Ukraine Fall 2009 Report #3

Wednesday October 21, 2009

We got up to a cloudy but dry day with temperature around 7C. We were to start a little earlier as we had to go into the country to a boy’s prison.

First we had to buy some bibles from the bible society for Ivano Frankivsk when we go on Thursday.

We headed out with the load of bibles as well as some boxes of school supplies for the school in the prison. The town is called San Bier and is an hour away from Lviv.

There have been several visits to this prison; I was there several years ago. We were met by a charming Christian lady who is in charge; it seems, of the religious education of these boys. We were ushered into the Head Warden’s office and treated to tea and cookies. After formal introductions, we went into the prison proper, through many locked gates, surrendered our passports and cell phones and made our way up to the nice auditorium on the top floor.

There were 60 or so of the population of 200 boys, aged from 10 or 11 to 18 or so. We didn’t get the actual figures but the last time Flo was there she met an 11 year old who had cut his mothers head off. There are some real young criminals there.

There were several warders with them and the boys looked the picture of misery and hopelessness.

Howard spoke first and I followed after. God gave help as I used the rope “trick” showing how there are not good sinners and bad sinners but rather we have ALL sinned and ALL need a Saviour.

We couldn’t have had a better audience. When we had finished a tall good looking prisoner stood up and thanked us very much for coming. They then all clapped.

We were able to give them John 3:16’s and I was even allowed to take a picture, something that is not usually allowed.

We stopped for a nice meal on the way home and then came and prepared for the meeting tonight in our apartment. There were 14 of us, some were sick and some were working. God gave help to Howard and we then had a birthday lunch for one of the ladies, with birthday cake and fruit salad and meats and pickled herrings. A really great combination!

We are now packed up ready to go to Ivano Frankivsk tomorrow at 9:30. DV.