Happy New Year!!!

Ternopil city center, Sunday morning blizzard two weeks ago.

Praise God for all of the beautiful snow and praise Him that my apartment is warm! We have had tons of snow this month. It's very cold, but after all these years I've gotten used to it, thanks to a warm coat and good boots. I've never seen this much snow in December. The white snow covering all of the dirt brings to mind the promise in Isaiah 1 of Jesus covering our sins that are as scarlet and making us white as snow, clean and beautiful for the Lord.

These are the ones who made it to church!

English Cafe Team: Me, Alison, Rebecca & Megan

Learning a Christmas Carol at our English Cafe Christmas Party

The Friday night Sisters study is going well and we're half way through the book of Revelation. It has been a great joy to study this book, especially in light of world events unfolding before our eyes. The girls have finished their medical exams at the university and we celebrated with a slumber party at my apartment Friday night. Slumber parties have proven to be a great time for fellowship and just helping the African girls feel like they have a home here in Ternopil.

As the holiday season came in full force with freezing temperatures, while preparing for English classes, English ministry parties, cooking and baking for church celebrations, I found myself once again struggling with vertigo. It put me out for about a week, not being able to focus on things and feeling nauseous most of the time. Basically it's horrible. I'm thankful that the new Italian kiosks in town have soda crackers, a true luxury for the unsettled tummy. It's so funny, the things we take for granted from home. But as always, through God's grace I completed everything I needed to and made it to all of my classes. The celebrations all went well and tonight we will come together as a church to worship the Lord, pray for the New Year, and enjoy and New Years meal together around midnight. I will also get another opportunity to celebrate Christmas, as it falls on Jan.7th in Ukraine.

Looking back over this year, I have to say it's been difficult for me personally, but the Lord is so faithful. The enemy can use many tactics to discourage and distract us from what we are called to do, but I can only thank God and praise Him that He has chosen to use me here. The church is filled with healthy believers who love the Lord and love each other and that brings me great joy. Thank you for lifting me up in prayer and helping me financially. You have blessed me so much. May God bless you with His abundant love, grace and provision this coming year.

Please pray for me that I would have the Lord's vision for the work here and would be physically, spiritually and emotionally strong in the Lord. God bless you and Happy New Year!

Ternopil- By the lake

Please pray for:

My English classes at Gymnasia No. 1 ( a high school) and Technical College, and for English Cafe and the Intermediate English class in the Gospel of John. That all would bring opportunities to share the gospel and that people would get saved.

My administrative responsibilities in the church, that I would be led by the Holy Spirit.

Sisters Bible Study. That the girls would continue to stand strong in a fallen world and those who have fallen away would return to the Lord.

New ministry opportunities in the New Year. For the Lord's leading and vision.

Financial provision to cover my ministry and personal needs.

Continued healing and good health.

Praise the Lord for His unfailing love and grace!!!!!