Sunday, Jan 21: Calvary 5th Graders pray for the team.
Monday, Jan 22 Team leaves from Sechrist Building
Perry is ready for an international flight at Logan Airport in Boston.Snow on the ground as we land in Krakow.
Tuesday, Jan 23: Krakow
Notice Ukraine flag on theatre building in Old Town Krakow.
Safe and sound in Krakow with all our luggage, full bellies (a delicious meal in Market Square), and warm beds. Head for L’viv tomorrow, which is about a 4-hour drive plus border crossing.
Wednesday, Jan 24: Border Crossing
Almost the entire day – 6 hours – was spent driving to L’viv from Krakow. Pictures crossing the border! Then, we went to Ukraine, home of the Big Mac. Snow and ice were everywhere – 12 inches or more off the road – with sidewalks covered mostly. Picture of Miraslav (sp?), our driver, and his son at the hotel. Then dinner at the Daily Dose with Andriy. Scott
Thursday, Jan 25: Day in Lviv
Just had a wonderful day with Igor and Ira, dear friends from UBTS. First, we visited the Seminary, including viewing the new construction of dormitories. Seminary is wonderful!! We visited with many students, and Scott even played some ping pong with the guys. Then, we visited three WeCare Center facilities in L’viv. The last a day center for children, mostly orphans. Fun to play with them and visit!! Will leave early tomorrow for Ivano-Frankivsk WCC with Igor and Ira. 2 and 1/2 hour drive south of L’viv. We will meet personnel and receive a presentation from the director. Long day!!
Original L’viv WCC!IDP?Humanitarian aid hub!Old woman we loved on and shared the gospel with.1 John 3:18Volunteer making winter camouflage netting for the troops.Nastya, Director of WCCDay center for childrenBracelet from Vicka!Helping feed the kidsGetting beat at pickup sticksDinner with Igor and IraOur low calorie dessert!
Friday, Jan 26 Day trip to Ivano-Frankivsk
Wonderful and insightful day at the Filter Volunteer Center in Ivano-Frankivsk, where coffee is free and donations for the ministry are accepted. Delicious!!! Many touch points are used to share the gospel with guests of all ages, including educational activities, board games, Bible studies, trauma counseling in private, workspace for those wanting such, and good ol’ conversation often prompted by written messages on the walls. The team that shared with us was delightful and informative, led by Vicka and Olena (5 total).
Ukraine Orthodox Church on route.Filter Volunteer Center: coffee barVicka explaining program literature.Private trauma counseling.Games and books.Are: In love, through love, with lovePouches of 5 Christian packs of coffee given to clients.Each tells a story of Jesus.Clothing and military equipment for those who need.Sharing with Vicka.TeamKen in front of hotel he and Herb previously stayed in when visiting one of our business students.Very sad and inspiring! Long row of tributes to fallen heroes of the region with a story accompanying each. Main walk promenade.Another IDP!City HallOrthodox ChurchSawing facilities of the WCC.Olena describes the operation and clothing made.Anna and family are displaced from Kharkiv. She now works at the sewing center.
Saturday, Jan 27: A Day in Lviv
We began the day looking at several sites within L’viv that were previously struck by missiles or drones. The first site led to 10 deaths, while the second had only one.
Worship site with Mary and baby Jesus.School entrance.CemeterySite of hundreds of heroes from L’viv region killed in war. Loved ones everywhere mourning. Very touching and sad. Afraid there will be many more to come.Downtown L’vivPerry with inventor of the oil lamp.Lunch at Amadeus Restaurant. Delicious meal.Full alumni gathering at The Aqua Park.The spread of food and drink at conclusion.End of another long day. Two church services at two different churches tomorrow.
Sunday, Jan 28: Church with Friends
Began the day of worship with a trip to Vynnyky to attend Word of Hope Church. A plant of Grapevine Church in L’viv.
Shoeboxes for kids!Right before service!Andriy and Svetlana’s 3 daughters. Adorable!! They also have a full energy little boy, Timothy. Scott and Timothy love black olives, so we taught him to put them on his fingers and then pop them into his mouth. Fun!!Pastor MichaelPerry sharing his testimony and words of hope.Ken shared his testimony and words of encouragement for Ukrainians.Scott sharing Acts 8:26-38 on evangelizing the gospel.Igor and Nadia Reznic’s family.Lunch at pizza place including Pastor and his wife Liza.View of exterior of church building. Sign on top: “Hope is here!”
Next stop at Grapevine Church in the afternoon.
Late afternoon service at Grapevine Church with Pastor Igor, whom we have known for years.Perry sharing his testimony and more.Ken shared his testimony and words of encouragement.Pastor Igor is a fine man of God.
Concluded the day with a wonderful dinner at Andriy and Svetlana’s home.
Drinking plenty of Coke Zero!Timothy staring down a black olive!Andriy pulling out his old BB&T mug!! The good ol’ days.Helen Haran, Pablo’s wife, came for dinner. A joy!!Helen says hello to the ladies in our group.Chess match won by daughter of 10, with a little help.
Closed out the day with a FaceTime chat with our loved ones in WS!
Monday, Jan 29: UBTS
A fun-filled day at UBTS. We joined the student assembly in the new and beautiful chapel with Slavik Pyzh. Perry, Ken, and Scott each spoke words of care and encouragement briefly to the students.
Slavik greeted the new rotation of students.Met Dr. John Ewart at UBTS where he is teaching a one week course on evangelism. He is a great professor from SEBTS!Each interviewed for UPF/UBTS newsletters.Then reviewed plans for new Dormitories that are well underway. Bogdan is staff member overseeing the construction. Will utilize information gathered to better approach 2024 capital fundraising.Class in Chapel.Students socialize3 students who love Young Life and work with young teenagers.
Disciples Church
Disciples ChurchPastor Yelisey Pronin begins showing us his church.Refugee finishing lunch.Kids’ room.Lounge area for some children.New living rooms for refugee families.Dorm like rooms. Tight quarters.Yelisey showing us construction work.Elijah is a exceptional craftsman/artist/sculptor from Kharkiv – IDP who found Jesus Christ in L’viv at Disciples Church. Gentle giant.Piece of his work.Wood working shop. They make everything themselves in attempt to efficiently build rooms, etc. at the church.Sewing room.Recent product for injured soldiers.Door completely built out of wood scraps.Metal working shop.New family room being built with sink, clothes racks, etc.Restoration center for wood furniture they buy and restore.Some more of Elijah’s work!!!Chat with Pastor and Elijah sharing his conversion story.Missionary friends, Kanoot and Sarah Midkiff.Bomb shelter space in basement of church under construction.Nadia and Slavik at dinner.Pastor Anton and Kanoot acknowledged our offering to his new church plant.
Tuesday, Jan 30: We Care Center visit
Day spent in Boryslav, the original home of UBTS. City of about 40,000 plus now enlarged by refugees. Beautiful statue of Jesus on route!
Boryslav!Original Bible College later to become UBTS and move to L’viv.CityYura, our driver for the day and Director of the Boryslav WCC.Food suppliesPasta and riceTo the right is Anastasia, our sweet and competent translator.WCC called The Road of Life!ClothingStore room with children’s Bibles.Adult Bibles for distribution. They are very intent is sharing the Gospel at every turn.Large warehouseMilitary supplies for the front lines. They travel with mostly Yura driving to eastern Ukraine and the front lines once per week with food, water, clothing supplies and equipment. Have made over 75 trips to date. Danger lurks but they go anyway.Joy of the day! The children’s center where they teach English, Christian values; have art therapy classes, play activities; and Bible study. All from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm daily. Only obstacle is that rent for this beautiful, multi-room facility(as you will see) is $2,000 per month that they must fundraise.Park next door for kids’ play.Four core values of honesty, innovation, knowledge building and creativity.IT labArt roomPlay spaceThey us a special lunch including Borshch.Yura and team showed us 3 well produced videos of kid camps of various ages and activities that they host throughout the year.Lastly, we drove to the potential site of their dream – a Christian school for children. They believe God can do anything if only they dream, pray and ask. So, we took turns praying ? for this dream to become reality in the future. Amen!
Wednesday, Jan 31: Hedding Home
Have spent almost all day in the car with a 3 1/2 hour border crossing. Will rest in the hotel but must check in for our flight tomorrow at 4:00 am. HOME tomorrow night!!!!?
