Louis Smith Report

UKRAINE REPORT SPRING 2012
On March 1 Friday, Louis Smith (writer) flew to Lviv, Ukraine and was met by
Edmond and Agnes Johnson and Ruslan. The next day we went to the village of
Holviska in the Carpathian Mountains. A short meeting was held outside in the
snow and cold and then clothing was distributed. On Sunday we remembered the Lord
in the Breaking of Bread at the Lviv assembly.
Steven Anderson and Joshua Kenworthy from Arlington, Washington came to help in
the work for two weeks.
Dan Perez came to Lviv and then we went to Ivano-Frankvisk to work together
there. We arrived in time to speak at the afternoon meeting at 3:30. There were
21 out to hear the Word. Meetings are held in the apartment on Sunday, Tuesday
and Thursday. Our interpreter is Sevetlana.
On Monday we met the prison chief to request permission to visit the prisons. At
the Tuesday meeting Steven, Josh and Edmund from Lviv spoke.
Flo Kancer arrived in Ukraine. Visits were made to the sick: Oksana, Antellina
and Natasha. Natasha has MS and is confined to sitting all day but she has a
happy spirit and tells us she is saved. Medicine and supplies were given. Maria
was also visited, she is unable to walk. She asked questions about Mary having
other children. People came to the apartment on Saturday to get clothing. We went
to see Oleg in the Market.
We had conversation and then pizza and then he invited us to his home for desert.
March 8, Sunday: we were invited to speak in the village of Hgruska (means pear)
to speak to a group of about 50 in the village hall which was cold and unheated.
Then we rushed back to the meeting at 3:30. On Monday we went back to Hgruska and
spoke at the school to about 100 children and the teachers. They were given NT‘s,
texts and tracts. We were asked by the mayor to visit a family having problems.
So we then met Yuri and Oksana. Yuri told us how He was saved in prison. He is
having a problem with alcohol.
On Tuesday we went to the village of Sari Lissets where we spoke to about
60 or 70 students and the teachers. We were invited to come back and they invited
Dan to speak at school’s summer camp. Then we had a big dinner at Yaraslav and
Hallia’s home. Tanya who works at the hospital came to the meeting for the first
time. After the meeting we were invited to Maria’s small one room apartment where
she shares the bath and cooking facilities with others. She made us a big dinner.
On Wednesday we went to the meeting in Lviv and saw Steven and Josh before they
left Ukraine. We purchased and picked up NT’s to take to Ivano-Frankvisk.
We had to change a flat tire before going to Dolenna to speak to 3 classes there.
The Christian ethics teacher said the students would like us to come again . They
were given NT‘s, texts and tracts. On Friday we went to a village called Olesha
and spoke to about 50 teens and two teachers. The classes stayed longer so they
could hear more. Some boxes of clothing were given out along with NT‘s, texts and
tracts. Saturday was the day for practicing singing.

March 18 Sunday, a trip was made to the home of Yuri and Oksana where we visited
before. They had a dinner for us. They then came to the meeting with us and after
wards we showed from the Bible that if a person is truly saved they can never be
lost. On Monday we traveled over the Carpathian Mountains to the village of
Verhovina, over 2 ½ hours drive.
Their existing toilets were a terrible situation for the 350 students.
The brethren on a previous trip had arranged to install new ones. They are very
nice but cannot be connected until the next school year due to frozen pipes from
the village. We spoke to about 200 children and the teachers. Boxes of clothing
were left. They have about 250 orphans at the school Ivan was visited in the
hospital. He had many questions. After the meeting we went to Orisa’s home where
she served rabbit and potatoes. On Wednesday we visited an orphanage for mentally
challenged girls. We spoke to them and to the workers. On Thursday Edmund, Agnes
and Rusland came.
Edmund and Rusland spoke at the meeting. Rusland spoke in Ukranian which was good
for the Ukrainian people. There were about 25 at the meeting.
The next day we were invited to have conversation with 4 English students. We
talked to them about general things and also the Bible.
March 25 Sunday, we picked up the couple in Hgrushka and took them to a
restaurant. The wife had never been to a restaurant before. They attended the
meeting. There was a total of 26 at the meeting. On Monday we met Bogdan who
guided us to a Gypsy camp. It is located behind a dump area where they can use
free land. There are 7 to 8 tent type shelters for about 30 people. They are not
liked by most citizens. Most were away but we had a meeting in one of the small
shelters, for an adult and about six young people. We told them about the song
about the Gypsy boy. They were given a NT‘s, texts, clothes and food. Only 2 in
the camp can read.
Tuesday was my last meeting in Ivano-Frankvisk with about 23 attending.
Some gave small gifts and hugs with good byes. On Wednesday after waiting for the
car repair we drove to Lviv.
A week of gospel meetings were being held in Lviv. Ukrainian men were giving
their testimonies. After the testimony I preached the gospel. The other nights
Edmund preached the gospel. On Thursday we went to an orphanage and spoke to
about 50 young children and 10 workers. On Friday I left Edmund and Agnes’s home
where I stayed 2 days and went to the Lviv airport. I arrived home about 24 hours
later on March 31.
Malcolm Stanley arrived on March 31 and he and Dan Perez will continue the work
The four prisons will be visited. Dan has been doing a good work for the Lord.
The interest and prayer of the Christians was and is appreciated.