Thursday, October 27, 2011

Fall 2011 Visit : Report #5

Report #5 For Sunday Oct.23 to Wednesday 26th
We were up in good time to head for Lviv for the morning meetings and got away with 6 others in the van. The weather was dry and the views of the trees in the fall are spectacular. The rolling countryside is very beautiful in Ukraine, if only the roads were as beautiful!
There were a nice number to Break Bread and Edmund gave ministry afterwards. I told you a week ago about a young man who Volodia and I spoke to after meeting. The good news is that he got saved last Thursday and seems very happy and satisfied.
After a good lunch we headed back to Ivano with Howard on board. We were in good time for meeting when Both Howard and I spoke. Dan said he needs a rest now that we are here. There were a good number out and we were encouraged.
On Monday we had to make an early start to get to Verhovina on the Romanian border. It is an almost 3 hour trip through the mountains. Thankfully the road is quite good, mainly because it is the main road to the ski area. Verhovina is the other side of the mountains in the valley. The main reason for going was to look into a project we would like to accomplish for the 200 plus students, by putting in some washrooms.
We met with Oxana the Director and discussed what had been done so far with the washrooms. We found out that the first quote was by a contractor to build an addition to the school and install the washrooms. Now things had changed, as they found two store rooms that can be converted to washrooms without the expense of building.
We looked at and measured the rooms and will now seek out our own contractor to give us a price for the new arrangement.
We were very weary when we arrived home from the 3 hour trip there and 3 hours back.

Tuesday was mainly a day of shopping for medications, sorting out other stuff, preparing for the conference in Lviv on the week-end.
We had the meeting at 5pm with a good crowd of about 22 or so. We had several of our people come in early to fit shoes from a box that Flo gave us. They seemed very happy.

Wednesday, today we spent visiting 3 families in town as school is out all this week in this area and so there is no point visiting schools. We visited one family who are very poor but come to our meetings. The grandfather is very deaf due to being bombed in the war and the noise permanently damaging his hearing. They insisted in feeding us, even though we asked them not to bother. We were able to explain the 2-roads chart more clearly to them but they are all a little hard of hearing.

We then visited Oxana, a single woman who is really saved but has to look after her ailing mother and father. We had a good talk and she wants to come to the conference on the week-end.

Then we visited a lady for the first time named Antonina. She started coming to the meetings quite recently. This is her story. Her husband recently took 3 heart attacks and died. They had 2 sons born to them. The one was married and had one little girl. His wife went to Italy to work and then decided to stay and leave him to look after their daughter.
He was then attacked and killed in this city. In the mean time, the mother came back and hired a nanny to look after the girl, who was about 10 then.
Antonina’s other younger son tried to get the girl back while she was here in Ivano but was arrested and charged with something and is now in jail and has been for 2 years. They think the police were paid off to lay false charges by the mother.
The girl has now vanished and is thought to be in Italy.
How much can some people bear. We had a wonderful opportunity to present the love of God to her and she seemed most receptive. Please pray for her conversion.

All for now.
Please pray for us and the upcoming conference on Friday evening and Saturday.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Fall 2011 Visit : Report #4

Report #4 Friday Oct 20 to Oct 22.
The day was wet and miserable all day and quite cool. We had a number of things to do and the first was to track down a missing weigh bill from MEEST. There was no real need for it but we just wanted to make sure we had paperwork. We went to the MEEST office, just around the corner and after about 20 minutes were told that the bills were at the garage. A man was in the office and offered to guide us to the garage. I couldn’t believe it! It must have been 5 miles away. All that way to pick up one piece of paper.

We then went to get some things from Walmart, (not spelt the same in Ukrainian). Dan was in an isle when a bag in a ladies cart jumped and scared the life out of him. It was a live fish, they sell them out of the tank. Anyway, she spoke beautiful English and is an English teacher. She invited us to please come to her school and speak to the children. We will certainly look forward to that.

We had to work on the invitations for the children’s meeting we are going to have in the school gym.
I made two different sized posters, one large in colour and one small in black. Dan then went out in the rain and stapled signs to the apartment doors in the vicinity of the school.

Saturday came dry but cloudy and so we headed off to get some sports equipment for the gym. It is an amazing sports store with just about anything a person would want in that line.
We got to school just before 2pm and were let into the gym. After about 15 minutes the first boy came and then 2 more. Dan played some games and as no more were coming we had a little Bible lesson and they went home with invitations to bring others in two weeks, as we will be in Lviv next week for Conference.
We had two invitations to visit people who come to meeting. Michaelo is an old man that came out to meeting regularly but then had to have eye surgery. He then started to have serious vertigo and could not walk on his own. His wife and son come out to all the meetings. They need winter boots badly and we will try to get her some on Tuesday.
We then went to Maria’s, just one of the several Maria’s we have contacted. She is a baptized believer who just lost her husband who had been sick for years. She lives in one room with her son. She has to share the cooking area and wash rooms, but can she ever prepare a meal fit for a king. We were very over full when we headed home to get ready for Sunday.
All for now.
God bless and please keep praying.
Malcolm and Dan.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Report from Louis Smith

UKRAINE REPORT FALL 2011
Louis Smith
On September 16 a flight was taken to Lviv Ukraine. The plane was met by
Flo Kancer, Heather Anderson, Gill Plourde and Rusland Teman. On
September 18 the assembly In Lviv met for the Breaking of Bread and
afterward Edmond Johnson gave ministry. On Monday a visit was made to
Roman's family with a food package. His wife left him to raise five nice
children.
We bought school supplies for the Samber Youth Prison where we had a
meeting with about 60 young men. Gill and Louis spoke and afterwards a
teacher gave approval to what we had said. The son of Mycilo, a young boy
was hit by a bus. We visited the father at the hospital and helped with
medical expenses. This boy has since recovered. At the Wednesday assembly
prayer and ministry meeting Louis gave ministry and gospel.
On Thursday five people made a trip to Ivano-Frankvisk for the meeting
there. Gill and Louis spoke to about 20 people. Sevetlana is our
interpreter. Afterward we spoke to Jana's daughter Roxana about baptism
as she wants to be baptized. We visited Oleg who has an electrical
business in the market. His son was getting married the next week end, so
Oleg was busy until that was over.
The gear shift lever did not work so Vadym took the car for repair. On
Saturday we had a children's meeting in the park for about 20 children.
On September 25 we had a meeting in the apartment that we rent for
meetings and where we live. Dan Perez and Louis spoke. Dan has been there
for 3 months and plans to be here for at least another 4 months. We
visited Yaraslav's neighbor who was pressing grapes to make wine. We also
visited Lesa who lives in a tiny apartment with her husband and small son
who is not well. .
We got the car on Tuesday. We took Vadym's mother to the hospital as she
is diabetic. School supplies were purchased and taken to the orphan
halfway house. We had a meeting with the children and staff. It is a
place where children are kept until they go back to their parents, to
adoption or to a permanent orphan home. There was a meeting on Tuesday at
6;00.
Fourteen boxes of clothing came from Cedar Falls, Iowa and they were
checked and stored for distribution. On Thursday there was a meeting and
afterwards we went to Orisas' for a dinner of rabbit. Friday we were to
go to Peters village for a meeting and to distribute clothing but the car
would only go in 3rd and 4th gear so we had to cancel. On Saturday we had
the children's meeting in the park and in the evening we were invited to
Maria's for a very nice dinner. She and her son live in a small room and
have to share cooking and bathroom with other apartments. Her husband had
recently passed away.
On Sunday October 2 we could not go to Lviv for the Breaking of Break as
the car was not working. We had a meeting at 4:30. There were 22
attending with interest. The great doctrines of Romans were being taken
up. On Monday we had the car repaired so the gear shift would work. Cards
with John 3:16, the address and times of the meetings were ordered from
the printer. We were invited to Yaraslav's for a very nice supper. On
Tuesday we visited Oleg in the market. Both are coming to the meetings.
There was a meeting in the evening. After the meeting we visited Mycilo
who has an eye problem and other difficulties.

Fall 2011 Visit : Report #3

Report#3 For Tuesday 18th to Thursday 20th.
The weather is definitely fall like, with frost on the cars in the morning but warm as the days go on.
There is a type of tree that seemed to shed all its leaves in one night of the first frost. Piles of them on the van and cars; never seen anything like it.
Tuesday we didn’t have our interpreter until meeting at 5pm, so we did a lot of little things during the day. First we had to do something about the van not going into two gears without a struggle. We went to a Mercedes repair depot and the boss and mechanic tried it out and it worked fine for them. (so what is new?) We took it back from them and found that the “serious problem” was the leather boot around the stick shift was being pinched when we changed gears. Took it off and Bingo! No more problems. A very cheap fix!
I had to change money 7.50R to the Canadian Dollar, 8R to the US.  We really need a copier and scanner so shopped around for a good model and a good price. Best price at the shop where we get our computers serviced or whatever.
The traffic was terrible, so it takes a long time to get through the city to do anything. By the time we had shopped it was time to head home and get ready for the meeting at 5pm.
We had a good number out again. It is amazing how these people will keep coming out when many have quite a long way to come, either walking or on a bus.
We had good talks after meeting, Dan to Luba, who had a number of interesting questions that he was able to help her with. She is a lovely sister with multiple problems, like epilepsy, which she controls and a son with autism or something similar, yet she has a permanent smile.
I had a talk with Oleg and convinced him to be responsible to receive the boxes that arrive. He is a good brother and can be trusted. Pray that he will want to be in fellowship with the Christians in Lviv one day, with his wife. They both were in fellowship in Solidarity before leaving.

Wednesday was a most profitable day as we visited two homes for men in Sniatin. We had visited before but this time I really wanted to speak to the staff. Both administrators were more than willing to have me do that and I spoke to about 15-20 at the first home and about 30 at the second. It is such a privilege to speak to so many unsaved men and women and to see their interest and how willing they are to get a New Testament and John 3:16.
The financial situation gets worse for the running of these institutions. There is money for salaries (if you can call them “salaries”) heat and light and nothing to feed or clothe the men. They must either produce their own food or beg for help.
We ate at Taco Bell for supper. My first experience there and a very good taco wrap. The only problem is that half the restaurant is for smoking. However we survived with only minor lung damage.

Thursday was to be a most memorable day in two ways. First we went to visit a school Director where Dan wants to rent or have Children’s meetings. We met the man and was delighted with our reception. He is willing to let us have the gym for one and a half hours each Saturday for free. Also we will be welcome to speak to the kids in the school. PTL.
We then left for an orphanage in a town we had never been to before named Pereginske. The GPS did an admirable job of finding, without a doubt, the worst road we had ever been on. For about 20 miles it was either a rock strewn lane or a chopped up black top road. Twice the GPS tried to send us into the bush on a logging road. I took us 2 hours to get to the home and one hour on a good road home that was 14 Kms longer. We now will plot on good roads only and not the shortest route!
We had a lovely reception from the lady Director, who brought lunch and coffee right away and put on a very well done cd of the school while we ate.
Half the children were away on a field trip, which was a disappointment, but I spoke to about a dozen plus staff and had a great time. We gave out children’s bibles and New Testaments to the staff plus John 3:16’s. The road home was wonderful on an excellent highway.
We picked up the new copier and headed home to get ready for meeting. We had a full room again and a good opportunity to preach the word.
Just as the meeting ended 16 boxes arrived from Canada.
We then went to visit Marika and her eldest son who is suffering from a very bad skin condition. He is not saved and doesn’t like to  go out in public but we had a good opportunity to pour in the need for spiritual healing, which is more important than any medical condition.
And so to bed as I finish this at 1:10 am
Good night and please pray for us.
Malcolm and Dan.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Fall 2011 Visit : Report #2

Report #2 From Thursday 12th to Monday 17th  October.
Well I thought we had got over my Jetlag rather quickly but found it took longer than I had anticipated. I was not so much tired as not feeling “with it”, so to speak. (And no smart remarks from any of you).
I don’t remember much of the days until Thursday. I know we went to Vileky Lubin and took some shoes and boots as well as to Lopartin, where we fitted 125 children with either shoes or boots.
Flo got some amazing deals on boxes of shoes and boots from Canada.
On Thursday we went somewhere local and then picked Howard Pratt up from the airport. He will be here for about 5 weeks. We had the first Bible Study for the fall, in the evening. The van came up from Ivano and brought Louis Smith up to Lviv, as he was to leave for home on Sunday.
The Bibles reading went well with good participation from most of the brethren.
I had planned to go back that night with Dan, but Edmund constrained us to abide with them as fast fell the eventide. I didn’t need any convincing and so we packed my bags in the van and with the help of a GPS, got hopelessly lost in down town Lviv. We eventually found a spot near to Edmund’s apartment and phoned him to come and rescue the perishing. We had a great lunch and a great night’s sleep. We headed off at 9:30am with the same GPS and couldn’t find our way out of town this time. We passed Edmund’s apartment about 3 times, then he phoned us and asked if we were doing ok. We were out of town by then.

Saturday it poured with rain and sleet and I felt of all men most miserable. Dan was determined to go and see if there were any children at the place he had the meetings. The rain had stopped but no kids except for one who came by just as we were leaving. Dan talked to him and told him to come next Saturday if the weather was better.
We then went for lunch and then came home to prepare for meeting: Dan in ministry in Lviv and me in gospel in Ivano Sunday afternoon.
Sunday morning, sharp at 9am we loaded up with 6 plus ourselves and headed to Lviv for the Remembrance Meeting and Ministry to follow. I was great to see everyone again, that I had not seen on Thursday. 22 people broke bread and 6 looked on. It was very encouraging to see.
That reminds me that we had a tour of the newly acquired meeting room that is well on in the renovation. It will be a real blessing, as Flo’s apartment is now far too small.
The meeting room will need flooring and chairs, plus the fixtures for the bathroom and kitchen. This will be done as the Lord supplies.

Today we went to a town Kosiv to visit a young lady Marianna, who is the daughter of Danna and Ivan, the folks from Chernobil, who is a student at college in Kosov, who was hit by a car while crossing a cross walk. She has a fractured, either hip or pelvis and two breaks on the leg, poor girl. Her mother was with her and is sleeping in a 4th bed in the room. The driver couldn’t stop on wet pavement but is paying all their expenses.
We then visited a large School/orphanage and had an interview with the Director who had many questions about us and will make enquiries of some of the school etc we have visited. We hope to get back there.
Back home very tired and now getting ready for meeting tomorrow.
Please keep praying for us and some difficulties we have to address.

Malcolm and Dan.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Fall 2011 Visit : Report #1

Report #1 October
I have been in Lviv Ukraine for 2 days so thought I should let you know about the good trip I had here and God’s goodness to me all the way.
I left Winnipeg at 8;55am on Sunday and made good time to Chicago. I was surprised to find out that I could take 2- 50lb bags for free, booked right through to Lviv.
We boarded our United 777 in good time but then found there was a problem with 4 toilets not working. Well after over an hour, they were fixed, having to get a part from another plane. I was booked to go from Frankfurt to Munich but would now miss the connection. Just before we left, a lady came on board and called my name. She had a new booking with Austrian Airlines into Vienna and then on to Lviv. We were then off on the 7 and a half hour trip to Frankfurt.
Everything went very well except I could not get a message to Flo in Lviv to say why I would not be on the plane she was expecting. I could not do it until I was in the Lviv airport and borrowed a ladies phone and called her. Ruslan and Flo picked me up within 10 minutes of my arrival. God is so Good.
               Yesterday we visited Lopaten, an orphanage of 125 children from 6-18 years old. We took enough shoes and boots to fit them all with what was needed. Flo had got most of these for $3.00 per pair. I then spoke to all the children and staff, they were very attentive and how wonderful to hear the whole crowd recite John 3:16 together.
               Today we visited a sister in the hospital who was very unwell and is worrying about her mentally challenged son at home alone. Her name is Lydia. I had met her in her village years ago but she remembered me, I could not remember her though. She had run out of medications and needed at least another 5 day of meds. She gave us the list and we went to the pharmacy in the hospital. The total came to 1332 Rhyvny or $175 Cdn. She would never be able to have bought these meds and we suppose she would just be turned out of the hospital and told to go home. A terrible situation to be sure.
               We shopped for some needed items and then came home to get ready for meeting tonight.
               Thank you for praying for my safe trip, I had great peace about it. Just a little stress about my credit card not working the phone at the airport to phone Flo, but it all worked out.

All for now.
Malcolm