Dan's Reports: #12

Tuesday, 31 of January #37

These days have been very cold and have been appreciating the people coming out to the meetings knowing that they are taking the bus both ways waiting in the cold. Had 13 out but 3 came towards the end of the meeting, they were Luba’s neighbours, a mother and daughter along with Luba’s son Vessel. After the meeting I had a long take with them, the mother had questions about hear “near death experience” and said there is no proof that heaven or hell exist. I told her though this cannot be proven, the sin in our hearts proves that we are sinners, and then read in Rom.3:9...

Wednesday I called the board of education but the women whom we need to talk with is still sick, will try again next week. The schools have been close this week due to the cold weather and some businesses as well. I have been going on long walks in this weather and if you dress properly and keep moving it’s not so bad, though your face feels like it will crack.

Friday morning I found that I have the same experience what many buses have been experiencing, frozen diesel. Haven’t driven the van since Tuesday and since the van takes diesel it froze on me too. Though I get the diesel at a reputable gas station they tell me that all the fuel in Ukraine is mixed, for more profit. Trying to do my best to get the van running again before next week which is forecast to be even colder some days being as low as -33c,-25f, not good.

Then had my first Ukrainian lesson since September of last year. This is a language school just down the street from the meeting place. It was my first time there and was only going for one hour but the teacher kept on going until her next lessen three hours later My brain was definitely feeling fatigue and will not be doing that again, one or two hours max!

Sunday got ready for the meeting, about 15 came out. Was good to see some out who haven’t been out in a while, like Ivan who has the 7 children that are all grown up but all sick. Orisa, a lady who like to cook rabbit for the visitors was also out. They all listened well and afterwards had some coffee and tea with sweets before they left. Had some questions on how to pray and on which religion in Christianity is true.

Pray for these meetings, that those who are coming may come to know the Lord and for help with the messages and wisdom in answering these questions being asked and for guidance in reaching out to the people! I Thank You All!!

In Christ our Lord

Dan

Update from the Sloan's at Lutsk

Lutsk Ukraine 4^th February 2012

With no electric and that my only form of heating and no water as all the pipes are frozen life is tough! My car is frozen and will not start as nightly temperatures are below -30 and the daily temperatures are approx. -27. (I have it better than the Ukrainians – I can afford to take a taxi and go the other end of town where there is a café with electric, heat, an internet connection + plus cups of cappuccino)!! The weather forecasters say these extreme temperatures will last until 14^th February though the cold will stay until the middle of March.

In the assembly we have only 3 believers out of over 40 who earn more than £127 ($200) per month – the most are trying to survive on less than £56 ($88) per month. When we get a winter like this they do not have the money for extra wood to burn or extra electric to use and therefore it is my duty and privilege to help. This I have done with 5 families over the past 4 days.

Do also pray for the parents of Michael (Mykola) whom we had shown in our yearly update. Michael, who was severely paralyzed since birth and mentally sick died on January 15^th only 17 years of age. He has gone to Heaven and what a change! Thankfully there were believers like yourselves who cared enough to enable us as an assembly to make his sad short life on earth just that little bit more comfortable.  

We would appreciate your continued prayers for the building of the new Gospel Hall in Lutsk. We have not been able yet to afford to buy a wood burning stove and radiators and even with electric heaters on at present the ice is thick on the inside of our windows and doors. The builders would like a week off as it is so cold in the building but I have said no as I have a target to try and get the main hall finished before our 10^th anniversary on the 22^nd of April. If I can get up at 06.00 (6 mornings a week) and be at the hall before 07.30 so can they! I am 20 years older than they so I don’t allow any excuses for holidays!!! We still have the lighting to do, finishing of the wall surfaces, 130sqm of carpet to get, 150 seats, the baptism tank to tile and 5 doors to buy and install. I have the sole responsibility regarding the financing of our new Gospel Hall and I am confident the Lord is able to meet our needs. 

One of our builders did go home on Wednesday for 1 day for the funeral of his 23 year old nephew. The nephew left home on Tuesday to walk to the bus stop to collect his son coming home from school. He sat down at the bus stop and froze to death before the bus arrived.  Pray for the builders. They are coming into contact with the gospel every day and we have had many an interesting conversation with them.

The cold does affect many aspects of the work but that does not mean we don’t have anything to do. Ukraine Christian Publication Centre is the name we use for the printing of literature. Over the last 10 years we have printed 230,000 Ukrainian gospel tracts, 60,000 Seed Sowers, 20,000 “Who we are and what we believe” brochures not to mention books etc. We are now in the process of printing 6 new titles of gospel tracts (5,000 of each) and 2,000 each of the 10 “Focus On” booklets. 3 translators and 4 proof-readers from the Lutsk assembly are involved daily in this work. New Hymn Book – Rhoda and a Ukrainian sister Oksana who is a gifted musician from Lutsk Gospel Hall are in the process of producing an assembly hymn book. This is a big task and will involve 100’s of hours of work in translation and proofreading.

Over the last 20 years we have only had cold winters. I remember back to the winter of 1994 when Rhoda and I were walking to language school in Norway. We woke one morning and it was -54. We thought the school would be closed due to the cold but felt we should ring just to make sure. The woman at the other end was amazed we even thought the school would close and said – “There is no such a thing as bad weather there is only bad clothing”!!  The winter of 2006 in Ukraine was really bad and we managed that one and this winter won’t beat us either! With over 100 Ukrainians dead due to the cold we would really appreciate your prayers!

Yours in Christ

Timothy & Rhoda

report from Flo

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ;

This is just a short note to fill you in on a few things that have been going on in Ukraine this past year.
Since the assembly was planted in Lviv at the end of October 2010, we have been happy to see continuing growth in the young Christians. Having Edmond & Agnes Johnson there has certainly been a great asset. He is a very good leader for the people there. He's soft but not one to be swayed when it comes to things of scripture.
The first conference to be held in Lviv was at the end of October 2011. What a joy to see 80 people gathered on the Friday evening for prayer and a gospel meeting. Christians from Lutsk and Ivano Frankivsk joined us ,as well as unsaved from Lviv. Those who took leading roles in the conference, were Timothy Sloan, Edmond Johnson, Malcolm Stanley, Howard Pratt and Lawrence McHugh who is from Northern Ireland. The conference was certainly a blessing. It was so good to see the Christians in Lviv working smoothly together as one body.
We continue in our outreach efforts in children's homes, schools, the boy's jail, the gypsies and outlying villages. The Lord blessed the work with the saving of a young man, Andre, He is a very mature 19.This family was reached as a direct result of humanitarian aid received.
I wish to thank you all for all the kind support both spiritually and financially
Lord willing I will be returning to Ukraine on March 4^th.

Your sister in Christ
Flo Kancir

Dan's Reports: #11

Sunday 22 of January #36

Had our 3:00pm meeting with about 14 out. Talked a little about the  “holy water” they have questions about, by speaking on John 4, how that the woman thought Jesus was talking about water of this physical world but He was talking of the  spiritual water that can only flow out from him. The water that the people will get from the church will run out and if they drink it they will thirst again. But that water that flows out from Jesus satisfies the thirst for God and the longing of our souls now and for entirety.

Monday we called the board of education but the woman whom we were to meet with was sick and we were told to call next week. We then went to a town called Kalush to visit two orphanages. The first place was very welcoming and remembered some who came about 3 years ago; we planned to speak to the kids on Thursday. At The second school we had a good long talk with the director, she showed some knowledge of the bible and was able to share a bit of God’s, not man’s, salvation plan with her. She said to call her back in a few weeks when she gets more kids but also said it would be difficult to speak for this is a school for the deaf, which we did not know, do hope at least to talk with her again.

Tuesday Edmond and Agnes with Ruslan came from Lviv and spent some time together before the meeting. at the meeting Ruslan and Edmond spoke. Earlier we went to visit Oleg at his work and it was good to see him at the meeting and Yaroslav, about 15 total.

Thursday we had our meeting at the orphanage. As we arrived we were invited to sit in on a lesson they were having about Ukrainian history but as we sat for a few minutes we realized most of these kids were deaf, this too is a school for the deaf. We should have known before coming, a slip up by my secretary, Svetlana! When it came time for me to speak the room was very hot and someone even closed the window. About 25-30 kids were there and about 5 teachers. Maybe some could hear a little but there was a man doing the sign language as Svetlana interpreted, not sure how the message came out at the end of the chain but pray that God will speak to the hearts of these kids. I then gave them all note books and pins with a gospel tract; they had new testaments from the last visit. They requested school supplies and we are welcome to come again.

Sunday got ready for our afternoon meeting. We are finally experiencing real winter, the weather has dropped considerably; the forecast tells us that today’s high will be -12C/ 5F and the low -24C/11F. This weather is predicted for at least another week. This Thursday will be the coldest day, H-17, L-30C,  H2F, L-22F. In spite of the cold about 10 still came out to the meeting. Today I had Sasha interpret for me for the first time; he is Oleg’s older son. He was a little nervous but thought he did well for his first time. After the meeting had coffee and sweets to warm them before going out and waiting for the bus in this bitter cold weather.

We then headed to Oleg and Ola’s house, had dinner and spent time together. We talked a bit about assembly fellowship with Oleg and planned to continue another day.

Please pray for the Holy Spirit’s moving in the hearts of the people here and in my own heart as well!! Thank You!

In Christ our Lord

Dan