Eric Fowler's Report #11 for March 29th

One of the meetings Eric and Rene were having in Ivano Frankivsk.

Eric Fowler’s report #11

: March 29th

As we wrote in our last blog, we are still in Lviv for weekend. Luba and Volodia both came with us to see the baptism.
My wife and I stayed in the Flo’s apartment, Luba is with us too.
Nadia bought manna for us for breakfast. Then we read the Proverb for the day.  This is what I've been telling the Saints to do, to read the Proverb for each day.  Many of them do it faithfully. I also told them to read a psalm a day for it will cover months of great reading.  Proverbs teach us how to live and treat people and Psalm teach us about how to trust and draw near to God.
Then Edmond came with the man who owns the apartment and we paid the rent for 6 months. The guy is a rich dentist, but not very nice. It's a nice big apartment for clothing and for us Foreigners  to stay in  when a number of us come, but some feel we are paying to much.

 Nadia and her family stay here all the time, which is a good  place for them. If they didn't stay here they would have to stay with her mom and grandmother in their small place.  I 'm happy they are secure for another 6 months. The crises of the country is enough for them to handle         right now. The Lord is Good for sure.
We went and changed money and got 9.75R the best ever. Good for us but prices for everything is soaring through the roof. We then bought food for a family of 7 and went and visited Andri. He has 5 children, his wife left him with all the children when the youngest was a baby. His brother lives with them too. Had nice time there, they come to the meetings very often. None of them saved as yet. I read from Joshua and spoke of making the right choices.
We then went to the street and gave out tracts and calendars for two hours. We had very nice time.  The first contacts that were given a calendar were a young couple from Southern Ukraine . and were Christians visiting for two days in Lviv. Left them with some extra literature.   Nice way to start. Then met three teen girls who could talk some English, so we took them to Mac'Donalds for French fries and snacks. They asked many questions and we had a nice time with them

Then went home to a much needed rest and sleep before tomorrow’s line of labours. Had a visit with Nadia and her son. The time just changed here this weekend so not much help with sleeping.                         

                           Eric and Margie Fowler in Ukraine

Olia's baptism in a church in Lviv. March 28 2014

Olia testing the water for temperature?

 Can you really believe I'm doing this?

Olia with Margie and Eric

I'm ready if you are Olia?

                                                     

I think I swallowed half of the water!

Are you laughing because I nearly drowned?

                 

I didn't do it for the flowers, but they are nice.

Eric Fowler's report from Ukraine #10

Eric Fowler's #10 report from Ukraine.

 March 27th

The Morning came early, but we had a little read and time together before the Day.
Prov. 3:5-6. a verse I learned early in my Christian life came before me in the past days......
 TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THY HEART ; AND LEAN NOT UNTO THY  OWN UNDERSTANDING. in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.

Loaded the cases and boxes  for the Hospital, with 24 bags done up special for mothers that just
had a new baby. This was done by the Ladies in Welland ON. We went to the Hospital and meet the head Dr. and got permission to go see the new born babies and their moms. We brought the  special white sheets for the Dr. for the OR unit. He was so happy to get them.
The Head nurse came and got us and we did 22 visits.  We had great response. They we all very
 happy to receive the gift.  One couple wanted to know why we do it.  One wanted us to take pictures and bring to them. We brought a children's Bible story books and a New Testament and a text in bag as well.
 The nurse was the one that took us around the other two years. She was very very kind and for
very  first time served coffee after the visits in her office.  We left the suitcase with the nurse as we do every year. We had medicine that we left with her as well as extra baby clothing that we had left over.
We went to bank and changed money but our dollar value is going up every day. today 885R for  our $100.  Gas prices soaring up and up as well as food prices. Business is getting smaller as   things are not getting into the country. 
We meet Nicoli at hospital,  the man who has been coming to meeting every night since we came. He is connected to the Amish and has good understanding of the scripture.  He is to fly to
Russia, Siberia in fact so I got the address for him in Sugut and talked to Victor.  He would like to be baptized and seemed to get settled on Salvation from the meetings. Trust he will be a little encouragement to Victor in Sugut when he gets there.  Had a nice talk to him three ladies were in the apartment to get clothing.

Our time is going fast here and we need the locals to come and get clothing.

I had to retire early after supper as the pace is catching up to me. Missed meeting but nice to have a good night just to rest. Tomorrow we will go to Lviv to a baptism . Sasha stayed with us which is nice as I think he is troubled. It would be nice to see him get saved for sure. Volodia is a good help to him in interpreting and they are so good working together .

March   28th
Again the Morning came to early. Prepared for the day with a good breakfast again made by my wife. Volodia is enjoying the treatment, he lives alone in Lviv as his mom is away working.    Went to Market and got key for Oleg's store house and got New Testaments as we will take some to the Mountains Monday is we go.  Got gas along the way. Gas prices going up every day at an extreme  rate.  Checked tires as one leaking since we got summer tires changed a day or so ago.  Picked up pampers and went and visited Natalia. She is a Christian Girl with MS in wheelchair.  Had nice visit with her and her mom.

Then went back got things to leave for LVIV. Picked up Luba along the way so she will go with us. The drive to Lviv is about 3 hours still  as road is still bad.   Got there time to change into
 our suits. The baptism went well some came from Lusk assembly. About 24 of us all together.
Olya a young girl got baptized her dad is in the meeting and her mom died two years ago.
We had a meal after the Baptism which was done in a large Baptist church. They have a tank in the building which they rent to us when we want it for a baptism. There were a few there  there we would love to see baptized.
The Day is over and we are tired. Value highly your prayers as we know war movements are
on the horizon for sure, when is the question.

In Christ by Faith and Grace
   Eric and Margie Fowler

Malcolm’s note.

Will try to put pictures on Blog of the baptism.

                       

Eric Fowler report #9 March 26th

Eric Fowler report #9 March 26th

Great to have access to the Power of out eternal God. OMNIPRESENT, OMNIPOTENT,  GOD.

We had breakfast, read and prayed for the day ahead. “Prayer is the sincere desire, hidden or unexpressed. The motion of a hidden fire that trembles in the breast”.

It's a dark cloud over the Ukraine for sure. A few days ago there was a shooting of one of the main men in the Revolution in lviv. Four men dressed in black did it. Russia is saying that Julia Timoshenko, the lady who was let out of Prison had the American's do it. Heavy propaganda.

Morning came early, thankfully we had loaded some things last night for mentally challenged men's home in Snyatin. We went one way and came back another way, a 2 hours drive.  The head man there, Michael gave us a good welcome. His help from Government is $0 very sad for sure. The enemy knows where we are and knows what we are doing for sure. He said he had bad news, we were not able to speak to people as 4 inspectors was in from Government. They do it every three years and turned up 1/2 hour before us unannounced.

When we went to hospital yesterday inspectors were there also and the Dr. couldn't let us go on floor and visit ladies. So the Devil is at work in so many different ways. We left all the things we had and made an appointment to return. We stopped along way and ate and gave out some New Testaments and tracts.

We had Sasha call for appointment to visit Natalia the Sister with MS. We got the size of Pampers for her and will visit on Friday. Then we visited Andrei at work. We called him last week and he never came to meeting. Today he told us he was sick then but he came to meeting tonight. He has three daughters and two of them

have come to meeting over the years.

We came home and the Dr. from the invalid Hospital called and so we went and met him and gave the wheelchair and walkers we had here. 5 nurses and the Dr. met us and were so happy for the help.

The meeting was nice with 35 in tonight. The biggest since we came. Some of the regulars are missing as holidays and gardens are started.

The news here shows Russian tanks moving to the Ukraine Border in the Crimean. Someone took a picture by Iphone. Well well!

PRAY MY BRETHERN PRAY. The food conditions here are getting worse. Our dollar went to 9.00R today. We bought more food for people. The prices are rising every day on food and Gas.

What will ever happen to the whole country?

 One Soul is worth more than the whole world and that why we are here, SOULS.

Eric and Margie Fowler in Ivano Frankisk

Eric Fowler Report #8 March 24th and 25th.

Eric Fowler Report # 8 March 24^th  and 25^th

March  24th
Pray without ceasing. The need for prayer was never greater. 
Monday had to start without Rene as he will fly today to Canada.  It was truly great to have him here for the week of Gospel meetings. We are now going on for 3 extra days as the numbers are keep up good. We spent time in reading and prayer and then the day began. We went to Antanina and had a visit, she is a faithful attendee for sure. She would like to have her gas stove fixed for sure, as the buttons leak gas and often catch on fire. She had a nice apple cake cooked for us.  She is poor but very clean in her place.
 We spent some time with her and then went to shop for a shower unit for school in Peter's village. Children come there that have no shower at home and some with very little water in the village and this gives problem at school .They will need a hot water tank there for sure but for now will get shower. They just  have out-side toilets and shower would be plus. We also bought cleaning products for a mens home and we will go there on Wednesday. Soap to clean floors, clothing and hand soap. They have 225 men there and the need is great.
That took some time and then home for prepare for meeting as now I will be alone. We had 27 out tonight, this was great and Lord gave help.  We are renting a nice place and in the center of town.   

 March 25th
Thanks again for all who pray. Today is a day the Lord has made let us rejoice in it.
We arose little early to meet the Head Dr. in hospital to get permission to visit mothers who just had their babies. We meet him at 9 o'clock  and left him a  box of sheets for hospital.
Had nice visit and told him about the operating table we have on the way to come here for him.
He was very happy as he said  the one he has now is very very old and often breaks down.
Value your prayer for this, as it is held up it Toronto to be shipped. The inspectors were in from
the Government and he couldn't let us go on the floors. We were to go back at 1 but again the inspectors were still there ... so it would have to be another day.  We had some wheelchairs here and he gave us the number of another hospital that needed them worse.

Sasha and Volodia went and changed tires as we still had winter tires on and no snow for a month.  Had to get one rim fixed for it was bent from hitting a hole in the pavement, and that isn't hard with the cruel road.  One has to drive so careful and high speeds aren’t very wise.
 Then we went and had a dinner with a very poor lady, Marica, who has been coming to meetings since 2005. She has a daughter and one son. The son was there and had nice visit with him for sure. Her mom 75 years old, was there to and she was very. Wanted to hear us talk and asked many questions.

Came back to apartment and had to take things out for hospital and reload van for the Old people’s home tomorrow; another man's home for 225 men. We bought things need yesterday for it.
We had a poor couple with three children come in and pick out clothing for children and themselves. He is the man with leg of just below his knee.  He would like to have an artificial leg  to be able to walk. He gets around on walking sticks,  he is strong and can do it. Out to meetings very often but it must be hard.
Then the meeting.  25 were out again, one new lady tonight.  It rained tonight so some          would be away for that reason and then garden work has started and that takes one out of the city.
It is hard to see the poor getting poorer with less and less. One could see how many could die from this crises.
The Dr. said at the Hospital that it was hard to work under the budget before but now no budget at all; he was very sad. 

  60,000 have been called to train for war and news say that 100,000 Russian army are in Crimea or at the Border. What a blood bath it will be if it starts. This is a crises time for sure as we may never be back to Ukraine.

Now home to rest, very tired for sure. We found 2 more boxes of sheets, white ones special for hospital, sent in by some of the ladies in Welland, Ontario. They are worth their weight in Gold.  They came from a Motel.

We spent time opening boxes.  I t was great when we had Marica and he mom opening boxes and putting things on the shelves. But that isn't done now so it causes us to do a lot of extra work.  The boxes which we are opening have things greatly needed. Things for school, Medicine needed and clothing, blankets, towels, face cloths and much much more.
Thanks to all for the hard work at home bases in Canada and the USA for the kindness in the boxes.

 Eric and Margie Fowler
 Ivano Frankisk

PS from Malcolm.

 Rene had a good flight home and is now getting ready for a big winter storm. Left Ivano in         + 20C and arrived home in -20C.