Thanksgiving
(This is an image from the town where Alyosha is stationed. Children taking shelter in the root cellar… is not something I’ll likely ever see in Australia!)
Last night, we celebrated the holiday we call “Thanksgiving”. Very simply, it involves gathering together, eating and thanking the Lord for His blessings. The ladies in the church decorated the room incredibly and I felt as if we had opened up the winter season with a festive occasion. About 50 people celebrated with us which made for a full room, but it was another special night for us all.
The older I get, the more I appreciate what God does for me/us. … at least, that’s what it feels like. I am so grateful for His blessings. “Abundant life” is what Jesus came to give. I look around me and see people suffering. I see people who have lost hope. So many people are hurting. But what I’ve also seen is that those who suffer and hurt with their trust in God intact, (recognizing his blessings), seem to still have some sort of gratefulness and peace about them. That observation in no way denies that they suffer or hurt; rather it acknowledges the Giver of Peace. Trust in Him and it makes a beautiful difference.
We still enjoy our guests from Eastern Ukraine. I’ll introduce you to them:
Lena is a single mother of three from Mariupol. She was living at the orphanage with her three kids in Mariupol when this all started. She lost her job when her pastor was killed in the fighting, (cleaner for his dental practice), and is in a quandry concerning what to do at the moment. Will the fighting again break out in full force? Should she start a new life here? Should she look for a job in Kiev? It isn’t easy at the best of times being a single mother.
Vlad is 15 and fairly quiet. He’s a great worker and volunteers anytime he thinks I might be going to do a job where he could help. He dislikes school and for some reason has decided he wants to be a fireman when he grows up.
Sasha is 8 and quick of mind but hates schoolwork. He often sits at the table while everyone else eats and just waits us out. He eats “unadulterated food”, (food that hasn’t been changed by spices or mixed with something else). Interesting problem. :) We had “a moment” when the will of an 8 year old came up against the will of someone who understood authority… which was very good for him. We get along well now.
Nastya is 6. She’s a cutie who is a smart little girl. Last night, she loved making pumpkin houses with us.
And Tonia… Well, Tonia also enjoyed making pumpkin houses! Tonia is 21. Her mother and young sister will come back to us for a few days later this week… The reports from their border city are not pleasant. No water or electricity. Lawlessness abounds. Products are extremely expensive in the stores… if they are even stocked. Evangelical Christians have been targeted by the Russian supported separatists and people are being asked by the soldiers who they support. Naturally, only the scrupulously honest or the crazy are answering that question with, “Ukraine”! Tonia doesn’t talk on the phone anymore about anything related to the conflict. Fear is rampant. Both Tonia and her parents are glad she’s here.
Oh! “Soldier Alyosha” was able to get a week off to come home. He travelled 100’s of extra km in order to avoid the separatist controlled territory, but eventually made it. Shane took him back to Kiev early yesterday morning to start the long journey back to his base. His base is on the edge of Debaltseve at the train station. Alyosh said that he’d taken to sleeping in a train carriage in spite of the danger of it being hit by mortar or bombs. Some of his battalion sleep in trenches, some in the train station building. He chose the carriage because it was away from the “snorers” and at least he got a good sleep. We pray for his protection and for his faith. He said that a lot of the guys believe in God, but not in the same way we do. :)
These tanks are from a field close to where he is stationed. Most of the fighting is several km away from the base, but at times, it reaches into the town and train station.
Our night away with the students on the island went real well. Once again, God blessed us with safety. 20 students ended up coming out with us, which shouldn’t have surprised us, but did. (So often, these students decide at the very last minute whether or not they will take part in some activity!) We lit a good fire and kept it going all night. The devotional time was great. The majority of these guys seemed to welcome the words about Jesus and faith that were spoken. May God work in their hearts!
Over half of us spent the night under the stars with most keeping our heads tucked away inside our sleeping bags. Even so… the 4 degree temperature kept my feet cold! By 6:30, most of us were awake due to the cold and so we put the “kettle” on and had coffee. The mist was so thick, I didn’t want to get the kids on the board… but eventually, we did it 
anyway as we were running out of time! This photo is one in which the mist has already mostly cleared. 30 minutes before, the boat at the same place wasn’t at all visible.
Pris:
Heat for winter: We are stocking up on wood for the fireplace in the living room. There are all kinds of rumours and announcements from the government on television or radio regarding what will be happening this winter with gas and electricity. We have gone from the promise of no gas (with which our furnaces are heated and cooking done) to an announcement yesterday that there would be gas, but extremely expensive. They are supposed to start economizing on electricity soon—a couple hours each morning and evening. Our electricity is supplied by a nearby city which produces it from coal. That coal comes from the area of Ukraine called by Russia “new Russia.” Water and the heat from the gas furnace are pumped through the house using electricity. We hope all will be better than expected and we will be warm. If not, well, we will share the coolness with many others and… Paul has a lot of encouraging words to say about suffering. =) I, Priscilla, have yet to learn to welcome the sensation of coldness. It takes courage for me to face the likelihood of a cold winter.
We are looking forward to our ladies retreat Oct 24-26. Please pray for each lady who will come. We hope there will about 30 or 40 ladies there. Most of the people we have come to love here are not upper class city people, but simple townsfolk with the same sorrows, hard work, and broken families and pasts that can be found everywhere in the world. They need hope and the reassurance of a faithful and loving Saviour. We would love for God to use the teaching and rest and change of scenery to draw each woman nearer to Himself.
I pulled two packages of mince (hamburg meat) from the freezer yesterday—one bought two months ago, and one from this past week. There is a 30% hike in price! We knew and have felt that the economy is shaken here, but it was still amazing to see. One pensioner in our church receives 1000 grievny a month for her pension. Six months ago that was the equivalent of 125$. Now it is worth 78$! Pray for us to be wise as we share Christ’s love in this time of difficulty for people. Often our hearts are more open when we are going through hardship. We need the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Please pray for Him to be at work in us and in the hearts of the people He has put us in the midst of.
Two of our young Mom’s have asked me to talk to them about toddler parenting. I look forward to it. I realize that in this culture, a lot of what we do is simply be a light through our lives and teaching, without, at this time, a demand or expectation (although certainly with a very strong desire) for permanent change. Unlike a lot of our western cultures, there has been no contrast for folks to notice between those Christians who live ‘in Christ’ and those Christians simply living ‘in the culture’. Before you can desire change, you must discover that there is change to be desired. I have felt discouraged at times at how slow people are to embrace and continue living ‘in Christ’. But a few verses have stood out to me recently, such as Ez. 44:23: “Teach …the difference between the holy and the profane.” How do you teach/show the difference? The best way (to date) that I have discovered to do that is to press in to Christ myself and as a family, and see if His love will not spill over and guide us as we keep journeying Heavenward. Meanwhile, pray for me (for wisdom, humility and love, coherent thoughts, and definitely help with the language!!!). The ladies are also keen to have me teach a monthly study.
We have really enjoyed the eight refugees that it seems God hand-picked for us to care for. Three of them have gone home. Although we were studying Ukrainian like crazy last year, we suddenly are having the blessing of an intensive Russian brush up! My brain has at times felt “happy”, but completely fried. It continues to feel happy but has also recovered some sanity now! =) I am very grateful for my brother-in-law and coworker, Shane, and dear friend, Cheryl, who have done piles and piles of laundry (our house not having the water supply to sustain 10 plus people). They also blessed me in innumerable other ways while Daniel was in Australia. How I pray that God will send special blessings on both of them!
Dad Gollan is doing amazing! He is home from the hospital, and I feel like I am witnessing a miracle! A brain aneurism and… home, talking, moving, praising God…. Thank You, God!!
Nazar was our flag pole on one of the trips back to the island proudly flying the “blue and gold”. He has gone back to live with the Ewings now that they are back from Scotland and he is back from Mariupol.
I’ve been drinking Ukrainian water for the past 20 years. (Science tells us that the human body is about 60% water, so I figure I have some sort of murky claim to labeling myself Ukrainian and loving this country.) I am definitely a follower of Jesus the Christ though, and there is nothing murky about that. I love Him and love His people.
Have a great day!