+ 7 - 16 | § ¶February 2007 - Newsletter Update
Happy Valentines Day!
And yes, the rumors are true...I am ENGAGED to be married to Tanya Govorucka. I proposed to here on New Year’s Day, 12:00AM on “True Lover’s Bridge” downtown Kiev, Ukraine—and then the fireworks went off! A cheap but beautiful way to say, “I love You”:) I like to say that I planned those fireworks for her. Anyway, I have spoken to both her pastor in Kiev and in Chercassy—we have to do a 7- week class and answer around 80 essay questions and then the Kiev pastor will decide if we can marry or not. Her pastor in Chercassy announced our engagement to his church last Sunday and everyone prayed for us!
The Christmas Project Update:
The 3 projects with Grace Evangelical Church in which, a total of $3,000 was given to help a total of 175 kids receive gifts, fun, and a presentation—are now done. Please check out the blog to read about them and see some of the pictures...of course, I can’t post all of the pictures, but I wish I could. The Gospel went forth and some children received Christ as their Lord and Savior. I praise God for His goodness in bringing NEW LIFE into these children, those who are so often forgotten were remember by you and your love!
The other project worked out with ACT-UA as well. Thirty-one more children received gifts worth $20 each—this took place January 3rd. We had a little party for the Orphans from Father’s House who didn’t have any Christmas party—and I watched a movie in Russian with them...now that’s being a missionary
Thanks for all your love, gifts, and prayers for these Kids, I am still working with ACT-UA to see about starting a Street-kids center here in Kiev with them. It proves to be much more work than expected and much harder to work with the government now than ever before. Keep all these future dreams in your prayers.
What else is going on?
Well, you’ve probably heard that I spend a great deal of my week studying Russian. The commute is a killer and the Russian language wants to put a nail in the coffin, but I have to say...I am picking it up! I am starting to understand what I learned in the past and feel like I am learning at 10 times the speed as before. Tanya’s family, whom we went to see this weekend, said that my Russian has increased a lot since 3 weeks ago. Her brother said I almost sound like a comrade! So, that’s good, I think?:) I preached at Tanya’s home church on Romans 5:1-5 and now her family seems to like me a lot more—I knew they needed to hear me speak about God’s grace and mercy:) ha. Anyway, English Club is good—I am teaching English and can tell you that English is not so easy either. Once you have to teach it your prospective changes. Anyway, FUNDS are tight now—as always, after the holidays in America and Ukraine. So, if God is speaking to your heart about giving, it would be appreciated it!
Current prayers!
· Ukraine...its Government, people, churches, and continued growth in Jesus/salvation.
· Safety for traveling-there are many accidents a day in Kiev, Many!
· The English Club—pray for additional funding.
· Russian School—Pray for the learning process, funds for school, and safety in travel.
· The Wedding—We hope to wed on July 7th and 8th, 2007 here in Ukraine (Kiev and Chercassy). However, there are many papers to do, plans to make, money to save, and decisions—so please pray for all of this, etc.
· Expecting mothers—my sister-in-law, Becky, due in April/May and Britney Wall, due in March.
BIG THANKS—to all those who sent their congratulations to Tanya and I, by the www.jesustalks.com/blog website, or www.myspace.com/missionsupport—Tanya and I read all the comments and emails and really appreciate it. Of course, if you can come over the 4th of July weekend—start to save now, tickets will be around $1,350, plus expenses:)
