Updates from Erin and Dan

June 18

Day started normal for the regular day ....... even the same for breakfast ....Manna We had Halia, a very poor lady who is coming to the meeting since last May come and pick out clothing. She had her granddaughter come with her.

We then went and bought flowers for Maria who had birthday Monday. She had us in for dinner as she always do once while we are in the country. Had nice Ukraine meal and left her some funds to buy medicine. Then we went and tried to buy some glasses. We went and got pictures taken off my Phone.
We waited for a lady to come for clothing but she didn't come. A man came named Roman and we talked to some time to him about Salvation. He has been coming to meeting for some years. He is sure about being in the door, very clear about it. We had 23 out tonight up a little but not to where it was in November. Anna the older lady in the meetings for some time now had her neighbor out for the second time. She was out Sunday for the very first time ever. We then took some of them swimming.
Then day was over, it is so hard to get around the roads like, it’s like the horse and buggy days. .

July 19

Hello to all. Early morning visit, so went without breakfast. We had to meet the head Doctor of the Hospital who gave us permission to visit mothers with babies. We had 18 bags to deliver so we added little more to the 8 bags we had and we made up 10 more to make 18. We also took 18 blankets. Last year, most mothers were from out of the city. Amazed that most of the mothers this year was from in the city. We did have one from Russia and she knew all the cities we had gone to in Siberia. One lady, who was little older than most; was an English teacher from the city here. Then came home from there and had breakfast. I almost have the same thing every morning Manna! Mary knows best! Then we went to the market and bought food for the family of the man lost his leg at the knee. Picked up Luba and her son and Leanna's daughter and went to Luba's village Stari Lycets. Luba and son went to her Mother in Law's and we went to the teacher who teaches religion in school there and she took us to the forest to pick mushrooms and wild strawberries. We had nice few hours. The sun was very hot. We then came back to teachers home and had little supper of salad and fried potatoes. We saw her rabbits they raise to eat and then left her two boxes of assorted clothing to give to the poor families of the village. We then delivered all who were with us and back to apartment and another day over. Tired now for sure. Eric, Margie and Dan.

June 20.

Another full day ... The weather is warmer every day.... hot in the city and in the Buildings. We took out boxes and had two ladies come, Valentina and Maria, they both have vision problems, but they have come to meeting since 2005 when I came first; they are very poor but work when they can. They both come to meetings often but have family sick and can't come in winter, too hard to travel in dark. They often go to places and just wash dishes to get little extra to have food. We took them home when they were finished.
O of them lives near the half way house orphanage, so we spent an hour speaking to staff and children there. This is a place where children stay for no more than 3 months before going to an orphanage for good. The Police or other people bring them there and sometimes the children run away from home and come there. One ran from her mom in Switzerland and came there.

Then we came home and Yaroslav’s wife Halia and her daughter in law came and got clothing. We packed two boxes of clothing for an orphanage and packed 4 boxes for Olia’s village tomorrow. Now a meeting with those that Dan invites to come to discuss questions of Bible subjects. Four came and the exciting thing is Andri who we would like to see get saved. Then Tanya a young nurse came and Sasha and young man who had studied to be a priest and then Dana, a young German lady who professes salvation and comes to other meetings who we met in 2006. Day over and tired. Eric and Margie With Dan

June 21

Hello to all. We labour on here as the Lord gives help and resources to do so. We just got back to the house here, spending all day in a village. We had a meeting with 22 people in the community hall. The Mayor came and let us in then left. It went very well. We gave out 4 boxes of clothing and gave them texts, tracts and other literature. This is Halia's mom's village. Yaroslav was with us but his wife Halia was sick and couldn't go. We had dinner with her mom and left some funds with her. The village was 2 hours drive and again over bad roads. We took Halia’s son Vitali and his wife and child for a visit for a week. We may go get them next Saturday. When we came back we went and picked up Leanna and took her to the River to swim and had a nice talk with her. We are trying to build a relationship with her but hard work. She has come to meetings some but not like we like to see. Then we went and got her daughter, Marina and went to Best Burger. Afterwards, we picked up some food for her. We took them home and then finally got back to our place at 11:15pm after a long day.

June 22

Greetings to all. A slow day today with no Interpreter. Two people came to get clothing as we have been trying to get all that come to meeting to get some clothing. This is important for sure. Roman and his daughter were in, she is one of the hardest ladies to handle but we did ok. Then Janna came for clothing, nice to get this behind us. While she was here 12 boxes came in from Gander Newfoundland, it was GREAT to get soap, tooth paste, towels and so many other things we have been praying for. Some boxes had things for men which we get few of. Then we went to see if we could see Tanya's mom but she wasn't at home and her son wasn't home either, but we met a lady who came to all the children meetings that our brother from Iowa had last summer with Dan. Then 8 children who had come as well. It was nice to see them again and we made arrangements to come back Wed. at 1pm for a meeting. Guidance of the Lord is so important.
Leanna and her daughter Marina came and had lunch it was Marina's 14th birthday. They are so poor so we gave them some soap, toothpaste and money to buy Marina a birthday gift. She wanted a special dress.
Then we went for walk in center and met two girls at an ice cream place. One could speak English and the other liked the picture on the text I was giving out as she was studying Art. Gave out some invitations to meetings in a new place we rented for two nights. Street work is important but is spoiled by the cults, they are on the street all the time.

Home and another day over. Another week to go and tired for sure. Keep praying for my heart blockage as heat is as bad as the cold but God is able.

June 23

Lord's day again. We have to travel 3 hours to Lviv to meeting and 3 hours back on bad road. It makes a rough day, but always great to remember the Lord. I 'm sure many have it rougher to get to meeting. The meeting went very well, all worshiped except one and he was having a rough day as his father went to hospital, is not well and not saved. I spoke little after the meeting on the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts . All the Saints seemed to enjoy. Only a few sitting back today as it’s a holiday and many have gone to the graveyard. “Green holiday” they call it and they clean and put new flowers on graves. Then summer is here and many work in gardens on weekends.

We got back home in record time and I showered to be at the other meeting. Had a weak drink of tea and off we went. The rented room is great and gave us more space. All seem to like it and most of the regulars were there but some missing. One lady was out for her 4th time, Anna's friend, one of the first ladies saved in 2005, this was very encouraging. Then a lady saved 2 years ago was out for her first time since we came, so maybe the new room brought her out. We had 23 out which was good for holiday weekend and a special one at that. Then we went with Orysa for supper, she usually serves you rabbit, but tonight another surprise, goat meat. We left her funds for medicine. Her husband hasn't been drinking for over
a year, that’s great news. She is so much happier, even though he isn't saved, not having him drinking is great. His mom and dad are now dead and they live in the home place, which is not good but far better then what they had. Home at last and very tired.

Eric Margie with Dan