Malcolm's Report #4 Oct. 26-28

Malcolm’s Report #4 from 26^th-28^th October.

Sunday 26^th.

We had to get our things together, as we were going to Ivano Frankivsk after the morning meeting.

We had a Breaking of Bread meeting and then Bible teaching from Rene Samson from Nova Scotia Canada. After a nice lunch at the hall we left for Ivano with Luba and Yaroslav, two believers from Ivano who come up from Ivano leaving at 6am Sunday morning on a bus for 3 hours. They are not related but what dedication to be at a remembrance meeting. We found the roads somewhat inproved.

At 6pm we had our gospel meeting in Ivano but there were only a few out as it was Election day and many were either voting or even as our interpreter Sasha, working at a voting booth.  This meant that Ruslan came with us and interpreted, and then drove back again after the meeting.

Monday 27^th

Today was a “sort-em-out” day as we had 56 boxes piled into our apartment! There was not room for Howard to sleep in the living room so we had to make room for both of us in the bedroom that was also piled high with boxes. As Sasha had worked into the night, we didn’t expect him to be around so we opened boxes and tried to decide where to send the clothes.

At 5pm we went to meet Olegh and get our winter tires from the garage/workshop he owns. It was good to meet with him and visit in his garage that he has renovated and hope to work out of soon, instead of working from his present site in an open market or bazaar, as they call it. Olegh has a Russian man Roman, and his deaf\mute son working for him on the renovation. They showed us some pictures of the carved furniture and stairs his son has carved. Some of the nicest carving we had seen. We invited Roman to the meeting tomorrow.

We spent the rest of the evening phoning to make appointments for the next 8 days.

Tuesday 28^th .

We intended to get our tires, or rather wheels changed today, they are already on rims. At we were going to pass by a home for recovering drug addicts and alcoholics, we thought we would take a box of clothing for them and some more New Testaments, if they needed them. We were welcomed into the spotlessly clean house to meet some of the men who were busy doing a bible course. They brought us tea and candies and we talked and answered bible questions for 45 minutes. The man who asked the most questions is a truly converted Russian Jew. He said he has spent most of his life in prison but is now converted. What a joy to meet these men and fellowship with them. We told them of the meetings.

We then went and got the wheels changed. The mechanic noticed 2 of the wheels were bent and so put them on a rim straightening machine. I’ve never seen one at a tire store in Canada.

We headed away for the apartment when there was an awful sound under a rear wheel. We pulled into a driveway and found out that the coils spring had jumped out of the suspension and was lying horizontally on the suspension. As God would have it, the driveway lead to an auto repair shop that was able to fix the problem. New springs were put in last year, but were about an inch shorter than the original, so spacers were added.  We were very thankful that it did not happen out on the highway somewhere.

We were home in good time to get ready for meeting at 6pm. We were glad to see many more out and Roman out with Olegh and Ola. He listened very well. We were sorry to hear that the man we met and sought to help last spring Ivan (Dana’s son), who had had a leg amputated, died a week ago of TB. He leaves a wife and two little girls. They all came to many meetings last spring.

So the time is moving on with many people to meet and help as we can.

Most people see reasonably happy with the election but say they will have to wait and see if anything changes.

Thanks again for remembering us at the Throne of Grace.

Malcolm and Howard.