Calvary Chapel Ternopil Ministry Team
Left to right: Me, Stephen & Vanessa Pomeroy, Tim & Christina Emerson, Sharon & George Markey, Stephanie & Jon Markey
It's hard to believe three months have passed since my last update. Please believe me, I didn't plan it that way. I need your prayers and encouragement and it is my desire to keep you updated. I had hoped to give you a beautiful blog with lots of pictures, but alas, it didn't turn out that way. After experiencing a lot of computer and internet problems over the last two months, I lost all of my pictures from 2009 to 2012. Last night 2009 and 2010 reappeared on my computer, so I'm hoping the last two years will do the same :) My computer and internet are now working great, after the help of a friend. I really hope we can recover the rest of my pictures.
In January I was able to spend time in Kiev. I attended a women's retreat hosted by Calvary Chapel Kiev and taught by Pam Markey. It was a great time of encouragement and also a wonderful time of fellowship with many of the sisters and I hadn't seen in a long time. While I was there, I also had the privilege of playing flute in a trio at my friend, Anya Shevchenko's wedding. I enjoyed staying with Cara Denney for 10 days during that time and was blessed by her hospitality. It was also a well needed time of rest. Cara lives in a village outside of Kiev. If my pictures reappear I'll show you how beautiful it was. The temperature dropped to 20 below 0 C while I was there and there was lots of snow. The temperatures stayed that low for several weeks, even after I returned to Ternopil. But praise the Lord, we were fine and most everyone in the church had warm apartments.
Some of the Sisters: Pamela, Khrystina, Nadya, Valya, Tanya (my roommate) and Me
Tanya:
While praying about the need to reach out to the younger women in the church, God put on my heart to invite Tanya, who had attended our Missions Training Program, to move to Ternopil where I could disciple her for women's ministry. She is living with me now and has been a huge blessing, as more girls are coming to the house to visit and we get together here after church. I can't deny the fact that I am a lot older, so I think the girls just feel more comfortable coming around with Tanya here. Whatever the case, the Lord is bringing them and I am so excited. They are coming for Bible studies and discipleship and sharing a lot of their personal issues with me for prayer and guidance. This is a total answer to prayer. Please pray for Tanya to be raised up in women's ministry and service in the church and for me to be Spirit- led and to be be a godly example for her.
Women's Ministry:
In February I hosted a Valentines party for
the single girls. I taught from Song of Solomon and talked of being
content in our Beloved Jesus. Following that night I began a verse by
verse study in Song of Solomon at the Friday night Sister's study and have also opened up the study to all the ladies
in the church. In the past it was a study for the African sisters in
English, but I could see that it was time for a change. Most of the African Sisters
attend another church, so it's awesome to come together to study the
Word and have fellowship. I think it is a great opportunity for them to open up and seek to understand each other better, as their circumstances are very different. But our hope in Christ is the same. My prayer is that we will all fall more in love with Jesus and
commit ourselves to being ambassadors for Christ to bring glory to God!
International Women's Day:
Our church hosted our yearly celebration for Women's Day. This is a huge holiday in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. Schools and businesses are even closed. This year was very special for us because in the past, Sharon Markey and I have always shared. But this year, we asked two ladies in our church, Pamela and Tanya Melnyk, to step out in faith and share. It was so wonderful to hear them open up their hearts and encourage the ladies. Pamela is a medical student from Nigeria and was able to share how the Lord has encouraged her in her faith and trust in Him as a single woman. Tanya is a third generation Christian in Ukraine and shared with us the miracles God did to provide for her family during communism. The theme of the conference was 1 Tim 6: 6 "Godliness with contentment is great gain." I pray there will be more opportunities for these and other women to teach because we were so encouraged by what both of these ladies shared. I was reminded of my purpose in being here: to raise up women in the church to encourage and teach others. Please pray for me to finish well and be an encouragement to the ladies to step out in faith and use the gifts the Lord has given them.
Worship Team Last Sunday
Church: We survived the freezing cold temperatures of winter in our cement, refrigerator-like building where we meet. After installing 7 wall heaters, and covering the windows, ceiling holes and entrance in plastic, we were quite comfortable with our coats, hats and and a cup of hot tea in our hands. We didn't lose any people to the cold and now that the weather is warmer we're looking forward to a much more comfortable spring and summer. However, last week at the end of the service, when I picked up my flute to play, it was like blowing into an icicle. Praise the Lord, the little discomforts are not a discouragement, but something that seems to bring us closer together as a church. George and Jon have been teaching through the Book of Matthew and we have been studying the crucifixion and resurrection. It's such a perfect time, as our hearts are being prepared to celebrate the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ, as we celebrate Easter in a few weeks.
Spring is here and we have teams of people going each week to our new church plants in Lutsk and Vinnitsya. I'm scheduled to go to Vinnitsya this Saturday to lead the English Club. I try to go once a month. It's a long day and journey (4 1/2 hours each way) but they are the dream English Club. We can talk about the Lord and they love to have discussions. Tanya will be traveling with me. Please pray for a fruitful time.
Thank you all for your prayers, encouragement and support. Love and blessings to you in Jesus!
