Maya's story

About five years ago we were here for our first summer and the LORD opened up a door for us to go to the Agricultural University here in Poltava. We go and do E.S.L. activities in classes to help students practice their English. Many of them have never spoken with native speakers before and it gives them a great opportunity to test what they have learned and gives us a great opportunity to meet students and invite them to meetings like English club, where the Gospel will be shared. Now you know that’s a GOD thing, GOD using me to help someone else with English, those of you who have heard me speak can say Amen. Reminds me of this verse: But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, . 1 Cor 1:27 (NKJV)
In one such class we met a young first year student named Maya. I remember the first time we had her in class. She was a very smart, popular young lady, kind of a leader in the class with very good English skills. We had a good class with her and invited the class to our English club. Maya had been to one of the English events earlier in the year when a group of American students (Through IMB and Ray family) had come to share on her campus and have ministry outreach at night through a Christian club called the S.M.S. club. This is like texting in the States (S.M.S.) it is a club put on by Salvation Church youth Ministry.
Anyway, Maya and some of her friends began to come to our Club regularly and also to some of our sports nights. Over the summer we began to have a very strong friendship with her. She would come by our house and spend time with the girls, take walks, just building a relationship. She became so dear to our family. Sadly the first summer came to an end. We were down to our last English club and it was going to be so hard to leave all the people we had grown to love. That first summer was very special to us. The last night of the English club we showed the last chapter of the Hope movie. We had shown one or two chapters of it every week. It stories through the Bible in a very simple but powerful way. After that last chapter, which included a call to salvation, I stood and shared the plan of Salvation as simply as I knew how. I explained how Salvation is a free gift and it is available to all who will humble themselves, repent, and call on HIS name. That night Maya turned away from herself and to JESUS. Not to a denomination, not to a religion, not to a set of legalistic rules, , but to JESUS. The SPIRIT of GOD had drawn her to the point of the new birth. (Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3 (NKJV)

Over the last five years we have watched the LORD transform Maya and give her a new life. (Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor 5:17 (NKJV) She is one of the strongest believers that I have ever met. God has blessed her with many gifts and she uses them faithfully for HIM here in Poltava.
She is extremely gifted in the area of music. Some of the photos are from her music exam. We went to watch her at the Ukrainian Musical University where she attends here in Poltava. She sings and plays a national Ukrainian instrument called the Bandura. Some of the other photos are of her singing in the Salvation Church choir (praise team) Maya is engaged to be married to the Youth pastor of Salvation Church (Vova or Vladamire), the wedding will be sometime in September I believe. Please pray for them as they begin their family and as they serve the LORD here in Ukraine. Please pray for Maya as she will be sharing her testimony at our English club next week. She can truly indentify with those who are there, she was one. She is just one of the wonderful stories that the LORD is writing here in Ukraine. Please pray for us as we attempt to share HIM here, that there will be more and more stories like hers. GOD bless!

The night Maya was saved at English Club - look how much we have changed in five years



Just acting crazy and having fun at our house

Maya singing in the praise group at Church

At Maya's Music school - her exam with the Bandura. She made an A+ by the way.
She represents her University in many competitions and has won several of them.

So far this week . . . .

These are some photos from the Church service Sunday at Chutiva. Many of you know that we have been helping some with the Church plant in Chutiva for the last two summers. We had children's camp there all last week and ended up the week with a worship service, all the kids were encouraged to invite their parents. Pastor Slavik and his family were very pleased with the turnout and were very encouraged. They said it was their biggest crowd ever. Many unbelievers came and heard testimonies, songs, and the Gospel. Please continue to pray for the harvest in Chutiva. God bless!! Pray for us as we will be going back weekly to work with children and youth there.









Some photos from English club game time. Minute to win it and man verse gorilla

SMILES :)

Smiles
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." 3 The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad. Psalms 126:2-3 (NKJV) 
Today for me was a day of smiles. Today was probably one of the most peaceful days of my life but not at the beginning of the day. I turned 41 today and it didn’t start out so well. Felesha and I woke up about 2:30am to the sound of what seemed like someone trying to crawl through our apartment window. We never really figured out what it was but decided it must have been some of the 10000000000000000 pigeons that live and sleep around our apartment area. (Must have flown into our window or something)




Anyway we went back to Chutiva today for our 4th day of Children’s camp and it was truly a day of smiles for me. I saw so many smiles today that I could have not possibly been sad. It was one of my best birthdays ever. Kayla, Andrew, and I run the sports station of the camp. Today we brought out our huge, colorful parachute. (We had been saving it all week) You should have seen all the smiles on the kid’s faces. (You can see some of them in the photos) I got to see beautiful smiles all day in a land that has surely seen its share of hardship. Around 100 years of rule under the former U.S.S.R. has left most Ukrainians with not much to smile about. Christians especially suffered harsh persecution during Soviet times and GOD was declared dead or non exsistant. Atheism still carries over strong here especially in the older generation. We have our sports ministry and Children’s camp almost under the nose of Lenin. (his statue still stands here in this village as in most) we pass it every time we change stations at our camp. But today no one seemed to notice him as he points toward the east to Moscow. JESUS CHRIST was the one adored and talked about today in story, in song, in craft, and in sports. JESUS was the center of attention and we are praying that all the kid’s will someday make HIM the center of their lives, the hearts, and their all. God has blessed me so much to be here in Ukraine with my family for another summer. I could feel HIS HAND and peace on my life today so strongly. It was just one of those days when I felt so close to HIM and that makes me smile alot, there is nothing in the world like serving the LORD and knowing that you are right where HE wants you, doing exactly what HE wants you to do. Sometimes those days can be clouded by the darkness of this world and then HE brings a wonderful day like today. HE allows us to see HIM at work, to feel HIS love, and to be a part of what HE is doing. I know HE smiles when people who have been in darkness have the opportunity to hear the story of HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, the LIGHT of the world. I hope these photos make you smile and I hope you will pray and ask the LORD to continue to smile on us as we serve HIM here in Ukraine. GOD bless!!!

I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7 (NKJV)

Answered Prayer . . . . . .

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace Eph 1:7 (NKJV)

Thanks so much for your prayers! In the Chutiva children’s camp we had about 18 the first day, 33 the second day, and 86 children today! Praise the LORD! We normally have an opening time with songs and fellowship and then we do four stations, one for Bible stories, one for crafts, one for sports, and one for music. In the music station they also learn two of the Ten Commandments every day, that’s why you see everyone blowing up beach balls. The children write two of the commandments on the ball every day and then they will take it home at the end of the week. We finish up the day with snacks, a recap of the days topic, a song and prayers. Please continue to pray for this camp and all the children. Please pray especially for the service Sunday. It will be a time to celebrate JESUS,the week of camp and hopefully many of the children and their parents will come to the Church. Most of these families have never heard the true Gospel before, much less been to an evangelical Church service so please pray hard. There has been some small opposition from a few of the local men. A couple of guys stopped by today and heard someone talking about JESUS blood and how it is the only way to have forgiveness of sins and they began to speak out and say this is a lie, they were drunk and it wasn’t such a big deal but still it was a little distracting for the children. We are so thankful for all of you and your support. GOD bless!

Busy week in Poltava, Ukraine

Sorry :( for not writing much this week but here are a few photos from the Bible school in Chutiva and from last nights english club. Please continue to pray for us and for our youth group back home at Springdale Baptist, they are also at youth camp this week.