The second Lord’s Day in Ivano-Frankivsk has concluded. Outside snow is falling and a brisk north wind instantly chills your bones! Winter’s approach is announced and after the passing of a coming warm-up in this next week, the bitter cold will have arrived for the next four months.
I awoke this morning to wintry clouds but no precipitation but by the time the worshipping assembly was dismissed and we made our way along the streets to a congregational meal there was a mix of rain and snow that was falling. By the end of the meal the precipitation was steadily falling and soon the rain turned into snow.
The central heating will not be turned on until October 15. But it is very cold now—the temperature is anywhere from 0C to minus 3C! The Russian invasion has caused natural gas prices to skyrocket in Ukraine. When our brethren rented the current meeting place they agreed to cover the utilities. But because of to the Russian invasion and occupation and then adding more increases in the utilities is the astronomical price for natural gas that Russia demands, the cost of utilities for the congregation has increased more than $150 per month!!
Weather permitting, I am to leave in the morning on the 6:00 a.m. flight going to Kyiv where I am to catch a bus to catch a train and then board the “fast” train for a 6 hour ride to Zaporozhye. This begins a constant motion and travel for the remainder of my time in Ukraine.
Our worshipping assembly on this Lord’s Day was very uplifting. We had 26 gather together. The attendance was down by about 10 because there are still some struggling with the stomach virus. Today among those unable to attend because of illness was Ivan. In his place Volodya led the assembly. Most of the younger children were not present because of illness. Thankfully John Durham and I have evaded the bug!
Today I concluded the series on “Making God in our IMAGE.” The last two lessons ask the question “How can we restore reverence for God?” The series has been well received and a good number remarked that the classes have helped them renew their commitment to the God of the Bible.
I began the last lesson with this observation: We live in a culture where God is “respected” but not “revered”; where people trust in the supernatural but not the supernatural God of Holy Scriptures; where feelings outweigh faith; where hope has been replaced by hopelessness; where religious devotion is practiced with the levity of one on a picnic instead of the knee-knocking and heart-pricking reverence that results from biblical discernment.
I believe that such an observation offers Christians an opportunity to take a somber look at how each views the Almighty Jehovah Lord God of Scripture.
Thank you for your encouragement and support!
Pray for our efforts!
John L. Kachelman, Jr.
Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
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