February 2012 update

How quickly time flies when you are having fun!  We have been in country now for about a month and a half.  We have been so busy that it seems like we landed yesterday. This afternoon I plan to watch one of my friends sing in a national musical performance.  There is so many details to write about .  But, I am afraid I only have time for to briefly sketch our mission and family activities.

Some of you may have read about the severe cold weather here in Eastern Europe.  How does one deal with  negative 25 degrees temperatures and a foot of snow?  For one, we have to wear multiple layers of clothing when going outside.  For another, we limit our exposure to extreme conditions stepping into buildings and onto buses whenever possible.  For several days some of our water pipes were frozen shut.  So, we got water from other sources.  We are actually thankful for our house heater that kept the downstairs at 65 degrees F.  So, we are very thankful for the Lord's provision and protection as this winter more than 130 Ukrainians died from exposure to the cold.

Austin and Karyn have been doing well at school.  They have been real troopers to have endured the hour and a half commute to school in this weather.  We are thankful to have hired a national to help carpool a number of children across the city each day.  Karyn is adjusting to the homework load.  Austin is enjoying playing his first year on the Junior Varsity basketball team.  David has enjoyed watching the games.  Yesterday the JV team played its best game and won against a Ukrainian school team.  So, in spite of the conditions and travel demands we are thankful for the opportunity for our children to attend and participate in a good school such as Kiev Christian Academy.

Ministry has been awesome!  David has rejoined the pastoral leadership of Living Vine Church.  Leadership has started several new ministry teams.  One of the first teams to develop was the Prayer Team.  We are very glad that Silas took the initiative to lead the Prayer Team.  The second ministry team to form was the English Team.  The English Team shares the love of Christ with the community through teaching English as a second language.  We started advertising our English clubs at the Michael Gott English ministry.  Then on February 8  English clubs began.  We have about 11 volunteer teachers and helpers.  We have 4 levels of classes.  We have about 45 students.  About 50 percent of those who attend are unbelievers and about 75 percent do not regularly attend a church.  So, this is a huge ongoing outreach ministry for our church.  The third ministry team to form was the Worship Team.  The Worship Team is redeveloping the Sunday worship services.  We are in process of developing a Mission Team.  So, pray for the Lord to lead us in these efforts.

Many of you have heard that we are working on obtaining temporary residence cards.  First, we obtained the new "D-type" long term visas.  Then we purchased mandatory health certificates.  We had to obtain official translations of our passports.  We had to get a power of attorney for a Ukrainian to help with documents.  We had to get a notarized copy of the title of the house that we rent.  We had to get an official "form 15" from the regional housing authority.  We had to take all these documents to immigration office and pay their fees.  Once we received the temporary residence cards from the immigration office then we had to return to regional housing authority to get their official stamp of approval for registering us at this location.  The entire process has taken about $2000 and 40 days in country to complete.  When it was all said and done our helper, Dima, said "congratulations now you are now little Ukrainians."  In a year we will have to renew the temporary residence cards. 

While all this has been going on David has trying to coordinate 2 short-term summer mission groups.  There is a group that wants to come over this summer 2012 to do construction and discipleship in a Ukrainian church. Then, there is another church group that wants to come and serve here in the summer of 2013.  Each group has a unique set of questions and circumstances requiring detailed planning.  So, pray for us to work through all the details for these short-term summer mission teams.

Well, that is the February update for now!  Thanks so much for being a part of our ministry through your prayers, finances and support!   I need to go to that concert!