Thanks for your prayers.
                                                ERIC

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Eric Fowler update #21

DAY 21 June 7th.

This is the Day the Lord has made we will rejoice and be Glad in it. It was just that day today in Ukraine. Read little , pray some and then breakfast as normal. Daniel made Cream of wheat but you know what, when he makes it's with extra lumps. Well ok, it lasts longer maybe. He needs a wife to teach him.
The day was very busy. We loaded the van for Peter's village an hour away. We had clothing for the Mayor' office where she will call the people and have them come for it. This lady has heard much Gospel but the messages haven't reached her heart yet. Olia is her name. Then to the school with magnets, some books for children, and clothing for the children. We were to take ladies clothing for the teachers and forgot. We will go back on Friday. We spoke to 30 children of all ages and 15 teachers and workers. They have land for the school and the parents and teachers do the work to have food at the school all year around. They sell some of what they grow to buy things they can't grow. We had a very nice time.   Dinner with the Principle she is very kind. They need a few extra things for the school so we will get for them when we return on Friday.
We came home and bought medicine for a lady for her 16 yr old daughter. She came to meeting
and I noticed she took notes so I don't know  what she knows will visit her again on Friday as she like to have help with Pampers for her girl. We had  29 out to meeting tonight, the most since we came; a great number considering planting time.  

 The people are so poor, no medicine and many have very little food. No limits for the need. 

  It was little hard on the message with Vadym not here and his knowledge of Bible language is good whereas, the lady we have has nothing, and I mean nothing.
Daniel will leave tomorrow. 10 day left so value prayer.
A full day for sure but much done for the master. 
Eric yet with Daniel

Eric Fowler update #20

Day 20 June 6th
Hello from the sunny Ukraine.
Prayer, Read and breakfast. This AM just tea as our driver came early.
We removed all the back seats out of the van as we will take a load of goods to a men’s home     2 hours away. We were there before and last year bought a hot water tank for them.
We took 2 wheelchairs and 8 walkers, 3 boxes of pampers, one box of clothing for men plus some clothing in bags. Then some needles someone gave me for the nurse there. We also took text and tracts, blankets and some sheets for beds. 

Just before going had visit from lady and then knew why we didn't have rest about taking the 3 wheelchairs; will tell you later of this.
We had good visit at the men’s home for sure. The director took us all through the place again.
They need a big wheelchair, and multi Vitamins and also some other medicine.
They also need pots  with handles on them. They have to carry the food to the men. The food
is made in one building and men are in the other building with little space to eat. A lot of work.
Then the director took us out for dinner.  He is very nice.  He took us into town to a canteen.   The food was very nice; I wanted to pay but he paid for all five of us.
Then I went on the street and gave out 100 NT and 60 or more children books and magnets, and he looked on and enjoyed it much as I worked the street. Daniel talked to him and our driver and interpreter while I worked. He asked for children books for all his workers, as some of them have children. He wanted NT for all workers.
Then we came back to Ivano and had a visit with one un-married lady who lives alone.  She comes to meeting all the time. Her name in Ola. We had a time explaining the Gospel to her and answered her many questions, but many questions were very nice ones. Like will our body rise
from the Grave again?  How will is rise?  Then w came back home.
O yes the lady we met before going away this morning  told us she needed a wheelchair for a friend and she wanted some help for her 16 year old daughter who was bed-ridden . So we visit her tomorrow with some help.
Lots and lots to do.
Thanks for your prayers, Heaven will tell the good done down here for others.

Remember the way to spell JOY is, the “O’ for others must be between the J and the Y.
You must be last. There is no joy in spelling it YOJ or OJY. Remember JOY Jesus must be first.

                                         Eric with Daniel for one more full day.

Eric Fowler update #19

Day 19 June 5th                                    
Today we drove to Lviv for the worship meeting. Peter our new driver, went with us and this is what I was praying for so that he may see it first hand. As you may have learned from other reports he is not saved yet.  He came up and watched, he said nothing about it after, just that  Valodia was wonderful in his interpretation.
They received a girl into the meeting today for the first time.  She lives in a village out- side of Lviv.   It was great to be there and see it. The largest number, I would say ever broke bread in Lviv today There were 25 and 5 in back seat.
Edmond had relatives visiting from Northern Ireland.

Then we drove back to Ivano and had the meeting here. It was great to see 20 in here. This is great, as some regulars were away as it is planting time here.  90% of the people’s food comes from the garden they grow.  So they must be there.
Four men were in and this is good to see an interest the men are taking. I was praying for a few other ladies to come so I must visit them again.
The day is over so took Peter to Pizza after meeting and now I'm tired again. O yes Vadym is still sick so Svetlana helped interpret and did all right, with help from Peter they we helping each other. God himself knows the reasons why it's this way with two new people helping.
Eric with Daniel for just 3 more Days.

Eric Fowler update #18

June 4th

18TH DAY OF LABOUR IN A WORN OUT COUNTRY.
Day normal start Prayer and read breakfast of cream of wheat for me, Daniel is about to like it.
15 boxes came 8 from Welland and 6 from Malcolm.
Great to see the wheelchairs come that were shipped while I was in the meetings in Welland. I
have them for a home for men that has now no wheelchairs and no walkers. We did bring one
wheelchair there last year that was here in the apartment.
We also bought a hot water tank for them last year which was needed to wash their dishes.
We also want to take pampers there and clothing. This will be on Monday if possible before
Daniel goes home on Wednesday and I will need his help to do this.
We then went to Maria's for dinner. She is a Christian with a son and husband not saved but they
have changed a lot. Her husband would not let her have a Bible in her home 5 years ago when
we first came. Now he wants her to read the Bible to him every day and some days she says she
doesn't have time and he says you must make time. He has had a number of strokes. She is one
of the poorest Saints and the happiest so far. One room for the three of them and their son is in
his 20's. She always had lots to eat and more for she will spend almost a month’s wages to do it.
We then went a bought her a fridge a small one to fit in her already over loaded space. This was
a shock to her, tears in her eyes she said I could never think of saving that much money to get it.
Her son came with her too, and we trust it will speak to him.
We then met the youngest Daughter of Danna the big family here and bought her things for her
art work. She is very skilful but may not get anywhere here because she is very poor. You must
buy your way through life here or get nowhere. A TERRIBLE SYSTEM.
We tried to visit Tanya's family but her mom was at work until 7 so missed here again.
I came home here tired and ready for a good rest as tomorrow we will go to Lviv to meeting and
have to back for 4 meeting here.
Eric with Daniel, then alone. Daniel will go home for some days and return for 3 more months.

Eric Fowler update #17

DAY 17 June 3

The Day started well and in the normal way Prayer and time to refuel and then Breakfast.
Our drive Peter came at 10 and also Svtlana our interpreter; she has been working out great. Her
mom has been helping in some of the visit arrangements. She is a social worker and has many
contacts.
Daniel went and helped Vadym move some extra heavy things from his house he is moving out
of for the owner to do repairs for two months.
We went and bought 9 food packages in the morning and got fan for a lady who lives in a very
poor apartment that smells terrible. We are to install fly screens for her as well. One of her
daughters sang for us, what a voice.
We did five new visits today. The first was with two ladies that were nurses by trade and spent
over 30 years working and only get 1200 rhivny or about $150 our money a month.
A great contact they are for sure. One of the ladies is dying with cancer. We want to go back and
she wants us to come back.
Then another visit was with a sister and a brother, the brother is dying with cancer and we
had nice talk to him and he wants us to come back. His unmarried sister takes care of him,
yet in tears he told us he has a son in America but he never hears from him. A SOUL NEAR
ETERNITY WHAT A RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE. We will value your prayers as we seek
to go back.
Then another visit was with a teacher, she wants to come to meeting on Sunday so great contacts
for sure.
We got fly screens for the apartment where we have the meeting. The flies were coming in and
this meets a great need. We also got two fans for the meeting place to move the air a little when
the people come. Svetlana wanted me to explain the two road chart to her today and Peter wanted
to listen as well. They were both very attentive. I'm praying that Peter will go to Lviv to see
breaking of bread on Sunday.
Thanks to all who pray for
us and for those who take the time to send wee notes of encouragement it means a lot.
Eric with Daniel still....
Daniel will leave on the 7th and I will be alone until the 17.

Eric Fowler update #16

Day 16 June 1.
                To See the Hand of God along the way and know you are in his shadow brings Joy and confidence.
               The day started no less the same way as the other 15. Then Peter came again as Vadym is still not well.  We thought it wise to
             go visit Natalia, the Lady with the 3 girls and needs house repairs very badly. We were there two days ago and gave her

              a food package and her neighbor as well.
             We meet 3 other neighbors while there then and wanted to take food to them. We also wanted to take clothing to them.

            We took a box of clothing for ladies and three food packages. She was very excited to have us come again.  It was a joy for her to
               take us to her poor neighbors.    A lady 84 years old a dancer in her day, very poor for sure.
            Her home was dirty and she wanted to give us tea, so I said yes even thought Daniel didn't want to . It gave us extra time to talk

              which I felt was necessary.   While there a lady came in from social services.   We talked some and she said I have a daughter, Svetlana,

              who talks English and would like to have work can you use her.  It was what we were praying for. Then she said she had one lady

            she goes to who is very very poor, with a special care child would, we like to bring food to her. So we made the time and went

             and got food and met her at this lady's house.
            It was great to see Svetlana come and help us in the meeting and her mom came as well.
            We had the biggest crowd tonight that we had since we came.   Svetlana will come and help us tomorrow as well.
           Her mom has 5 new people we will visit tomorrow with food.
           Vadym came to meeting tonight but is not feeling well.   He  helped me in the meeting and Svetlana helped Daniel.  It went very well. 

            Nice to see God at work.
           A very busy day plus I got a hair cut, got the van washed and all the other things that needed doing along the way. 

           Like washing clothing and washing dishes.                       

        
                                                 Eric and still with Daniel from  the USA.

Eric Fowler update #14

DAY 14 Tuesday May 31
 Greeting again from the wonderful Ukraine .......
Vadym is still sick with a very high temperature but he got a driver for us today.
Our driver is Peter a young man not married and knows some English; he was a great help today.
We did some nice visits today, some very necessary ones.   We went to Donna’s first, the lady with many children and very, very, poor. We paid some on her light bill. She often has no lights for they owe so much the town cuts it off. The amount we paid her husband said was 4 months work here. They were so grateful. She was out tonight even though all day in the garden.
Then we went to a home I want to do some repairs to. This lady has three girls, often very sick from smell in the house.  We gave her food and some money for medicine for her girls.
Her neighbor was there, a very old lady and we gave her some food and she cried; they we both out to meeting tonight We also tried to visit Jania who comes to meeting but she wasn't home.
We came home and got ready for meeting did some practice with Peter and 15 were out to meeting, 4 men and rest ladies. Peter did well with help from the lady's. It’s nice to see how they learn what you want to say.
Then we went after meeting to Natalia, the lady in the wheelchair with MS. Her mom was nice, she wasn't on our first visit to her. We left food and Pampers for the girl.
Peter was tired he had a long day with us and did well.
We went to the telephone office to call my wife but it was closed, but it was of the Lord.
When we came away from the place I heard English been spoken from someone and I said “English?“ they said yes, I said “American?” They said “No Canadian”. It was a man from  British Columbia doing work with Orphanages. We talked to him and gave them a Canadian Flag with JOHN 3:16 on it.
His driver was Vadyms neighbor, amazing. The man preached to him on the verse and said he wanted to do this all day to him but never got the chance until I gave him the text.
It was so amazing a man from Nfld and a man from BC brought together in Ukraine to preach a message to our driver’s neighbor.
Daniel met this man at Vadym’s last year and wanted to give him the Gospel and tonight was the night for it. God is such a great and wonderful God.
Remember the other day when one girl gave me the verse NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.
We are tired too as we come home but happy that God is at work with no barriers.
                                                Eric and still with Daniel
PS     value you prayer, for WISDOM is needed every day and every step of the way .....

Eric Fowler update #12

Day 12 Sunday May 29

The  day was busy  busy,  2 hours to Lviv for Morning meeting and 2 hours back.
There were 16 at the breaking of bread with 10 sitting back.  It went well. Then I spoke on the 6 times “thanks” was mentioned in the book of  Colossians and how important it is to be thankful. In the Psalms the Lord said it is good to give thanks unto the Lord.
If our hearts is full of the word of God we will be a joyful, thankful and submissive people. Then Flo had Chinese food made. It was special as she is leaving for Canada this week.
We saw 6 accidents on our way home, the roads are very dangerous. Our driver tried to pass a car and a big truck raced ahead of him, we were going to crash into a car coming and the car just ran off the road and missed us, then came back on again. Close for sure.  Safety is of the Lord, no absence of danger here.
Then the meeting here at 4 o'clock with 14 out, it went well even though some were away that  we had expected.  Andrei,Vadym's father in law was out.
Then we had little supper, my wife is not here to cook!
Tired for sure. Tomorrow we go to the “far away school” we call it the one we would like to see if we could help put in washrooms as all the have now is out door ones.   The school has over 400 students. God is able.
                                              Eric with Daniel

Eric Fowler update #11

Day 11

Saturday ......May 28th.
Today was very different but we had an appearance of His loving  hand along the way.
 Vadym was to come at 6:30 to take us for a swim, but must have still been sick but called at 12 noon.

After breakfast we did some street work, it went well as we met 5 university students that could
speak some English and had nice talk with them. We gave them text and tracts. They want to come to meeting so pray they will as we need contact with youth here. One girl gave us a key tag
with “ NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE  WITH GOD” so they must have some connection with God    let’s see what God has in Mind.

Tried taking food to LESSIA but missed her again. She is a very poor saint here, a young girl who came to meetings every since we came here, is saved and baptized. She Got married 3 years ago and has a boy 2 1/2 years old.  She called later as I left a number for her to all.
We got a taxi back with food and some clothing, she is the poor of the poorest, the dear child.
She is sick and so we left money for medicine .  It was kind of the Lord to get us back there.
There is a language barrier and other barriers but no barriers with God when he wants to do something.
Great to see him so we did accomplish a few things without Vadym today. Just the LORD, praise His name.
Now very tired and will rest and read for tomorrow for meeting in Lviv as Edmond and others are away.
Thanks for your prayer and care of us  Missing CANADA and Labrador  !
                                             Eric with Dan

Eric Fowler update #10

Day 10 Friday May 27th                

We are going to Lviv to the Bible reading and Vadym is going to visa office.
I'm to open the chapter John 2 verse 12 to end, the cleaning of the temple.
We did some street work while waiting for Vadym, we had nice a time we meet some Mormons, it is amazing what they teach. They have 100 young men and women in the region. So sad they have so many and we have so few in the field. We must pray for more to be sent into this field. .
Where are our youth. !!!!!!!!?????
The Bible reading went well. There was good help with 15 there. Flo’s neighbor was there,    
he lost his son last year in an accident and has heard much Gospel but is still not saved, it was a good Bible reading for him. He is an RC, There is much corruption there in this country.
On the way home police stopped us, and amazing, they wanted us to give a lady a ride home, she  lived along our   road. She was a bank worker and so we shared the Gospel with her, gave her NT ,  Children's Bible and  text and tracts.
Safely home and tired. We value prayer for the days ahead if the Lord doesn't come.
                                              Eric with Daniel

Eric Fowler update #9

#9 Thursday May 26th
We went to the market and got good for food to give to 10 people in town, we tried some visits but no one home so went to the home where Yaroslav used to live, to visit his neighbor we had come to know. She wants us to come for another visit and meet her grandson for the first time.
We then checked on screens for window because the flies are trying to come in.
                               ....
 It was nice to have Edmund with us. We went for supper with the ones down from Lviv and had nice time of fellowship. Edmund spoke to the people at meeting. They brought some more
children’s bibles to us and children’s blankets and pampers for children and adults.
Meeting went well 15 in from Ivano and 7 of them from Lviv and us three, 25 in all. Some missing, but it is summer and planting time. The Lord is good 2 new ladies in for the very first time. Met some Mennonites and had a talk with them in the street, tried to persuade them to come to meeting but will have to wait and see.
Had nice time and supper at Oleg and Ola’s, their son was there.
                            Still value your prayers

Eric with Daniel

Eric Fowler update #8

Vadym would like to take his mom to his dads home village 6 hours away. His dad dies last year and his uncle had a head stone made for him and would like to get it.
  So with his mom in mind we went. His mom is very bitter against the Gospel and has been over the years, so we thought this deed of kindness would help the dear lady.

The trip was long but went ok. There were little stops that gave us time to give out some literature. In one place a line of children were crossing the street and we were able to give out children’s Bible story books to many of them. The JW'S have done much damage to street work here.

The the visit there was slightly different as it was a normal for them to drink some, but a relative couple of about 30 years old go to a Pentecostal  group, and we had some time with them. They want us to come and speak to 800 children she deals with in the town. We will have to pray about that.
A 10 year old grand-child lives with vadym’s uncle and we gave him his first bible and child bible book and he was reading it much, it was the bright spot in the visit.
  On way back we had an amazing incident. At a stop light 4 young people on motorbikes were by our side and one was looking in, so I put down the window and gave him a new testament and the young man answered in English “God bless you”. We had to move on, only to see they had plates that said Russia. So the Lord was giving an extra Bible to Russia, the place that is on my heart at all times.

Then home late and tired.
                       May God bless Vadym’s Mom.

Eric and Dan