Ukraine
Fall 2014 - Short Term Trip
The main purpose of this very short trip was to make it clear to some of the guys that we are not going to forget them and that Jesus truly loves them. That we love them.
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| Ready to go! |
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| one child keeping busy while waiting for a flight |
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| ....and....the other resting while waiting for a flight |
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| Finally in Kyiv and with friends for a quick visit before getting on train to Odessa! |
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| arrived in Odessa at 6 a.m..... and trying to wake up with some coffee at McDonald's |
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| everything is still closed so they did some sight seeing |
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| Kirill with 'little sister'.... |
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| Love never fails. |
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| Fun on the ice. Mike wanted to take Kirill. Obviously, he loved it! |
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| Awesome shot of Oleg! It definitely suits his personality! |
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| Six most handsome men in Odessa! Love this pic. |
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| another great pic....it would make a great album cover |
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| Dolphinarium |
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| No electricity. One complained, but these two worked together as a team and made dinner in the dark! Later most of the group watched a movie on Mike's computer until the electricity came back on. A stressful few hours but it brought everyone closer in some ways. These are the tough moments when you want to go home but that you know God is doing something with the moment. |
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| cool dudes who love the Lord. |
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| leaving Odessa...great photo! Super! After this pic Oleg, Sasha, Matt, Jenn and Mike stayed up ALL night with a ton of good conversation about God. |
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| Finally in our village and at the Bazaar. Everyone was so happy to see Mike, Jenn and Matt! This is a photo of Mike showing the ladies photos of our newest baby, Rya Marie. |
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| As Mike would say, "He is one of our true friends." Sadly, since this photo, Pastor Vitaliy passed away and we are still mourning his loss. Please pray for his beautiful wife and two children. Also, pray for the church he left behind. |
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| Little Sofie, so sweet. I can't wait to hug you darling. |
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| Visiting with as many people as possible from the village and different churches in the community.. It was so good to be home again. |
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| Dearest Tamara (center), also went home to be with the Lord since this trip. |
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| If Mike and I could choose one person in Ukraine who is like minded in our personal relationship with God, it would be Dima. His love for Jesus is really visible. We are blessed to know him. Like minded or not, I don't think I could ever say enough good things about him. |
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| and Dima's beautiful sister, Masha. Their parents have raised wonderful Godly children. |
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| Beautiful Pauline, Pastor Anatoliy, Dima, Jenn and Matt. On the way to the train station they were in a minor car accident and Pauline opened her home to them for the night. She is the perfect example of Ukrainian hospitality! Love this Godly woman! |
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| Heading back to the states, Daddy always tries to find a way to show his love for his kids. He took them to dinner and to the opera house. All three thanking God for perfectly providing this precious time together after sacrificing their Thanksgiving Holiday away from the rest of us to serve Him. __________________________________________________________ |
PRAY FOR OUR FAMILY.
It is a challenge to do what God tells you to do and not everyone sees that calling. They can not see it because He did not give the calling to them. We really need support from the Body. We need prayer to strengthen us.
That we would be able to serve Him who loved us enough to lay down His life. That we would lay down our own and see the beauty of His unfailing love at work in the lives of the people he chooses for us to encounter.
