VBS day one

DAY ONE VBS COMPLETE

Having great difficulty with the internet connection here today. VERY slow uploads and they keep failing. Pictures will be uploaded and placed in this text if we can get them in before 9pm! (2pm EDT time)

VBS went well today. Having 20 people does make the workload lighter but also adds to the chaos. The Ukranian students that came outnumbered our students plus we gained a number from the seminary and from missionaries serving in nearby areas. It was a very special thing to see all of the kids together in the big room.



We had a great time with the kids and nearly every student answered Da (Yes) when asked if they had a fun time. Please pray for the kids of two parents. One grandmother came in off the street at the urging of her granddaughter and left abruptly after figuring out we were not an Orthodox Russian congregation. She was obviously fearful. Another child left with his father who was obviously displeased that his son had attended. We won't go into details but pray for the family situation. It is obviously not pleasant for the son.

There is a spiritual barrier here and it is evident. Much like larger areas of the USA, people who call themselves Christians are indifferent or even hostile to the name of Christ or when discussing spiritual things. Like dark places in our own lives, we are not comfortable as humans having the light shown on sin. Praise God he has victory over sin and in heaven we won't have to fight this struggle!


This afternoon we went several directions as a team. Many of the boys and men (and some of the girls) went to play football (soccer). I (the geek) went to try to help remove a severe virus infection on the laptop at the church and to try to get wifi working there. It has proven to be a bit more of a challenge than a typical wifi installation.



For the geeks reading this, in Europe they put a secure VPN layer on top of their regular IP/DHCP setup to insure that only ONE computer can use the internet. Add RUSSIAN language to everything and this might be one problem this geek can't solve. We shall see.

Personal notes - because we have no pictures from the afternoon:

Bev will be happy to know that we found Ukranian fabric. It's not luxurious. Most people don't know what luxury is here -- and when they do, people don't sew their own clothes apparently. That's what Turkey and Italy are for (cheap and expensive, respectively)

Dawn will be happy to know we have met Oleg and he is doing well. We have met additional missionaries here that didn't even know each other this week. Please pray for Brett and Katie. They are missionaires from Colorado here serving in the Ukraine and had not met Kurt and Rochelle. (Living just miles apart serving the same purpose but with different timing and networks). Denise knew both of them (but then again Denise knows everyone!!). What a firebrand she is. Please pray for Brett's mother in law. She has cancer and Katie is torn between 3 kids in Ukraine, a sick mother in California (she and Brett are from Colorado but her mother lives in CA) and the inability to be in two places at once. Having all four travel to visit her sick mother may also present a burden. Pray she will make appropriate choices and God will give all involved the patience to get through this time.

Those we know well from Acts 2:42 will be able to relate to this: Denise reminds me much of Nancy Hull -- always going about 100 miles an hour and in love with Jesus! We are all honored to be able to work with her. We love you Denise!