The Above Photo: Khristina and Nastya in Bible Study Saturday night
BIG CORRECTION…in yesterday’s update I said that Ivan had been told that the rent on the two rooms being used by the Ivano-Frankivsk Church was increasing by 10%. That was wrong. It is being increased by 20%!! This adds $170.00 to the rent so the total monthly rent now is $1,020.00!
Saturday was a beautiful day in Ivano-Frankivsk. The spring flowers are blooming and the terribly cold temps have moderated. There is still a cold wind blowing but the weather is much better than when I first arrived! I doubt I will see any more snow.
Our efforts to highlight the corruption that has suspended shipment of benevolent containers into Ukraine continued on Saturday. Ivan has made contacts with various governing officials in the western part of this nation. We have had good responses from one of the Vice-Governors and one of the Supreme Rada Deputies from the west. The summarized list, posted in yesterday’s blog, has been made available to all in western Ukraine who have received commodities from our shipments. I have been asked to attend a meeting of a national committee on corruption that has recently been registered and empowered. I have names, dates and data ready to present! This is scheduled for Monday. A number of other actions are moving elements that will eventually address this problem. Some officials were totally unaware of the issue but once they are informed and given specifics, they are irate (angry!).
There is a clear message from God…sometimes it is a sin to be angry BUT sometimes it is a SIN NOT TO BE ANGRY! Those who remain complacent when the orphans, widows, poor and vulnerable are being denied essential needs, will face the anger of God because these did not demonstrate their anger with man! It is time to act and not remain complacent!
Read of God’s anger against those who refuse to demonstrate their opposition to how God’s commands are being ignored. In The Bible, Judges 5:23 we read that God curses those who refuse to confront evil when it oppresses and/or redesigns God’s commands. God’s words to those who know others are doing wrong but who refuse to arise and correct are blunt, ” Utterly curse…because they did not come to the help of the Lord.” WHO wants to face this utter curse of the Lord God Almighty! Silence and a refusal to correct is a sin.
In October’s visit Gif was asked to start a study with some of those who were assisting us in our interpretation needs. This added an unplanned and spontaneous study to the schedule and was one of the lasting impacts of the trip. Thanks to Anya a regular schedule has developed. The classes are in English so the interpreters gain valuable experience and practice in learning English (the good ole south Alabama version!). The classes began while Gif was here but has transitioned to a weekly Skype setting. Saturday night I attended the weekly session. Gif presented a very good lesson on Saul of Tarsus. At times the connection made things difficult but still it was able to communicate the message of God’s Truth.
On Sunday Khristina travels 6-7 hours from Ivano-Frankivsk where she will compete in a nationwide language tournament. This will involve grammar, English Literature, phonics, reading, spontaneous monologue speaking, writing, and other linguistic skills. I told her she would do great but, understandably, she’s nervous. I told her I would ask you to pray for her in this competition.
Today is the Lord’s Day!
Pray for our on-going efforts!
John L. Kachelman, Jr. Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
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