Trip report #22–May 9, 2023 Final Report!

Photo: The mission team returned to Montgomery, AL Saturday evening around 8:00 pm!

We have all returned from the most recent mission trip into Ukraine and Poland. I hope you have kept up with the frequent reports sent during the trip. As is usual, I think this trip was very productive and we are seeing some significant results from our efforts. We are finding open doors and a willingness to join us in our efforts. This is encouraging. For this “Return to Montgomery” update I want to include some of the reports that I have not yet been able to post.

From Ruslan

Dear brothers and sisters! Thank you so much for sending your brethren here so that they can come and see our work with their own eyes as well as use their talents to help us. I’m sure they will have good memories especially those that came for the first time. We continue working in all areas of church ministry even though at times it is pretty challenging nowadays. But it is possible with God and your prayers. The tribulations we are facing make us stronger. Sincerely yours, Ruslan

From Ivan

Greetings, dear brothers and sisters! We are exhausted but very pleased with the work that has been successful. During this visit we have had many good Bible lessons, wonderful fellowship and together we have distributed humanitarian aid to the needy. The Lord blesses the Church here and the work we do. He has opened up doors for the Gospel in many areas in Ivano-Frankivsk. We are very pleased and encouraged by our partnership and your support in spirit. Thank you for your financial support that makes our work for the Lord possible and for the wonderful team that you have sent here. Big thanks to brother John. Big thanks to God for blessings and opportunities He opens up for us. In Christian love and respect, Ivan and Svitlana

From Perry

Ivan, Inna, Sasha and myself drove an hour to the military base in Kalush to deliver 20 tourniquets, hand sanitizers, and Ivy spray. We were met by Major Andrew of the National Guards who is so thankful to Ivan and the Church for all the help and humanitarian supplies. Andrew served the frontline and was brought back to train the young soldiers before they go to the front line, there are 120 in training at present. Andrew gave us a tour of the facility telling us each stage of the training process. Recently 20 of his soldiers went to the front and on the first day 5 were wounded and luckily non-life threatening. Andrew told us the hardest job he has is going to a family to inform them their loved one gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Following the tour, we had refreshments in his office and I was surprised when he gave me a military jacket with the rank of captain. I was astonished as Andrew was describing what each patch represented and then told me that one patch was on his vest in the front line, he put it on mine! Each soldier is required to have this patch in case of injury! It’s their blood type. I’m so proud, humbled and honored with such a great gift.

This evening I was blessed to teach the class. Tonight there were many visitors. Following class we had wonderfull fellowship and told the congregation how blessed we were to work side-by-side doing the Lord’s work. We wore the Ukrainian shirts (Vyshyvanka) that were given as gifts from the Church. Most of the congregation did the same. I think this was planned! It truly is hard to say good by to these wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ.

This mission trip as all reports show was very successful with many potential souls touched and are willing and ripe for studying God’s precious word. We are blessed to be tools used for our Lord and Savior Jesus.

Without our translators we would be lost and ineffective so three cheers to Tanya and Inna our seasoned veterans. On the team this year were two new young interpreters Polina and Sasha who did a remarkable job and I believed were exhausted. Many do not realize how exhausting their job is! It is not a nine to five job but many days thirteen to fourteen hours. We are truly, truly blessed because they are not only our translators but friends. I can’t wait to see them again. I take my hat of to Inna who indured being my interpreter!

The work in Zelena is opening up and I wish I could live there! Bogdan, Galyna and Lily, their daughter, arranged visits to ten families that we gave buckets full of household needs from the Church of Christ in Ivano-Frankivsk and Christians in America. We were also invited by Taras and Galyna, their relative. We were warmly welcomed at each home and invited back. Bogdan graciously drove us. The warmth, kindness, and friendliness shown to us is overwhelming but most importantly as these seeds are planted, may their souls become fertile soil for the salvation message that Jesus offers. The villagers see the life changes in Bogdan, Galyna, Peter, Tanya and her father Peter and because of this and the friendship we have with Cathrlina the Librarian we met last fall doors are being open. May God be glorified.

This is only my second trip to Ukraine, Ivano-Frankivsk and Zelena and I cannot say enough about Ivan and the work he and the Church are doing in the community and outside the community. The influence he has nurtured with city mayors, local hospitals, rehab centers, military officials, refugees is beyond words. Because of him and the Church reaching out with humanitarian needs, medical supplies to hospitals, schools that is made possible by donations from Businesses, individual families, churches in the U.S. and overseen by the Dalriada Church of Christ, doors are being open for the Gospel to be taught. The Church is known and we felt it by the response from the citizens, school administrators, hospitals, rehab center, and the military. When we meet the needs of the people and they see Christ working though his ambassadors, doors are opening. Just a side note, during all this time with Covid and the war we are told the Greek Orthodox church has not helped at all.

One of the goals was to be moved from the office in Ivano-Frankivsk to the Church building in Ugorniky by May 1^st. Ivan was trying to get an extension on the emergency occupancy permit but was denied until the last two rooms, kitchen, handrails, handicapped ramp and yard is leveled to the cities engineer’s specs. The money is raised for the building but the cost to have the entire grounds graded for water run off to a retention pond that needs to be built, paving stones installed in the front and back is $22,000. Even though certified occupancy is not given, the city will permit those displaced by the war to stay at the building. There is urgency to complete this task and I solicit help from all reading this report. The members have completed about 80% of the work themselves. And most significant, there is no debt.