Ukraine Spring Report #4

Report #4 Wednesday from Lviv.

Not a very nice morning, wet and damp. We all had a good night’s sleep, for the first time here.

A good omlette for breakfast, very tasty and good on a cold dull day.

Ruslan came for us and we went to his old apartment to pick up his old fridge and gas stove. They were both in lovely condition but we were going to donate them to the boy’s prison that we were going to visit today. The reason we were donating them was that the prison is starting some training programs for the boy’s to fit them for re-entry into society. Cooking classes are to be one of the programs. We paid Ruslan half the price of a new set that he is going to place in the apartment. Brother Edmond Johnston and his wife from Ireland plan on coming to work full time in Ukraine and will be renting this apartment.

We headed out into the country on our way to Kolomia, where the prison is located. It is about an hour and a half from Lviv on mainly good roads until we hit the city, then they change drastically.

We were welcomed warmly by prison staff and the main teacher in the prison school who is a Christian and whose wife also teaches a Christian Ethics class to the boys.

After being checked in through the guard house we went up to the auditorium. The boys came in and almost filled it. They are completely orderly and very attentive. There were over 70 counting several staff. Both David and Nick gave a short message and then I spoke using a flashlight that would not work because a battery was in wrong. They listened very well and responded when they were asked. Ruslan interpreted very ably and finished with a little word.

When we went outside, we were told that we were free to come at any time and what we preached was just what the boys needed. This was very encouraging.

We headed up the road a little and stopped at a restaurant for good soup and some pirogues.

We got ready for meeting once we were home and had a good time with a fairly good turn out with just two people sick. We were treated to a sister reciting Psalms 1-3 from memory, then Andrei ,who has a speech impediment and is being baptized on Saturday, recited the whole old testament books. It is so encouraging to see the growth in these Christians. He then told us he had got a job and starts work tomorrow. PTL.

All for now, God bless and thank you for praying.

Malcolm and the Crew.