Here is an excerpt from an email my mom sent out requesting prayer. I think that it depicts some of the incomprehensible (to the Western mind) things that go on in this part of the world:
…last year the then vice president of the Baptist Union was in an accident. A police officer who was totally drunk ran into Ruvin Voloshin’s car and was killed. In the due process of time, but not justice, Ruvin has been declared guilty and is under restrictions and not allowed to leave the city of Moscow. This has taken a great toll on him and he was taken to hospital last night. We don’t know if it is heart or other problems, but this past year has been an agony of uncertainty for him ending with a totally illogical and unjust court decision. This is not just a man to pray about but also to enlighten your understanding of things that can happen in this country where justice and righteousness are foreign concepts.
And, while I’m at it, our politics here in Ukraine are again and/or still chaotic. It even hit international news that fighting and egg throwing broke out in parliament this week. President Yanokovich managed to push through an extended 40-year lease for the Russian naval base on the Black Sea in Ukraine. Corruption and self interest reign.
Prayer is always welcome.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
20 Years with BEE Ukraine!
Two weeks ago my parents and I attended a celebration in Kyiv to commemorate Biblical Education by Extension Ukraine's 20th anniversary.
BEE is the forerunner of the CBLT ministry that we are part of now. My parents were deeply involved in starting BEE here in Ukraine and eventually became the leaders. In the late 90's they handed that ministry over to Ukrainian leadership to focus more on the Russian ministry. So it was a special time to be able to celebrate this ministry that is still going strong today and to hear all the testimonies about how it has changed people's lives and churches.
Since the celebration was in Kyiv mum and I went by train (dad was already there because he had some meetings beforehand) to avoid an early morning marshrutka (bus/van) ride. Of course, that meant that we arrived in Kyiv at 6am, but since the alternative for the marshrutka was leaving at 4am and sitting the whole way...
The train isn't bad over all. We get on around 10pm and get our sheets and are able to sleep until about 5:15am when the conducter wakes everyone up (an hour in advance of arrival) so that we can all give our sheets back and are ready and dressed and what not when we pull in.
Most coupes hold four people (a coupe is second class, first class usually has two to three people per coupe; lower classes generally don't have doors and have six people--three tiers of bunks on each side). We were sharing with two men who were on the upper berths (this is why I don't like traveling by train by myself--you never know who you are going to end up sharing a coupe with). Thankfully, these were fairly nice, normal men--not drunk or smoking (or gropey, but then that's the benefit of traveling with two women together) all the time. Unfortunately, one of them had a cold and I picked that up and am still trying to get rid of it.
Thankfully, in the Kyiv train station there is a McDonald's which we hit right after the bathrooms (I am strongly opposed to using train bathrooms, something about the swaying and jolting and seeing the tracks flipping by underneath me...). A couple of coffees and some McBreakfast (yes, they recently got the breakfast menu there, so we don't have to have a cheeseburger first thing in the morning) later, we were feeling more human and headed out to the church to meet up with my dad.
Now the church is in the center of town, as is the train station. So, we only had to take two different metros and walk for about ten minutes to get there. Naturally, I picked up some coke on the way (because that's what good Christians do).
The event started with some singing and preaching and then they had Al Bridges speak. Al is one of the founders of BEE and so it was great to here him talk about how BEE came about and his memories of BEE Ukraine specifically.
Of course, since this was specifically a Ukrainian celebration there was a lot of focus on my dad. Which was nice for me. He was having trouble hearing, so unfortunately missed a lot of the stories, but many people shared how he had impacted their lives.
It was great to hear and see these testimonies, seeing the fruits of my parent's labor. So many churches have been planted here and new leaders raised up and small groups started because of their involvement in God's work here. God has truly blessed that and it was encouraging to see.
Dad spoke and shared about his initial work with BEE and all of that and then they also had Vera speak. I loved that. She hated it. I can't blame her. She's not an upfront person.
But it was good because she deserves a lot of recognition too. As the day went on and they worked through the different years of ministry in Ukraine it became very apparent that many people know her and are aware of her work and respect and love her. Highly unusual in a male dominated ministry. And even more so because this ministry's whole aim and goal is to raise up men to be leaders for the church. And yet, God chose to use her. And she was willing and available to be used by Him. She's made a lot of sacrifices and I am glad to see her get some recognition.
All in all it was a special day and a great way to celebrate: reviewing what had been and then giving challenges and vision for the future. The president of the Ukrainian Baptist Union got up at the end and gave a challenge about church leaders all across Ukraine holding small groups with unbelievers. He's one of dad's/BEE's students too. ;) I hope people take him up on his challenge!
BEE is the forerunner of the CBLT ministry that we are part of now. My parents were deeply involved in starting BEE here in Ukraine and eventually became the leaders. In the late 90's they handed that ministry over to Ukrainian leadership to focus more on the Russian ministry. So it was a special time to be able to celebrate this ministry that is still going strong today and to hear all the testimonies about how it has changed people's lives and churches.
Since the celebration was in Kyiv mum and I went by train (dad was already there because he had some meetings beforehand) to avoid an early morning marshrutka (bus/van) ride. Of course, that meant that we arrived in Kyiv at 6am, but since the alternative for the marshrutka was leaving at 4am and sitting the whole way...
The train isn't bad over all. We get on around 10pm and get our sheets and are able to sleep until about 5:15am when the conducter wakes everyone up (an hour in advance of arrival) so that we can all give our sheets back and are ready and dressed and what not when we pull in.
Most coupes hold four people (a coupe is second class, first class usually has two to three people per coupe; lower classes generally don't have doors and have six people--three tiers of bunks on each side). We were sharing with two men who were on the upper berths (this is why I don't like traveling by train by myself--you never know who you are going to end up sharing a coupe with). Thankfully, these were fairly nice, normal men--not drunk or smoking (or gropey, but then that's the benefit of traveling with two women together) all the time. Unfortunately, one of them had a cold and I picked that up and am still trying to get rid of it.
Thankfully, in the Kyiv train station there is a McDonald's which we hit right after the bathrooms (I am strongly opposed to using train bathrooms, something about the swaying and jolting and seeing the tracks flipping by underneath me...). A couple of coffees and some McBreakfast (yes, they recently got the breakfast menu there, so we don't have to have a cheeseburger first thing in the morning) later, we were feeling more human and headed out to the church to meet up with my dad.
Now the church is in the center of town, as is the train station. So, we only had to take two different metros and walk for about ten minutes to get there. Naturally, I picked up some coke on the way (because that's what good Christians do).
The event started with some singing and preaching and then they had Al Bridges speak. Al is one of the founders of BEE and so it was great to here him talk about how BEE came about and his memories of BEE Ukraine specifically.
Of course, since this was specifically a Ukrainian celebration there was a lot of focus on my dad. Which was nice for me. He was having trouble hearing, so unfortunately missed a lot of the stories, but many people shared how he had impacted their lives.
It was great to hear and see these testimonies, seeing the fruits of my parent's labor. So many churches have been planted here and new leaders raised up and small groups started because of their involvement in God's work here. God has truly blessed that and it was encouraging to see.
Dad spoke and shared about his initial work with BEE and all of that and then they also had Vera speak. I loved that. She hated it. I can't blame her. She's not an upfront person.
But it was good because she deserves a lot of recognition too. As the day went on and they worked through the different years of ministry in Ukraine it became very apparent that many people know her and are aware of her work and respect and love her. Highly unusual in a male dominated ministry. And even more so because this ministry's whole aim and goal is to raise up men to be leaders for the church. And yet, God chose to use her. And she was willing and available to be used by Him. She's made a lot of sacrifices and I am glad to see her get some recognition.
All in all it was a special day and a great way to celebrate: reviewing what had been and then giving challenges and vision for the future. The president of the Ukrainian Baptist Union got up at the end and gave a challenge about church leaders all across Ukraine holding small groups with unbelievers. He's one of dad's/BEE's students too. ;) I hope people take him up on his challenge!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Random
Lots of little thoughts swirling around my brain right now.
I've had a horrible cold all week and laryngitis, which was fine because I felt so horrible I was completely anti-social anyway, but now it is beginning to catch up with me and I feel the need to communicate! Don't you feel lucky? :P
Last night I realized that I was clutching kleenex in my hand all night, as I have for the past several nights. I'm not sure why, but for some reason, when I have a cold, I feel much better if I fall asleep with kleenex not only next to me on the nightstand, but actually in my hand. It doesn't generally do much good, more like a security blanket. Although, last night I woke up sneezing and was very thankful that I had kleenex in my hand already!
Right now, I am sitting here airing out the apartment while Julie is out. She'll come home soon and tell me it is cold. :D But since I haven't been outside all week I feel the need to air out the apartment as often as I can. Hopefully, it will help to keep her from getting this bug too!
Oh, and here is a little description of the Good Friday service that I attended. I had wanted to write something about it myself, but didn't get to it and I like Julie's description. ;)
This morning, I was chatting with mum (online, because I have no voice) and she mentioned that Vera, dad's right hand "man", is losing her dad. He has been ill for a long time already and he is an old man. But this will be hard on her. The doctors are only giving him a few more weeks to live. Please pray for her and her family and for her father. He was a pastor and is a very influential person in Vera's life. Pray that God will make his transition to heaven a smooth one.
This of course, also brings to mind my cousin, Jeremy, and his family. Please continue to pray for his wife, Elizabeth, and their three kids as they face the changes and aftermath of losing their husband and father.
And pray for Kostia too. And his kids. He is constantly struggling with illness and trying to manage his household and his work.
The reality of losing a loved one is not something I have had to face in a close, personal way yet. But I know that many of you have and you know the emotions and struggles and difficulties that come out of this. So please pray accordingly for all these people. And continue to pray for God to be glorified in all these situations.
I've had a horrible cold all week and laryngitis, which was fine because I felt so horrible I was completely anti-social anyway, but now it is beginning to catch up with me and I feel the need to communicate! Don't you feel lucky? :P
Last night I realized that I was clutching kleenex in my hand all night, as I have for the past several nights. I'm not sure why, but for some reason, when I have a cold, I feel much better if I fall asleep with kleenex not only next to me on the nightstand, but actually in my hand. It doesn't generally do much good, more like a security blanket. Although, last night I woke up sneezing and was very thankful that I had kleenex in my hand already!
Right now, I am sitting here airing out the apartment while Julie is out. She'll come home soon and tell me it is cold. :D But since I haven't been outside all week I feel the need to air out the apartment as often as I can. Hopefully, it will help to keep her from getting this bug too!
Oh, and here is a little description of the Good Friday service that I attended. I had wanted to write something about it myself, but didn't get to it and I like Julie's description. ;)
This morning, I was chatting with mum (online, because I have no voice) and she mentioned that Vera, dad's right hand "man", is losing her dad. He has been ill for a long time already and he is an old man. But this will be hard on her. The doctors are only giving him a few more weeks to live. Please pray for her and her family and for her father. He was a pastor and is a very influential person in Vera's life. Pray that God will make his transition to heaven a smooth one.
This of course, also brings to mind my cousin, Jeremy, and his family. Please continue to pray for his wife, Elizabeth, and their three kids as they face the changes and aftermath of losing their husband and father.
And pray for Kostia too. And his kids. He is constantly struggling with illness and trying to manage his household and his work.
The reality of losing a loved one is not something I have had to face in a close, personal way yet. But I know that many of you have and you know the emotions and struggles and difficulties that come out of this. So please pray accordingly for all these people. And continue to pray for God to be glorified in all these situations.
Monday, April 19, 2010
"Memorial Day"--Ukrainian Style
April 11, the Sunday after Easter, was "Memorial Day". It falls the Sunday after Easter every year. In this particular case it is not specifically about veterans, it is simply about honoring the dead and taking care of their graves. People go out and put fake flowers on all the graves and generally clean up the cemeteries.
I went to one of the local cemeteries by our big Orthodox cathedral here in town. This cemetery is just off the main street and is not as frequently used anymore as space is running out. In the picture above you can see the cathedral in the background and the little church closer up where Julie went for the Easter services.
In addition to cleaning up the graves and possibly whitewashing and leaving the flowers, families bring food to leave at the grave. Usually eggs, candy and a paskha (Ukrainian Easter bread) are left, although I am not sure why.
The Ukrainian title for this "holiday" is "Provody", which means "seeing off" (similar to seeing someone off at the bus station). I'm sure my Ukrainian friends could clarify a lot about this holiday and correct me on some of the details. But it is my understanding that on "Provody" the families also gather, either at the cemetery or at home and hold a feast, often with spring salads made with radishes, cucumbers and spring onions, among other things. Note that this is an Orthodox tradition, not an evangelical one.
I have to say that I do appreciate seeing all the cemeteries cleaned up and the bright flowers on them. I don't appreciate seeing the bright flowers in the market place; they are mostly plastic and often in bright, almost neon, colors, which grate on the eyes a little. But sprinkled throughout the graveyard they definitely cheer the place up.
I also love the some of the older grave markers like the one in the above picture. I remember seeing ones like that in Austria and I love the craftsmanship and artistry. The more modern trend here is to have a granite pillar put up with the person's picture on in. Very modern, but not nearly as beautiful.
As always when I wander through a cemetery, I wondered who all these people were. Some of the markers had fallen over or had lost their writing and I wondered who was there and what their life had meant. And whether they ended up in heaven or hell. Sometimes it is good to spend some time with the dead so that I remember how urgent is the need to share the gospel with the living.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Jeremy
I've put up posts in the past about my cousin who had brain cancer. He was diagnosed a little over a year ago in January 2009. His prognosis wasn't good then, but God gave him over a year of life to enjoy his family and make precious memories with them. Last week he walked into heaven.
He's certainly in a better place. His family is left with the aftermath, however. The funeral is tomorrow (Tuesday). Please pray for Jeremy's wife, Elizabeth and their three little kids. And for the rest of his family, parents and brother and sisters.
Pray for peace and rest for them.For the whole grieving process to take place and continue to completion (as much as it can). Wisdom for all the decisions that need to be made. And financial help for the bills left over from Jeremy's treatments and care. And for God to use this as a witness and for His own glory.
He's certainly in a better place. His family is left with the aftermath, however. The funeral is tomorrow (Tuesday). Please pray for Jeremy's wife, Elizabeth and their three little kids. And for the rest of his family, parents and brother and sisters.
Pray for peace and rest for them.For the whole grieving process to take place and continue to completion (as much as it can). Wisdom for all the decisions that need to be made. And financial help for the bills left over from Jeremy's treatments and care. And for God to use this as a witness and for His own glory.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Prayer for Kyrgyzstan
This morning I received an email from a friend in Kyrgyzstan reporting about the unrest there and asking for prayer.
Dozens of people have been killed and as many injured. Many arrests have taken place. The people are demonstrating--calling for a new president/government. The cost of living keeps going up and up and the people are dissatisfied. The last time this happened was in 2005 when they also called for the removal of the president who was in power at that time.
There is more information in these links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8608440.stm
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/08/kyrgyzstan.violence/?hpt=T2
or you can easily find more by searching online.
From the above reports it seems that the situation has already changed from the report I received last night, but do please keep this nation in your prayers for peace. Please pray for the Kyrgyz Christians and churches (and for my friends) that they might be witnesses to many of the peace of Christ.
Dozens of people have been killed and as many injured. Many arrests have taken place. The people are demonstrating--calling for a new president/government. The cost of living keeps going up and up and the people are dissatisfied. The last time this happened was in 2005 when they also called for the removal of the president who was in power at that time.
There is more information in these links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8608440.stm
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/08/kyrgyzstan.violence/?hpt=T2
or you can easily find more by searching online.
From the above reports it seems that the situation has already changed from the report I received last night, but do please keep this nation in your prayers for peace. Please pray for the Kyrgyz Christians and churches (and for my friends) that they might be witnesses to many of the peace of Christ.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Easter
Easter here is a very different holiday than what it is in the West. For one, it is celebrated for three days: Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Monday is a government holiday, but Tuesday is not. Of course, there are also services the week before Easter on different days in different churches, but everywhere on Thursday evening or Friday morning.
My last post showed a little from one of the Orthodox Thursday evening service. Friday I joined my roommate and her church group for an evening communion service. Since it is a home church it was a private and relaxed gathering. I enjoyed being able to be with other people and feel a part of the body of Christ. It was great to just listen to the conversations and watch and participate as we all joined in communion. It made me long to be better connected with a church here.
Easter Sunday Julie and I popped over to my parents for breakfast where we had a surprise Easter egg hunt (I won :D), then enjoyed breakfast together.
Julie had gone to one of the midnight Orthodox Easter services (because she's a glutton for punishment and she is doing research), so she went back home to rest while mum and dad and I attended Blagodat.
This is the first time I've been in church since January. February and March were total wipe out months for me physically and I'm just beginning to feel better now. Like Friday night it reminded me how great it is to be part of a larger body of believers. It is so easy for me to become a hermit; just me and my Bible. ;) But I thought it was very appropriate to have that particular reminder on Easter Sunday--the day we celebrate the event that made it possible for us to be all in the same family.
When we went back home (to mum and dad's) we enjoyed a great Easter dinner that included asparagus and other springy foods. It's been so wintery here until a couple of weeks ago that it really did make for a special meal to have those spring vegetables. It was a great family day, quiet, but I'm thankful that I was able to celebrate with my parents. I like to take those opportunities to be with my family when I can as I never know when one or the other of us will be whisked away to the other side of the globe.
This Easter was so different than last year and other years, but each one is beautiful in its own way and I am thankful for them. Praise God for Jesus' sacrifice!
My last post showed a little from one of the Orthodox Thursday evening service. Friday I joined my roommate and her church group for an evening communion service. Since it is a home church it was a private and relaxed gathering. I enjoyed being able to be with other people and feel a part of the body of Christ. It was great to just listen to the conversations and watch and participate as we all joined in communion. It made me long to be better connected with a church here.
Easter Sunday Julie and I popped over to my parents for breakfast where we had a surprise Easter egg hunt (I won :D), then enjoyed breakfast together.
Julie had gone to one of the midnight Orthodox Easter services (because she's a glutton for punishment and she is doing research), so she went back home to rest while mum and dad and I attended Blagodat.
This is the first time I've been in church since January. February and March were total wipe out months for me physically and I'm just beginning to feel better now. Like Friday night it reminded me how great it is to be part of a larger body of believers. It is so easy for me to become a hermit; just me and my Bible. ;) But I thought it was very appropriate to have that particular reminder on Easter Sunday--the day we celebrate the event that made it possible for us to be all in the same family.
When we went back home (to mum and dad's) we enjoyed a great Easter dinner that included asparagus and other springy foods. It's been so wintery here until a couple of weeks ago that it really did make for a special meal to have those spring vegetables. It was a great family day, quiet, but I'm thankful that I was able to celebrate with my parents. I like to take those opportunities to be with my family when I can as I never know when one or the other of us will be whisked away to the other side of the globe.
This Easter was so different than last year and other years, but each one is beautiful in its own way and I am thankful for them. Praise God for Jesus' sacrifice!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Easter Thursday
So, on Thursday Julie dragged me out to watch the people bringing their "holy fire" home. I wasn't too keen on going, it was wet and cold and dreary out and I had never heard of or seen this "holy fire" custom. But it turned out to be an interesting experience. We strolled down to our local Orthodox church to see what was happening, but before we had gotten more than a minute from our apartment we were already meeting people carrying their candles home.
They seemed to be letting people out in clumps as after that first group we didn't meet any more candle-bearers until we got to the church where another group was just heading out. Most of the people had a hacked off plastic pop bottle to protect their candle with for the walk home. But as we watched some of them still lost the light and we were worried what it meant for them. And why was this fire so "holy" anyway?
Julie asked a friend of hers, who briefly explained that the fire came from Jerusalem (which we had suspected) and that bringing that Jerusalem fire to your home would bring very good luck (although exactly about what we couldn't figure out), but having it go out on the way home didn't mean anything bad. So, that was a relief, but also sad.
I mean, here I am, watching these dear people "celebrating" the death of Christ (services here are often held Thursday evening and Friday morning because not everyone can make it to the Friday morning ones) and bringing "holy fire" to their homes for a blessing and really, we as Christians have that holy fire in us already. We have the Holy Spirit and His blessing with us all the time. We don't need extra "good luck" or any special fire from Jerusalem (although the symbolism is great!). It just turned my mind to the gift that God has given us in allowing us the blessing of being in constant contact with Him through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. What Easter is really about.
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