Back in Ukraine

Just a quick update about our trip back: we were able to get through passport control in Kiev without any problems, no questions asked. We don't know if we will be able to extend our stay through OVIR (police). Please pray as we might need to explore new visa venues in order for us to stay in Ukraine. For those of you who do not know, one of the families that is on our Ukraine team was given a hard time just a few weeks ago when they tried to get into Odessa. Apparently, the laws changed (again!) as of Nov. 24, 2008. Now with the kind of visas we have we will only be allowed to stay in the country 180 out of the year, and the law is effective retroactively and they start counting from July 1, 2008. We heard that there are some exceptions and that it's possible to extend one's stay through OVIR, but there are no guarantees. Only work and student visa holders are allowed to stay longer. We are thankful to God for allowing us to return without any difficulties.

Sunday School

The children from our younger Sunday School Class did a presentation of what they were learning after church. They are going through the Young Children's Catechism as well as memorize a verse each week in addition to learning a story from the Bible.

Here is the whole class (with Cindie, the teacher, on the right)

Most children in the SS class are from the orphanage. They live in a 'family unit', which means each child in this group has a sibling in the same group. The orphanage decided to do two trial 'family units' this year to see if the children would be better off with their siblings. Usually the children in the orphanage are divided into groups of 10-12 children based on their age. Each group has a wing on a floor where they have a couple of bedrooms, a bathroom and a living room. Usually 2 groups form a class in school (the orphanage has its own school). If a child has a sibling in the same orphanage, that sibling is most likely to live with a group of peers, sometimes in a different building on campus. Siblings usually see each other at school or at the playground. The class that was coming to our SS last year went through many changes: 5 children were adopted between June and December, and the rest of the children were united with their older siblings to form a 'family unit'. There were also a couple of children who were placed in a different group, and a couple of children added to this group.

Timmy and Anna (behind the poster)

I am teaching a class of 4 girls. Their ages range from 12 to 15. We broke them out of the younger kids' class a couple of months ago, because the other class is really geared toward younger kids, and the older girls were not getting the challenge they need. It has been a blessing for me to teach these girls and to be able to discuss the Word of God with them. They have had many good questions, and it's given me the opportunity to share the Gospel with them.

Irina, Lena and Lena in our classroom (Natasha was not there that week)

Our dream for the next school year is to have a third SS class. Right now it's not feasible because of classroom space. We really had to be creative to find space for my SS class to meet, since the building does not have 'classrooms'. Since there are only 5 of us, we were able to use a small storage room.

Hopefully, by September our church building will be usable, which will make another SS class possible. Please pray that God will provide classrooms and teachers for the next year. Our SS will stop in the beginning of June, because the children from the orphanage leave for the Black Sea until the end of August.

Open House

A little over a week ago we had an open house to say 'thank you' to our church family here for praying for us. We had a good turnout, and all enjoyed themselves. Since this was the first time many had come to our new house, Nadia gave tours of the upstairs. Everybody commented about Julia's great painting job especially in the living room. Most thought the dark wall was wallpaper instead of stencilling. Julia said she had to paint the pattern over 130 times. Afterwards people gathered in the living room or around the table for food, conversation and fellowship.

In the living room

Around the table

Latest Pictures from the Church Construction Site

Our church family went over to the church construction site after the worship service and Sunday School last Sunday to see the progress and to thank God for His provision. There is still a lot of work ahead, but we all were very encouraged to see how much He has already given us. Please join us in praising the Lord for this building and pray for it to be finished soon.

The front of the building. There will be some steps added later on.

Angle view

Front Entry as seen from the inside

The Sanctuary

Staircase to the second floor, where SS classrooms and offices will be located

Same stairs, different view

Another shot of the stairs

Second floor

Some construction details -- these logs support a cement ceiling beam that was poured and is drying now.

Some of our church family in the Sanctuary

Montage of Events

Right now we are in a busy season of travel. Two weeks ago we all went to Kiev to apply for passports for Timmy and Anna. This week I went there to pick them up. Next week, I make the 5 hour or so trip to the presbytery meeting. Thankfully, one of the members of the session has a car and is willing to drive. This is much better than taking public transportation like we had to last time. And then the week after we all travel first to London and then to Spain for MTW's Europe/Africa Retreat. We are going to London because Timmy and Anna need new visas and you need to leave Ukraine to apply and get a visa.

Spring time is the time for marriages. We have another marriage coming up in our church family. Marriages happen so fast here. The engagement was just announced on the 22nd of March. The couple went to the marriage registry office and set the date to be married. It is usually takes a month to get everything ready at the marriage house so most set the date for 4 or 5 weeks later. We are excited for this couple yet disappointed we will be in Spain during the wedding. We will have to have a small celebration when we return.

Our national pastor-in-training will be examined by presbytery for licensure next week. This is a big step and I am told he did well before the committee. Please pray for Sergei that he will show himself approved.

The church building is progressing. We heard on Tuesday at our session meeting that we might have a roof on by the beginning of May. Because May has a couple of big holidays at the beginning, May Day and V-E Day, it is more likely that the roof will be complete around the end of May. We hope to have some pictures to post as we are going to the building after worship and Sunday School.