Fall 2010 update, and vehicle setback

Summer is almost over, the harvest is well on the way and we have not written for some time. I suppose once we have all come home from Ukraine, there is not the usual news to pass on. Well, things are opening up with Flo already for 3 months, and then Howard and another brother are going in October followed by Eric Fowler and his wife in November. This should give good coverage until winter when it is not advisable to go as travel is not good.

I am not planning to go back until spring, God willing. As far as I know, meetings continued in Flo’s apartment with Brother and Sister Edmund and Agnes Johnson from Ireland now living in Lviv.

The meetings continued with a little interest after we left in the spring. Vadym did some Bible teaching from outlines I sent to him until the apartment got too hot for meetings when the temperature got to 40C outside at one time.

I want to share how difficult it can be for a Christian to get going in business when he or she will not work dishonestly. When we were there in the spring in Ivano Frankivsk, we realized we needed a vehicle, big enough to carry us and boxes to deliver to those in need. After we left, Vadym, our man there, located a van and sent us pictures. It looked good and was not a high price. Vadym had a Toyota car that he owned and had fixed up which the owner of the van said he would take plus $1,500 US.

In the meantime Vadym sold the Toyota and headed to Lviv to pick up the van with the $3,000 he got for the car and $1,500 we had supplied him with. When he got there he was not happy with something about the vehicle or the owner and decided not to buy it. While he was at the bus stop waiting to return home, he was attacked by 3 men who robbed him of the money for the van plus all his personal items, driver’s license, passport etc. They broke his arm and messed up his face. He spent 3 weeks in hospital but is now out and able to work again.

Your guess is as good as mine who tipped them off that he had money.

So goes Ukraine for many people. No recourse or help from police even though they come to the scene and take reports. They even called him in to identify 3 men but they were not his attackers.

Thankfully, he did not have the $1,000 that was to go to Tania’s mother who was having the surgery on her nose. Tania, with her mother, are returning to Kiev as soon as they know the date for the last surgery on her nose. The surgeon has done an amazing job already and I know she will be a lovely looking woman again. Vadym was able to deliver the money in time for their trip to Kiev for an appointment.

We don’t know what to do about a vehicle now; we are back to rock bottom and so will see what God has in mind. Vadym is trying to borrow or rent one for Howard Pratt's and Eric Fowler's visits in October and November.

Thank you for your prayerful interest in the work in the Lviv and Ivano Frankivsk region of Western Ukraine.

Your Brother in Christ.

Malcolm Stanley.

Report from Flo

Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ;

I would like to thank all who have been so supportive in the work in Ukraine. Your continued support has enabled us to continue there.
This spring we were happy to see definite growth amongst the christians in Lviv. There were two brothers who obeyed the Lord in baptism and are now in fellowship. There has been a very noticable drawing together with the believers. I am happy to complain
that the apartment that we rent is beginning to get too small for the meetings, but for now we continue there. Please pray for us in this regard.
Bible distribution went very well this spring. We were able to visit quite a few schools where Bibles were given and the gospel message was preached. Only the Lord knows where this will go, but we do know of a couple of young people that have received Christ in this way, in past work.
We continue to work amongst the needy in supplying food, clothing and medicine. I thank all who are of so great assistance in supplying for these needs.
For me. a work that is very close to my heart, is the work in the childrens homes (orphanages) There are never ending needs there, and these homes are a great outreach for the gospel. It was very gratifying for me to encounter a young man in the bible society last fall, who told me that he had been saved through the work at Viliky Luben ( a childrens home) through our efforts there. He went on to tell me how it changed his life and now he is trying to reach out to other young people.
Another avenue that has opened up to us is the boys colony( jail) in Sambir. they call it a colony but it is very much a jail . We have visited there 4 times this year and the door is open to us to continue to work there. One boy came out to meeting upon his release and told me, he wished to continue to come out. Time will tell.
It was very nice to meet and work with Agnes and Edmond Jonston from N. Ireland, who have been commended to the work in Ukraine. Their exercise is to work in Lviv and area. I believe that this is an answer to prayer and am looking forward to working with them in the will of the Lord. They are not yet living in Ukraine as it takes time to get everything settlrd, but they will be spending as much time as possible there right now.
Again I thank our good Lord and you for all the blessing that have been received. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Your sister because of Calvary
Flo Kancir

Ukraine Spring Report #19 (Final)

Final report for May 5-7^th 2010.

Sorry about the long wait but things got so hectic as we tried to tie up our last days visits. Then when I got home my computer would not connect to the internet until yesterday morning.

Well on Wednesday I decided to help Vadym clean up his garden and hope to have further conversation with Sveta, his wife. She told me several days ago that she had prayed while alone in her car, after the last conversation we had about her need of salvation. She told the Lord that she knew she was a sinner and that Christ had dies for her on the cross. The problem was that she didn’t feel anything or any better. I told her that it was not feelings she needed but faith and that we would talk again.

The opportunity came after supper on Wednesday. She got her bible and sat down and wanted to read the verses I had for her. I can only hope she got her assurance from the Word of God.

Thursday, we had planned to have a little meeting with the people at 4:30 and then have a little snack before saying our good-byes. I had brought 2 boxes of carrot cake muffin mix so started to prepare everything. My biggest concern was the gas oven and whether the temp guage was accurate or not.

The first batch proved it was not accurate and the bottoms of the muffins were a little burnt. I lowered the heat and the other 3 batches were fine. They cooled and I iced them. I must say they were very good. (I ate the burnt ones !)

About 20 people came at 4:30 and we had a little word and then the muffins, cookies and tea, coffee and cold drinks. It is always tough saying goodbye as one never knows who we will see again.

As I had mentioned in previous reports, Vadym had real problems getting his much needed distributor for his car. It was eventually sent on the bus on Thursday, but not in time for us to leave for Lviv. But, as usual, God knew about the problem and solved it for us. The lady who had rented us her car had some business to do in Lviv and said she would gladly take me there. So Vadym drove and we arrived at Flo Kancir’s just after supper. God is so good. On the way to Lviv we passed the bus bringing the part for Vadym’s car. He told me later by phone, it was the right part this time!

The work will continue for another month with Flo, Gilles Plourde, John Wenkells and Howard Pratt working in both Lviv and Ivano.

Friday was the day of my departure and everything went according to plan until our arrival in Chicago.

Our departure from Munich was delayed about half an hour, while they made sure we could get through the ash cloud that had spread again into Europe. We had a change of direction, going more North than West, to go around Iceland rather than past it from the South. This made us a little late getting to Chicago and we missed our landing spot. We circled the airport for one hour and this meant that many of us missed our connections. So, we spent Friday night in the Four Points Hotel, courtesy of Lufthansa.

And so ended my 12^th trip to Ukraine. I can only pray that the many souls who now own Christ as their Lord, will go on for God and that Assemblies will one day be formed in both Lviv and Ivano Frankivsk.

Please continue to pray for the Christians that they will obey God in Baptism and in Godly living.

Thank you, each one and each assembly, for your remembrance of us in your prayers. Even though we are now home, we are packing and sending boxes of humanitarian aid to both places, to aid the dear people left in such poverty.

Your Brother in Christ.

Malcolm Stanley.

Ukraine Spring Report #18

Report #18 for Tuesday May 4^th.

Another lovely day with sunshine and no rain. We planned to go to a new town and institution today and so got ready early planning to leave by 8:30.

As the home we were going to in Sniatin was a mental home for boys, we got some boxes of clothing and some junior Pampers loaded as well as children’s picture stories of the life of Jesus.

We got there in good time through the most gorgeous countryside. Rolling hill and large fields already green with winter wheat. We saw a large farm in a valley with brand new John Deere tractors and new machinery and a fleet of grain trucks. Some Foreign Farming Companies have leased land , this must be one of them.

We greeted by some of the higher grade boys, waving us into the facility. It looked in fairly good condition though not new by any means. The director came to meet us and welcomed us into his office.

His name in Leonard in English and he gave us his history. He was born in Sniatin and after his military service, came home and was voted Mayor for a term. After his term he was asked to be the Director of this home. He had been there 25 years now.

He asked me to speak to the boys, they are from 4, I think to 18. They came together outside in an area with a long seat and I spoke to them. I didn’t preach this time as it was such a mixed multitude, I didn’t know what to say. (That’s a first for me!) I just told them why we came and then gave them all one of the picture bible books. I gave all the staff a New Testament, a Seed Sowers John 3:16 and a Calendar.

We then were taken on a tour of the facility and the different projects the boys work on.

Firstly we saw where they raise lovely guinea pigs that are sold to the hospital and University for research. So sad, why didn’t they raise rats, there not so cute. The area was spotlessly clean.

We then went to the shop where they make brooms. The ones here are like a witche’s broom, without the handle. Not only do they make the brooms, they plant the seed to grow the stalks to make the brooms. They have a contract to supply some large stores.

Then we went inside and down the hall from the Administrators office was a room full of cages of cockatiel “parrots” as they call them. Again, spotlessly clean with no smell. Nesting boxes with bald babies in them and a large cage with babies learning to fly and others growing. Simply amazing. Even all the wooded cages were made by the boys.

The walls were lined with artwork that the boys had made in every different material you could think of. The boys in the carpenters shop make all the frames and a lot of the furniture.

We didn’t get to see the pasta making room or the sewing room, but we did see pictures.

We had to say that we have never seen an institution that is training its inmates so well. I asked if they had any needs and his answers were shocking when he told us how much he gets per day to feed a hungry boy. Much of the profit from the sale of birds and animals goes to subsidize the food bill.

There is nothing left over for cleaning supplies, laundry powder, clothing or maintenance. He told us that they do all their own painting, he even paints.

We will help them with some cleaning supplies when we hope some of the other men go to visit.

We had a nice meeting at 5pm with about 12 or 13 present. One man rushed in from his Dachau and slept most of the meeting.

Altogether a profitable day as we try to fit in some visits before heading home from Lviv on Friday.

Thanks for your prayers.

Malcolm.

Ukraine Spring Report #17

Report #17 for Monday May 3 2010

I woke early to a cloudy day but still a pleasant temperature. I boiled two eggs but didn’t have a timer and they ran out onto my plate. I put the second one back into the pan and scrambled it.

I knew we were not going anywhere first thing this morning, so set out to listen to some messages on cd and read some. I was really challenged by the two preachers I listened to, and felt the time spent very profitable.

I called Vadym about noon and found he had worked on the car until about 4am, so was just getting going. I ate lunch and he arrived. While he was here, Max Mclean called me on Skype and we all talked and could see each other. It was the first time Max and Vadym had met since 2004.

We then headed out to change some Canadian money and load our phones again. This is very convenient. We just stopped at a machine fastened to a light pole, selected a provider, punched in our phone # and put 50 R in the slot. Voila! The money goes into your phone, faster than it took me to type this.

We went to see a car parts shop behind the Priest’s home we stayed in for 3 different times. I said I would like to renew the acquaintance again so we rattled the gate and both Roman, the priest and his wife were home. Well you would have thought we were family. Hugs and kisses and coffee and cake.

Sad to say the conversation was mainly about a “sister” who we will refrain from naming, who was once a great help to us in finding needy families and orphanages, but has gone absolutely “rabid” Charismatic.

She comes and visits the priest and tries to convert him (which is not a bad idea!) but dances before them and even brought their pastor who tried to anoint him with the Holy Spirit.

These antics, along with pleas for funds because they are so poor, has really hindered any appreciation of so called evangelicals.

Well we were able to convince him that we would have none of that nonsense and I was able to witness to him the SIMPLE gospel without all the other “add-ons”.

We were pleaded with to come and stay with them again sometime, but that will not be necessary now.

We did some shopping and went home to a late supper at Vadym’s and then went to visit a sister, Marie, who comes to every meeting. She has a husband who had a stroke 18 years ago and cannot leave the one room apartment on the 9^th floor of a former student dormitory. They share cooking and toilets with several other families. It’s worse than our prisons!

On previous occasions, we have not had opportunity to share the gospel, but this time I was determined to do so. He couldn’t have been nicer, he listened intently. Marie said that she was able to read the bible to him last night. I really pray this man will get saved.

I forgot to mention that having rushed over there from our full chicken supper, Marie had a table full of food too! We were not able to do much with it but tried to sample a little of each item.

All for now, heading out to a new town and home for mentally handicapped.

God bless and keep praying.

Malcolm

Ukraine Spring Report #16

Report #16 for Sunday May 2^nd.

It was a lovely Spring morning with the pigeons cooing outside and the trees in full leaf, I forgot to say that when I came home the other night, there was a hedgehog right under my kitchen window, walking towards the apartment door. He looked so cute but I didn’t disturb him.

Only 13 out to meeting but was very happy to have Sveta, Vadym’s wife and Amelia come for the first time.

I spoke on the Passover lamb and how it spoke so clearly of Christ the Lamb of God and what it meant when Christ said “finished” (only one word in the Ukrainian Bible), and what the rending of the veil meant.

Then Vadym spoke about Lazarus and the rich man and seemed to be well received.

We gave out seeds to the people, who were there, they seemed very happy to get them.

We then went to Vadym’s for a shishleke (Shish kebob) supper. Vadym was working on the car with another mechanic trying to fit it with shocks all round. It doesn’t look as if it will be done, everything is so rusted.

Sveta brought me home in her car and told me that she sat in her car the other night and told God she knew she was a sinner and believed in God, but she doesn’t know if anything happened. I told her the only way she will know that anything happened is to believe what the bible says. I had to leave it there but will talk later.

All for now, don’t know what tomorrow will hold for 2 reasons, one it is a holiday and everywhere will be closed and 2, will we have a car? Please pray for us.

Love in Christ.

Malcolm

Ukraine Spring Report #15

Report 15 for Friday and Saturday.

Vadym and I headed out to Yabluniv and were there 15 minutes before 10 am, that’s a first!!

We found we were speaking to 2 or 3 classes of grade 4 and 5’s packed into a classroom.

They were very interested and took great part in answering questions. There were 5 or 6 teachers in as well who also seemed to enjoy what we had to say.

We then went to the senior’s home and delivered a big box of pampers. It seems by all the bags and boxes of vegetables in the office that they depend very much on charity to keep going.

We went over to the orphanage to see some of the performance the students are performing in Kiev this month but there were not enough of them and they would have to change etc. So we watched a DVD of a performance they had done for a minister from the Education Dept. It was quite good and they gave me a DVD of it. (The performance was good the taping was not)

Saturday.

A day to clean up the apartment, put another set of metal shelves together, sort out a lot of empty and half empty boxes of clothing. It looks like we have lots of winter clothing but hardly any summer clothing. I washed a pair of white sheets and it took 4 hours? These washing machines are so slow but I think we had it on a wrong setting as I did a load in an hour tonight after Vadym came and read the instructions. (If at first………… alright I know the rest!).

Felt very fit and brave, so walked down town to the market and bought some things and walked back and CRASHED for an hour. The reason I was so tired was that it was very hot today and had nothing to do with my fitness.

Spent the rest of the afternoon preparing for Sunday.

Poor Vadym was beside himself. A week ago he ordered a part for his Toyota car. It was only available from another city and was sent by bus. It was the wrong part, so Vadym phoned and told the man specifically what he wanted. The part arrived today the same as the first one!! The problem is now that every where is closed until Tuesday. We are going to be using his father’s old Lada for a few days.

So goes Ukraine, carelessness about so many things.

Went out for pizza for supper and then helped get the Lada to Vadym’s home, it was at their datcha and had not been run for 6 months as his father passed away a month ago.

Not very productive but you need a day like this sometimes, to clean up and catch up.

God bless you all and please pray that we will be lead to the right places for my last 4 days.

Malcolm

Ukraine Spring Report #14

Report #14 Wednesday and Thursday

Wednesday was another lovely sunny day, up in the 20’s C. So many tulips everywhere; every garden seems to be loaded with them as well as public parks. There are people, either parents or grandparents walking everywhere wheeling babies and walking pre-schooler.

We set off for Labulin where the orphanage, and the peoples home are. There is also a large school that we have visited a number of times before. We went to the school to see when we could talk to the kids.

Administrator was away but the assistant told to come back on Friday at 10 am, as the young children leave school early and we need to be there early if we want to speak to them.

We said we would come on Friday and went on to the orphanage to deliver the material we had bought for the costumes the students needed for the competition they were entering in May.

The administrator was also away, it seems to be the time of year for staff in-services, as either the administrators or teachers seem to be away.

We then went to the senior’s home and gave them a walker we had sent from Canada and 3 bundles of adult pampers.

Not a very profitable day as far a speaking to children but that is how it goes. We tried to find the phone number of the school before going but no one seemed to know it. (Strange because Vadym seems to have everyone’s phone number in the whole area in his phone!).

I can’t remember what we did when we came home, I must have been tired, I know we went to bed early.

All for Wednesday.

Thursday was another bright sunny day. As it was Nick’s last day here, we spent most of the day around town. We went to visit Natalia, the 36 year old who is bedridden with MS. We got to cheer her up and she cheers us up with her ready smile and happy attitude. Her mother and boy friend were also there, so there was plenty to talk about. She was telling us about a TV program that told about the discovery in the US of a cure for MS. We had not heard about it, but she and her mother were quite excited about it.

Her biggest concern now is the awful rash she has on her face from a reaction to one of her drugs. She looks as if she has got a 3^rd degree sunburn, but it is healing.

We left there and headed to the Epi-Centre to buy a folding bed, as most people visiting in our apartment would not want to sleep on cushions on the floor like Nick did, by choice I might add!

We cleaned up the apartment for the meeting at 5pm and got Nick packed ready to leave for Lviv right after meeting.

There were a nice number of people at meeting and we had Vadym speak to the people first. He seemed to do very well as the people listened attentively. Then Nick gave his final message and I closed.

Funny enough, we all spoke from Romans.

After meeting we gave prizes to the 4 people who said the books of the Old Testament. We gave the 3 ladies a bunch of flowers and some money and the young man an insulated mug and some money.

They all seemed very happy.

We then rushed off to Lviv for the 2 hour drive, dropped of Nick at Flo’s, spoke to Howard who arrive at 4 pm and was still in a zombie state. Then back home arriving at 11pm. very tired.

All for now, keep praying. Malcolm

Ukraine Spring Report #13

Report # 13 for Monday April 25.

We had to be up early as we were going to a very large school over 2 hours
away right on the Romanian border. It is one of those out of the way
forgotten towns and schools. They don't even have a gas supply, the pipe
ended at the border and they heat the 400 student school with scrap wood
from a saw mill.
We had phoned to ask if they had any needs that we could help them with
and they needed sports equipment. We went to a very good sports equipment
store that gives us a 10% discount. We bought some soccer, volley ball and
a basket balls, a volley ball net and a badminton set.
We met with about 100 or more of the students, the senior graduating class
wanted us to speak in English to them. They have a very good English
teacher and they listened very well and understood what we were saying,
when asked.
We spoke to many of the junior students but many of the middle grades
could not come as there was a fire alarm check before we got there and all
the students were on the playing field. This meant that they were out of
class and it is getting near exam time.
The equipment was very much appreciated by the lady administrator who had
a tremendous responsibility not only with the running of the school but
over 200 of the kids board at the school all week, as they live up in the
mountains and cannot travel each day.
She has over 60 staff.
We prayed with her before we left for home and got home at about 7pm, very
tired but glad for the opportunity to speak to staff and students.


Tuesday April 26.
We had a few things to do before heading out to Petriliv (Peter Village)
about an hour away. We had visited there last week and found that the
school was badly in need of school supplies. As they have always given us
a great welcome and we have always spoken to all the children, we felt we
should help them. We bought them a copier/scanner and paper, pencils and
crayons, coloured paper, pens etc. We also managed to get them a used PA
system for their auditorium.
We hit the right day as they were having an in-service with six teachers
from other schools. The students started off with a skit about "Why we
don't need mathematics". It was very good; they then had two teams answer
academic questions. All very well done.
They then asked me to speak to everyone there and tell them why we come.
It was a good opportunity in the gospel. We also gave all the teachers and
visitors New Testaments.

Then the Mayor, Olga said how much she appreciated us coming and what we
have done for the school. Then two students gave us final thank you from
the student body.
It was all very nice we REALLY are appreciated there.

We were then escorted to the dining room for a traditional Ukrainian meal.
I can't begin to explain it except that it was wonderful. We said our
goodbyes and headed back home in the pouring rain. As I write this it is
pouring right now.
We had a nice meeting at 5pm and spent some time with a lady who is not
yet saved but I think will not be long getting saved. Pray for Sveta.
All for now, God bless and keep praying.

Malcolm and Nick

Ukraine Spring Report #12

Report #12 for Saturday. April 24, 2010

We had a light breakfast today and Nick prepared it. I do the dishes or something else so it works out well.

We were to start early this morning as we had a lot of shopping to do and also wanted to visit Tania and her mother Natalia, who has the problem with her nose that has been half removed due to a serious infection and is waiting for plastic surgery.

We went to change some Canadian money. I had changed some yesterday and the man said that if I came back today with a certain amount, he would give me a better exchange rate. The rate yesterday and today was 7.20R, he said he would give me 7.25R today. Vadym phoned a man who exchanges money on the street, who we have dealt with often and he gave me 7.28R. In this country it is not what you know but who you know that counts!

We went to a store to buy school supplies for the school in Peter Village that seems to be so far off the map that they are forgotten. We plan to go and take them on Monday and may be see the Minister of Something who plans to be there as well. We also got a good price on a copier scanner for their office.

After this we went to a fabric store like I have never seen before to get material for the orphanage we went to the other day, so that they can sew costumes for the student to perform in a competition.

We are going there on Wednesday and hope to speak in the big school next to the orphanage. We have been there before and had a very good reception.

We went to Tania,s home for a light late lunch and saw Natalia again. She now has not only lost her nose but the Chemo has caused all but 3 teeth to fall out. It is strange but she never lost any hair. For a woman of 48 she looks like a poor old woman. We talked with them and spoke of hope in Christ and then gave them some funds to help them with the further surgery. They both wept openly at the generosity of the Christians in Canada for meeting their need. It was very touching. If only we can see this dear lady made whole; It will cost a great deal for the nose build up and skin graft, but God is able to provide.

Nick and I came home and I washed the outside of our apartment windows. They are lovely new windows but don’t think they had been washed for a long time. Nick made supper of pilemeni and horrible canned peas, but we were satisfied. He has just gone for a walk and I am going to get ready for meeting at 3 pm tomorrow.

Good night and God bless.

Malcolm and Nick.

Ukraine Spring Report #11

Report #11 for Friday April 23, 2010

Nick was up first today (after all, he was in bed by 9:30PM!) and cooked scrambled eggs and bacon. Sure smelt good, but not our kind of bacon, but Oh well, that’s one of the costs of being a missionary!!

We were not planning an early start so got some ironing done. By the way, Nick now has some nice cream shirts as he didn’t know that new cream towels tend to “share” their colour with anything white, including white undershirts!

Well we wondered where our driver was and called him. Well he was walking over as his car had given up the ghost. As soon as he arrived I got him to phone and find one to rent. He phoned everyone he knew and nothing was available anywhere. Then the lady who rents us our room here called him about something and he told he was trying to find a car to rent. She asked him if he wanted to rent hers. She has a Nissan Rogue SUV. He told he what it would cost to rent from a rental agency and she said she would rent for 50R less a day. So we have rented it for 7 days. It is a lovely car, like new.

So we came home and really loaded it up with children’s bible stories, baby clothes and blankets and items for an old people’s home. It was really full. We headed for one of our favorite towns Yabluniv.

We can help all ages in this town. We go to the maternity hospital with baby blankets and clothes for the new born babies. A lot of the mothers are from the hill and mountain area and are very poor. We met the head doctor of the whole hospital complex and he was very appreciative of what we were doing.

In the same building is the old people’s home and we took adult pampers and two nice blankets for two of the ladies there.

We also went across the road from the hospital to and orphanage of 127 children of all ages.

We spoke to them all and then gave each one a new tooth brush donated by my dentist, Hans Staziuk who is also of Ukrainian EXTRACTION, Excuse the dental pun.

We asked the administrator if she had any immediate need and they have students attending a Ukrainian festival and the need costumes, so we are buying the material for them to make themselves.

We then headed home rather exhausted and had supper and plan to do some much needed shopping tomorrow for medications and the material as well as school supplies for Peter Village school.

It was a gorgeous day, warm and sunny and looks as though Spring has really Sprung.

Thank you for praying. We trust Louis and Dan got home without any problems.

Malcolm and Nick.

Ukraine Spring Report #10

Note …..Louis & Dan were able to fly to Warsaw today, then over night there and on home tomorrow.

Report #10 Wednesday April 21.

As there is no meeting on Wednesday we planned to go to Petriliv, or Peter Village. Vadym had phoned to the mayor, Olga, and she said we should come in the afternoon so we arrived at 1 pm.

It is a lovely drive through the valley of the river that flooded the whole valley 2 years ago. Thankfully no one died who were flooded but many lost their homes under 6 to 8 feet of water.

The biggest surprise to , as I had not been to Petriliv for several years, before the flood. To put it mildly, the whole town was a crumbling disaster, a former large collective farm no longer operating.

Since the flood, the government has taken notice of the area and poured millions into the area. They have built about 16 lovely new, 1,2 and 3 bedroom houses, well up the hill away from the river.

The Village hall, where the Mayor, Olga’s office is, has been almost completely renovated. When I was last in it, I thought they should knock it down and build a new one.

We left Olga to go and visit the school. Most of the children were working outside either at home or helping others. We were joyfully welcomed by the Principal and teachers. There were about 20 children in school so Nick gave them a little object lesson.

We went then to the Principal’s office where we were served a late lunch of fried (cold) fish, macaroni and sauerkraut. Quite tasty really.

We found out their needs, which were many, and agreed to do what we could. The funds that came to the region did not come as far as the school, even though the water filled their gym 6 feet deep. They showed me the mark on the wall. Fortunately, the gym was in a basement.

We came right home and got ready to spend our first night in the new apartment we have rented for the meetings. The weather turned very cold and wet in the night and we had not turned the heat up, we spent an uncomfortably cold night in bed. I was in the bedroom and Nick slept on the floor in the living room on all the cushions off the divan and chairs. We are getting some better bedding for tonight.

Good night and God bless.

Thursday April 22.

The Rain had stopped in the night but there was a bitterly cold wind with snow not to far away, we were told.

Nick boiled eggs for breakfast along with toast and cereal. Quite sufficient to start the day with.

Vadym arrived in his wife’s car, as his had thrown the timing belt and was already in his garage with his mechanic fixing it.

We planned on visiting some people in town today as we had the meeting at 5pm. We went to visit one sister but she was not home, which was unusual. We found out that her son, who is mentally challenged, had to be taken to hospital for some reason. Anyway he was brought home later.

We then went to visit another home and just caught Dana as she came in from the village where she has a garden. A major renovation had been started 6 months ago but is still not completed. The man who is building her cupboards has not installed them yet. She has not had a sink for six months.

We are following up on the delay.

We shopped for some items we still needed in the apartment and got ready for Meeting tonight.

We were pleasantly surprised by a good number coming out and 3 new ladies attending.

We are hoping for a full house on Sunday.

I put up one of the sets of shelving we bought, what a job! I left the other one until tomorrow, maybe!

Good night, please keep praying.