Spring 2011 - Report #5

Wednesday March 23

Spring seems to have sprung as there a flowers popping and sun shining. The wind is still a little cool but really quite nice.

Vadym phoned to say that Amelia, his daughter had woken with a tooth ache, so he was on his way to pick us up in a taxi and take her to the dentist. We had a little personal shopping to do so we shopped while the dentist fixed Amelia. We then met the man who had the vehicle we wanted to buy and went to the Mercedes dealer and had the van diagnosed again, just to be sure everything was good. It checked out 100% and no charge as the man who did it is a friend of Vadym’s. The same old story, it’s not WHAT you know but WHO you know that counts, in Ukraine any way.

Once this was done we paid for the vehicle and went to a notary public, called an “Advocat” here, to prepare a legal bill of sale. It took her about an hour to write up the 5 pages of the contract. The cost was 400Rhivney or $50.00. So now the van is ours and we are very happy with it. I don’t think this vehicle is in North America, it is called a Mercedes Vito.

It is a 9 passenger with removable seats. A 2000 with a Diesel engine.

By the time all this was done it was time to get ready for meeting at 5pm.

We were glad to see the room fill up with old friends and some new people that I had not met but Dan had met last year. Tania and he mother were out. Her mother looked wonderful since the surgery to replace her nose that had to be removed. I found out the problem that had attacked her was Lupus. Some of you will have heard of it.

Tania is leaving tomorrow for Montreal, Canada. She has got her visa and is going to seek and work to better the situation for her mother and brothers. She needs our prayers.

We went to Tania’s home for a nice lunch and then home to bed.

Thursday.

Vadym arrived in the van at 8:30 am to pick us up as well as some supplies for an old folk’s home. We were going to the town this home is in because Vadym’s father-in-law was to be buried today. We arrived to find the upstairs of an apartment house, full of people singing in response to the priest’s prayers over the open coffin. We stayed until they moved outside and brought the coffin outside, with the coffin open and “Grandpa” lying in state for the entire crowd to see. Now there was another session, with everyone who wanted to, kissing the corpse. There must have been 50 people attending. While we were standing outside, some ladies moved through the crowd giving everyone a fresh round loaf of bread in a plastic bag.

After a while (about a good hour so far) they loaded the casket, now with its top on, onto an old WW 2 truck, draped in black and began the “march” to the cemetery.

We left in the van to go another route to the cemetery. It was way up in the hills on terrible roads. It took the procession a good hour to walk all the way to the cemetery. It really was a beautiful spot overlooking a beautiful valley. The wind was fierce but not too cold. Once there, they then crowded into the church at the cemetery for another service and then to the grave side for another service before lowering the casket in to a VERY deep grave.

We had gone to the old people’s home before going to the cemetery and gave out some clothes. I spoke briefly to two staff and a few of the residents.

We were going to head home after the party returned to the house from the funeral, but one of the daughters of the man who died would not hear of it, we HAD to go in and eat. What a spread of food, and our waists I’m sure.

We packed the van with 10 of us and headed home, quite weary after so long in the wind and fresh air but looking to do some visiting in town tomorrow.

All for now and thank you for those who donated and prayed for us to get a good vehicle. God answered prayer.

Malcolm and Dan.

Spring 2011 - Report #4

Monday and Tuesday March 21 & 22^nd.

We were all ready for Ruslan to pick us up at 10 am, and leave our “foster mother Flo” for 3 weeks, and move to Ivano Frankivsk. As we would not be having a meeting on Monday night, Flo elected to stay home and sort out her last shipment of boxes.

We picked some Bibles from the Canadian Bible House before getting on our way. What a trip. The roads are breaking up now the frost has lifted. Pot holes almost the entire hour and a half trip; very hard on drivers and cars.

Vadym was at the apartment to meet us. The apartment was spotless and we proceeded to unpack and then head over to have a visit and supper with Vadym, Sveta and their daughter Amelia, who now spends all day at day care/ kindergarden. Sveta has a new job selling items to pharmacies and had to leave on the 7pm train to go for training in Kiev, 11 hours on this train through the night. Seminar all day Tuesday, back on the train and arrive at 7am Wednesday.

We came home and got our beds ready and crawled in at 11:45 pm. My room was cold, as a case had been put on top of the only radiator and no heat “radiated”. My nose and arms froze, and I had a miserable night.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Tuesday.

O well, the morning came and we were up and ready by 7am. Our plan was to shop for a vehicle to be left for the work in Ivano. Most of the morning was spent going through the Ukrainian “Truck Trader” on the web. We found one in Ivano and several others in a town near-by. However it turned out that the first one we saw in Ivano is most likely the most suited so we will see what tomorrow brings.

We have to do some quick visiting as the schools are on mid-term break next week and we would like to visit some this week.

Not too much of interest to report but a big decision for us to make. Please pray that the vehicle will be trustworthy and serve us well and long.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Malcolm and Dan.

Spring 2011 - Report #3

Saturday turned out to be cloudy and cold and wet, still not spring. We were going to visit in town once again. First we went to see Maria. She is an abandoned wife and mother of five children. The oldest is in university and still lives at home with his mother and a younger brother and two younger sisters. These 5 sleep in one room off the kitchen on two flip flop sofa’s that were ripped apart when the husband left. The sponge is all exposed. The eldest son has just gone into the army but also sleeps in the same room when he is home. They have to go outside to use a toilet shared with other tenants. There is no bathroom. It’s hard to believe in this day that people have to live in such circumstances. We would like to buy at least one new sofa bed if the funds permit.

Next we went into a village a few miles out of the city to see another sad case and give a little encouragement. Natalia is a teacher of Ukrainian language and culture and lives with her two young sons in a hovel of an apartment. Her husband left her while she was having the youngest boy in hospital. She came home to see he had left, taking the furniture and anything of value. He then denied that the new baby was his and refused to support her charging her with infidelity. Now one of his relatives is trying to get her evicted from her apartment as she wants to sell it. The boys are lovely boys the one could speak good English and is also learning Polish, he is only 9 years old. His brother is 12.

Natalia is not saved but is very interested and we had a good conversation with her about the need of salvation and blessing of having God as our Father and Friend. We left her with some supplies and some funds as she has had to hire a lawyer to help with the apartment problem.

We were close to the place we first had meetings in the home of Stefka in the village of Nesnevachi. When we first came with Ross Vanstone and Seed Sowers, we had meetings each Sunday for several weeks. It’s sad to see the people getting so old and needing serious surgery both Stefka and her son Orst have had serious surgery but seemed to have benefitted so far. Flo also visited another friend across the road. We brought garden seeds to all these people, so greatly appreciated by them all. We thank Brother Jim Solomon for donating so many seeds for us to distribute.

Sunday March 20^th

We had a good breakfast of Flo’s special crepes. (There goes the diet!) We got things ready for the Breaking of Bread meeting held at 12 noon. About 15 in fellowship and 3 unsaved watching on. It was so exciting to hear each brother pray so intelligently and thank God for giving His Son to die for them. All except one are from non Christian backgrounds. I gave a word at the end on Acts 2 and what was expected of each one who was formed the first new-testament church.

We all had a nice cold lunch and fellowshipped for a while before going out to visit one of the families and having supper and a nice time round the scriptures. Then home in a taxi and started to get ready to leave for Ivano Frankivsk tomorrow at 10am.

A great week in Lviv. I omitted to say that Dan got his lost bag on Tuesday ok.                                                                                 

Thanks for praying for the work

Malcolm & Dan

Spring 2011 - Report #2

Report Thursday March 17^th We woke to a miserable cold and rainy day. There is no snow but lots of mud.

We got under way at 10am to spend the day visiting in Lviv. Of course we have to take some food supplies to these people, so visit our famous super market first. The super markets certainly have plenty of selection but the prices have really gone up.

The first lady we visited is named Oxana and she was very sad and cried most of the time. The last time we visited with her, she had her 18 year old cerebral palsy daughter with her in her home. The girl died about 9 months ago and she is having a real problem getting over the loss. We are sure the girl was saved as she would show amazing joy when we talked to her about the Saviour, the last time we visited with her. Oxana’s mother was their too and we are quite sure both ladies are trusting in Christ as their Saviour. Oxana said she will come to meeting now that she is free of the 24 hour care of her daughter.

We then went to visit a lovely sister in Christ Lesia who is house-bound in a wheel-chair with MS. She has 5 grown children and a good husband who is not saved but listens to what Flo says to him when we visit. I have mentioned for prayer, the need for a new or good wheel-chair for Lesia as the seat is broken and cannot be repaired. It is a toilet wheel-chair and is most uncomfortable for this lovely lady. We spoke with her and prayed and left some house hold and medical supplies.

Friday March 18^th

Still foggy and raining this morning but not so cold today.

We were going out of town today to visit the children’s home at Yosopowich, our favourite little orphanage in a small village. We were going to visit with the ex-doctor who carves for a living now in the town of Stri. Before we leave we have to pick up supplies for both places as both are in desperate need of help.

The orphanage was having some plumbing problems with the water pressure, so the plumber who installed the system two years ago, and a helper came along with us to find the problem. We arrived at noon and they got to work right away. It seemed that the pressure pump could not maintain enough water pressure. While they traced the problem we visited with the staff but the children, all pre-schoolers, were having their afternoon nap, except they were all awake! After the problem was found and solved with the system, we headed back down the road, full of pot holes, to visit with Michael the doctor in the 2 room apartment he shares with his wife and 5 children. His sixth daughter has just married and moved out. Since the last time we were there a year ago, he was able to renovate the apartment with funds we left. He painted, got rid of the cockroaches that infested the place, even though it was not dirty, and put down some new flooring. Now the ceiling has developed large patches of mould because of the lack of any air movement. Dan was almost sick with the smell of the dampness that these people have to live in. It can’t be healthy.

We headed home and had supper and got ready for meeting at 7pm. This was not a regular meeting, but one we arranged to just have a home Bible study in the book of James. About 8 people came and we had a profitable time that all said they appreciated. There was good participation.

After every one had gone home we relaxed and watched a very good video Dan had brought called “the forbidden book” about the history of the Bible.

And so to bed.

Malcolm

Spring 2011 - Report #1

Report #1 dated Tuesday March 15^th 2011.

Everything went well on Sunday morning as David, my middle son, drove me to Winnipeg at 4:15am for my 6:20am flight to Toronto. God graciously gave us clear roads after the roads had been closed until Saturday noon with ice and blowing snow.                                                                                                 

 The wait in Toronto was long and boring except for a very nice talk with a young lady from Newfoundland, on her way home from teaching in Soul Korea. I was able to give her my testimony and God’s plan of salvation. She was very interested and it passed a good 1 ½ hours.

Dan arrived and we got the LOT Air plane in good time. It was not full and we both got an outside seat with an empty one in the middle. Good for stretching long legs in. We arrived on time in Warsaw and made a good connection to Lviv. Only one snag, Dan’s one and only bag did not arrive and was not in Warsaw either. A tracer has been put on it and he should get it on Thursday when the next LOT flight comes in.                                                                                                                                                                   

  We were met by Flo and Ruslan and were glad that the Customs  didn’t ask anything about my bags. We were worried about the seeds we had brought to give away, but no problems.

 We were able to have a nap before supper but thankfully were still able to get 7 hours sleep.

Tuesday we had to change our Canadian or US money. The exchange rate is good for us but not for the Ukrainian economy.  Canadian was 8.2Rhivney and US was 7.94Rhivney per dollar.

We then picked up some sewing material for one of the orphanages then headed out to deliver some goods to Vileky Luben (Great Love), one of our favourite orphanages since we first came here. It has about 120 children, some of which are mentally challenged. We had a very nice time talking over the Scriptures with the Director and then we spoke to most of the kids and staff in their auditorium. After a light lunch with the director we headed home.

To say the least, our jet-lag caught up in the evening and Dan didn’t get to sleep until about 3am. I slept like a log.

Wednesday we woke to a heavy foggy morning but what turned out to be a lovely sunny warm day.

We left at about 10am to travel to the orphanage in Lopartin. That is also one the orphanages we have visited and helped for years. It is the one that we helped build a bathhouse for, many years ago. We were to take the material we got yesterday but we forgot it, as we were taking a box of clothes as well as toilet paper and other necessities as well. We had our usual great reception. After lunch with the director, a lady, we met all the children in the auditorium and Dan spoke very well on the Lost Sheep. There are 125 kids there and most of them were in the meeting and many staff.                                    

We headed home for supper made by Flo, cabbage rolls with chopped beef. Time for a quick nap before meeting at 7pm. Just 12 of us out as quite a number either working or sick. We both spoke and there seemed to be good interest. After a time of fellowship and a small lunch, they went home, but want a meeting on Friday as well as the meetings on Sunday.                                     

 Malcolm.

Assembly work in Western Ukraine

To our friends who are interested and praying for the work and workers in Ukraine. I thought you would like to know what is happening, God willing, in 2011.                                                                                         The door is still wide open for the gospel to be preached and the distribution of the scriptures in Ukraine. We have no way of knowing, of course, how long this will remain, with a more Socialist government now in power.

As far as we know, the only Assembly work being carried on is in Western Ukraine, with 2 Assemblies now functioning in both Lutsk and Lviv. There is a growing interest in Ivano Frankivsk but there is a need for a full time worker in this city. Things seem to fade once the short term missionaries head home.

Last fall, Eric Fowler and Howard Pratt saw a good number of people coming out to meetings, some who had never been out before. We hope the numbers will revive again when brethren return in spring.

Several of us are planning to go then. Myself in March for a month along with another brother, not yet decided. Louis Smith and Doug Yade will be going for a short period, before or after going to Russia. Eric Fowler would like to go back in May.

Most of us will arrive in Lviv, where Flo Kancir will be, beginning in March. This is always our  ”arrival city”, and so we spend time with the saints there before some of us go on to Ivano Frankivsk. 2010 saw the commencement of an Assembly in Flo’s apartment. Pray that they will find a meeting room to rent, as the apartment is getting too crowded now.

Many of you have asked what is the greatest need in Ukraine? We always appreciate the boxes of clothing, the finances to purchase Bibles and literature, and your prayers. But the greatest need is for men and women who see Ukraine as a full time mission field. Each of the Assemblies has started where a full time couple have moved to. At the present time, both couples are from Ireland. One couple are in Lutsk and one in Lviv.

I want to mention one other particular need at the present time.  The need was met some years ago in Lviv and the van is still running and bringing people to the meetings and taking Flo and others to outlying towns.   e do not have any such vehicle in Ivano Frankivsk which means that we have to rent vehicles that are often not at all reliable or suitable and a lot of time is wasted. Please pray that a suitable vehicle, at the right price will become available for this year. There is a small fund already started to purchase this much needed vehicle.  The reason we feel lead to mention this need is the fact that many ask us to be more specific, not as a pleading letter. We plead at the Throne of Grace. I hope you understand.

I hope this update will help you to pray more intelligently, as you become aware of current needs as well as blessings.                                                                                                                                                            Yours, in our Soon Coming Lord Jesus Christ.                                                                             

Malcolm Stanley. (for Christian Assembly Work in Ukraine.)

Update from Flo

I would like to give a little update about the work in Ukraine.

As usual, I went to Ukraine in Sept. and returned home in November. There was a real problem there for the people because of an excessive amount of rain. Crops rotted in the ground.For these dear souls, this is a catastrophe as they depend on their gardens for survival.

Despite the hardships I found the Christians in good spirit.

In October Howard Pratt joined Julie Mackenzie and me in Lviv. He stayed in Lviv until the arrival of Eric Fowler , his wife Marg and their daughter Mary. It gave us great joy to be able to break bread in Lviv for the first time, October 31,2010. God has indeed blessed the work.

Edmond and Agnes Johnson are now working in Lviv and are a tremendous boost to the work. They cannot totally live there as yet but will be there as much as possible.They must leave for a while every 3 months. Presently they are taking Ukrainian language lessons and I find that they are doing very well.This couple are a real answer to our prayers.
Work continues in the children's homes, with the gypsies and in Bible distribution.

Meetings continue in the apartment that I rent in Lviv. Another young couple were baptised this fall. The Lord continues to bless. It is great to see unsaved out at every meeting.

There is one problem we face; the apartment is getting pretty crowded and so we need to find larger accomadations to meet this need. Please make this a matter for prayer.

Work also continues in Ivano Frankivsk where Howard, Malcolm, Louis Smith, Eric Fowler and others also work in the gospel outreach. Prayer is needed for this work also.

Fall 2010 visit - post #4

Nov 20 and 21
               20th.
       Early rise breakfast as normal as you can get with all the same ingredients for a Ukraine breakfast ..read and prayed  for the day.

Vadem came late he had a flat on way to pick us up to go to Lviv. On the way in the rain ..his little girl will travel with us we are going to Lviv to help give out calendars.
We got there just as they were on the street in front of Edmonds house . All ready to go, 12 of us  to give out 1000 calendars. The  rain held up, cloudy and cool but nice,  had nice time on the street. Some of the Ukraine Christians were  worried what to say to people  if they asked questions but all went well and enjoyed it. Some nice talks, good for out- reach and good for all as we meet people as answer questions. We need to do this in our own country, not enough contact made with people, doing it together.
       We all then went to   MacDonalds  and had a treat together.
A nice time of fellowship. Then Margie me and Vadem and little girl went to Flos apartment for all night. Mary stayed with Edmond and his wife, that is the couple commended from Ireland to LVIV.  
  Had a good rest, tired from the drive and on the street.
   
      21st.
   
           Normal rise Vadem made breakfast, Cream of wheat  manna they call it here. He made lunch last night, potatoes, when we came back.
        
        A time reading  to get  ready for min. after worship.  13 out from Ukraine; Vadem was received into Fellowship this morning ..he was quite happy .. H e gave thanks for the  Cup and was nice about it. Edmond had a word in the Gospel two unsaved out ..Lady and M an.  The man was there last week as well and came to Edmonds house during the week with Questions .
     I spoke in Min. on Eph. 6, the Armour . We need to put it on and not leave a time when we dont wear it all. It is the armor  of God .
      Then left and came back to Ivano .for the Gospel at 4 oclock 25 out one new lady.   A lady asked after the meeting, you talked of peace how do I get that peace? Spoke to her a little and then made arrangements to go to her home during the week. Then the 23 year old lady who is dying with cancer was out and her Husband, she listened very well  and her husband listened better. Some of out regulars weren’t out to night.
    Vadems  sister in Law who was out almost every night, was taken to hospital with very high blood pressure.  Pray for her, she seemed troubled the last night. Her dad was out tonight, would be so great to see this man troubled .
       Tired for sure. Value your prayer for even my health.   Thanks for praying.
             Tomorrow we will go the Mens home of 204 men value prayer for this .
4 more days in Ivano and to much to do so   pray for help to do as  much as we can before we go and also that Lviv and Lusk will have a little exercise to help down in Ivano during Dec. to Feb when someone else will come to help.  45 different ones  have come in the three weeks here.
                      IN Christ    Eric Margie and Mary   Fowler

Fall 2010 visit - post #3

 (from Eric Fowler)

  Nov 19th

     A early day as some people are coming for clothing . Breakfast as normal for Ukraine.
 Great to labour for the best of masters and great to be where he wants you, doing what HE wants you to do . All labour demands an effort.
     People came early, ones we didn’t really expect, so phoned Tanya to help She talked to the ladies, there were three of them a lady her daughter and daughters husband. The one lady came to meetings but not the other two.  Tanya came here, as we just couldn’t do it by telephone.  We will visit the lady later. They all got clothing some for the man, even though there was little left for men. The need is for much more men’s  clothing.  We should keep this in mind, a paper with what is in the boxes is also very helpful. Thanks for those who do just that it saves a lot of work and effort here when it is all different ladies and children etc. it is so confusing as some are still sending boxes and no list.
      Then six other ladies came it was nice to have Tanya here to help. It went well very well, they were all happy to get things, they are all very poor, got taxi for three to go home. 
One lady lives with no gas, just wood, so will arrange to get enough wood for her winter. She has 3 children and in a very poor poor place, she comes to meeting regularly with children at times. We did give children school material and left some money for medicine as one boy is diabetic and a very bad case at that, his sugar was 29 the day we were there, frightening for sure. Some had tea and some  had cookies  we gave them apples we got from the village.  They all  were happy to get the clothing, we  sent some home by taxi.
Then Vadym came and we went to market to get a hot water tank for the mens home and will take it to them on Monday with pampers and more clothing. We have very little for men  so any exercise for men supplies as we  have very little here at this time. We took the heater to our apartment until Monday, then went and visited Vadym’s father in law.
He is coming nicely to meetings, he tried to get one of his other daughters to come to meeting,  will see on Sunday.  Then went to the Market to see Oleg, would like him to come to Lviv for Sunday morning but never got the go ahead  maybe next time.
 Then went to visit the lady who wants wood and made the final arrangement for it.
Came back to our home and Vadym’s mom called and she and her daughter who I didnt meet yet came for some supper of what we had here. We are living as near the edge as possible had nice time and now the day is at its end. Talked to Ann Marie Kember on skype, great surprise she was still at work.
   Will go to Lviv tomorrow morning to help give out Calendars and be there for Lords Day .. 
                   Value your Prayers.
                    IN Christ     Eric Margie Mary  Fowler

Fall 2010 visit - post #2

(from Eric Fowler)

Nov  17

      THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE LET US BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN IT .. Mr. Bob Harvey quoted this all the time .
              A new day and started the same breakfast  and it was the normal  ..then a read and prayer together .
      A day of New visions,  values  and trust victories ..
    We went to the market to by suds, toilet paper, toilet cleaning liquid, soap for two all mens homes .. we took clothing as well from here  also pampers that we had here. One home the age started at 35 and until they die, they are all mentally  challenged. 204 in the home 20 are in bed all the time .  Quite a place the need was horrific . The other home was from 5 until 35 ..  Both places  are kept clean with a lot of work.
 The first place had  5 different buildings, two for the sleeping quarters and one for cooking which meant that all the food have to be carried to the men to eat. That is a lot of  work in its self for 204..they make their own bread there  and they gave us 4 small loves, very nice.  One building for the office and activity places and then they have pigs and cows, and a piece of land for growing potatoes etc. They get very little from government so have to do something to operate. We will go back with a wheel chair that is here in the building  and buy a hot water tank as they only have one for all the washing of the dishes. They use what they have and try to make do . It would just move you to see all the men, they have almost no relatives and a grave yard is on the sight and when they die they bury them there. New testament was given to them the first of the year so we left calendars and texts.
We spoke to some of the men in a few rest rooms where they were sitting. We will bring back  more clothing for the men and their beds.
       Then went to the other home they have children and get a little more  government help and more sponsor  help but still could use help. We left school things there  and cleaning soap etc.  There they raise birds to sell.  Budgie birds and make brooms from straw and paint brushes  also make mitts from scrap material  all this is sold to get help to ;operate. Its not Canada for sure.  Again left calendars and text ..quite a sight to see there ..how good have we got it . Amazing to leave there and go to Heaven what a change for sure.
    On the way I was looking at the people waiting for a bus or  a ride ..and there was Halya, so we stopped and she was going to her mom.  I didnt realize that her village was they way we were going  for we wanted to get potatoes for some here in the City . So the Lord was in this  We gave her a ride to her mom and made plans to stop there on way back..   We did just that  and got Apples , potatoes some cabbage and pickles. It was nice to see her she got baptized in 2005 when I was here for the first time.
     Then came back delivered potatoes and apples to Luba and her family, then went and got price on hot water tank  also for Kitchen Cabinets for the family of seven I talked about the other day .
               Now home very tired maybe just too tired .
                             IN CHRIST     Eric , Margie and Mary Fowler

Fall 2010 visit - post #1

 (from Eric Fowler)

Nov 13

     Normal ..day breakfast with a humble breakfast .. black Russian bread cream of wheat   tea .  At home we often stay alive to eat .. but here we have to eat to stay alive  .. and not just to .. If we just eat what we needed to live how much we would be able to share with others ..so they just could eat.  Read together and Prayer to open the day to the right avenues .
Vadem her on time at 10 and he took us to a mass grave sight of 120 000  Jews. Mary and I had seen it before but I wanted to take Margie there . Bible history with world history.   It is always a unique experience to walk around the grounds and just think German tractors bull-dozed the graves down and left an open pit where they tortured and murdered 120 000 souls which lie underneath  the sod there.   The piles of stones are still as they bull-dozed them .. names and dates on some..  "Let his blood be on us and on our children" words they said but paid a great price for.
      Then went to market and got food for 10 more food packages . Then went to Luba and her mom she wasn't out yet, she is a music teacher ..very poor; she had fell from the bus and hurt her let. Her mom is 84 and not well, left her a food package.
 Then in the same area where Yaroslav used to live and we got to know their neighbours and dropped in to say hello. Dropped in before and she wasnt at home but got her home and will go back for perogies. Mary loves them, I don't know why!
Went to vadyms home to pick up some things. Took pictures to be developed for some people,went to drug store for some pills. Went and eat some soup at place that Louie likes to go to.
      Came home for short rest ..then went to Marie's for a lunch, a large one she probably she spent her month wages to make the supper. Her son and husband, not saved were there, my first visit ever to that place.  Her husband  wasn't very friendly .. but that has changed ..but doesn't come to meeting much, he is cripple but could come if he truly wanted to.  had nice visit, but this meal is close to Olex and Olas meal so will be full by the evening is over .
    From there we went to Olexs place they were waiting for us for an hour, too close in the appointments but what can one do  we had a nice surprise there for us Andris mother in Law was there Nadia, she is a sweet lady. I thought of her during the day and wondered if we would see her. Andre want us to come to supper on Monday again, this will not go down good with Vadym but may the Lord help. Naudie said she will come to meeting on Sunday, it will be the first as far as I know for her to come to meeting since the disagreement with Andrei   All things work together for good to them that Love the Lord . Olexs son there as well had a great visit.
        Home after the two meals    IN Christ  Eric, Margie and Mary Fowler

Nov 14
   Early rise  breakfast .. Mary and my wife not eat much as they ate too much yesterday.  Well, read and a time of prayer and Vadem was here at 9:40 to leave to go to Lviv, 2 hours away, for worship meeting The ride was much more relaxing then last Lords day with the break down of the car and all other happenings .
        There safe ..took things to car that Flo had for us down here, and then the meeting. 17 of us some away today, but it went well ..all worshiped except one brother and he didn't any Lords Day since the Assembly started this is the 3rd Sunday. So nice to be here for their starting days Edmond spoke a short message in the Gospel and I spoke some in Ministry on 1 John Love, in your Heart Love for God and Love for each other Love is the Oil that lets things move smoothly. No Love No Liberty.
     Vadem wanted to sit in and break bread, but I explained to him he must sit back and ask to be received He was baptised 2008 and saved in 2006  He asked after the meeting and brethren spoke to him and he will set to break bread next Lords day. H e said his wife will come next week and he wants to ask Olex and Ola to come up to. Will see. God is moving for sure.
        Came back to Ivano to see 29 come to meeting, such a nice crowd for sure .The Lady 23, dying with cancer was out and her Husband with her ..Pleas pray hard for this lady I dont think she had long to live.
     Now tired and Vadem went home early and we just collapsed. Full day and full week.
           In Christ     Eric, Margie, Mary Fowler

Fall 2010 update, and vehicle setback

Summer is almost over, the harvest is well on the way and we have not written for some time. I suppose once we have all come home from Ukraine, there is not the usual news to pass on. Well, things are opening up with Flo already for 3 months, and then Howard and another brother are going in October followed by Eric Fowler and his wife in November. This should give good coverage until winter when it is not advisable to go as travel is not good.

I am not planning to go back until spring, God willing. As far as I know, meetings continued in Flo’s apartment with Brother and Sister Edmund and Agnes Johnson from Ireland now living in Lviv.

The meetings continued with a little interest after we left in the spring. Vadym did some Bible teaching from outlines I sent to him until the apartment got too hot for meetings when the temperature got to 40C outside at one time.

I want to share how difficult it can be for a Christian to get going in business when he or she will not work dishonestly. When we were there in the spring in Ivano Frankivsk, we realized we needed a vehicle, big enough to carry us and boxes to deliver to those in need. After we left, Vadym, our man there, located a van and sent us pictures. It looked good and was not a high price. Vadym had a Toyota car that he owned and had fixed up which the owner of the van said he would take plus $1,500 US.

In the meantime Vadym sold the Toyota and headed to Lviv to pick up the van with the $3,000 he got for the car and $1,500 we had supplied him with. When he got there he was not happy with something about the vehicle or the owner and decided not to buy it. While he was at the bus stop waiting to return home, he was attacked by 3 men who robbed him of the money for the van plus all his personal items, driver’s license, passport etc. They broke his arm and messed up his face. He spent 3 weeks in hospital but is now out and able to work again.

Your guess is as good as mine who tipped them off that he had money.

So goes Ukraine for many people. No recourse or help from police even though they come to the scene and take reports. They even called him in to identify 3 men but they were not his attackers.

Thankfully, he did not have the $1,000 that was to go to Tania’s mother who was having the surgery on her nose. Tania, with her mother, are returning to Kiev as soon as they know the date for the last surgery on her nose. The surgeon has done an amazing job already and I know she will be a lovely looking woman again. Vadym was able to deliver the money in time for their trip to Kiev for an appointment.

We don’t know what to do about a vehicle now; we are back to rock bottom and so will see what God has in mind. Vadym is trying to borrow or rent one for Howard Pratt's and Eric Fowler's visits in October and November.

Thank you for your prayerful interest in the work in the Lviv and Ivano Frankivsk region of Western Ukraine.

Your Brother in Christ.

Malcolm Stanley.