Outreach to Flood Victims in Western Ukraine (Part 2)

Valya and Olya with a woman whose home was damaged by the flood

Just to give you an idea of where we went, this map shows the straight line distance from Chernihiv to Novoselytsia in the Chernivtsi Oblast (If only the drive had been that simple).

Once we arrived in the village of Novoselytsia and met our hosts from the local Baptist church, we waisted no time in getting out to meet the people. We picked up some food that had been donated by other Baptist churches in Ukraine and then the Chernihiv church also purchased some food and supplies to be distributed. We headed out to some of the areas in the village that had been hit by the flood. People were very grateful for what we could give them and had tears in their eyes when they learned how far we had come just to help them. Almost everyone had lost their gardens to the flood so any food we could give was greatly appreciated. Anya Knotts has also posted about this so please check out that blog as well. Mission: Western Ukraine flood area

This woman is explaining how her house, behind her, collapsed during the flood.

This woman lives alone and was thankful for what we could give her and for the time the girls spent talking with her.

This man was walking his goat home when he saw us giving out food. I carried a bag of potatoes to his home where he and his wife showed me how high the water had come.

Once the food was all handed out, we decided to visit the home of a woman from the Baptist church there in Novoselytsia. She had almost completed an expensive remodel on her home when the flood hit. The water level had risen almost to the ceiling. There really wasn't much if anything she could salvage from her home. It was sad to see almost everything she owned sitting around her home waiting to be hauled away as trash. It was decided that we would spend most of the next day helping her clean up so that she could begin the process of making her home livable again.

One of our hosts, Valera, shows us how much water is still in the cellar of the woman from their church. All of her canned food for the winter was also still buried down in the mud.

We were amazed at just how high the water had risen in some areas. Valya can't even reach the highest water mark on the tree.

I noticed that while the garden behind this rose bush was dead and completely destroyed by the flood, this rose had not only survived, but had blossomed. That is my prayer for the people there. Not only that they survive, but that they blossom in Christ and look to Him to meet all their needs.

First Bell at the New School #16

Little Masha ringing the First Bell of the new school year

Joshua and Dominic dressed for their first day of school with flowers for their teachers

Today was First Bell for Dominic and Joshua, their first day of school. It was also the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new School #16. The school is the first school in Bila Tserkva to be built in independent Ukraine. All the other schools had been built during Soviet times. The school is not yet completed, but the first four grades will be attending while the rest continue at the old school until next year. So for now, the boys will be going to separate schools. It looks like the boys will both have morning or first session classes instead of afternoon classes like last year.

Dominic with his classmates

Joshua in his new classroom

It's still strange to think about how different American schools are compared to Ukrainian. All the children wear nice clothes and bring their teachers flowers on the first day. Everyone takes so much pride in celebrating the Ukrainian culture even in the school. I noticed that on the chalkboard in Joshua's classroom, in bold letters, was a prayer to God asking for His blessing of the class and the new school year. Try that in public schools in California.

My Friendly Epistle

Taras Shevchenko
Viunishcha, December 14, 1845

To the Dead, the Living, and to Those Yet Unborn, My Countrymen all Who Live in Ukraine and Outside Ukraine,

If a man say, I Love God, and
hate his brother, he is a liar,
1 John iv. 20

Day dawns, then comes the twilight grey, The limit of the live-long day; For weary people sleep seems best And all God's creatures go to rest. I, only, grieve like one accursed, Through all the hours both last and first, Sad at the crossroads, day and night, With no one there to see my plight; No one can see me, no one knows me; All men are deaf, no ears disclose me; Men stand and trade their mutual chains And barter truth for filthy gains, Committing shame against the Lord By harnessing for black reward People in yokes and sowing evil In fields commissioned by the Devil... And what will sprout? You soon will see What kind of harvest there will be! Come to your senses, ruthless ones, O stupid children, Folly's sons! And bring that peaceftil paradise, Your own Ukraine, before your eyes; Then let your heart, in love sincere, Embrace her mighty ruin here! Break then your chains, in love unite, Nor seek in foreign lands the sight Of things not even found above, Still less in lands that strangers love... Then in your own house you will see True justice, strength, and liberty! Gain knowledge, brothers! Think and read, And to your neighbours' gifts pay heed, -- Yet do not thus neglect your own: For he who is forgetful shown Of his own mother, graceless elf, Is punished by our God Himself. Strangers will turn from such as he And grudge him hospitality -- Nay, his own children grow estranged; Though one so evil may have ranged The whole wide earth, he shall not find A home to give him peace of mind. Sadly I weep when I recall The unforgotten deeds of all Our ancestors: their toilsome deeds! Could I forget their pangs and needs, I, as my price, would than suppress Half of my own life's happiness... Such is our glory, sad and plain, The glory of our own Ukraine! I would advise you so to read That you may see, in very deed, No dream but all the wrongs of old That burial mounds might here unfold Before your eyes in martyred hosts, That you might ask those grisly ghosts: Who were the tortured ones, in fact, And why, and when, were they so racked?... Then 0 my brothers, as a start, Come, clasp your brothers to your heart, -- So let your mother smile with joy And dry her tears without annoy. Blest be your children in these lands By touch of your toil-hardened hands, And, duly washed, kissed let them be With lips that speak of liberty! Then all the shame of days of old, Forgotten, shall no more be told; Then shall our day of hope arrive, Ukrainian glory shall revive, No twilight but the dawn shall render And break forth into novel splendour.... Brother, embrace! Your hopes possess, I beg you in all eagerness!

Translated by C. H. Andrusyshen & W. Kirkconnell

Outreach to Flood Victims in Western Ukraine (Part 1)

Last night we returned from our trip to western Ukraine to help the people who are still recovering from the floods that devastated that region. (You can see pictures of the floods and read about it by checking out Olya's blog. She's the one who was on the phone making all the contacts and finding out exactly how we could help.) We were blessed to be able to serve in any way we could even if it was just to talk to someone and tell them that God loves them so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for them on the Cross. Dominic and I made the trip down to the Chernivtsi Oblast near the Romanian and Moldovan border, along with nine other people from the Chernihiv (Chernigov) church, early Thursday morning. (Interestingly, most of the people we met were ethnically Romanian although Ukrainian citizens. Their preferred language was Romanian. We learned that the region we were in had actually been part of Romania before WW II.)

What we saw was heartbreaking, but yet encouraging when we would hear that people were placing their Hope in Christ to bring them through their present trials. We met several people as we handed out aide who had literally lost everything that they owned in this world and yet would decline extra food and supplies telling us to give it to someone who was in greater need. There is so much to tell about this trip that I can't do it in just one post. I'll have to share this experience with several posts and links to the four other people on the trip who will be blogging about it as well. I can honestly say that it made our Joy complete to spend ourselves in service to our brothers and sisters in western Ukraine. No one on the trip felt that it was ever a sacrifice, but rather our blessing to see Christ glorified in tragedy and suffering and to be able to witness the Sovereignty of God even in disaster.

With most of the older homes built from mud bricks, the floods reduced them to piles of mud and timbers

Most if not all of the furniture and appliances in homes were water logged and ruined

The team putting together food, water, and clothing to give out in the village (from left to right: Marina, Olya, Valya, Dominic, Conor, Jake, Mira, and Andriy with Vlada and Anya in the background)

All sources of drinking water are polluted and travel is difficult for the elderly, so it is vital that someone takes them food and water

As I get more time to sort through all the pictures I'll do my best to recount all that we saw and experienced in future posts. My hope is that, along with the others who will post blogs about our experience, we will encourage people to spend their lives for Christ finding their pleasure in Him.

Dominic giving a bag of food and water to a woman from the village

Thankful

A Visit from Will and Ira

On Monday, our friends Will and Ira came to visit us for a few days. Will and Ira are missionaries from Nizhyn. We had not seen them since Christmas time, so it was really nice to see them again. It was good to relax and fellowship with friends. We spent our time visiting Oleksandria Park, the amusement park at the town center, and of course cooking and eating in the kitchen. Ira showed me how to cook a new meal that turned out quite delicious. I am determined to make it myself now.

Thank you Will and Ira for coming out to spend time with us. It was really encouraging to have you guys here. We look forward to having you here again!


(Dominic, Will, Edna, and Ira) At the amusement park, deciding which ride to go on next

Early this morning, Greg and Dominic headed out to western Ukraine with a group from Chernihiv to assist the flood victims in the Chernivtsi oblast. A large part of western ukraine was devastated by flooding. Many people have lost everything. There is a huge need there to repair and rebuild. Please pray for their safe travels and for God to lead and direct them. Also, pray for opportunities for them to share about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thanks!

- Edna

Happy Independence Day Ukraine! (З Днем Незалежності!)

Celebrating 17 years of Independence

I love this billboard that reads, "Ukraine - My favorite style"

Old School / New School

New School No. 16

We recently found out that a new School No. 16 would be opening its doors for First Bell on September 1st. It will specialize in natural sciences and mathematics. The school isn't yet completed so only a few of the grades, including Joshua's, will be making the move. Dominic will still attend the old School No. 16 until next year. The new school is bigger and even a little closer to where we live than the older one. Joshua is excited about school now and so are we after seeing how nice it is. Today, we slipped in among the construction to get a sneak peek.

The new School No. 16 under construction in April of 2007

The difference between the two schools is amazing. The old school has the look and feel of a Soviet institution complete with the bust of a Soviet Army soldier, M. O. Kyrylenko, who was killed nearby while defending Bila Tserkva against the "fascist German aggressors" (the new school also bears his name). The floors are made from warped planks of wood and the layers of paint covering everything are nearly immeasurable. The school is still well maintained and clean, but very out dated.

Notice the Soviet decor of the old school

The new school is beautiful and is a reflection of an Independent Ukraine we should be proud of.

The Ukrainian National Anthem and another plaque still have protective plastic over them in the new school

Going Green

Dominic and Maxime making the world a little greener

We decided to go green today after Maxime's dad said it was OK to paint the new and improved fence. Red was Maxime's first choice but the store was out of red (along with all the other colors except green) so trusty green it was. All three boys helped me paint so they all had a part in making the fence look like new.

I just kept thinking, "Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer".

Maxime's dad, Andriy, was working on removing their old heating system so he asked me to help him. Again, God seems to be opening up doors with Maxime's parents. As we struggled to remove the old furnace from the kitchen, Andriy told me a little about his time in the Army. He went into the Soviet Army, but ended up in the Ukrainian Army as the Soviet Union dissolved. He also said that he was a dog handler. I hope these opportunities to work together keep coming up as they are an answer to prayer.

Vera, Maxime, and Joshua

Maxime's mom, Vera, was very grateful for the work we did on the fence and was really surprised at how nice it came out. It's amazing what a little paint can do and how a little bit of kindness can change hearts.

Before and After

Mending Fences

Maxime trying to fix his fence

Maxime's dog went into heat yesterday and by night fall she had caught the attention of every male dog in the neighborhood. At one point we counted eleven dogs in Maxime's yard. Maxime tried to chase them off, but his actions were thwarted by their broken fence. There was just no way of keeping the dogs out.

Joshua looking at a dog that just got through the fence

This morning I discovered Maxime making a valiant effort to repair the fence and chase away the lingering dogs. I decided that this would be a good opportunity to show his parents that we care about them as well as Maxime. It proved to be a greater blessing than I had anticipated. It wasn't long before Maxime's mother, Vera, came out and asked if Edna and I would like to have tea with her.

Where the dogs get in

Edna and I were invited into Maxime's home for the first time today. We saw first hand just how bad the conditions inside really are. I won't get into any of the details, but I have to say that of all the homes I've visited in the villages, this was the worst I've seen. We were just thankful that Vera felt comfortable enough to have us come in. She sat us down in the small room where they sleep and showed us all of their photos. We were especially touched to see that they had put together a photo album of all the photos we had printed out for them over the last year of us with Maxime.

Me and Andriy working on the fence

While Edna and Vera sat outside to have tea and talk, I began working to repair the fence with the help of the boys. After I rebuilt the frame that had rotted away, Maxime's father, Andriy, cut planks of wood and helped me put them in place. It was the first time that we had really spent any time together and I'm glad that we had the chance to work side by side to achieve something. Hopefully this is only the start of a relationship that will lead Maxime's parents to someday know Christ.

I'm hoping that we can paint the fence to put the finishing touch on this project

Edna's thoughts,

"Yesterday was our neighbor Olya's 61st birthday. We were invited to her place last night to have a big birthday dinner with her and her family and friends. By now, we are familiar with everyone and they were so kind to us. They fed us until we couldn't eat anymore. Later, after everyone left we went back over to sit and talk to Olya and eat some fresh watermelon. She said Maxime's whole family is "sick in the head" and to just leave them all alone. What was hard for me, since I don't know enough of the language, was not being able to explain that as Christians we can't just turn our backs on people who are like that. I know for her it may seem a little odd that we remain a part of Maxime's life and continue to help them, but that is what we feel God wants us to do, regardless of what people in the neighborhood think about it. We have to worry about what God thinks of our actions, not our neighbors. We pray in time, they will see our intentions and understand why we care about those who are rejected from this society."

- Edna

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. - 1 Corinthians 9:22

Happy Birthday Olya!

Olya with the juicer her daughters got her for her birthday

Yesterday we celebrated our neighbor Olya's 61st birthday with her and her family. As usual, she didn't let us leave before stuffing us full of food.

Bake at 95 Degrees for Sixteen Hours or Until Done

95 (35) degrees and the window on the train won't open

We returned late last night on the train from Southern Ukraine where we had spent some time with a couple from our church, Tanya and Kolya. We had fun getting to know them a little better and look forward to spending more time with them. What we aren't looking forward to is another train ride like the one yesterday.

We knew the ride home wasn't going to be very pleasant when we realized the window in the little section with our four sleeping "shelves", was nailed shut. Not a good sign since the window was also our emergency exit, although we were more concerned with the lack of air flow.

Aside from the fact that we simmered in sweat and I was made painfully aware that our sleeping berths were not designed for anyone over 5'5" (165cm)(Edna and the boys had no problems), it was an interesting trip. If the train stopped for more than a few minutes, we could get off and buy water and homemade foods from people selling them along the tracks. I even ventured out to buy a bag of "rah-kee" (craw fish) at one stop. They were good, but they could have been better with some Tabasco sauce. This wasn't our first time on a train in Ukraine, but it definitely was the hottest.

The train we were on was set up with four sleeping "shelves" to one side and two to the other, two berths high. Our carriage was full and there is little room between berths so you really get to know your neighbors. This isn't such a bad thing because people will often share their food with you. It was a good experience in Ukrainian train culture for all of us. The only thing I can really complain about is that for the $14 that my ticket cost, I expected my window to open.

So what do you do when it's 95 degrees Fahrenheit on your train and the window is nailed shut?

You make some friends and...

play cards.
(Vika, Stas, and Joshua)

Please Pray for Our Neighbor, Georgia (Грузія)

Damaged apartment buildings and their displaced tenants

Advancing Russian Troops

Please pray for an end to this conflict and for the safety of the Georgian people!

The women in this photo with Joshua and our neighbor Olya, live in Georgia. Please keep them in your prayers as well.

One Way

I came across this video clip of Oprah the other day and I wanted to post it for those that haven't seen it. I can't help but feel that it is an insult to Christian missionaries all over the world. If you listen to what she says, she seems to be saying that there is no need for anyone to hear about Jesus because there are many ways to get to heaven. Missionaries, like most Christians, have made the mistake of believing that the world needs to hear about Jesus, according to Oprah's thinking. This clip is not only wrong and insulting, but undermines efforts of Christian evangelism since it is translated and broadcast around the world, including here in Ukraine.



Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have command you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28:18-20

These are children in an orphanage that had not heard about Jesus.

Hearing about Jesus mattered to them!

I'm just amazed that society tolerates such an incredibly influential person like Oprah who denies Christ. That's exactly what she has done with some of her Web class programs geared toward "seekers and students" as she calls them. Oprah not only insults the name of Jesus with her teachings and programs, but she also denies the Biblical truth of what He accomplished on the cross.

Here's a quote from John the Apostle:

"Who is the Liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist - he denies the Father and the Son." - 1 John 2:22

Here's another video clip that shows exactly what Oprah thinks about God and Jesus. I think it's pretty disturbing knowing how many people watch and follow Oprah.



Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:9-11