Maclolm Report #5

Ukraine Report #5 Oct 22-24th.
Monday We had an early start to go to a children’s rehab that is called a sanatorium over here. It is located in the foothills of the mountains and is the place I have mentioned before as having the worst roads I have ever had to drive on. However, we found a route that is a little longer but is a good road except for the last 20 or so Kms.
We arrived almost an hour early , due to the better roads, so went for coffee in a little “hole in the wall” cafe. A man who had a few too many vodka’s, noticed we were foreigners and wanted to talk and know all about us. He was still talking as we started to move away. Well at least we left him with a N/T and John 3:16.
We went to the sanatorium and were treated to hot chocolate and cookies before speaking to about 70 children and 10 staff. We really had a great time with good participation. I forgot to mention that Howard stayed back in the apartment to try and fight his sinus cold. He was feeling much better when we got home.
After the meeting we were treated to lunch before heading home.

Tuesday. We went to one of our favorite schools at Petriliv or Peter village and went straight to the school as the Mayor, who we usually visit, was away at a meeting. We were very happy to know we had arrived on the lady Administrator Hannah’s birthday, hence the 4 or 5 beautiful vases of flowers on her table. Before we went to speak to the children, we had to have lunch with her. Avery nice meal topped off with ice cream. We sang “Happy Birthday” to her and then explained that we who were visiting all had 2 birthdays. She listened very well.
We then went upstairs and spoke to all the children. As they do not have an auditorium, they all stand in a wide hallway which does not serve too well to keep their attention as they are rather crowded.

We came on home and prepared for our evening meeting. Good to see about 15 out once again.

Wednesday. We went to the town of Pasishna, in the hills that we had visited last week, when all the children were off. We were welcomed by the Vice Principal who ran ahead of us, getting two classes into one at each meeting. We eventually spoke 5 times so that would be to 10 classes. These children were VERY well behaved and participated well when we spoke.
We hurried home to take the van in to get the gear shift mechanism replaced. We had no reverse for two days so had to be pushed out of parking spots at times. Glad to say they got it replaced and no more problems.
We walked over to the Solidarity building at 7pm and had a meeting with 6 people there. The subject being “How do you behave towards difficult or angry people?” One lady is newly saved and has an abusive drunk husband. We hope our remarks were helpful.
We are spending tomorrow getting ready for the Conference in Lviv on Friday - Sunday.
Thank you for caring and praying for us.
Malcolm  Howard and Dan.

Malcolm's Report #4

Tuesday October 16. We went out to a village that I had been to several years ago, but had lost the name of the village and school. It is called Pasichna and is situated in the foothills of the Carpathians. We arrived to find out that school was out, no kids! Everything is centered on and around the election right now and they thought they would have the week off so that they could save on heating the school. WE had a very nice time with the Principal; he remembered us from 6 years ago and welcomed us back. We will go back next Wednesday when school will be in.
All was not lost as I remembered a beautiful river ravine with 2 waterfalls, so we climbed down and took some lovely pictures. It was really a lovely day. We did leave 4 boxes of clothes for the poor children at the school.

Ukraine Report #4 Oct 19-21
Friday. We were off early to Virhovina on the Romanian border, two and a half hours away. It was a lovely run with some mist at the beginning but it turned into a clear warm day.
Oxana the director was waiting for us and at 10 am we went into the auditorium and spoke to over 200 junior students. They listened very well as I and Dan spoke to them. We gave out all the balloons we had brought and all the pens with John 3:16 on them.
We then went to see the Auditorium that we had paid to have new windows in. They had filled in the one side with plywood and installed good vinyl windows on the south side to let in lots of light. They needed to repair the hot water radiators and have come up with a unique way of doing it. Instead of them all being all hooked up as one, each one will be separate, filled with antifreeze and an electric immersion heater fitted into the radiator. They will be operated independently on each thermostat. We were able to give them the money to buy the rest of the heaters still needed.
After a meal in the dining room we headed home; stopping to make an appointment at a new school on the way home.
At 5:30 we met with a group of Christians, renting a room at Solidarity, where we first met on coming to Ivano. The meeting was very good with some very good questions and comments. We are to go again on Tuesday next.

Saturday. We needed to get a rattle underneath the van fixed and when this was done, we asked where there was a windshield repair place and were sent to a very busy place who said he could replace it in half an hour. We came back in half an hour and they started right away. In just about one hour, it was installed. Cost of each window and installation was $122.00? An amazing price.

We were invited to join Oleg and Olah for supper and went to the Black Castle restaurant and had a lovely meal. We had live entertainment while we ate, as some folks had paid for a disc jockey. Very loud for most of the time, no drunkenness or anything else though.

Sunday.
We had mentioned earlier about the church meeting in a nearby apartment and their invitation to attend their meeting on Sunday which we did. The reason being that we wanted to see how they held their meetings. They had told us that they had had no church teaching and were willing to hear us.
There were about 30 or 40 people present and there certainly seemed to want to do what was right in worshipping God .
I spoke first on 1John 3 and need to love since we have experienced God’s love in the giving of His only Son. Then Dan spoke on Romans 6:6 and the need to walk in the Spirit and see ourselves as crucified with Christ.
Howard was nursing a head plugged with a cold so did not speak. We later invited them to the Conference next weekend and about 10-15 men may come. Praise the Lord.

We had our meeting at 3:30 with a good number out. Howard and I spoke.

Please make specific  prayer for a situation with 2 families that come out to meeting. There is a “war” between them, mainly over their children. It is too complicated to share here but pray for Luba and Oxana, the mothers.
Thank you.
Malcolm, Howard and Dan.

Malcolm's Report #3

Ukraine report #3 October 17-18 2012
Wednesday.
Woke to a cloudy cool day, but no frost yet as far as we know. Dan and Volodia had gone out early to swim but came back later saying that they did not swim because Volodia forgot his trunks and Dan forgot his money!! Well they made up for it by going to the park and working out on the things there. On the way home they went to the vehicle locksmith to get one of the door electric locks adjusted.
We did not have a visit planned for today so went and paid for 3 months rent, I also needed a new memory stick for my camera.
At 3pm, Ruslan arrived with Edmund and Agnes from Lviv. We unloaded the bibles they had brought us and then went for and early supper. The meeting started at 7pm with about 15 people out. Ruslan gave a very good message followed by Howard. It was a good meeting.
One our regular ladies at the meeting, Maria, brought 2 men to the meeting. They listened very well and then asked that we would go and visit them. We found they just lived around the corner from us on the 6th floor with no elevator.
When we got to the apartment there were about 12 people there.  9 men and 3 women. The spokesman was Anatoly. He explained that all except the women were ex-drug users and or alcoholics. Most had served time in prison, including Anatoly. They had all come to Christ in different way and places. Some got saved in prison and some after coming to this group of people. The oldest lady was a doctor and had got saved and left the Greek Orthodox Church, she gave her testimony along with all the men. It was exciting to hear.
They were meeting as a church in a rented building, about 40 of them and asked if we could give them teaching. We told them what we believe and how we meet and they are very eager to hear more. Please pray for wisdom to minister to this group.
Thursday.
Went to the village of Sniatin to a men’s home. We have been there many times and are welcomed very much to speak to both staff and the men who are mentally challenged but some can read and write, so all is not lost. When we arrived we noticed many cars parked there. We went inside and found everyone in the dining room, being fed a great meal of chicken, cabbage rolls, salad and much more. The people bringing the food were a group called Round Table from Lviv. They were part of a Ukrainian Catholic group and had a young priest with them.

The Administrator Leonid introduced us to the group with great enthusiasm. The priest gave a word after the meal and then I spoke. I told everyone how glad we were that the priest had emphasized the reading and understanding the Word of God. I then went on to tell them of God’s plan for man in giving His Son to die on the cross and that His blood cleans us from all sin. I then sat with him and had a nice talk. I guess you never know what might develop.

We came home and went to visit a lady who is probably dying of cancer in the lymph nodes. She is in great pain but not saved as far as we know. We did have a good opportunity to give her the gospel.
We had our meeting at 7pm for those who are interested in Bible study. Only one man showed, Igor the man who worked for the prison administration. He is very interested in what we say.
And so to bed, very tired and having to be up at 6:30 in the morning.
Keep praying for the remainder of our time here.
Malcolm , Howard and Dan.

Malcolm's Report #2

Ukraine report #2 For October 13-15. 2012
Saturday. Spent the day with Agnes and Edmund deciding what we will do in the future weeks. We went to see the man Paul, who is getting us a van to replace the one in Lviv. He brought up the picture on the computer, it is in Holland. It looked good and he will go and look at it and bring it back if he is satisfied. Most of the good used vehicles in Ukraine are brought from either Poland, Germany, Holland or Belgium. We were going to give out tracts in the centre of Lviv, but it rained and then Jet lag set in and we went to bed rather early.
Well we went to bed early but I was still awake at 3am. I stayed awake all night. I got some studying done for two meetings and so it was not wasted time. It was not until Howard reminded me that we had two cups of coffee after 4pm, that I realized what my problem was. It was the first time this has ever happened.

Sunday. We walked over to the meeting at 11am as it is only 10 minutes walk from the apartment. It was nice to see all the saints again. All except one brother were there. A deaf and dumb couple have been coming to the meetings and were there as well. Dan and Volodia were in from Ivano as well as Luba and her daughter. Howard ministered the word after meeting and I spoke the last 15 minutes. I spoke on the importance of being at the week-night meetings and trying to arrange to be there, even though it might cost you something, but that God was no mans debtor.
After a good lunch, we headed to the apartment to get our bags, but before this we packed a number of boxes of new testaments into the van. It finished up being very full and very heavy. We were late leaving but made good time and got to the apartment just in time to start meeting in Ivano. Only about 12 were out but we were encouraged. We were glad to get to bed in good time and hope we will be free now of out jet-lag.

Monday.
For some years now, I have wanted to find a place in the hills, where we visited one large school and several satellite schools but could never find anyone who knew where it was. A man Yaroslav has been coming to meetings and I remembered he had come with us to this school. Today he guided to the town of Pasishna and this was the place. There was only one problem; the kids were all on holiday! We had a good visit with the Principal and made an appointment to visit next week. They have over 600 children, without the satellite schools. So that the trip was not totally wasted, we went to visit a beautiful waterfall, in fact two waterfalls in the same ravine. It was well worth the mountain road drive although the van probably didn’t think so!
We then came home and went to meet Andrei and a lady named Miroslava who want Dan to go and teach a group of students Christian Ethics, as they call it, once a week. He will give it a try but will be using an Emmaus course on bible and the gospel.
We then went to our famous “basement Ukrainian Restaurant” for a good supper and then back to sort some boxes that we were just made aware had been received last July. This will be all for now. We will be reporting later in the week.
Keep praying.
Dan Malcolm and Howard

Malcolm's Report #1

Ukraine Report #1 October 2012 From Oct.10 -12.
Howard Pratt and I arrive safely in Lviv, on Wednesday October 10th. The flights were good and on time, but tiring because of quite long wait times. This much better than having short wait times between flights, if the plane happens to be late arriving.
This was our first time we had not been met by Flo Kancir and was rather sad, however, faithful Ruslan and Edmund and Agnes Johnson were all there to meet us. The arrivals process was amazing in the massive new airport. It was my first time in it. It was completed in time for the World soccer games, one sector of which was played in the new Stadium in Lviv. We were in and out of the terminal in less than 10 minutes. 10 or 12 customs officers and no questions!
We took our bags to the “empty” apartment that was Flo’s. It had been cleaned up beautifully by Ruslan and his wife Tania. we then went to Edmund and Agnes for supper. Then headed to prayer and ministry meeting, where we were asked to give a wee word. Well I almost missed the ministry as I dozed off in the prayer meeting but woke up with a jolt! I guess we usually have a sleep when we arrive, but not this time. However I think it was the best thing for us to have done, as we both slept for 8 hours and have not suffered from jet lag as yet.
Edmund had arranged for us to go to the Carpathian mountains and visit the needy people there on Thursday. We headed out at 10am, loaded up with 3 boxes of clothing and food for about 20 families. We were met by Natalia, the first guide we had, who says she was saved when interpreting for me from the 2-roads Chart, many years ago. She was able to take us to the families who need the food the most. We went to her sister’s house (who has 14 children) and a group of women and children had arrived by the time we had had some tea and a snack. I was selected to speak to the people before we gave out the clothing and food. As I spoke of the appointment we will all have with death and spoke of Flo’s dying, several ladies were tearful as they remembered her kindness for so many years. I impressed them with the possibility of being with her when they die, if they only trust Christ.
We were quite tired as we travelled home but had enough strength to eat a good supper with Edmund and Agnes. Then home to bed and another good sleep.
We planned to go to the Bible Society and get some bibles we had paid for when last here, but had not picked up yet. We found there were 40 boxes of them. They were really heavy and filled the back of the van.
Tonight there was a bibles study at the meeting. It went well, but 4 of the men were missing. Some working away from home, some, sadly not making an effort to get out to the weeknight meetings. This is a typical problem here that, when God blesses and finds them work, they allow it to keep them from coming to meetings. This is a very hard decision for the men to make, seeing that they make such poor wages. We would like to encourage them that God is no man’s debtor. Edmund would like us to address this problem probably on Sunday DV.

All for now. Please pray for us as we seek to know God’s direction for each day that we are here.

Malcolm & Howard

Dan update - Sept 29

September 29, 2012 #55

Saturday) Oleg and Olah and their friend named Sergei and I went to a small village where
they have a small three room house, about 40 min. from Ivano. When we got there the house
was broken into and they had stolen all the metal from the house even took the electrical
conduit from within the walls. They had been too busy to make a trip out to the house and this
was the first time in two years.

There is another village we go through, just before theirs, so we decided to give a New
Testament and bible text to those we would see on the roads of these two villages. We wanted
to encourage them to read their Bible for it tells Gods Salvation plan. The people we met were
very thankful and gladly received it! Then we had a picnic by a river bank nearby, it was a very
nice time together!

Sunday) I went up to Lviv with Luba and her son for the breaking of bread. It was great to
remember Him who remembered us even unto death!

Brought Vladimir and his dog Bruno back with me to Ivano, made it in time for our meeting. All
listened well even Bruno!

Monday) did some work to the Van and took it back to the place where we had the alarm put
in; the doors were not closing as we pressed the close button. We were there for a few hours
but they did find the problem, it wasn’t the alarm but the motors that operated the locks to
open and close. We had both the driver’s and passenger’s side replaced. Works great now and
very comforting to know that when you lock the van that it is actually locked!

Tuesday) Went to CTO repair shop for them to see if they can fix the stick shift. To adjust this is
very difficult and few here in Ivano know how to do this but this shop did it last time for us and
hoped they could do it this time! A young man, maybe even a boy came to look at it, we pop
open the hood and he has a can of WD-40. He moved all kinds of wires and did a lot of spraying
with the WD-40 and in just a few minutes he told me to see how it felt, I thought to myself this
little boy doesn’t know what he is doing. I was so surprise how much smoother the stick went
into each gear, he said there was some dust build up and it happens from time to time.

I paid them for the work, just 20hgr or about $ 2.50! Thanks to God for His help!

Then came back to get ready for the meeting and on the way in I started to talk to a Russian
man that once asked me for a Bible in Russian. We talked for a bit and then he said to me”
there is no God” and went on to quote some Polish philosopher. I told him there were some
errors in this philosopher’s thinking and went on to tell him some facts of Scriptures. I was quite
surprised how well he listened. I then said we should talk more about this together at another
time, he agreed. Then had our meeting and all listened well including our new roommate
Bruno, I had Vladimir interpret but was good to see Svetlana at the meeting too!

Wednesday) had a few meetings with people in the morning then headed up to Lviv for their
evening meeting. Had dinner with Edmund and Agnes at their new apartment and after went to
the meeting. Though a small group, was a good meeting and a good time spent with Edmund
and Agnes! Headed back to Ivano, was a long day and a late night!

Malcolm Stanley and Howard Pratt will be coming to Ukraine next week Wednesday, please
pray for their safety in their travels and time here and for God’s blessing with this work, His
work here in Ukraine!!

IN CHRIST OUR LORD

Dan