+ 8 - 11 | § ¶July Newsletter 2007
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
July is a great month of the year, especially for us who live in North America or northern Europe...we get some good weather and many of us get a much needed vacation. This July is special for me—obviously because I am marrying my beloved Tanya. If you would have told me 13 years ago when I was 18, that I wouldn’t get married until July 7, 2007—I probably would have laughed in your face or become very depressed—because I have always had the desire to marry. Most teenagers wanted college and parties—I only wanted a wife and family—God had different plans for me—much bigger and harder plans than I ever dreamed of. Now, looking back at the good times and the bad, I am thankful—for what God did with/through me when I was single and extremely THANKFUL to be entering this new season of marriage. Never take for granted the season you are in!
The ORU Team Mission:
The team of 11 students, 3-5 translators, and myself set out on several adventures in June. I had the privilege of being their contact, events coordinator, and driver (of a 17 passenger van) until June 13th—when I drove them to the airport at 3:00 AM. We had some full days at orphanages, construction, ministering, and playing with the kids. We evangelized downtown—where I had the chance to witness to 4 individuals and invited them to English Club, because they spoke a good amount of English. We also did a Vacation Bible School—where we ministered in song, skits, and games—leading kids to the Lord. There were cleaning days, church services, and just fun souvenir shopping. It was all quite exhausting, as I had to make sure they had food and drove sometimes 2 hours in traffic just to pick them up early in the morning with this huge van. There are some videos on www.myspace.com/missionsupport as well as, I posted about 250 photos or more of the team and our work, if you are interested in viewing any of that - all on my myspace page. (plus, a whole new look, if you didn't see it in a while)
The month of July
Tanya and I spent last weekend in Chercassy finalizing wedding plans with the pastor and her family. Weddings are hard enough to coordinate, but try coordinating 2 weddings in 2 different cities and in 2 different languages! We will have 50 guests at the Kiev “court” wedding with a reception following and then 50 different guests at the Chercassy “church” wedding with a reception. These are exciting times—but we could use prayer as summer traffic has increased in Kiev and it is hard to move around. It took me 1.5 hours to get 20 km to a meeting with my pastor today and equally that amount of time to get back home.
After my brother flies back home on July 10th, we will have July 11th to get ready to leave at 5 AM for our honeymoon in Turkey on July 12th. We will be there until July 22nd. On July 22nd, another mission team flies into Kiev—until August 7th. We have to work on “immigration papers” for Tanya and have a meeting August 1st. Pray we can get all papers and help with this team, and adjust to married life this month! *(Some have sent wedding “gifts/checks” to Impact, which works fine)!
Current prayers!
Ukraine...its Government-the political situation is a mess here and needs special prayers.
The English Club—We have stopped for July, but I invited them to my wedding and should enjoy more fellowship with them!
Russian—still trying to get a grasp on it, keep it in your prayers!
For our President and GOV’t in USA!
Pray for Travelers—my brother coming from TX and others coming from Russian, and for all the traveling on the wedding days!
Thanks for your prayers for better weather –it’s been cooler—Pray for good weather July 7th and 8th.
Pray for HOT WATER – they turned off my hot water – which they do here for sometimes a month – it has been a week – would love to have a hot shower again!
Tanya’s pasted her final defense with an A—thanks for your prayers.
Pray for new converts as we hope our wedding will be a great time for some friends here to hear the Gospel and be an example of love to those who we are trying to reach!
Pray for our wedding! THANKS!
