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.
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