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.

Malcolm's Report from Ukraine #3

Malcolm’s Report from Ukraine from Oct. 23rd to 25^th.

Thursday 23rd

Well, winter is on the way with heavy cold rainy day. I’m afraid I missed going anywhere today with Howard and Edmund and Agnes. I can only say it was “delayed jet lag” as I did not sleep one minute all night. A frightening experience and my first and last one, I hope. I had to be up and out of the house at 6:15am to take Sasha, who was staying with us, to the railway station. He has a job for the weekend with the election as he is an observer and then counting the votes on Sunday. He is working in Ivano.

I came back and went straight to bed waking up at 1pm! Edmund and Howard headed out to Bookva, a home for mentally challenged girls and ladies that we had visited many times with Flora. They took two special wheelchairs and clothing and supplies as well. They met with Harrisa, the assistant director for a talk as well as giving candies etc to the girls.

It was home to supper of borscht and buns and ham and then off to meeting at 7pm. There were 3 strangers out to the meeting which was encouraging. Trust I will be able to sleep tonight.

Friday 24^th

Thankfully, I slept until 8am, with earplugs in! I think the heavy rain on the veranda roof had much to do with my insomnia!

After a good breakfast, we headed out to near Truskavets with a name we can’t remember. There were two places we wanted to visit, the one being an apartment being renovated for a young widow with two little children, who lost her 29 year old husband with cancer. We have helped her with a final payment on the two room apartment and renovations. It is looking very nice, already to wallpaper. Two brethren bought her a corner shower cabinet and we delivered it. She is very sweet and very appreciative.

We then went to a home for either expectant mothers or those who have new babies. It is an amazing little home with room for 10 or so mothers and their babies. These mothers are recommended by the Social Services of needing and deserving of help to raise their babies. One soon-to-deliver young mother was sent from the war zone in Donesk. We had a good opportunity to speak to the ladies and the staff.

It was then home to get ready to the last meeting for this week. We were thrilled to see the hall filled and several first time attendees.

Saturday 25^th.

I needed a suit for meeting and the prices here are less than a quarter of the ones back home. After the third try I found the right size and delivered it to an apartment to be cuffed. The lady did an amazing job and the suit was ready in the afternoon.

We left then for a children’s meeting in a town about hour from town. I had never been there but Howard had, many years ago. When we arrived at the building, I wondered where we were going.  The building was old and in terrible condition. We went up three floors and found 20 or more children and several adults waiting in a small, cold meeting room. Edmund and Agnes have been coming here every second Saturday since they first came to Ukraine. It was exciting to hear the children recite the verses they had learned over the months. One after another coming up and speaking out clearly. It was exciting to see. Then they sang some choruses and Howard spoke a good little message. After giving them prizes and candies we headed to the home of  Vasil and Ira, the ones who organise the meetings for Edmund. Ira has 6 children but is still and amazing cook. We thought the food would never stop coming.

We then headed home and began to pack ready to go to Ivano Frankivk after meeting here tomorrow.

Thank you for praying for us and continue to pray for us in Ivano.

Malcolm and Howard.

Malcolm/s Report #2 October 21st.

Ukraine Report #2 October 21^st  and 22^nd.

Tuesday. Howard and I stayed home in the morning as we needed to prepare for meeting. Howard is going to Ivano Frankivsk this afternoon to take the meeting and Edmund and I will preach here. The men here, Rene Samson, Sasha and Edmund went to the local apartment blocks to finish of the invitations. We went to Edmund and Agnes for an excellent supper. Luba, a sister from Ivano has been staying with Edmund for a few days and is enjoying the time here.

There were a number at the meeting at 7pm but not too many new people as the weather is not too nice, quite cool in an evening.

Wednesday. As we were going to visit two groups of people today, we had to buy 2 shopping carts of produce. The first place we visited was the orphanage in Yosopowichi, which we have visited since first coming to Ukraine. The building was in desperate condition when first visited with rotten windows, disfuntional washrooms and water systems, plus a leaking roof and doors that the snow blew through. Through the years all the windows and doors have been replaced and total new washrooms refurbished. This orphanage is not supported by the government, but is supposed to be supported by the village, but is not. There are about 12 or so actual orphans plus about 20 or more kindergarten children actually using the facility.

We take cleaning and laundry supplies plus cooking oil and other foods. They are very grateful and we have opportunity to speak to the children and then to the staff. This time, we found the need was to replace an electric water heater that has rusted out and was leaking. We are planning to install a new water heater and a rust filter.

We then headed back to see our friends Micha, the wood carver and Maria his not-too-well wife who live in the city of Stri. They live in two rooms with a mentally challenged and crippled oldest son and another son and teen daughter. There is no water or bathroom or kitchen sink in the apartment.

 While wecwere there at this time, we were given a tour of a much larger suite attached to theirs but in much better condition, that is for sale. It would need renovating but could even be accessed to their present apartment and all made most liveable. The original priced asked was $30.000 US but has now dropped to $15.000US. We are praying that, in the will of God, they may find this amount, plus about another $5,000 for renovation. If this were to happen I know they would be willing to have meetings in the large living room. There is no gospel testimony in Stri at the present time. This is not a plea for funds but for prayer, if anyone would like further details or pictures, please contact me.

We were back in time to eat a “buffet” meal in our apartment, prepared by Rene’. He has a French name and there must be some French Cuisine in his genes. He had 2 meat and one fish plate and all the trimmings. Edmund and Agnes were with us too.

Meeting was good with several children out and some visitors. Howard arrived back from Ivano and had a nice meeting there.

Please keep praying, as there are only 2 nights left in these meetings. Many have promised to come out on Thursday or Friday.

Your Brothers in Christ Service.

Malcolm and Howard.

First report from Ukraine on October 16th from Malcolm and Howard.

Report #1 for Oct 16^th to 20th

Howard Pratt and I had good flights to Ukraine and no questions at Customs in Lviv. Everything seems normal here, no military presence or extra police.

We were met by Ruslan, our driver and Edmund and Agnes Johnston the full time worker here in Lviv and area. We were taken to our new apartment to unload and relax until going for Supper at the Johnston’s. Rene Sampson from Nova Scotia is sharing the apartment with us.

We all attended the prayer meeting at 7pm and prayed specifically for the gospel meetings to start on Monday evening and go on for a week. The situation in Ukraine was also prayed for.

We both slept well on Friday night, sleeping through to 8am for me and 8:45 for Howard. This was good considering the 8 hour time difference.

We spent the Saturday shopping for things we needed such as a coat for me as I forgot mine at home, arriving at the airport in Winnipeg with my wife’s black coat, instead of mine! You can laugh now but I was NOT very happy with myself.

Sunday. 20^th We spent a good day at the assembly here, with a nice number of believers out plus 4 children and 2 visitors. Howard spoke a word of encouragement. We had a good lunch at the hall and then went home to relax until going out to a home in a village for a good visit and supper. We are hoping to see members of this home come out to the gospel meetings.

Monday 21^st. Last night was to be my Jet-lag night. Sitting wide awake reading at the kitchen table from 4am until 4:30am! Fitful sleep until 7:30. We all went to the store to buy product for a very special home for mentally challenged young men and children named Stari Rosdiial. The home was once, hundreds of years ago, a monastery. We were met by some of the brighter boys who carry the food and product inside. The male administrator in a very nice and good man who loves his boys and they all love him. We then go into almost all of the rooms where the severe cases are in beds. It is very sad to see them but the care in this place is excellent. We left a banana for each patient.

 We then went to a meeting room with about 20 of the brighter men and sang the song “Jesus loves me” in Ukrainian. Most of them knew it as several of them can read. One of them came and quoted a verse 1 Cor 15:3. Christ died for our sins, pointing to each of his 5 fingers. I then spoke to them for about 10 minutes. We gave every patient a banana and candies.

At 7pm we had our first of 5 gospel meetings in the hall with 19 people out, 3 children and one adult not saved as yet. Our interpreter from Ivano, Sasha, was to be at the meeting tonight, but called to say he was half way here and the bus broke down. He did not arrive until about 9:39pm. Too bad as he is still not saved but wants to be at the meetings. He is staying with us until Thursday.                                     Please pray for the elections to be held this weekend that good people will be elected.

Thank you for keeping us in your prayers.                                                                                                    Malcolm and Howard.

News Letter from The Johnstons in Lviv Ukraine.

LVIV NEWS LETTER – Edmund and Agnes Johnston.
                                                                                October 2014

“Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!  Psalm 107 v 8

Hello dear friends

The war in the East of Ukraine intensified during June and July and at the last report the number dead has reached 3,500 souls with thousands injured and many with loss of limbs. We feel God has answered many prayers with a present cease fire announced at the beginning of September which is holding, although “very fragile”.

In June we had Max McLean from Oil Springs assembly in Canada, with us for 10 days.  Our brother has been here many times before and again on this visit proved very helpful both practically and spiritually.   Max was a great help in the assembly with choice ministry and preached the Gospel fervently in many orphanages.  

Also we had Doug and Debbie Yade from Kirkland Lake assembly N. Ontario at the beginning of July.  This couple brought with them much encouragement for all of us here in Lviv.

We were very pleased when the Prison Authorities contacted us to resume our monthly Gospel meeting – God again has answered prayer.

To facilitate the MOT of our vehicle we drove back to N Ireland (1700 miles) and spent the month of August in N I.  On our way back we enjoyed a Lord’s Day with the assembly in Mechelen, Belgium.  While we were in N Ireland I had a number of report meetings and enjoyed fellowship with 5 different assemblies each Lord’s day.

We are thankful for the opportunity over the last four months to continue our fortnightly children’s meeting in Sosnevska.  We average 25 children and up to 9 parents are in attendance.  Please pray that the scriptures learned by the children will bear fruit in salvation.

ITEMS FOR PRAYER

1.       Commencement of Sunday School /children’s meeting in Lviv assembly. (Currently we have five boys who attend the breaking of bread and after the meeting is over we have a short time for singing chorus and learning verses).

2.      Sasha (25yrs old) who interprets in the Gospel outreach in Ivano but is not saved.  We have planned D.V. one week of Gospel meetings in Lviv where he has indicated he would be interested in attending.

3.      Special Gospel meetings – commencing Oct 20-25 D.V. with Malcolm Stanley and Howard Pratt.  

4.      Lviv assembly 4^th Annual Conference – 7^th / 8^th Nov D.V. (speaker Paul McClarty N.I and others.)

5.      Two cousins of Vladimir (Lviv assembly interpreter) who are showing an interest in salvation – (Olenka 19 and Maria 26).

We would like to acknowledge the value of your prayerful interest for us and the Work of God here in Lviv.

With warm Christian love – Edmund & Agnes Johnston.