Malcolm's Report #11

Malcolm’s Report #11.for Wednesday and Thursday May 7^th and 8^th.

The weather is warming up now but has been cool in the evenings for a week. I forgot to mention that it froze while we in the mountains 2 days ago.

We headed out at 9am for a school and orphanage in a town I didn’t think I had visited. It is named Solotvino (Sweet Wine). It took us about 45 minutes on some of the best road we have travelled on so far. It is strange how some of the roads are literally destroyed by frost and traffic and others stay good.

As soon as we got to the village, I knew I had been there at least twice before. We went to beautiful new school. Absolutely state of the art and clean as a whip. We knew the Administrator was away on some training so the lady Assistant Administrator welcomed us. They do not have a completed auditorium so we met in a spacious staff room with an oval table with 18 chairs and then chairs all along the walls. Quite different, but big enough to have about 50 junior children for the first session and then after a nice coffee break, about 70 senior students. Again these children behaved very well and co-operated well with good answers. There was only one problem, but not really a problem. After the senior session, almost all of the younger ones wanted our signature on bibles, book marks and pieces of paper. We were almost exhausted by the time we finished.

We left them cleaning and laundry supplies and headed home once again. We went straight to the garage to get the rattle fixed and thankfully it was only a loose shock absorber. While we were there, 14 boxes were delivered to the apartment. We were very thankful as there was not anything left to take to those in need. We began to open and sort one box, ready to take with us tomorrow.

And so to bed, “Weary, Worn and GLAD” to be used once again.

Thursday.

We had an early start as we had to be in Kosiv by 10am to speak in the orphanage and school there.

The road was bad but we were there by 10:15 and they were not waiting. Again, I did not remember the place until I saw it but the administrator/principal remembered me and Howard. The first thing they did was give us “chai” or tea which turned out to be borscht, beef turnovers, fish and cheese and ham sandwiches. Oh yes, we did get tea and coffee! We then spoke to about 70 of the older children, in their auditorium. They were very well behaved and listened well. We then went into a classroom and spoke to the younger children. They brought two classes into one. They were very attentive and well behaved. You wonder how some parents can be either abusive or so irresponsible as to have some of these children taken away from them. Some of course are true orphans.

We left laundry and cleaning supplies here as well, as these are the items that there is never enough money for from the government.

We came home to Ivano and saw that the exchange rate had gone up to 10.30R to the Canadian dollar from 10.00R only days ago. So we decided to change some money while it was to our advantage. We walked up town under the threat of rain that did not come. We changed the money and went for a salad, as we were not hungry enough for a meal.

And so ended another good day that we trust will be for God’s glory in the speaking the gospel to many little souls today.

Thank you for praying for us and Ukraine. It sounds as if things may happen for the good. But we will have to wait and see.

Malcolm Howard and Volodia.