Greetings from Ivano Frankivsk,
Ukraine.
I visited Marika, Luba’s daughter, at
the maternity hospital to see how she was doing and to see the newest member of
their family, little Evelyn. I think I was the first after her husband to see
the baby. I brought some things I thought she would need.
After I left Marika I went to visit her
mother Luba at another hospital. Luba was not feeling well and the ambulance
came and took her to the hospital, there she stayed for more than a week and
needed help with getting the necessary drugs, I was thankful that I could
help! (Not sure of her problem)
The head nurse at the maternity
hospital, who we have known for years, asked if I could buy a desk for her
office. She shared how all of the workers received a raise in their salary and
expressed how disappointed she was with what she got. She continue to say how
she and other employees have to put some of their own money to get some things
for the hospital such as a desk,or else they can get a fine from the government, this is not
right but I could see they have no choice.
I did end up getting a desk for her and
assembled it in her office. I also brought a couple of boxes of clothes for the
staff and a box of bed sheets for the hospital beds which are desperately
needed here and in most of the places we visit, she was thankful for the help!
I went to the village a few times
where Hallia, whereYaroslav's wife is staying. Yaroslav is in fellowship in the Lviv
assembly. She is not but was staying in the village, to take care of her mother,
but her mother died some time ago and now Halia’s health has failed. One of the last times I went to visit her I
was asked if I could pick her up and take her to the hospital. Her village is
about two hours from Ivano and though some of the roads condition have
improve there are still a lot of bad areas on the way. They wanted me to bring
her to town for a doctor's appointment . I went up with their son and though he
speaks little English we still communicated well. On the way back Hallia
was having a hard time breathing plus we were running late for her appointment
so I tried to go as fast as I could to get to her appointment in one piece! We
just made it on time to the appointment and later I was told that the doctor
said she had suffered a minor heart attack and if she had not made it to the
hospital she could have died, Needless to say the family was very thankful for the help. Here too there were needs for financial help, so was able to help some
but much more is needed for surgery.
I visited one orphanage called a
children's shelter that is in town. It is not a big place but they are trying
to improve their facility to better accommodate the children's needs. I wanted
to visit them earlier but they were busy with the opening of their new
psychology department. The mayor was there and other political people as well
as religious leaders and much media. I visited a week later and the director
was happy to show me their new department. One of the latest methods coming
from Europe is to treat children with light therapy. The room has various lights
with different colors and shapes. Children with emotional difficulties would go
in for a time with a psychiatrist and work on whatever the issue of the child
might be, by using these lights. It felt comfortable in the room and I asked if
I could come to be treated but he only smiled!
I did speak briefly to the
children and they listened well and received a calendar, bible text and gospel
tract and whoever wanted new testaments received one. I also brought some boxes
of clothes and shoes. The director wanted to take some photos to put on their
Face book page.
I visited one new school in a small
village about 30 minutes from town. They were very attentive and looked very
happy to see a different face in their school. I first met with the director of
the school. He wanted to meet me and I can see he was a little nervous when he
said he wanted to ask me some questions. He asked various questions like why do
I want to speak to the students, what will be the purpose, what "confession" do I
represent and so on. He apologised for asking these questions but said he is
responsible for what goes on at the school. I told him I understood fully
and I was not offended at all.
I had planned to speak to one group of
students, but there were other teachers as well as the vice principal in the
room. When I was done the English teacher ask if I can speak to
another group. I told her I did not have too much time, she was so eager that
she started to bring in the next group of students. Though I had an important
meeting in town I could not pass this opportunity up and gladly spoke to these
students too! As I was leaving the director gave me a very warm thank
you and said that the teacher and the vice principal had very good things to
say and the students liked it very much. I was somewhat surprised because God's
plan of salvation I thought came out very clear and I was still welcome back,
Praise God!! Here too they received calendars, bible texts, new testaments and
some sweets and boxes of clothing.
There has been a surprising development
for me, I have received my residence that will allow me to stay in Ukraine.
This means that I can come and go in and out of the country as I wish without
the 90 days restriction. There were a lot of red tape and a lot of wrong
information and a lot of barriers along the way that seemed to be making it impossible!
I had very little to do with this because I saw the impossibilities, it was one
of those things where it went up to the last day, the last hour, the last
minutes before closing that I was approved, something that I see only God could
do!!
I had my bags packed for the next day I
had to leave Ukraine, and was planning to go to another country. Now that I have no
time limit I could still go for a few weeks if needed and would still be able
to continue with the work here. Not sure how God will orchestrate things but He
has made the impossible possible!
Eric and Margie and Heather
will be coming to Ukraine for the month of April, pray for their safety and
God's blessing while here!
Please continue to pray for each gospel
meetings both in the rented room and in the apartment, for the schools and
orphanages and villages we visit that they will receive God's word, for the
many who we know that are sick and need much help! Please pray
for me also that I would be faithful to His word and for physical and spiritual
health and strength!!
Thank You all very much for your needed
prayers!!
In Christ our Lord!
Dan
