Countdown to trouble
Presidential elections… rarely a “non-event” in any country, let alone in Ukraine, this country of turmoil. We will again be meeting in our home this Sunday as a church because the polling station in Rzhyshchiv will be located in the central town hall where we normally gather. I’m guessing that there will be a bigger turnout for these elections than ever before. Four days out from voting day, it looks virtually impossible for Poroshenko, supported by boxing champ, Klitchko, to lose. We were talking around the table after breakfast this morning about the possibility of soon obtaining Ukrainian citizenship as Ukraine heads towards greater European integration and allows dual citizenship. There is a general expectation that there will be “disturbances” on Election Day around the country. Those seeking to align themselves with Russia have already made moves to stop the elections in their provinces and in general cause chaos. Those blocking the roads around Kiev continue to amuse me with their futile efforts to block either terrorists or arms from getting into the city. Naturally, only time will tell how many people die during these days due to pride and stupidity and the evil nature of man. Over the next few days, there’s a nasty chance that we are going to see a lot of lawlessness and killing in this country of ours!
Yesterday, we had the rare opportunity to meet with Vlad in Kiev. He’d not eaten in 24 hours as they had been kept busy doing “urgent jobs” so was extremely grateful for the KFC we brought to the place he was working on. The guards allowed him to spend about an hour with us while the other prisoners kept on sanding and painting the playground. I had to laugh ruefully as he described how he’d been reading one of books in the “Love Comes Softly” series and had been awash all week with feelings of just wanting to be home. Agh! Poor bloke. Otherwise, he’s been doing great and is thankful for the Lord’s blessings. He holds out faint hope that his name will be on the amnesty list for May. It’s unlikely, but possible.
Ukraine recently celebrated Victory Day and I
happened to be downtown when “the march” began to wind it’s way from the market to the memorial. I took a couple of photos and then noticed Tamara and Andrei, (her son), “break ranks” to come over to say hello. Tamara is a member of the communist party as well as a fairly regular attender in our fellowship – an ironic combination. I’m not convinced of her salvation yet, but know she has felt the Lord’s tug in her heart and so we continue to pray for her… as well as for the many others who hear the gospel through the lips of God’s people in Rzhyshchiv.
Alyosha has finally been called up to serve in the army. The expectation of a call has been hanging over his head for a few months now and last week, he finally got the word. His wife, Natasha, and kids, Lilya and Denis, were with us on Sunday and I snapped this pic of Lilya as she looked out the window. If Alyosha is away for long, we will appreciate the opportunity of
being able to love and care for his beautiful family for the glory of the Lord. There are a few wives we know of in Rzhyshchiv who we’d like to help during the time their husbands are in the army. If anyone would like to help financially with this sort of expression of love, send me an email and I’ll let you know how you can do so.
Nazar is coming to stay! You’ll probably see more pics of Nazar over the coming months as he joins our home while Simeon and Asia are out of the country. He’s from the orphanage in Mariupol (a city on the eastern border of Ukraine) who we have had the privilege of sharing Christmas with for the past few years. He’s 17 and Studying to be a mechanic here in Rzhyshchiv. If he stays in Rzhyshchiv, I’m sure to make good use of his skills!! :) (Here’s a pic of Nazar with Diana and Mim.)
There are so many things happening over the next month. Pris celebrates her 41st, then Angel her 14th. (Here she is enjoying her time with friends at Youth Group Friday nights.) We will hold a men’s breakfast morning in June and July or August around the theme of “How to prepare a sermon/How to study the Bible”. (The men from the church in Kahalryk will be joining us and we look forward to that.) We will have another “Couples Night” towards the end of June. We have continued to meet at the market Sunday mornings to preach and pray. (Due to the elections, we’ll not do that this weekend.) We’ll also be meeting together with some of the youth from a church in Ukrainka and deepening our relationship with them. And of course, we shall be preparing for the Island Camp in early July by setting up and carting over firewood and tents and all sorts of other bits and pieces. On the 13th, we shall be going away with the students for a night where we will again give them the gospel message and suggest they surrender their lives to Jesus. (Please pray especially for this!)
I’ll leave off there. Enough pics and enough info! May God bless you as you live life with Him.