Thoughts from John III:
Our first day in Ukraine was full of food, fellowship, and fun. We started our day off with a breakfast at the cafe where we will meet each morning. Since our group is not able to stay in the same flats, we have decided to meet at a cafe each morning. This was our first chance to taste some local cuisine in Ivan-Frankivsk, and we were all filled with the delicious oatmeal and egg omelets we were served. We thought that the omelets would be like typical omelets we eat in the U.S., however they failed to tell us that they were 4-5 egg omelets and huge in size! Their homemade oatmeal is so smooth and delicious that it definitely puts any instant Quaker Oats to shame. Topping off our breakfast was some coffee and cacao (hot chocolate) and we were stuffed!
As we walked to the meeting place of the church, we were excited to worship with our brethren. Many of our group had never experienced a worship assembly where brethren were singing songs in two languages at the same time. Also, Scott Lockwood spoke and he had never used an interpreter to preach before. Needless to say, he did a great job bringing us a lesson about Naaman and how we should all seek to avoid “spiritual leprosy” in our lives. The worship assembly was wonderful and the room was overflowing with those who had gathered together to worship God on this first day of the week.
Our day then continued to fill up as we went to a restaurant for a congregational lunch together with the brethren from the congregation. Our lunch would turn out to be a filling lunch of verniki, which are dumplings with various fillings. We were not told that we would enjoy some with potato, cabbage, meat, cottage cheese, and cherry! We dove in on the first ones — potato filling — not realizing that we would have four more rounds of other kinds! After five rounds of the various filled verniki, they about had to roll us out of the restaurant. It was delicious! Thankfully, the rest of the day was spent walking around the city as we had some time to learn about the city. We ended our day with a team meeting going over plans for the week.
Today we will be going out to some various locations. Four of our team will go to the village of Starry Lisets to visit with the school children and encourage them to attend our evening classes starting tonight. Three others will remain in Ivano-Frankivsk and meet with a group that we have helped in benevolent shipments. Tonight will mark the beginning of our work in Starry Lisets where we will hopefully make an impact in this village for the Lord’s Church and open doors and hearts for bible study. I will be speaking to the adults and Danyel and Malorie will be teaching the little children and B.J. And Nick will be teaching the older kids.
Thoughts from Nick Revels:
It was very encouraging to worship with the church here in Ivano-Frankivsk. Hearing the singing in different languages was a great reminder that the church is truly universal and that the love of God is cherished by all. The food is excellent and plentiful and the coffee is outstanding (even if you can’t get any til 8am). I am looking forward to going into the school today and speaking with the children and encouraging them to come to the lectures tonight.
Thoughts from Danyel Wilson:
Worshipping with our brothers and sisters in Ivano-Frankivsk was very encouraging to me and brought back some wonderful memories from previous works I’ve been involved with around the world. I love that no matter where you are, God’s church is the same. We all love each other, love our God, and are willing to serve our brothers and sisters. We have been surrounded with love, kindness, and true servanthood. I look forward to teaching and visiting with so many more.
Thoughts from Scott Lockwood:
It is amazing to share such kinship with folks that are halfway around the world and have lived in an environment and conditions that Americans can little understand. What a universal kingdom the Lord’s church truly is!
A look at the city reminds us that there was truly an iron curtain shutting off these people for more than fifty years. Their history of survival is not one of great leaders storming the beaches of Normandy but with local heroes that fought an insurgence against the ghastly Third Reich and then desperately went underground to fight the horrid Soviet occupation. There are remnants of WWI trenches nearby. Many trace their roots to war refugees from former ravages of destruction. We even walked by an old synagogue downtown that once housed a thriving Jewish community that was exterminated nearby down the same cobblestone street. This synagogue was part of a wall where folk heroes were lined up and shot by the Nazis for resistance.
Today there is a plainness and simplicity about the population that lacks the radical individualism that we are seeing in America. Most are dressed nice and clean cut and continue to show an incredible interest in English spreading people and America in general.
Continue to pray for us that we may have wisdom in lighting up a spiritual darkness that has been propagated by years of the Eastern Orthodox dogmas. Mostly at this point I know that we have truly been more blessed by these warm and loving peoples than they have from us.
Thoughts from Malorie Smith:
The Ukrainian language is beautiful. As we began to sing praise to God Sunday morning, the Ukrainian and English voices harmonized making the most beautiful sound. It amazes me how a room of people who don’t speak the same language verbally can speak the same language in our hearts with love and humility to our amazing Father in Heaven. Mr. Scott had an outstanding lesson about Naaman the leper. His message was influential and encouraged the Lord’s church, and even those who are not yet members of God’s family, to look to God, the authority of all, for help in our spiritual leprosy instead of those who have authority in this world.
Touring the city completed a wonderful first day in Ivano-Frankisk. I am in love with the lifestyle here in Ukraine. Many people walk instead of drive like we do in America. By walking, you not only get good exercise but you get to meet and interact with people. Children filled the town with their laughter while riding their scooters, parents walked hand in hand, teenagers talk instead of text, and the smell of sweet flowers filled my nose. The women here know fashion! They all have stylish high heels, beautiful coats, and gorgeous long shiny hair. I would definitely fit right into the culture here!
I look forward to the rest of this week and all the adventures that will come. Please keep us in your prayers. I hope that I can make an impact on the lives of our interpreters, the children, our group, and the members of the church.
