FROM DOUG SCHOFIELD:
How exciting it is to realize the potential impact our mission team is bringing to this region of the world! Today three different teams interacted with the people of Ukraine, in addition to studying with the church in Ivano-Frankivsk. Caleb, and I returned to the mountain village of Zelena, along with Oksana to translate and Ruslan our driver. You should know more about these fellow Christians who are working with us; Oksana is an excellent translator, as well as a very knowledgeable Bible scholar. Ruslan is a faithful member of the Lord’s church here, and is an avid student of the Bible. We have really enjoyed working with them.
In Zelena we visited the school again to take part in their celebration of Cossack Day. The festivities consisted of historical recitations by the students, and Caleb made a short talk about America. On the game field, they conducted relay races and other physical competitions. We presented soccer balls to the winning teams. There was also a cooking contest, and we were invited to help judge the entries. There was banosh (Ukrainian grits), vareniki, potato rolls, salo, pickles and a number of different sausages – including wild boar sausage! It was quite an experience. After the events we presented the principal with an assortment of medical supplies for the school. He was very appreciative and asked us to tell him why we came to Ukraine. We told him that we are here to tell people about the church of Christ. His response was, “you will always be welcome here”.
Leaving the school, we went farther up the mountain to the home of Bogdon and Galena. They insisted on serving us lunch again before we resumed our Bible discussion begun yesterday. They are very close to obeying the gospel but are still reluctant to let go of their Orthodox ties. There is great hope, please pray for these families, and others in the village who are also interested.
FROM GIF:
We continue to prepare the church here for the growth process in the evenings. Last night we spent an hour discussing the good qualities that leaders should display and also the dangers that come with being prideful in any leadership position. John followed up with some practical ideas for the church here about setting a budget and focusing on evangelism.
As the church continues to grow, completing the mission of God is to be the ultimate goal and the church here is learning how to take necessary steps to achieve this goal.
FROM CALEB COLQUITT:
Once again, we made our way down the long, bumpy mountain roads to Zalena. It was a special day at their school. They had a festival to celebrate Cosacks, runaway slaves that hid in the mountains and fought for Ukrainian independence. They cooked dishes over a fire just as these refugees and rebels would have, which included banosh (Ukrainian grits), potato rolls, salo (back fat), and pickles all of which was part of a competition between classes. The other competitions included a relay race, obstacle course, drawing competition, and dance-off. We presented the winning classes with new soccer balls we bought for the kids. We also donated a blood-pressure cuff, stethoscope, and other medical supplies for the school nurse.
The sense of national pride and love for their family heritage is remarkable. I had the pleasure of speaking to their whole school and pointed out that America also had to fight for our independence against a tyrant. I also mentioned that though we come from different nations, the struggle for liberty is universal to all mankind.
After that, we returned to Galena (Ivan’s cousin) and Bogdon’s home for another Bible study. They asked many questions, mostly about traditions and immersion baptism. Brother Ruslan also assisted Doug and I in this study. We were disappointed that they did not wish to be baptized yet, but I pray earnestly that they will soon.
As the day wound down, we attended Bible Study back at the church where Gif and John the Grey addressed the church about leadership. I’m certain the message about a church budgets and being financially independent will help the congregation greatly.
And then we ate at the Chocolate factory.
FROM NICK REVELS:
Today, I went back to Lysets with Simba to go to the school there again. We went to several classes and talked with them in English, played word games with them and helped them with their pronunciation. After a wonderful lunch at the school, we went to the lake in Starry Lysets for a few minutes. Then we went to Julia’s English class and worked with the kids there. We talked about us, what we like and our hobbies. Then they learned the story of Noah and afterwards we quizzed them on what they learned. They were all between 8 and 12 and very engaged. At night, we met with the church and heard a great lesson from Gif. It is very encouraging to see the church here wanting to work and grow.
FROM ELIZABETH REVELS:
Today, I went to Ugornyky again to speak at the school. Maggie, Christina, and I went to the 9th grade class and they were very interested in learning about America and how the schools work, the weather, and our favorite things to do, shows to watch and music. After that class ended we went to the 6th grade and had a wonderful time. They were also very interested in America. Once again we went to the 9th grade and they had researched facts about Alabama and we had a panel discussion with them. We had a wonderful lunch in the school and had an early day off. When we got back to Ivano-Frankivsk Natalia treated us to a walking tour of the city. It was nice to learn the history of Ivano-Frankivsk.
I was able to have time to prepare the lesson for the kids in the afternoon. Maggie, Christina and I went back to Ugornyky for the Bible lesson. We had several kids and they loved learning about Moses. We did a craft and brought candy from home with us and it was a fun treat. We made it back to town for the end of the bible study with the church and were able to spend some time with the members here. We made it to Churchill’s at 8:00 for dinner and had a wonderful meal.
FROM MAGGIE BERRYMAN:
Today we went back to the school in Ugornyky, we met with grades 6th and 9th.
The 6th graders had so many questions, from American school to American history. We did the best we could to answer all their questions in the time that we had. It was so fun to see the excitement and curiosity they had.
The 9th graders had prepared for a discussion about different places in Alabama. They found and asked questions about places that most of us hadn’t even heard about.
Many of them also wanted to know if the American Dream was real and if it does happen; as well as many other “hot topic” questions that they have heard about on the news.
I cannot wait to go back tomorrow and discuss music and play with the younger children!
FROM CHIP MCEWEN:
Well Wednesday was another get up and get going day with breakfast at Churchills. (Entrepreneurial idea for someone, introduce cheese grits to Ukrainians. Also cook to order eggs they come over medium here.) After breakfast we loaded up 3 translators and 5 of the group in a taxi/van to a school in Ugorniky. We were the American show-and-tell for three classes learning English. The first class were 12-13 year-olds. Teenagers are teenagers in any language. It was Gif and I and a translator and we talked about ourselves, where we come from, what we do, and things about Alabama (side note: I’m starting to get good at drawing Alabama on a chalk board with our surrounding states. Maybe I should apply for a job at Bureau of Travel & Tourism as an Alabama Ambassador.)
Next class was for 1st graders and they were working on colors. I stood up and used my clothes for the day for them to practice since I was wearing some of them, including red. I was not wearing any orange, go figure why, though (Haha for by Auburn brothers and sisters at Dalraida and Mike Kiser in Sylacauga.)
The last class was an older class and they had prepared for the class and had researched a lot of Alabama like Gulf Shore, Orange Beach, Bham, Noccalulu Falls, Cheaha, cathedral caverns and Huntsville rocket center. As the senior Alabamian statesman of the group, I was busy since I had visited or lived near most of those places.
After this class we had lunch and my 2nd opportunity to eat borscht. I will make my lovely wife Kristie proud and if you doubt i have photo evidence.
We then returned to Ivano-Frankivsk and had some time in the afternoon to walk around the city. I then had the pleasure of a personally guided tour with one of our translators, Natallia, of the city and some of the historical sites. She also helped me buy a traditional Ukrainian men’s shirt. I was then able to take care of personal trip business and prepare for evening meeting which began at 6 pm.
Following the meeting, we had dinner at Churchills and desert at the chocolate factory and turn in for the night!
A blessed day and hopefully many seeds sown to open hearts to Gods power in the scriptures. Keep praying for our mission success and safe travels. You are in mine!
