Dear
Praying friends. July
2016
Early
in the month I took another MRI scan because I kept feeling pain in my leg throughout
the night. I then took the scan to the Dr. and he said that it shows my ACL
needs to be repaired and that requires surgery. He said if I could live with it
as is surgery is not needed, so I am use a brace for the knee and so far so
good!
I
was asked to visit one old blind lady with leg problems. They told me that she
has an interest in the bible and wanted to talk so I met with her. A very nice
lady and listened very well as I shared the gospel to her and seemed to agree
with all I said but when I asked her if she know she was forgiven she was lost
all over again. All her siblings have died and only one living brother is left
but sick and may die soon. She started to cry and said if her brother dies she
will be an orphan having no family. I shared with her that all who are in
Christ are in the Family of God and God the Father promise that He will never
leave or forsake His own!
There
is a woman that is looking after her and I gave her some tracts to read to the
blind lady and hope that both can be reached with the Gospel message, the good
news of being forgiven by God! (WOW, what good news that really is!!)
The
highlight of the month was having Larry and Ruth Perkins staying with me just
before I left Ukraine. They were a great help in many ways and the people here
took a big liking towards them and many remembered them from last year. Though
there was so much to be done we did what
we could with the time we had. Ruth really went out of her way when she started
to scrub the kitchen floor with a toothbrush! I did not think it was that bad
but it did look a lot nicer when she was done! I wanted to take a picture of
her doing this but did not want people to think this would be one of their
duties plus given bread and water for them to stay here!
We
visited one family that lives far out in the country side. Once you get off the
long dusty gravel road then you make a turn into the forest. It seemed like the
middle of nowhere but on the other side of the forest there is a small village
which is where they live. I have not seen them in more than a year and know
they have two more children which makes a total of four. He needs to leave the
country from time to time to earn some money. Where they live they have no
shower and would like to make one but no money. They are now having bible
meetings in their house once a week and wanted us to visit but we had no time
as they have them on Sundays. They also wanted us to meet one Amish family that
has come to a few of their bible meetings, I do hope to meet them in the
future. We had a good talk and hope it would be of some encouragement to them.
We left them a box, things for the children and for the house.
There
is one lady who comes to the meetings and asked for prayer for I think it was
her grandson, who was sick in the hospital and she was very burdened by it,
well he died, just 8 years old. She was full of tears for a few of the meetings
then stop coming. Last year when Larry and Ruth were here we had a nice visit
at her small apartment and was hoping to make another visit but could not reach
her. I think it had something to do with the 40 days after his death. She did
show up at the last meeting I had looking very sad with teary eyes. Another
woman said after one of the meetings, God did not help this time. This lady
would profess to be a Christian and was hoping we could spend some time with
her but no time opened up, her name is Anna.
We
visited a few sanatorium, one of them we visit quite often is far and the road
is not very good half of the way there. As we arrived we met with the director,
he’s a big man and very nice also! They were having some kind of outdoor
activity with the kids, making chocolate and putting them in little cups with
berries. They asked us if we would like to have the meeting outside and since
the kids were out and it was a beautiful day we said we would. They set up the
chairs and the kids all sat. There were possibly 75 kids most of them sitting
and some of the off to the side with the nurses and teachers. Both Larry and I
spoke and I thought they all listened very well! We then gave out New
Testaments to those that asked plus bible texts and some candy. We bought some
games and brought boxes of clothes and gave it to them which were some of the
things they have asked for. They fed us lunch before we headed back on those
roads, that was nice of them!
Had
a children’s meeting for the locals in a new place, about 10 to 12 children
plus their parents came to the meeting. Larry gave the message I tried to do
the songs and the games and we had some snacks afterwards. I thought it went
well and would have liked to have another one but had no time! Larry also took part
in each of the local meetings in Ivano and spoke in the Lviv assembly the two
Lord’s Day we were there!
Larry
and Ruth were a big help and an encouragement not only to me but to others as
well! A big thank you to them for having a desire to come and be used of the
Lord! And a big thank you to all who has sent boxes and have continued in
prayer!
I
am now in Moldova and may visit the Christians in Romania as well. Please pray
that God would bless the time spent with the Christians in these places!!
Thank
You!
In
Christ our Lord!
Dan
