Season of Change

Six and a half more weeks until we hope to be flying out to Ukraine.  It seems so far away, yet so close considering how much more we have to do.  As I type, our passports and visa applications are sitting somewhere at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, D.C. waiting to be either denied or granted.  During this (short) period of time, we were told of the White's situation with the registration.  As far as we know, they are the first missionaries in Ukraine to experience this new law of UN-registering.  My heart goes out to them as I know it has already been a long, hard almost year for them.  We kept joking with them (in a serious way) about staying and working with us, but they always said they were too old for that.  Now to have to deal with the Ukrainian system...I know they covet your prayers.  They have been told that, according to the law, they must now un-register, pay a fine, then immediately leave the country and stay out for 3 months.  This would leave our dear church once again without a Pastor for a month.  Please, please pray for our little-growing church that God would protect it if it is His will for this to be.  God has been bringing in many new visitors and Nastia's dad even said that, if she gets her homework done, she can go to Sunday School on Sunday.  Pray, pray, pray for this little girl and her family.

As I think about our little church, I cannot help but remember our dear Russian Mama, Valentina.  It has been nearly 3 months since she has come to the church.  I would love to believe that once we get back, she will also come back, but I am thinking that she probably will not.  When she first left, it was extremely difficult...it just won't be the same without her...but the Lord has help give me peace through this and I have left her in His hands.

Everyone keeps asking us, "What will you do if you can't get back in?"  To be honest, we don't really entertain that thought often.  We tried talking about it a few times, going between Ukraine and somewhere else every 3 months, switching mission fields...but nothing seems right.  How can it?  Our hearts our there and we will pray and trust that God will make a way for us to get back home.  If not, He will change our hearts.

Thank you so much for your prayers and sweet notes.  You are all such a blessing and encouragement to me and I have enjoyed getting a chance to visit with some of you.

Rest

 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

Mark 6:31 

Reading this verse this morning I felt as if Jesus was speaking directly to me.  The disciples were coming to Jesus and telling Him what they were doing (in His name) and teaching.  They were constantly surrounded by people coming and going, and they couldn't even sit down to have a meal in peace!  Some days it seems as if the kids are up before me, they are tired and cranky during meal times...oh!  To find a desert place!

So many times I have felt guilty over this overwhelming desire to have some quiet time.  Some time to come away.  I felt as if it was some faulty character.  But Jesus Himself understood the frailty of man, being a man Himself.  And He too, separated Himself to pray and rest.

May I follow His example and withdraw myself from the noise and cares of this life, even if it requires me to get up earlier in the morning, that I may not get too tired to do what He has called me to do...which is, first, to be a wife and mother; second, a missionary to Ukraine.  I cannot do it of my own strength.  I NEED His guidance in every aspect of my life.

Quick Hi!

Where to begin?  I have written so many posts...just in my head.  I have MILLIONS of photos and picking which ones to share is going to be impossible.  For starters, we posted an update on our visas and the church in Ukraine on our ministry blog.  We would greatly appreciate your prayers as we get prepare to head back home.

 And I know you are all wondering, "Could that possibly be little Daniel?!?!"  Yes.  That chubby rascal is my Daniel.  He's not so tiny any more!!  (But he's still just as adorable!)

 The past few weeks I have felt about like these pictures and have not been feeling very well.  Praying that we can get things all figured out before we head back.  We are trying to take it easy and enjoy our time here.  This part of Maine is absolutely gorgeous! 

 We brought the kids down to the ocean a few times.  Each time I said we were just going to 'wade' into the water and not get wet, but this is what ended up happening...

 They were SO cute and had a BLAST.  I am surprised I got any face pictures at all because they were very busy. ;)  I LOVE this next picture.

 Sometimes just going with the flow makes the best pictures.

 

See what I mean?  His first taste of the ocean. :)

 

 Then we have our sea princess. (Yes. That is seaweed.)

 

The kids are growing so fast!  Sammy 'boy' is now 2. (He turned 2 in June, but I forgot to mention it.)

 And Anna turned 5 in August!  She's already talking about getting married, AHHHHH!!!  We told her she is going to have to wait a little while for that. ;)

 I know this was not much of an update, especially for having been missing in action for so long, but I need to get some sleep before my little guy decides he needs to eat again.  This is one of the only things I don't miss about them growing up 'cause I'm not much of a late night type of gal.  Hope you all have a good night/day! 

From the Hillsides of Maine

 Standing outside, the hills in the background and laundry in my hands, I could not help but close my eyes as the Maine breeze swirled my hair around my face.  The sun beamed gently warming my face.

 

(The kids' club house.)

My mind wandered back to the post Maine is in the Air and the times like it when I longed to be standing here enjoying a moment like this.

I could barely contain the swelling in my heart from spilling forth as tears through my eyes.

Oh!  How I love the light breezes, the fresh smell of the trees, the buzzing of the hummingbirds, the chirping of the squirrels, especially when they are mad at me for getting to close while attempting to photograph the hills.

 I love the little deer peeping curiously over the rocks at us.

Someone once asked me, "You've been practically everywhere (I was a church planting pastor's daughter), is there still anywhere you'd like to see?"

And I can sincerely answer, just Maine.  I would be content to stay here forever.  It truly is the most beautiful place on the face of the earth.

How is it that my heart still longs to be home (or how I can even call it that) in Ukraine?  "I don't understand," you say.  I'm not sure that I can completely understand it myself.  Maybe it is that my flesh loves Maine and my spirit (by God's grace and through His love) loves Ukraine.  What I do know is that for the short moment I am here, I will close my eyes and savor this moment.

Update from Joyce White

Here is an update from Joyce White in Ukraine.  We were SO excited and wanted to share it with you all.

 

First day of Bible Camp went well.  We had 10 children, 2 teens from Bro. O'Brian's church came to help.  What a blessing they were.  It made it so much easier on Lina and I with them to help play games and do crafts!!! Praise the Lord they are going to come back and help for the rest of the week.  Slava (Slavic) helped with a skit that went over VERY  WELL!!  The kids loved it and Mike was so caught up in watching the skit he forgot to take any pictures!!

 

I think we will probably have more tomorrow.  Ola is bringing 3 of her neices and nephews and all the children said they were going to bring a friend tomorrow, so we will see.  Nastia's father agreed to let her come and we told her to bring Masha too.  Masha had a fun time.  The camp is for children 6 to 12 but we aren't turning any away no matter their age.  A lady from a near by village (I did not recognize the name) that goes to a Baptist church brought 3 of her grandchildren.  She thanked us for having something for the children.   Keep praying.  I trust that the Lord is going to give some of these children for Sunday School.

 

Although we have not had many for church - usually 8 to 10.  We have had wonderful services.  You can feel the presence of the Lord.  We have 3 to 4 lost adults every service.

 

Will keep you up to date about the Bible Camp and will send some pictures at the end of the week.

 

Thank you for your prayers!  Continue to pray for the youth of Vvedenka and for the lost attending the services.

Furlough Ministries

Furlough truly is a ministry.  As we travel to different churches we have noticed the great need for laborers even here in the states!  Recently when we were in Maryland, we were able to help with their VBS.  It was a privilege to be able to help.

While we were there, we got to visit with the Shulls.  Our kids had a blast together while Carole and I talked as fast as we could to get everything in.  It was like visiting with an old friend. 

As you can see, my kids enjoyed their first VBS too. :)

Amidst all of the excitement of VBS, Daniel came down with a fever of 103.9 under the arms.  We finally brought him in the 3rd day and were told that was more like 105!  They weren't sure exactly what he had, some type of infection, but they gave him antibiotics.  He is doing much better now and we appreciate everyone who prayed and helped with the cost.  Besides that, it was a great week!

Ukraine Update

We have been busy, but enjoying visiting with some old and new friends.  We have some pretty amazing supporting churches, but I'll share that with you later.  Right now, I wanted to ask your prayers for our little church in Ukraine, the White family and their upcoming VBS.  Joyce White emailed me and I thought I'd share some with you.  I pray that it will give you a greater desire to pray, not feel sorry for us. :)

We were out for about 3 hours yesterday passing out invitations for the Bible Camp.  I don't think I was truly prepared for the reaction that we got from most of the people.  The adults we were able to talk too said their children COULD NOT come to anything that had to do with us! (meaning the church)  Young children mocked and cursed us.  But some took the invitations and said they were interested.  In the 20 years of ministry in the former Soviet countries we have never experienced the hate of God's Word, His church, and His ministries as we do here.  Only God can break the hearts and open the blinded eyes of these people.  Pray earnestly, as we know you do, for us the next two weeks as we continue to give out invitations and  from Aug. 20 - 24 hopefully have a Bible Camp with children attending.  We are praying for 15 to 20 children to come.

 
Will you pray with us?  What a blessing it would be to see God work upon these stony hearts!