Update from Dan - Sept 4

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Arrived safe in Lviv, also went through customs ok, thought they held me back a little
longer than the others, being one of the last one to go through but can’t say the same for my
luggage. As I waited and waited and then the only one waiting for luggage, I started to get a
little suspicious. I then asked one of the baggage handlers about my luggage; they tried to look
it up in the computer but nowhere to be found in the system, not a good sign! Well, all they
could tell me is maybe it will come in tomorrow? Then I was picked up by Ruslan and Volodia
with our Vito (van) that we use in Ivano, the scary thing about it was that Ruslan was driving. He
happens to hit every pot hole in town and sees it perfectly fine to drive on the opposite side of
the lane with oncoming traffic. Then he screams at them for driving on the right lane. It was
quite a welcoming back to the Ukraine experience! We dropped off Ruslan then headed back
with Volodia to his place for the night!

Wednesday, Volodia and I went to Meest (the company we use to ship boxes to Ukraine) in the
morning to see who we can talk to about some of the changes that have taken place with
shipping boxes to Ukraine. We were sent to one of their offices but they said they only deal
with shipping within the Ukraine. We were then sent to another office where they did ship
overseas but not many there spoke English, but one young girl that worked on the phones
knew a little to nothing about this issue but she did her best to try to help. She said she will call
us later with information. We then went back to the airport to see if they had my luggage or
found it in the system but neither came true but the young man did say that a flight from
Vienna was coning in the late afternoon and my luggage will be on this flight. So we left and did
some errands in the century of town. Then the young woman we spoke to at Meest called and
gave us a number of a man from Meest that is on the executive board, this is who I was hoping
to get from the beginning. We then went back to the airport as the man said my luggage would
be in the next flight from Vienna but once again no luggage and nothing in the system about my
luggage either, not a good sign at all!!

We then had to hurry back to Volodia’s apartment to get ready for prayer meeting. On the way
to the meeting we picked up most that will be at the meeting tonight but spent about a half an
hour or more just in trying to get the gate open to the Hall. We ended up getting a key from
somewhere else and found out that the other tenant change the lock but did not tell anyone
from the meeting. Well, was a very small meeting but always worth being there!

Thursday we met with the man from Meest and found out that there will be little changes in
sending the boxes, just need more name and addresses, it could have been something more
difficult. This was very good news to hear and definitely something to praise God for!! Then
received a call from Oleg about another shipment of boxes coming on Friday, they were going
to come today but he was too busy so he made it for Friday. Had plan to stay in Lviv until
Sunday but felt that Oleg would want some help with these boxes, so plan to leave Lviv on
Friday for Ivano.

Friday, Volodia and I did some things in the morning and I headed off to Ivano. Managed to
avoid all the major pot holes on my way to Ivano but the minor ones are just unavoidable!

I made good timing to meet Oleg just as he was closing his shop. He said he was going to call
me and ask “where is you”. He thought it would be a good idea to take these boxed to his
garage for the time being to avoid an over load at our very small apartment, this sounded good
to me!! After the delivery I had dinner with Oleg and his wife Olah and Natalie that use to work
at Solidarity and is now working for Olah.

The boxes were from New Glasgow, NS, CAN. A Big Thank You to them and other that had sent
boxes for the care of the Ukrainian people and to further the work of the Gospel Message!!

I do plan to go to Lviv on Sunday, always need prayers for safety on the roads and for giving a
message that would encourage the Christians there, also for getting things in order here in
Ivano with the local meetings and in delivering these boxes to the right people and places at the
right time(God's timing)!! THANK YOU ALL!!!

IN CHRIST OUR LORD