Dan's Reports: #10

Sunday, January 15, 2012    #35

 I went to Lviv in the morning with four others from Ivano. The snowy and icy roads add to our time, took 2.5 hours each way. I was worried as I was driving, thinking of the car we saw a few weeks ago that spun out of control due to the icy road and flipped over in front of us. The driver was alright as we helped to flip his car upright. We made it late back to our meeting in Ivano but there were some waiting. There were about 14 out. Afterwards spent some time with Oleg as we talked about certain passages of scriptures and its translations in Ukrainian, good talk!

Monday had our visit at the children’s hospital. As we waited for them to gather up the kids we heard that most were taking a nap so told them not to disturb them if they were sleeping. We ended up with about 10 that came, some mothers came with their children. There was much competition in being heard with about three of these young one crying, at times I couldn’t even hear myself speak. We gave those who came N/T a bible text and a gospel tract. After the meeting one lady had questions about the Russellites (JW), she is almost sucked in but said she still searching, do hope we talk again.

Tuesday morning sorted some of the boxes of clothes with Svetlana, and then had our meeting in the evening, about 10 out. Had a question asked about holy water.  The Orthodox Church recognize the baptism of Jesus on the 19 of Jan. they call it Jordan. Followers come to church and pay for some water that some say comes from the Jordan River and others say there is something special about this water (anything to make a buck). I was happy to let them know that none of this is based on scripture but only a religious tradition; so if they did not run out to get this water, it was not a sin.

Saturday had those that come to the meetings come over to pick out clothes if they needed some; about 10 came but I was the only one that spoke English, yet it is at these times when I get to practice what I know in Ukrainian, if I know anything at all. I then had dinner with a young man name Alex, we went skiing about a month ago. We had a good time as we were learning each other’s language.

  Prayer will be needed for our meeting with the head of the board of education this Monday and also to the director of two new orphanages that we hope to speak to. Also pray as always for the small gathering here in Ivano Frankivsk!

Thank You In Christ our Lord, Dan

Dan's Reports: #9

Tuesday, 10 of January #34

Hasn’t been too cold yet but has been very cool and dark, haven’t had sun in weeks and if it does show its shining face it is only for 5 or 10 minute, make for a depressing mood upon all people here. Hope this will cause the gospel message to shine even brighter upon the hearts of these dear people!

Went to visit a hospital for new born babies here in town, we talked with the head doctor whom Eric has been keeping contact with. We talked for about an half hour as he explain that this year the government has cut funding for the hospitals in all of Ukraine and though it has been hard it just got harder. He told us of a children’s hospital across the street and called the director and we planned to talk with her tomorrow. As we left we gave them 4 boxes, some with clothes, sheets, and toys.  Then had our evening meeting about 12 out, we have been practicing the hymn Silent Night in Ukrainian and though slow, this last time sounded the best but still needs more practice!

Wednesday went to visit the other hospital for children from 5-18. There we talked with the Director a very nice lady, we told her what we do here in Ukraine and asked if we can speak with the children and give them new testaments, she replied quickly with a yes and ask when.  I was surprise by her welcoming us so easily and was very glad she did! We made an appointment for Monday and will speak to about 30 kids, do pray God’s blessing on this meeting!

 We had made plans a week ago to meet today with an older woman name Olah. I met her while Scott and Kim were here and talked with her 3 or 4 time since but this was the first time we made plans to meet. Unfortunately she never showed up after Svetlana and I waited for an hour, hope we can try again soon. We then bought prescription for one of the ladies that comes to the meetings name Antalina. As we went to her home to drop them off she insisted we have something to eat but we could not stay for long.  We talked a little as she said how she likes coming to the meetings. Before she started coming to the meetings said she did not know there was an old and new testament and feels that she is learning new thing from the Bible.

Thursday spend some time with Luba and her daughter Maria and Tania her friend. Took them ice skating and they had a very good time, I said we will do this again soon. We must focus on these younger generations that they too may come to know God’s promises brought to them through His Son, Jesus! Last week bought a mattress and frame for Luba’s son, Vessel, who has scoliosis and lung problems, a doctor recommended the mattress.  Vessel has been sleeping on a broken down recliner that needed a piece of wood to hold the extended end from falling, truly something to see! Hope the mattress helps.

Saturday, one of the ladies (Maria) that comes to the meeting invited me over for dinner with her son, Paul. This will be his last year of schooling and will be graduating as some kind of economic counsellor; he is hoping to get a job at a large company. It was just me and them, they know no English and I no Ukrainian. It all it worked out very well, they were willing to work with me and I with them, the hardest part was when she wanted me to read the names of the Bible in Ukrainian, with her help I went through them but still learning!

Pray for the meeting on Monday at the hospital and for good relations with the institutions that we visit and for those person to person visits here locally!

In Christ our Lord

Dan

Dan's Reports: #8

Tuesday 3 of January

We went in the morning to try to meet with the women at the Board of Education; unfortunately she was not in so we will try again tomorrow. We had our evening meeting, not many out, still some away for the holidays but still had a good meeting. Afterwards had cake and ice cream to acknowledge the New Year together!

Wednesday tried again to meet with the women at the Board of Education and waited for about a half hour, when she came out of the office she told us she was too busy so we made an appointment for the 23rd of Jan., hope this meeting will go well!

Then we headed to the printing place to have some tracts and texts made, hope to have them by next week.

Friday visited Oleg at his shop and as always had a good conversation, his English is getting better and better with each visit and he is not shy in trying to speak English, wish I could say the same about my Ukrainian! Oleg then invited me to his house for a Christmas dinner with his family (orthodox Christmas in on the 7th of Jan.). The food was good and the company was great, each of them prepared a dish of their choice. Oleg and his wife, his two sons and is new daughter in-law were all at the table as Oleg opened the Bible and talked about God fulfilling his promise in sending his Son, Jesus Christ.

Saturday Oleg called me and asked if I wanted to do a Ukrainian tradition, not knowing what it was I said, sure. As I picked him and his wife up on the way to meet others, he then told me what it was We were going to go house to house singing carols and they gave me a tambourine, not knowing what to do with it I just raddled it as they sang. After a few hours we had a break and I thought it was over but in the evening they got ready to do it again. I thought at this point I should end my singing career and turn in my tambourine, so I took them to their next location and thanked them for the experience and for the fun, as I headed home.

Sunday had our evening meeting, about 15 out and they listened well. Had to do some homework as I asked in the last meeting why the difference in the Christmas dates? Few could answer so I volunteered to do my homework on this subject.  It’s all based on two calendars, the Julian and the Gregorian. Then I looked into the Scriptures and spoke about the two calendars of generations we see first in the beginning of the Old Testament with the generation of creation and its vastness and marvel, then in the beginning of the New Testament where we read of a greater generation. We marvel and wonder, when we see that God fulfilled his promises of a plan of salvation in sending his only beloved Son, born in  Bethlehem and gave his life in a place called Calvary.

The full Christmas story must be told for in it we see how great a love God has for us his creation! After the meeting we had cake and ice cream for those who were not at the last meeting.

Pray for this meeting on the 23 of Jan. that God will be honoured and for our weekly meetings, that the Word of God would be taught by the Spirit of God to exalt the Son of God!

In Christ our Lord

Dan

Dan's Reports: #7

Went to Lviv to pick up more New Testaments, called Ruslan and he had them ready for me
when I got there. I then spoke at their evening meeting and we had a nice time together. After
the meeting was encouraged to stay the night and leave in the morning, sounded good since
night driving is much more difficult with the pot holes and night fog, so I stayed.
Thursday headed back to Ivano with a young man in fellowship at the Lviv assembly named
Vladimir. He does the interpreting there for us visitors and starts most of the hymns; he is
finishing up his Masters in psychology and had a little break from his studies and wanted to
come to Ivano with me and spend some time together. On our way to Ivano the back door
of the van opened and half of the 400 N/T’s flew out of the van onto the wet pavement. We
stopped to gather them up wipe them down and continue driving. As we came into Ivano, it
happened again, the back door opened and a few fell out but far more traffic. Looks like we
need a new lock for the door!
Friday spent the day skiing with Vladimir and another young man name Alex, he came once to
the meeting while Malcolm and Howard were here. We had a very good time, no broken bones
thanks be to God!
Saturday received 14 boxes from Lance-Au-Loop NF and 5 boxes from New Lenox ILL, USA. A
Thank You to both of these assemblies for reaching out and caring for the people in Ukraine!!
We then left for the kids meeting at the gym but found out that we cannot use the gym due to
a complaint from one of the gym teachers, hope this will change in the near future!
Sunday left early to Lviv with Luba and her daughter Maria. Enjoyed the time remembering the
Lord with his people! Vladimir stayed as we headed back to Ivano for our meeting; about 18
were out and listen well!
Monday we had our first meeting at the prison in a town called Tomahic about an hour’s drive
from Ivano. Picked up Tarras then a man named Igore Leonadvich who has a lot of pull in the
system and had to come with us to each prison, without him we could not get in. But the nun,
who was supposed to accompany us, was late and we left without her, this was an answer to
prayer. It seems her only purpose is to represent her religion, but we come representing no
religion but only Christ crucified!
This prison was a maximum security but had adopted new standards from America and Europe.
There is a church inside the prison that was built by the prisoners. All the paintings on the walls
of the church and throughout the prison were done by prisoner, very nice work! We met in
a hall with about 200 prisoners, many were standing. We brought 350 N/T’s but found out
that the prison holds 879 prisoners. They listened very well and after the meeting I got a few
thank you’s from some and had a talk with three of them, that had very sincere questions like “
what kind of prayer they should pray for God to hear them”. For Tarras, being on stage with a
microphone facing the prisoners and his first time interpreting was a new experience but he did
very well! We then had some coffee and tea with the man in charge of the prison and a few of
the officers. The whole visit went very well!!
Tuesday had our evening meeting, about 12 out and listened well!
Thank You for all your prayers!!
In Christ our Lord,
Dan.

Dan's Reports: #6

Dan’s report #31

We went to a prison here in Ivano with Svetlana and met with Igor, the man we need to enter the prison. This time the nun came with us, we can’t do anything about that.

I think the prison would be like a detention centre as they wait for paperwork to go through the system. We spoke to about 25 prisoners in a small room along with three prison guards. You could see their expressions as we were so close to them. Some sadness and regret and for others frustration and anger. As I was speaking there were some that put up a front of not wanting to hear but you could tell deep inside they were taking it all in, which was good!

After the message we gave them all New Testaments, a Bible text and a gospel tract; as they were leaving a few said thank you.

Igor told us that we would speak to about 125 prisoner at the next prison but before afterwards told us there would be 300! This meant I had to get more N/T and I was not looking forward to a 4 hour round trip to Lviv. Anyway, Svetlana came with as we headed to Lviv and there we met with Ruslan; saw the new hall for the Lviv assembly which is almost ready to have meetings in. Then we picked up 500 more N/T at the Bible Society and also picked up Vladimir on the way out and headed back to Ivano together. We had a great conversation about salvation with Svetlana.

Thursday we left early morning to a prison near a town called Dolena, about a 1 ½ hours from Ivano. Vladimir and Svetlana came with me and we picked up Igor. This time no nun which was good.

This prison was minimum security, the last stop before leaving the prison. This time Vladimir interpreted for me and did a great job. About 150-200 prisoners were spoken to and by the looks of it God was touching their hearts! There were a few that ask if I could come back and these grown men were asking me to sign their New Testaments. They all received bible text and a tract. After the meeting we had coffee and tea with the officers that run the prison, our time spent with them was longer than usual but the talk was good! Before was left we gave three boxes of clothes and shoes for the prisoners.

Igor stayed at the prison as we went to visit a school in Dolena. There we met with the principal and ask if we can speak with the students. The principal remembered the last visit to this school  about three years ago, and welcomed us with open arms; we will meet with the students on Monday.

Friday Tarras was unable to interpret for me not due to work and called me late Thursday evening. God knew about this, as Vladimir was with me and was able to fill in. We picked up Igor and another man also name Igor who also worked in the prison system and this time the nun came with, O well.

This prison was about 45 min from Ivano. We found this prison more difficult as this it was an all-women prison of about 140 women. We didn’t mind the nun being with us this with their eyes time!

 They all listened very well to the message but I think they tried to cast a spell on Vladimir with their eyes. It almost worked but by the time was got back to Ivano he was back to himself. We gave them all N/T and most received a bible text and a tract but we ran out, we also left four boxes of clothes for the women. Afterwards the two Igor’s, Vladimir and I went to a restaurant and there had a great conversation about God and His salvation plan!

   God truly blessed each visit, Thank You so much for all your prayers, He really answers prayers!!

In Christ our Lord

Dan