Week 4-God is Good

This week was a very busy week! We both had long days and read for 50 hours combined. The days may have been long, but the conversations are continuing to grow deeper as comprehension and English skills are developing. I am amazed, daily, by the power in God’s word that sparks questions and discussion, and for the unending thoughts and explanations that God speaks through me. Going into this week, I had a very full schedule (9-10 hours days with no break) and was very worried that I would not be able to give the attention and energy to each individual reader, but God is good and continually supplied my needs. 

~Highlights from the Week~

Friday, a sweet family from church invited us over for dinner, along with two young people from the church. We enjoyed great fellowship and food! We also played games and had a short bible study.  Sasha used to be in the Russian military and had many stories about Russia and the USSR. He married his wife Ulah and had their son Igor once moving to Ukraine. Ulah asked us many questions about ourselves, our family, and American culture. She is such a kind and warmhearted women! Igor is the only one in the family that knows English, so he translated all of our conversations.

Saturday we adventured out into the city by ourselves to go souvenir shopping and celebrate National Kiev day in the center town square. I then took a trolley to our host missionaries flat to do laundry and made last minute preparations for our party Sunday.

Sunday we worshipped with the church family and then got ready for our LST party. At the party, we had about 10 readers come. This is quite a bit less than our first party, but this was a holiday weekend so many people were traveling or at the town festival. Though our number was small, everyone enjoyed American Taco’s, fun minute-to-win-it games, and learning how to play my favorite game, spoons! 

Sunday evening, we went with some of the youth from the Vinograder congregation and visited the Nivky refugee youth church service. This church is made up mainly of younger people who are refugees from Donetsk and are doing great things for Christ and the community. This week was their first service in a new building, so it was very cool to be part of that excitement. 

After church, we stayed and met many people from that congregation and then the youth/ young adults invited us to hangout and watch a movie with them.

 It is hard to believe that we are two-thirds of the way through our trip. I pray that God will bless our conversations this week, and help us to start to transition from growing our personal relationship, to connecting our readers to the church. 

May God Be Glorified,

K.L.E