Monday, October 26, 2015

Joint Report by Eric and Bonnie.

Written October 26th

Report written by Bonnie. 

We are enjoying our time here, very busy for sure. God is good; may heaven be richer for the labours here.
Eric and Margie Fowler

Dear friends
Today is Election Day in Ukraine! I have no idea who is getting in, but I am sure the prayer of the Christians here is that whoever takes over will keep peace in this country! The election was for Local government which is tied in with the government  in KIEV.

Today the sun shone all day!  The first full day of sunshine since we arrived!  Maybe it will shine for the rest of the week!

Going back to Fri. we headed for Lviv mid morning.  Valodia's mother lives there and we were planning on spending the afternoon with her.  I thought it was perogies she was going to show us how to make, but it actually was pelemini. It is a minced meat that is in the centre of dough.  We made about ten dozen.  She fed us well!

We left there and headed to Edmund and Agnes for supper. Not sure I mentioned them before, but they are a commended couple from Ireland. There was a ministry meeting that night as well. Eric Spoke on Heb. some and the times where “Let us”  is mentioned. Very few were in, some are sick and some are away working.

Sat. morning we were picked up by Edmund and Agnes and headed off to another town an hour away for a children's meeting. About 40 children, along with some parents came to the meeting. The children were lovely singers and each
one of them came forward to recite a verse from the Bible!   In fact the children are mostly from a Pentecostal group in the town and one of the men arranges this meeting every second Sat. in the month . Some new ones comes almost every week.  After the meeting, we were invited to a couple's home for dinner.  They have six children. She put a lovely meal on for us!

We were at the meeting in Lviv again this morning. Eric spoke again, this time on the two times Moses smote the Rock for water and the other time where Moses put the TREE in the water to make it sweet. I'm  getting to know the people there a bit better. In Sunday School today, Edmund called me up to the front to help them sing ' I may never March......' thankfully, it was
in English!  They served us dinner again and then we headed back here to Ivano in time for the gospel meeting tonight! Again a nice number was in and final arrangements were made for the ones who want to go to Lviv Friday to the conference there.

Company came in after meeting, so we ordered in pizza.  Nice to visit with some of the folks here.  Personal work is very important for sure.

We left Mary in Lviv today and we were all rather sad that she wasn't coming with us.  She is staying with Edmund and Agnes and helping them get ready for conference this next week-end.  We will go up again on Fri. and give a hand as well.  That might be my last trip up to Lviv.  There is a possibility that I will stay the rest of next week and help out a bit with
the work there, before flying back to Canada!

So, this could be my last few days in Ivano.  There is lots to do, so we will keep busy.  Possibly another trip into the mountains and another trip to the school we were at the first week.  They need cleaning supplies. Eric just received boxes of tracts, so will stand on a busy street corner and give some out!

Thanks again for all your prayers!
Eric Margie Mary and Bonnie 


Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Eric and Bonnie's Joint report # 4



    Hello  .... This was written by Bonnie again as I've been struggling with flue, so with arrangements and meetings it hasn't been busy. God is good at all times and we rejoice in everything. We value your prayers ...ERIC


Hello family and friends,
Eric reminded me tonight that I hadn't put out a report for two days, so here goes!

IYesterday was an exciting and happy day for us!  Margie and I had put together several baby bags, with blankets, diapers, clothing, a Bible and some literature!  So after breakfast we headed to the children's hospital with a suitcase full!  What a thrill to go into each room and give a mother and her new born baby a bag!  They were happy to get them and we even got to cuddle some babies!  Wonderful to be able to put a smile on their faces!

We were invited to blind Maria's house for lunch!  What a lunch it was!  Homemade borscht (sp) along with cheese, cold meat, bread and meat patties!  Then out came the perogies!  They were so so good!  Homemade with homemade cheese in them, with homemade sour cream to put over them!  I will never tell how many Margie and I ate!  ?. Her elderly mother came in for a visit and what a sweet lady!  Had her kerchief tied under her chin and had a smiley round face!  A true Babushka!

We came back to the apt. To drop Eric off and then Volodia took us to a market.  It was closing up for the day, so we went to another one close to where we live.  We walked there and had a fun time looking at many interesting things.  Went into a few stores that sold things from Ukraine!

We were invited to the home of a Christian man who lives with his son, his wife and little girl!  Another wonderful meal!  We ate so much yesterday that at 10:30 last night decided to go for a walk!  My flashlight came in handy!  Volodia was with us, so no need for alarm!

Today was a rainy dull day!  Our first visit was to the orphanage we went to last week!  Today, I took candy, toy cars and hair clips and ponies and had fun giving them out!  Managed to video the children singing Jesus Loves me in their language!  Then went to the office of the principal where she served us tea and cookies!  Thankful that we were able to help her with a bit of money as so often the staff have to go without pay so they can buy food for the children!  Before we went to the orphanage, we went to the grocery store to buy some food for a crippled lady who lives near there!  After we took the food into her apt. I went out to the van and cried!  I have no words to describe where she lives.

Stopped for a yummy lunch and then we went to the grocery store again to buy food for a family who just arrived from the war zone!  They have 4 children and the husband is presently in the hospital and is disabled in some way!  The traffic was so bad coming back that we were almost late for meeting.  It was the biggest meeting so far!  And it was such a rainy night.  The rain stopped long enough for some of us to walk home.

After meeting and our supper, the van was loaded with boxes as we are heading to the mountains in the morning.  Plan on being gone until Thurs. night.  Please pray for safety as we travel.  We will be visiting a school, so have loaded up with school supplies and will also be distributing clothes for the winter!

Thinking of you all back in North America and so thankful to know you are praying for us here in Ukraine!

Love to all,  Eric Margie Mary  Fowler
Bonnie

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

#2 Report from Ukraine by Bonnie Sharpe.




Hello again from Ukraine,(Bonnie writing for the first time in Ukraine.)

Our day is almost finished and I guess it is around 1 pm or later, depending on where you are!

Please pray for Eric!  He has picked up a bad cold and tries to carry on here even tho he isn't feeling well!  We have no plans to visit tomorrow, so hopefully, he can stay in and rest.

I must tell you about the drivers here.  Valodia is our driver and I trust his driving, but there are times that I cover my eyes, waiting for a crash!  The roads are mostly narrow and never straight!  Cars are parked everywhere, so it is difficult to get down a street.  There are times that a vehicle is coming right at you and you wonder where to go.  Mix in bikes and people walking and yikes!!!!

Today was a visiting day.  We went to see Natalia, a dear Christian who has been on her back in bed for several years.  She has MS, I believe!  She always has a smile on her face.  Her mother quit her job to take care of her.  Her mom, Slava served us tea, grapes and sweets and sent us away with a bag of dried apples.

We stopped for lunch and then Margie, Lena and I headed to a hospital by taxi to visit a lady there.  We were sent to the wrong hospital, so after a few phones calls, we walked to the right hospital.  Dana was in her bed in a room with nine other beds.  Her left leg won't work, so not sure if she had a stroke!  While we were visiting her, Eric and Valodia visited her daughter-in-law and two girls.  Her husband passed away.  She has had no power for several months, so no fridge, lights or heat.  Eric is going tomorrow to help out with getting her power again.  We walked back to our apt.  It was so lovely to get a good walk and the sun was shining for a bit today.

Lena (another Lena) wanted Eric and Margie and I to go and see a flat which she has bought and needs to fix up!  I have pictures of the inside and I have no words to describe it!  It needs a miracle!  Lena is a single mom of a teen-age girl.  Trying to find someone she can trust to do some of the work is a challenge and then finding the money to do it will be hard too!  I am sure she will not be living there for several years.  It is heart breaking!

We picked up pizza on our way home, so had a nice supper with four of our friends here.  Dema is a young man who comes to the meeting and has been with us quite a bit. 

For my Waubaushene friends, we were very thankful to receive all five boxes that were sent a few weeks ago.  Margie and I really needed some baby clothes, so we're more than thankful to have a box of baby clothes arrive today.  All in all, 15 boxes came, so lots of unpacking and sorting tomorrow!

Wishing you all a lovely week-end!

love,
Bonnie, Margie Mary and Eric

First Report from Eric Fowler in Ukraine. October 2015

Written October 14th. 
 Hello   Prayer Partners ......
Lord's Day ...... day 1
Lord's day came to early and mighty tired but great to be here . Breakfast was manna and bread and cheese, then off to meeting. Meeting was little small some Saints away Luba was up from Ivano Frankivsk, 2.5 hrs. away by bus for her, she is so faithful.  The meeting was nice and All the men worshipped, I spoke on WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM. 1 John 3 and Philemon and his example of being like the Lord now. Then a wee lunch and off to Ivano Frankivsk One joy is that the Road to Ivano is almost paved new. What a blessing
The meeting there I thought would be a wash out. Rain with snow but God was good with 21 of us there. I spoke on HEAVEN ...... OUR HOPE ... THROUGH  Christ. I later heard from home that two of the Saints from Labrador went to heaven while we were travelling here. Amazing thinking of being there for EVER. Then went to Lenna's for supper with here and her daughter,they were not at meeting as they were tired, they just got back from visiting far away relatives. We went back to apartment but the heat wasn't up so cold there but soon got ok when turned on. Tired and rest was ok
   Monday  ... Day 2 
Rising was easy and wasn't extra early. Rain and snow again and a very dark day.

Went to bank to exchange money and got nice rate at a bank which we used in March. God is good. Got hair cut at the friendly spot at the top of Franko St.  Came home and Lena's the lady who will help us for time we are here .
We went for Groceries for our selves and apples and Oranges for  an Orphanage of 32 children Bonnie had candy to take ... also we gave them a text each...they were all different than in March. all small children.
Then went to German company in town for special mops for cleaning in the  Hospital . Then went to the Orphanage  to speak to the children. The Main lady wasn't there so visit was short but good.   The children were quiet and listened very well. Back home now to rest and  read and supper.

Eric,
 Margie Mary and Bonnie Sharpe.