Visiting Lviv With a Purpose - Meeting the Family - Part Two

Arsenal Museum...recommended!  

Someone back home recommended we see the Opera House.  We were glad he did.
Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, private balcony seats,
the boys tolerated it, Mike enjoyed the orchestra
AND the cost was perfect for our budget.  REALLY PERFECT!
I cried - I kept asking the kids to pinch me to see if I was dreaming!

Outside the Opera House

Inside the Opera House during intermission

had to visit McD's in Lviv....for coffee and 50 cent ice cream cones : )
Honestly, I could do without the eight balloons though!

Our second restaurant since coming to Ukraine a year ago.....
so nice to not have to make dinner!!!!!!

well behaved at the restaurant and looking forward to eating! : )

Matthew plays ragtime music in Rynok Square....so cool!

the top of High Castle at sunset.  

aren't they cute!

lots of sightseeing, museums, history, culture....
a great way to kick off school!

Ahh...the real reason we traveled to Lviv....
to meet Mike's family for the first time!
separated for over 60 years....we were so thankful to God for this honor.
There is NOTHING like Ukrainian hospitality
AND
coming from family doubled the goodness of it all!
I want to bottle it up and bring it back home with us.

Two Days in Kyiv - Missionary Conference - Part One

On our way to Kyiv for a two day missionary conference.

Mike, Oleg and the older kids attended.
They all said it was inspiring and encouraging.

Lunch boxes and friends from church!

Enjoying the city sights despite the rain.

Mustang...a rare sight in Ukraine.

Beautiful at night!

Oleg offers to make dinner...he calls it his fast food menu!
Thirty minutes to feed 11 people.

Quiet time before we leave for part two of our vacation.

Updates of Domestic Life

Karissa makes great compote....a common drink here of boiled water, fresh fruit, and sugar.
Boil water in x-large pot (see background), then turn off stove.
Add 10 small apples , 7 pears, & 6 peaches cored and sliced. Add one to two cups sugar.  
Stir well and let stand for a few hours.  Hint you may want to mash a few times with potato masher.
(strawberry compote is REALLY good!)
Serve hot or cold and with or without fruit in cup....we recommend with the fruit then eat with spoon!

yes, these were grown in someones backyard and without care....
everything seems to grow well here!
this is just three bunches....
we were given a large bag that were leftover from their harvest!
Ukraine...beautiful people and amazing land!

Celebrating Ukraine's Independence Day at the park!

  

Yes, they will tell you that they were playing a serious game of chess. 

Matt's been working on this bike for a few weeks.
Our neighbor, the village dentist, sometimes helps.

Happy 10th Birthday Mallorie!

Waiting for her buddy, Oleg to come home from work so we could celebrate! Cute!

Flowers from Daddy!  Tiara from Mommy!

Happy Birthday Emily!

Flowers from Daddy also!

Birthday girl request:
Homemade potato soup in a bread bowl and homemade ice cream cake.

Yep, we really do love each other!

Last fall the roses were blooming until the first frost in November.

Christian friends visit for the day.
It always encouraging to have fellowship.
Notice the sweaters, it's already chilly! 

August Update Letter

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12

August 2013

Hello Friends,

Hopefully you have been having a great summer. Our summer has been quite full and many new things have happened since our last newsletter.
As you may recall, as of our last new letter, we were still looking for a suitable house for our large family to call home for the next year. Well, God has certainly provided. Two weeks ago we moved into our new Ukrainian home which is actually very well suited for our family and work we are involved with here. There is plenty of space for all of our own children, as well as, “our Ukrainian boys” who continue to spend very much time here. There is also a great space for group Bible study time and meals with guests. The landlord and his wife and very welcoming and have been very kind to us. The location is also great. The only downside is there is not much of a yard for the kids, but they are already adjusting well and enjoy joining the other neighbor children to roller skate and ride scooters in the street outside our gate. There are also many stores which the children enjoy walking to sample some of the many different kinds of Ukrainian ice cream. So far things are off to good start here.

It would not be honest to say that there have not also been some low times throughout the past year that don’t usually make the newsletter. In fact, I have even sometimes thought about writing a “things you would not usually find in a missionary newsletter” newsletter; maybe next time! The past month has been no exception. There have been times of doubt and even times when we each of us have had a deep desire to give up and come home. However, these times are not usually long-lasted and are usually soon followed by God providing us with something to encourage us to continue on; letting us know that He is still with us. Shortly after writing the last newsletter, we were hit with a few very strong spiritual attacks which, at first were very upsetting, but then we remembered that
God’s Word is clear that Christians should expect such attacks from the enemy when seeking to live their lives for God. At first this was a very discouraging time and it was easy for us to believe lies that we have no business here or we should go home. Thankfully, this time came to a close with a very encouraging meeting with the church leadership. We had a very great and encouraging time of fellowship with them, along with a well-seasoned foreign missionary visiting the area. This was a great turning point for us and we came away feeling very welcome, well supported and even protected, by not only our local church, but also by the regional level. The love of the Body has awesome power to encourage the soul.

Being a foreigner, having limited language skills and missing home can really lead one to question; why am I here? What can I do? How can I help? Really, these are the wrong questions. I was once again reminded this month that it’s not about what I can do or what you can do; it’s about what God can do. All we need to do is be available; He will use us. Two of the boys we work with were not having any success finding jobs on their own and were not receiving any help from their schools. Despite my own lack of qualifications, God used me to help these two boys to find jobs. These are not just any jobs; but good jobs working in safe, Christian environments, working directly under good, Godly Ukrainian men. God can use anyone; do not ever question your usefulness to God. God does not desire usefulness; He desires willingness.

As for spending time ministering “the boys”, there has also been a lot happening. At last writing we had Oleg staying with us as he had nowhere to go as he was looking for work. Well, it took to some encouraging; sometimes strong, tough encouraging, but Oleg now has been working for over three weeks. The good news is that he now actually really enjoys going to work and feels good about doing something productive. The really great news is that he is working for a very good single, Christian man; perhaps in his late twenties or early thirties, who serves as a great role model for Oleg who just turned twenty last week. Oleg usually comes home happy and is glad to share something about his day. I keep in regular contact with his boss who is very pleased with Oleg’s work and even told me that this week he had not been able to be with Oleg due to illness, so he left Oleg a list of things to do and they were all well accomplished. Good job Oleg!

Oleg also continues to ask many good spiritual questions. It is obvious to us how God has been surrounding this young man with Christian influences since his early years all the way through to now, we think Oleg may be starting to see this himself. Please pray for God open Oleg’s heart to His Truth.

Vitaly also finished school and spent a few weeks with us. It was great to have Vitaly with us for those weeks, especially since he is already a firm Believer. Vitaly’s visit also had a great influence on Oleg, but was even better for our own son Matthew. One thing all of us really miss here is regular Christian fellowship. At home we our constantly surrounded by our clean, safe Christian lives; here, as we try to reach out to these guys, that is often not the case. Matthew was particularly glad to have a Christian boy around to spend time with. God has been stretching Matthew in many ways this year. Good job Matthew!

Vitaly’s time with us was short and went by quickly. He had to leave to go to job he had arranged to work at for one month. We expected to hear from him within a week or two; we waiting and waited for his call. It was not until about a month later that we received a shocking call from him. Vitaly sounded unusually happy when he called that day and we were quite shocked to find out that he was calling from a very distant city; not the closer city where he said he would be working. We were even more surprised when he told us that he was with his mother!

Of all these kids, we have known Vitaly the longest; having met him nearly three years ago on our first trip here. While we were very, very glad to share in Vitaly’s joy of being reunited with his mother after being alone for about 16 years, there was also a small part of us that was sad; thinking we would no longer see him after keeping in touch with him over the years and seeing him grow. That small amount of sadness was cured when Vitaly showed up the day after we moved into our new home. He was equally glad to see us and it was great catch up on what has been going on with him. He is doing great! He is now with his mother, has a good job in his new town and is continuing in his faith. He was eager to come to church and visit the friends he has made there as well. Vitaly is very glad to be with his mother, although he finds it a bit challenging as she is a Jehovah’s Witness. Vitaly shared some of the details of discussions he had with her and also his desire to find a solid Bible church near his new home. Please pray for him in these areas.

Vova is also back on the scene. He is also working, although not quite as eagerly as we would like, but he is working. He has been staying with us the past few weeks also. It has been going pretty well and we believe he is gleaning some things from the time he spends with us. However, he does have some specific situations we have concerns about. Please pray for us to have clear discernment about how to handle these situations. We need to confront him about these concerns and need to know how to best help him.

The family camp project seems to be at a financial stand still; however, our involvement with family ministry is not. God has been bringing a young couple and their baby to us for fellowship quite regularly. In fact, they have already been here for dinner, Bible study and Christian movies three or four times since we moved here two weeks ago! This young couple faces many challenges. Andri is a very devoted, newer Believer who is really on fire for the Lord right now.  Joelle and I have enjoyed spending time with this young couple looking at what God’s Word has to say about husbands, wives, parenting and living a Godly life. This time in God’s Word is equally valuable for us as a couple and as parents. It was also very encouraging to us that Oleg decided to join us last week for this study time and actually seemed to really being thinking about what he was hearing. Please pray for this young couple and their daughter as they face many, many challenges.

As we finish settling in to our new home, Joelle and I are also beginning to look towards the fall; discussing ideas and making plans and schedules for school, chores and ministry. Although summer is great, it’s always great to get back on a schedule(or at least try!) and we are looking forward to a fresh start for this next year here in Ukraine as we continue the work we are already involved with and also explore new ministry ideas. Thanks again for your prayers, support and interest in what is going on here.

Enjoy the last few weeks of summer,
Mike, Joelle and the Murmylo kids

Pampushky

Four dozens pampuskies(homemade doughnuts)....
an effort to try and get the guys to gain a few much needed pounds...