(Above photo: John opens the Wednesday evening lectures and Oksana translates for him. Scott Lockwood presented the lesson on the fruit of the spirit “Self Control.” We had exceptional attendance!)
Wednesday 12 October 2016 in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine began damp and wet and only became more so as the day progressed. At one point I was trying to get back to the office flat to meet the combined groups going to the Children’s Shelter and Kindergarten but found myself constantly looking for any way to ford the rivers and lakes that were in the sidewalks and usual passages. From the beginning to the end I was wet and damp!
In spite of the wet and cold we had a superb day!
We began with a good breakfast with everyone together. The group going to Starry Lysets to teach in the village schools left first, then those going to the Law Institute, then the others who had meetings with various people. Those who went to Starry Lysets had a very good lunch. Those at the Law Institute stopped by a very good café to grab a bite of lunch. And me, I gobbled down an energy bar as I rode to the Children’s Shelter! Yesterday was to have been the day some of us were invited to visit a National Guard tank practice ground but that was cancelled due to security issues. Considering the rain and cold I do not think many objected.
We had planned for our combined number to split into different groups but with the tank field cancelled and the bad weather and the close time on our schedules to make supper and then the Starry Lysets evening Bible classes, we decided to stay together (as much as possible in 4 vehicles).
The response to the evening classes continues to be amazing! The Village is showing its wonderful hospitality and religious devotion by coming out at night after a long-hard day. And tonight you can add that they came out in horrible weather—wading water, fording puddles, and walking against a blustery wind. It was definitely climate for coats, scarves, hats, and gloves. Each of us kept our coats on during classes as the heating has not yet reached its point of warmth.
I continue to be surprised at the wonderful attendance we are seeing at our classes. Tonight’s attendance was the most yet in spite of the horrible weather!
Adult Class: 28
Teen Class: 38
Children’s Class: 27
Our success with the youth is having an impact with the adults. Tonight I talked with Oksana. She was describing to me the tragedy that struck her family. Her granddaughter has some type of viral infection that has paralyzed her. Eventually the granddaughter has been accepted for treatment in a hospital in Italy where they will do a spinal tap to see what type of virus has stricken the girl. The parents are there with their daughter. Oksana is watching the grandson while his sister and parents are far away. The expenses of this are great and illustrative of the “family” environment of the village, there will be a special fund raising event this weekend and all funds collected will be sent to the family to help pay for their expenses. With treatments Oksana says her granddaughter is recovering some mobility and that is good news.
When her grandson (Nicholi) came up to us he was holding one of the craft projects they had made in class. It looked like a paper figure with bandages, so I’m guessing their class tonight was on the Good Samaritan. As Nicholi came to us, Oksana thanked us for coming and said Nicholi was so excited about the classes and crafts. He said, “Grandma! Tonight’s classes so we have to go! And we learn and do crafts and it is FREE!” Oksana said that Nicholi arrived at 5:30 and the classes start at 6:00.
Thursday’s schedule is once again filled full. We will have our school group leaving, the Law Institute group, I will have at least two meetings (one early), at 11:00 we are invited to speak to the students and faculty of the Medical Institute (some 1,200 students), we will take school desks to a village school that is 1.5 hours away and then return for our shared supper and then tonight is the last Bible class in the Village.
Pray for our efforts as we continue this trip!
John L. Kachelman, Jr.
Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
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