I arrived safely at home last night. It was a looong day but I finally laid my head down about 1:45am or so last night. I had hoped to sleep longer but I was awake by 8:00. I guess the jet lag will take a couple of days. I am told it takes about a day for every hour of time zone changes you cross. If that is true it will take about 7 days to get back on the right sleeping pattern. So I intentioanlly kept this day pretty clear so I can recuperate some and be ready to go tomorrow morning. I am looking forward to being back at Calvary tomorrow morning. I had prepared a message before I left called How to Prevent Rebellion in Your Home. It is from the life of David and examines some mistake he made in parenting that led to Absalom’s rebellion. There are some key lessons there for every parent.

Our team is in the Ukraine and I am sure they are having a great time. The weather was cool and wet when I left. They are supposed to be working on the potential ministry center in Horodok today and then begin the children’s camp next week. I hope you will follow their blog as they report in. I attached one final picture from yesterday morning. Hope you enjoy it and hope to see you tomorrow.

And by the way, we are planning to keep on ongoing blog going so that I can report in from time to time and comment on things happening at Calvary and beyond. If you enjoyed this be sure to keep track of the website for information on that. Once again thanks for all your prayers.

This is in front of one of the major universities in L'viv and the entire region

One of the major Catholic churches in the area, named after St. George who famously slew a dragon in the area

This is my last day here in Ukraine. Tomorrow I am headed home and back to my beloved. I know our team is headed out later today from Tampa. They will be in my prayers as they travel. I sure wish I could see them when they get here. I’ll be leaving almost as soon as they arrive and most here are doubtful that I’ll be allowed from one area of the airport to the other to welcome them before I’ll leave. Well we can always hope. Today should be a fairly easy day. The Ukrainian team over here has planned a cookout to celebrate and fellowship with their families.

Before we share there is almost always some singing. Vitalyand Lubimere led songs in home.

Last night was a wonderful evening. We went back to Horodok to be part of a meeting in a home. It was one of the women we had meet a few days ago and she had invited several others. I am still not sure of all the connections or relations. I was told to prepare a brief devotional. I was told some of the small group were believers and some were not. Well we got there about 8:00 or so and we sang a few songs and then Jim shared a bit of his testimony. Then questions began to fly. It got real confusing because only part would get translated and Jim was sharing and the Ukrainians were sharing and I honestly couldn’t be sure what was really being communicated and what was being understood. Honestly it got a little frustrating and so I just sat quiet. Then suddenly about 9:45 it was announced we were going to eat (we hadn’t eaten supper) and suddenly tea was brought out and then chicken with potatoes, bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, the works. We ate for awhile and then Kyle said OK pastor you get closing arguments. So I gave them some gifts we brought from the Clearwater (thank you Mayor Hibbard) and they were very grateful. I then just tried to summarize the gospel and spoke of God’s gift to us. I said they were so gracious to receive my small gift but then how could we reject God’s most precious gift, the gift of His Son and of eternal life. At the end I asked who wanted to pray and receive that gift and three of those there indicated they wanted to pray. I tried to make it very clear what they prayer was about and then asked if they were sure. They said yes and we led all three in a prayer of repentance and faith. You’ll see their pictures here. We got back our room around midnight, tired but grateful for the grace of God that draws people and saves all who call on the name of the Lord.

Here I am with Genya, Anya, and Marian who prayed to receive Christ in home

That is why we come. God so loved the world that He sent His Son that whoever believes will not perish but have eternal life. If that is true then we must go and share the message. One here, two there, and the kingdom grows, and we know the message goes forth and that one day the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the seas. So thanks for your prayers over these last 12 days. It will be good to get home, good to see Cheryl, Stephen, and all of my Calvary family this Sunday. But I am so glad I went. We must go, all of us, starting at home and going around the world to share the good news that Jesus saves. See you soon!

Final meeting to discuss strategy for evangelism in Odessa

Jim and I are back in L’viv. We arrived this morning by train. The pace is a little slower today. Jim and I were able to do some walking and souvenir shopping this morning around L’viv. This afterrnon we were part of a very helpful strategy session that included the regional IMB coordinator Tim Aykers, our IMB missionary Kyle McLane,and our Ukrainian team of Tolik, Vitaly, Bogdon, and Lubimere. It was a very helpful and animated session about our continued stragey in L’viv and Horodok. We have some real challenges here but we all believe that what we are doing is making headway and is worth continuing. We discussed the team’s role as they arrive on Friday and spend two weeks. My message to the team–stay flexible. We’ve had some doors open of late regarding the potential ministry center and we need yout o be ready to help get that ready and maybe even participate in a catalyltic event to help launch a new evangelistic Bible Study there in the next few days. So stay open, stay flexible, and God is going to use you in a great way!

Jim enjoys 12 hour train ride back to L'viv

I sure do hate that I won’t be here to spend even one day with the team. I don’t even know that I’ll get to see you at all. But I pray safe travels. I know you are planning to leave tomorrow and that you must be excited. Know that your pastor is proud of you and grateful for you. I still find myself amazed that I get to pastor so great a people as Calvary.

We have one day tomorrow, with some final meetings planned. Tonight we are headed back to Horodok for dinner in a believer’s home there. Friday I’m headed home. I am looking forward to being back at Calvary on Sunday, after catching some rest on Saturday.

By the way, one final sad report for the team. Sadly, Jim and I have eaten all the morosovo (ice cream) in Ukraine. I did show some level of restraint but Jim lost all control. Maybe they will be able to restock before you leave. Be blessed.

At ancient site named for a High Castle overlooking L'viv, earlier this morning

Beautiful wheat fields getting ready for harvest time

On Monday we went out into two small villages in the northern Odessa region (state). This is the area and strategy that captured Jim Todd’s imagination last year. With Pastor Bronislav and a team of Ukrainians we left around noon to head into the remote countryside. Not since Cheryl and I traveled to the remote Indonesian islands in 2004 have I traveled to such a remote area. The scenery is stunning along the way. Fields of wheat as far as the eye can see. Rolling hills and valleys filled with wildflowers. Breathtaking. When we finally arrived at the first village I found it difficult to comprehend how people live in such a remote, distant place. Imagine how hard life must surely be. We gathered up Bibles and split up into teams and tried to cover this small farming village. We handed out Bibles and spoke with people along the way. Unlike the village we had visited on Saturday (which was more like an upscale resort area nearer the city) nearly everyone here was receptive and willing to speak. Many of the people we gave Bibles to did not have one at all. By our count at least 5 people prayed to receive Christ and many more were open and receptive to returning the following Saturday night to watch the Jesus film. One lady agreed to host it in her home. There is, of course, no church here, and most people have no means of transportation.

Jim shares the gospel with a Ukrainian woman

Jim did walk with our only translator and had the privilege of leading a lady to Christ. He lives for that and has a way of being compassionate enough to disarm people and assertive enough to press forward in discussing their relationship with God. God has wired him for this and he loves to lead people to Christ. He has brought many to Christ all across this country.

In a second village we stopped briefly to visit a lady some of the Ukrainians knew. A member of their church had asked us to stop in because she was the member’s grandmother. We shared the gospel there and she said she believed in Christ though she is not a member of a church and hasn’t been baptized. We gave her a Bible and then noticed three other old women next door outside sitting and talking. Jim and I gathered some Bibles and walked across the street. Soon the whole team followed and they sang a hymn of some kind and Jim shared the gospel to these women while standing in their front yard.

Jim shares with 4 women underneath their grape vine

That evening we journey still further out into the countryside to visit a village and show the Jesus film. Some preparation had already been made to invite the people of this village, and yet before it began we walked the streets inviting people and handing out Bibles. By the time the film began it was about 9:30 or so (you have to wait until late before it gets dark). The film was shown outside. Chairs, about 40-50, were sat up on and a large bed sheet was hung on the wall outside and the film was shown there. They watched with rapt attention this story of Jesus, and then when it was over I was invited to share the gospel. I spoke for just a few minutes and shared a brief gospel message and then invited people to pray to receive Christ. It was pitch black dark by then, except for a large flashlight shining in my eyes, but it was a moving moments as the people stood and prayed. I then turned it over to the Ukrainian pastor and he spoke to them about how to follow on with Christ. I do not know how many prayed to receive Christ. We couldn’t measure it, but we feel hopeful that many did. The Ukrainians handle and measure decisions a little differently than we do, so it is hard to count the response like I would like to. So we trust the Lord with the responses but rejoiced in the opportunity to share the good news in such a far away place.

Vera hears the gospel and receives a Bible

There is just something surreal about driving through fields, so remote you can’t even begin to describe where you are, and yet knowing that God is there and that He has called us to go into the highways and hedges (KJV) to share the good news of God’s love. We arrived back in Odessa well after midnight, exhausted but happy.

This is what Jim hopes to do on a return trip in the September/October time frame, except they would stay in a village for an entire week and build up to the film presentation. I do believe it will work and bring souls to Christ. I do hope God raises up a small team of 4-6 who will be led to go with him.

crowd gathers to watch the Jesus film

To all our Ukrainian team about to come I need to say, I get it. I get it now. I get why you come back again and again. I get why these people and this place is on your heart. I hope it stays on Calvary’s heart for a long time to come.

You know there is something about a mission trip like this. It isn’t a sightseeing trip, but you will see the most awesome natural beauty you will ever encounter (without the tourist traps). This isn’t an entertainment trip, but you will laugh more and enjoy more than you ever will at Disney World. This isn’t a trip to visit family or old friends, but you will enjoy more fellowship and love than you can ever imagine. Maybe it is that when you seek first God’s kingdom He has a way of adding in everything that your heart really needs. Why does that sound so familiar?

country roads ("the hedges") lead into small villages

Today (Tuesday) is filled with some final meetings and strategic planning with Pastor Bronislav and Lubin our IMB missionary. Then it is back to the train and the 12 hour overnight trip back to L’viv. We’ll spend Wednesday and Thursday there before I head back home on Friday. I sure hate to miss our team that arrives on Friday. I hope there is a way to see them when they arrive but I don’t know if that will work or not. I’ve been told I am flying out on the plane that they fly in on, so we’ll see. I sure am praying for you guys and I’m excited for the great time you are going to have.

Thanks for all the wonderful posts. I can’t respond to each one but Jim and I have both read them all and we are greatly encouraged by your support and prayers. Usually time on the internet is brief so I apologize that I can’t go back and forth with each comment but I sure appreciate them.

Central Baptist Church in Odessa

Last night I preached at the Central Baptist Church in Odessa. It is really the First Baptist Church of this city and it is a very strong and healthy church. The building itself is beautiful but the people inside are even more so. The music was tremendous and there were a great number of young people and young families in attendance. Like most Ukrainian services there were 3 preachers. I spoke in the middle and each message is preceded and followed by music, which at this church was particularly good. After the service we met for a long time with the church leaders and spoke of many things and then we finally went home after 10, tired but refreshed from a good day of ministry and wonderful Christian fellowship. Do you ever stop and marvel as this marvelous thing called the body of Christ?

Preaching Sunday Night

This morning we met for several hours with Pastor Bronislav about a future mission team in northern Odessa. Jim hopes to recruit 3-5 people to go with him in October to do evangelism in one or more of these northern villages. The Ukrainians have a multi-faceted plan go into the village and spend all day passing out Bibles and speaking to people, and then inviting them to a service-event in the evening where people would give evangelistic testimonies. They would also distribute food to the elderly and needy. By the end of the week they would show the Jesus film and hope to see some come to Christ. They would spend 5 days in a single village. They believe with a few American volunteers, along with some Ukrainian believers they can make a tremendous impact. We’ve spent much of the time this morning planning about this together and you can pray with Jim about a few good people being called to go along with him this fall, probably early October.

We are set to leave in a few minutes to go north into one of those villages to do just that for a single day. We will pass out material and then show the Jesus film in a village tonight. I suspect we will be home very late, but we are excited and ready to go.

Church Leaders

Finally, let me share one of those Holy Spirit moments. After I finished preaching I had taken my seat back on the platform, which in this church is high and lifted up.  Now sitting through a service that can run 2-3 hours, when everything is in Russian can be, shall we say, a challenge. But you try to keep focused even though you understand almost nothing being said. And since I am seated prominently in front of everyone dozing off is…well not an option. Oh for the safety of the back row pew! But there was a moment. One of the groups was singing. It was 4 students, very young, I suppose under 20. It was like a youth choir and these 4 came forward to do a quartet. While they were singing my mind is darting here and there and all of a sudden like a strong prompting I sensed the Spirit saying “listen…listen!” And I did. It was beautiful, truly beautiful music and then I sensed the words from Revelation, “every tribe, every tongue.” It was one of those moments where I was reminded that God deserves our praise in every tongue, from every tribe across world. He is just that wonderful and my heart was flooded with a sense of God’s goodness, His worthiness and suddenly tears began to flow from my eyes. Yes God you deserve our praise. You are THAT good. And you deserve praise in every tongue. So until the day when every knew bows, and every tongue confesses….we press on.

Fresh Cherries

In Odessa

Abandoned Soviet Airstrip

Hope all is well in Clearwater this Sunday. I prayed for services at Calvary and for Barry as he teaches. He is a super communicator and I know God will bless. I spoke this morning at a church in a small village called Bilykofska. There is a Baptist church there that meets in a building that used to be a Jewish synagogue. The Soviets drove them out and the synagogue sat in disrepair and ruins for several years until a handful of Baptists meeting got the building. Today it is a beautiful meeting place and houses a thriving church. I spoke from Jeremiah 32 about Jeremiah’s field. It’s a message, some of you may remember, about acting on faith even in difficult times with the certainty that God controls the future.
Friday night I spoke at the Bethel Baptist Church in Yuzchny, a small area outside of Odessa. I know Cheryl will smile at that since it is the name of our very first church in Alabama. There is a very healthy church there that meets every Friday night for a prayer type service. Frankly, there is a lot of praying in every Ukrainian service. I spoke from Mark 2 there as I did in L’viv.
Tonight I am preaching at another church near here. …
Jim and I are enjoying our time with Pastor Blonoslav and his family. They have been so gracious to us. Staying in their home has, I am sure, inconvenienced them, but you would never know it. They have blessed us with their presence and his wife has prepared some wonderful meals. They have something between a huge garden and a small farm. The eggs are fresh everyday, the strawberries and cherries are picked just feet away from where we sit down and eat, as are most of the vegetables.
I have also discovered a new love here, morosovo—ice cream. I don’t know why but the Ukrainian ice cream is particularly wonderful, best I’ve ever had! I’m afraid I have put aside all restraint and find myself eating it whenever I can.
Jim and I also went to downtown Odessa last night with Arthur the pastor’s 21 year old son who speaks English. Wow, what a city. I had no idea. It is a beautiful port city and downtown in the tourist area along the sea you find the most gorgeous buildings, lights, and restaurants. It is truly a thing to see and would be a wonderful place to come and spend some time. If only Cheryl were here.
Tomorrow will be busy as we visit several small villages to the north to hand out Bibles, talk to people, and watch the evangelistic strategy in action and evaluate the potential for future involvement and ministry. We did the same thing Saturday. Jim and I also met with Lubin and his wife Rhonda. They are out IMB missionaries stationed here in Odessa. They’ve been working here for 2 years after serving some time in Russia. Since the Ukrainians here speak Russian it is a perfect fit for them. If Jim does bring a small team back here in the future, it will be good to know they are working in coordination with our existing efforts. I never meet our missionaries that it doesn’t give me a sense of pride and gratitude for these good people and for our cooperative missions involvement at Calvary with Southern Baptists that is constantly supporting over 5500 missionaries around the world. Whether we ever come back to Odessa or not, the work will go on through our missionaries, and mostly through the strong Ukrainian Baptist union work.
By the way, just a quick word to all the Ukrainian team that is preparing to leave at the end of the week: the folks in L’viv and Horodok can’t wait for you to get here. You guys have done the great work of building relationships in this part of the world and I have no doubt that our continual repeated work there is making a difference. By the way, I met some of the college girls who have worked with us. They wanted to make sure Joey Kader was coming. I said yes, and then they giggled a lot. I’m not trying to start anything, just reporting the facts.
My love to all. Thanks for checking in guys.

preaching

Jim asks someone to call or email Shirley to tell her about the blog. I’ll have him blogging after I leave. Her emal is jtodd2@tampabay.rr.com, or call 727-524-4516. He says he loves her and misses her.

It’s Saturday morning here in Odessa. First chance I’ve got to get to the internet in awhile. We finished up our time in L’viv for now, althought I’m heading back there Tuesday night. For now we are in Odessa. Today we are heading out to a village to pass out Bible and do evangelism. This is an unchurched village that has no church. here are abut 600 in this area and Pastor Bronislav hopes to make an impact on each of them in the coming years. That’s why we are here, to check out this opportunity. Anyway over the last two days I wrote several entries and I’ve pasted them below in case you want to read about the last few days.

By the way, fun to read the comments. Thanks for checking it out and following along. Especially from my kids and one really neat gal-143.

Thursday, June 4 (about 9:00 somewhere in the Ukraine)

Jim Todd, Kyle McLane (missionary) and I pose in L'viv

You ever have those moments in life when you can’t hardly believe you’re doing what you’re doing? Well here I am on a train riding south through the Ukrainian countryside at dusk. Twenty years ago this was all part of the Soviet Union, yet here I am rambling through the Ukrainian countryside on a 12 hour overnight train ride to take us from L’viv to Odessa. Why? Jim Todd has a hunch!
 
            Jim has been coming to the Ukraine for about 10 years. He turns 75 this August and yet every year he heads over to this eastern European country where he can barely speak the language and looks for God at work. Last year he spent 8 weeks here, mostly traveling on his own. He usually hooks up with a group from Calvary somewhere along his journey, but he sets his own schedule and stays longer than anyone else. This time he is staying until early July, a little more than a month.

            Every year Jim travels and finds people to share with and leaders to encourage. He now has friends all over this country. He and his wife Shirley, who always stays at home because she hates to fly, carry on correspondence throughout the year with pastors, missionaries, converts, potential converts, students, and all kinds of Ukrainians that he has just happened to bump into during his many travels. I’ve watched him find some of them here and their eyes light up like seeing an old friend. Why does Jim do it? He is after souls and he believes God has called him to this work. At an age when most people have retired, Jim still works part-time for the primary purpose of funding his annual excursions into the Ukraine. Jim is a soul-winner and he has personally had the privilege of praying with dozens of Ukrainians to receive Christ. He continues to follow up and encourage them as much as he can.

Jim and I pose with Lesya in front of school

            Jim followed a hunch into Horodok a few years ago along with one of our missionaries. When they couldn’t find an open door anywhere, Jim followed a hunch into one of the local schools (he knew someone had to speak English there he said) and the hunch paid off. The Director and Assistant Director were “people of peace” who welcomed our team to return and lead day camps for children in their town. We’ve been using that public school ever since. In a few days our Calvary team will return to Horodok, to that very school, and work with the children of that town who have been asking their Assistant Principal, “are the Americans returning and when will they be here?” The answer—just a few more days.

former air bunker from top secret Soviet base--now abandoned

We met with Lesya, the Assistant Director of the school, today in Horodok. Over a generous lunch we spoke of the ongoing partnership and laid out some plans for the future. She loves our church and wants the work to continue. Earlier that morning we met a precious family in their modest apartment. They have been hosting a home Bible Study just outside of Horodok in an area that was once a top restricted Soviet base. Now it houses about 5,000 people in old barracks and apartments while the old bunkers, airplane hangars, and Soviet administration buildings lie in ruins. In the afternoon we had another meeting in L’viv with the Pastor of Central Baptist Church, the largest church in the area, to discuss the continuing partnership and work.

Dear Ukranian lady will not let us leave without trying some soup

            And now we’ve packed up, loaded a train and we’re heading out through the night to follow another hunch. Last year Jim’s son traveled with him some during his annual mission trip and convinced him to travel to Odessa in the south just to see it. As usual Jim found God at work and ended up meeting with a Baptist leader there who spoke of a vision for planting churches in an area he claims is completely unchurched and open to the gospel. So here we are riding on a hunch to investigate what God is up to in Odessa. The pastor and his family are waiting to meet us in the morning, and so I suspect is the Holy Spirit ready to show us what God is up to. I’m beginning to have a funny feeling about all those hunches Jim Todd has. Maybe, just maybe, there’s more to it than that.       

 

Friday, June 6 (2:00 Ukrainian time)

             We arrived about 7:45 this morning in Odessa. Jim is taking a quick nap and I’m about to try. Perhaps an overnight train ride across a foreign country sounds a bit adventuresome, appealing, romantic, even daring. Well let me assure you there is little to be envied about sleeping in a very small compartment with hardly enough room to get up and move around, on a bed that feels like plywood with a blanket, while another man snores three feet away, in a train that shakes and bobbles like a bad ride at the county fair. I’m not complaining but I did pray for the rapture a few times last night.

            I did some reading and finally dozed off somewhere around midnight and awoke to Jim listening to his praise CD’s about 4:30am. Praise was not what I had on my mind. Actually I am smiling…now. It was a bit of an adventure and we were met by the pastor (whose name I am working on…spelling to come) and his son. This morning we were treated to a breakfast (among other things strawberries that I literally watched being picked and brought to us) and then we went to the Odessa Baptist Seminary where we sat through a graduation. If you think graduations in English are tough, try sitting through one in Russian (they speak Russian in Odessa not Ukrainian). Then afterwards we attended a banquet to honor the seminary’s 20^th anniversary.

              I am already learning the vast differences between this region in the south from L’viv in the north. More on that to come. The next few days look to be extremely busy and demanding. I am preaching tonight, tomorrow I think, then at least twice on Sunday, and at least twice on Monday. In addition to that we are touring a large area to visit pastors and survey villages that need churches. Unlike the north, the Catholic influence is not as strong. The down side is that religion is not as big a defining mark of their lives, but the good side is they are more open to a gospel witness and planting new churches. I’ll blog when I can. Finding internet access can be tough, when added to an already crowded schedule. Thanks for praying for us. I’ll miss you guys on Sunday!

It felt good to wake up rested this morning and begin our first full day here. It’s been a profitable day of meeting more of our Ukrainian partners, planning and strategizing about our missions work here, and actually getting to go and see the town of Horodok for the first time. Then finally I just finished up the day preaching the Wednesday night service at the Central Baptist Church here in L’viv.
Things get started a little more slowly in the Ukraine, so by the time we finally had breakfast after 9:00 I was good and ready. And guess where we ate? McDonalds. Yep, I downed the all familiar Egg McMuffin in downtown L’viv and was ready to go. Over breakfast Jim and I met with Kyle (our IMB missionary) and two Ukrainian leaders Bogdan and his wife Vita. Then we picked up Tolik, who is one of the key leaders in the Ukraine, and headed out to Horodok. Horodok is the town where we have been working for several years and where our team from Calvary will be headed in just a few days.
The Ukrainian leaders we are working with believe it is a key place to see a new church work planted. Horodok is the primary center in a region (like a county) that is primarily rural with many smaller villages. The hope is to see a church that could become a catalyst to plant churches throughout this area.
However, the work isn’t easy or fast. Horodok in particular and the Ukraine in general is steeped in religious tradition, primarily Catholic or Orthodox. Their churches are the center of cultural and national life, yet for the vast majority there is still no real sense of a personal relationship with Christ. Statues of Mary adorn the streets, yards and the entry way to churches. Starting and an evangelical church will take time and persistent effort at building relationships, training leaders and studying God’s word. While several people have come to Christ as a result of the ongoing work of our church, there is still the goal of beginning an ongoing Bible Study that could lead to a new church.
Vitaly and Lipamer, who I mentioned and met yesterday, are two church planters that we help fund who have begun to live in Horodok and minister there. We went to their apartment and spent some time discussing the partnership, goals and strategies for the near future. I thought it was extremely profitable and it helps me see a much better picture of the task at hand. We then walked though much of the city, touring the markets, seeing the school where much of our work has been stationed, and even viewing a site which may become a ministry center, to host some of the activities that can give birth to a greater movement there. The site holds tremendous potential and even has a playground area which would be ideal for hosting camps for children. Our team will see it in a few days and probably spend at least one day helping to get it cleaned up and ready for use.
Late in the afternoon we returned to L’viv ate a bite and then got ready for the service. I preached tonight from Mark 2 and spoke about the 4 men who helped bring their crippled friend to Jesus. It is a great picture of the purpose of the church and the partnership we must have together to make a real difference in people’s lives.
It’s been a great day and I am very impressed with the leaders we have working here and the potential to be part of making a real difference.

Opera House in L'viv

In front of school at Horodok with Ukranian friends

in front of potential ministry center in Horodok

Jim and I arrived safely in the Ukraine earlier today. Our plane landed about 12:45, just after noon, which is about 5:45am in Clearwater. So it’s been a long day or so. We were met by two of our IMB missionaries Kyle McLane and Tim Akers, and also two of our Ukrainian church planters Vitaly and Lubormir who are working with us in the town of Horodok. After a quick lunch Jim and I were taken to the Central Baptist Church here in L’viv and then we had some time this afternoon to walk around the city. Jim knows it well. He has been coming from our church to the Ukraine since 1999. It is a wonderful city with buildings that date back into the 1300’s–imagine that! It is an amazing place and though we’re really tired it has been fun to get out and start getting immersed in Ukrainian culture. Tonight we’re having dinner at the McLane’s and we’ve also been joined by another missionary family, Tim and Jennifer Bagwell. Afterwards we’ll try to get some rest after having been up for well over 24 hours.
Tomorrow we will travel to Horodok to get a first hand look at our work there. Thanks for everyone who is praying for us. The trip went well and we’re looking forward to getting to work and learning a bunch.

Ukrainian Church Planters Welcome Us

Amazing buildings