I really can't believe summer is over. It flew by this year and now I'm packing up my summer clothes and preparing to seal my windows again for winter. It was a busy July with our 3rd annual worship conference. It really was an incredible conference. We had practical seminars in voice, keyboard, guitar, songwriting and percussion. As a group we were encouraged by Mike Payne, the worship leader at Calvary Chapel Budapest. I was blessed to have Marcsi and Eszter from the CC Budapest worship team stay with me during the conference. I was thankful that everyone seemed well taken care of as my role was to make sure the hotel, meals and breaks were in order. I didn't get a lot of sleep that week, but it was certainly worth it. I really believe there will be much fruit from these conferences. Our biggest challenge is being able to house and feed everyone within a budget we can afford. Please pray for next years' conference that we will have a good place to hold it and that it will be affordable for all who want to attend.
Practical Seminar for voice with guitar and violin
The Budapest team were able to give a concert in a local restaurant. The kids from our church got front row seats, but the place was packed with locals.
The Walking Street in Ternopil
Ternopil has undergone major remodeling. The city is looking really nice as they are continuing to paint the buildings and lay new stones down on the streets. We have beautiful fountains and classical music playing over loud speakers. But it doesn't cover up the fact that we all need Jesus to be truly beautiful. In this city of religious tradition I see the kids drinking and hear about drug use. My heart breaks when I see the kids on the street hanging out, acting tough, just like I used to. I am thankful to be here, yet it's hard ground. We are always looking for opportunities to reach out to the city, to get beyond the religion and encourage people to have a vibrant, loving relationship with our Creator. The Lord seems to have placed me in the midst of "English outreach" and now that fall is here, teaching English is where I will be focusing much of my time.
The schools open Sept 1. here in Ukraine. It is a national holiday beginning with a big celebration at every school called First Bell. Once again, I will have an English class at a local high school beginning in October. My new class this year will be 11 and 12 year-olds. The students I taught over the last 4 years have graduated and are now attending university, mostly in other cities. I will miss those kids a lot, but I'm looking forward to meeting my new students. Please pray that I will be a light for Jesus.
As a regular summer ministry, I work at an English school for children. I come in for a 30 minute "Tea Time" twice a week. Helping out with the schools is a great way to meet teachers and administrators in the city.
I have been praying about starting an English class at our church office one night a week. This would be in addition to our Wednesday night English Cafe which has been growing steadily. We have a wonderful group of people who come to practice English. A couple people have come to the Lord through this ministry and several have started attending our church picnics which include the Sunday morning service. Relationships are so important here in Ternopil because of the religious traditions. I'm hoping to start a Thursday night class where I will teach English from the Bible. We have a great program in the Gospel of John that encourages discussion. I'm praying about starting this in October. Please pray about this, as we haven't worked out all of the details. I would like some of the Youth with a Mission (YWAM) missionaries to be involved. Having native English speakers is a big draw for people who want to practice English.
This summer we were blessed with three weddings in our church. Please pray for Oksana and Andre, Vova and Khristina, and Oleg and Nadya as they are starting out their lives together. May they glorify God!
Friday we are driving to Kiev for the "Calvary Chapel Kiev 20th Anniversary" celebration. Twenty years!!!! Praise the Lord! This will be a very special celebration. Please pray for a blessed and Spirit- filled time of teaching, encouragement and fellowship. We have so much to be thankful for, as this was the first Calvary Chapel in Ukraine and now there are many more.
Following the conference, we will host a team from Horizon Indianapolis for two days. We hope to go out on the streets attracting people who speak English. A YWAM group was here during the summer and had great conversations about the Lord just by putting up a sign in English that said "Come talk to us." We pray we will have many divine appointments and that people will come to church or English classes after this. Please pray for salvation!
Sisters Bible study has begun again after our summer break. We're going through the book of Revelation. Please pray for me as I prepare for this amazing study. At our last meeting we were in Chapter 4, the throne room of God. We had such a special time of sharing our hope of heaven and encouraging one another in this. It was such a precious time with the girls, I'm praying there will be many more studies like this. Please pray that we grow deeper in love with the Lord and the cry of our hearts will be "Come quickly Lord Jesus!"
Here's a picture of George, Jon, Aleksiy and Zhenya looking over the map of the property. The grounds are already hooked into gas, electric and water, which is a huge plus.
The property looks over the city, and is about a 20 minute walk to the center. It's a 10 minute walk to the medical university dorms, so the location is great.
Please pray with us for God's leading and provision. His will be done!
One thing I am very thankful for is my friends. God has blessed me with other missionaries to get together with. It doesn't happen often, so when it does it's very encouraging.
A special lunch out with the girls: Me, Janette Carter (CC Vinnitsya),
Megan Murray( YWAM) and Christina Emerson (CC Vinnitsya). Praise God
for good friends!
God bless you!
Marilyn
Please pray for:
- English ministries: English Cafe, a possible class using The Gospel of John, my classes at the high school and Technical College. That I will be a light for Jesus and will have opportunities to share His love and the hope we have in Him.
- Our newly married couples in the church, Oksana and Andre, Vova and Khristina, Oleg and Nadya, that they will glorify God in their new lives together
- Worship Conference 2013, for an affordable place to house all of the people who want to come. That these conferences will bear much fruit for the kingdom and be a great encouragement for all who are involved with leading worship in Ukraine
- The 20th Anniversary Celebration with Calvary Chapel Kiev this weekend. For safe travels and a blessed and encouraging time for all who attend.
- The Horizon Indianapolis Team: For divine appointments with English speakers
- Sisters Bible study: God's anointing to teach and encourage the girls as we go through Revelation.
- Church property: That we would be able to purchase this land if it is the Lord's will.
