Reports #5 and #6 Thursday and Friday.
The morning broke with lovely sunshine as we planned to have our first visit to a school in Chevronograd. (purely phonetic spelling!)
On the way there we picked up Bogdan, a Christian brother who had arranged for us to visit this new to us school. Firstly, we had to go to the Dept. of Education office and Bogdan had to try to convince a lady that we were not going to indoctrinate the children with some strange religion. We wasted about half an hour as she sat in our van and went through our literature. She eventually said we could speak to the first 4 grades, but not the seniors as they were near to their exams.
We were spirited up to the third floor auditorium where about 100 first and second grade students waited. They were very attentive as each of us spoke. We then gave out suckers and stuffed gifts along with a children’s bible story book and a children’s hanging text. We could see that the teachers were delighted and as soon as the children were dismissed, they brought in another 100 older children who were just as attentive.
Before the last group came in, we were invited to the Principal’s office for tea and cookies. The reception was excellent and very warm by the several staff who were present.
To our surprise, another 100 came in afterwards with some older ones who I think had sneaked in. They too were very attentive and gave good answers to the questions we asked them.
As we were leaving, we were told that the principal had contacted two other schools and they both wanted us next week. We have lengthened our stay here to go and speak at the one school on Monday.
We left the town and headed to a Gypsy camp near by. What a shock! There were crowds of men, women and children camped in the woods near a garbage dump and a disused collective farm.
This was a new camp to me and certainly the biggest one yet. It was hard to believe, but one older lady said there were about 100 of them. These people looked very much more poorly dressed and dirty, but they were extremely friendly and some were probably saved.
We had picked up a saved gypsy preacher when we drove in, who was waiting for us alongside the road. His name is Misha and works as an itinerant preacher among them. There was also another gypsy preacher named Ivan, we think, who works with gypsies in the Carpathian Mountains.
After being introduced, a man and woman started singing to a guitar some of the hymns that we knew, but of course in Ukrainian. They led many of the others and they sang at the top of their voices, including some of the children.
Then we let Ivan speak to them and did he ever preach; full blast and quoting scripture as he spoke of the Lord showing his power to heal so many people, when he was here. After he spoke they sang another song and then Nick spoke, then another song and I spoke.
After we had spoken they asked us to pray with several sick people, plus one young lady who said she was baptized but could not quit smoking, would we pray that she could have victory. Then it was for a mentally challenged boy and a boy with probably rickets.
After that we gave out the food items and clothing we had brought. We then bid them farewell and headed for home after what we thought was a very rewarding day.
We arrived home weary but very satisfied that we had had such an opportunity to speak the Word to so many in one day.
Thank you for your prayers.
Malcolm and Crew.
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