The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed so shall it come to pass: Isaiah 14:24
Dear Friends
As we reflect on a year that has passed and consider the enormous impact the pandemic has had on all our lives and the big changes for every department of living we must give God thanks for His Unfailing Love and Faithfulness to us His children. It is good to try and understand the unfolding purposes of Eternal God and be assured that these events have not taken God by surprise, and to rest securely and safely in the “everlasting arms”.
As we look back to 4 months of “lockdown” and the cancellation of 4 flights in our attempt to return to Lviv, we bless God for His sustaining hand upon us and His purpose in having us in N Ireland for that period. I had the joy to have many Zoom meetings, ministry and Gospel. I also had the privilege of marrying a young couple and also to officiate at the funeral of a dear brother from our home assembly. I also was kept busy speaking again via Zoom in Canada and Slovakia.
Agnes and I were delighted after taking a bus from Belfast to Dublin airport then flew to Krakow, Poland, then the next day another coach to Lviv, arriving late on Saturday night 27th February extremely thankful to be home. We had to produce our negative P.C.R. certificate to enter Poland and Ukraine and gave a sigh of relief when both border guards accepted them and gave us “the nod to GO!”.
In our absence we were encouraged that the assembly meetings continued and Ruslan visited Ivano, preaching the Gospel and also visited a few orphanages and helped at the Gypsy camps with food and clothes.
In the first week back, we visited Yasopoich orphanage and spoke to the kids and the staff. Also we visited a very poor family at Strii in the small apartment which had been purchased for them a number of years ago by Christians from NI and Canada. Each Tuesday we go to Ivano 2 hours south to help in the Gospel outreach with our brother Dan Perez and Dima. These meetings are well attended and we would ask you to pray earnestly for the souls of those who frequently come to the meeting that they will be saved.
Sadly, Lviv and Ukraine have not been exempt from suffering from this terrible virus with nearly 28,000 deaths and hundreds of new cases everyday and the hospital nearly at full capacity. Many we know have contracted the virus but thank God have recovered. Our fellow elder in the assembly Misha was in hospital on oxygen last December for 2 weeks. Also, our Ukrainian language teacher and her daughter were very sick at the end of 2020. Just recently on the 4thMarch, Ruslan and Tanya and their family all tested positive. Ruslan and Tanya have pneumonia, persistent cough and high temperature and are taking antibiotics and other drugs. Please remember them in prayer that God might give them a full recovery in His time. Their daughter Tania and family have now recovered and Tania is back to work.
