Sunday Update

I think our bodies almost know that it is supposed to be bedtime here - we are 7 hours ahead of EST and thanks to a very long day, we all were able to sleep last night like we had never slept before.  Today the weather has been overcast and a little chilly (it's 55 degrees right now - 11:00 PM).  But perfect weather for wandering the city.

The trip from Greensboro to Kiev was uneventful with every flight being on time and all the luggage arriving.   Right before we landed in Kiev, I struck up a conversation with the Ukrainian woman sitting next to me (no, I wasn't rude for the first half of the flight, but instead asleep from being awake all night  :) ).  When I asked where she had been traveling to (assuming she was heading home), she began to sob.  She shared the lives in Florida and her father had died and she was traveling home for his funeral.  Due to an issue with her passport she had been delayed more than a day and was not sure she would be able to get the last flight she needed when she arrived in Kiev and did not know if the funeral would have already occurred before she got there.  I wrapped my arm around her and just listened.  She and her father are orthodox and do not have the assurance that heaven awaits them.  She talked of hoping his passing was peaceful and that whatever waited on him would be good.  She allowed me to pray with her and share, but her heart was very broken.  I promised the team would pray throughout the day for her as she tried  to make final travel arrangements.  Pray for Oksana and that other believers will cross her path and she how to know without a doubt what awaits them on the other side of death.

Tim and Marsha are doing great.  We have laughed and cried together and shared stories from both sides of the ocean.  We can only imagine what conversations they are having about this crazy team when they drop us off at our apartment.

Today we worshiped in New Life Church - a large, contemporary style church that provides an English translator for the service that is broadcast through the radio (we wore headphones during the service).  The pastor preached on the difference in Christianity and false religions then ended the service with communion.  It was a beautiful service.

We spent the remaining portion of the day shopping - what fun! 

Tomorrow we will host a Back to School Party at an English school and teach vocabulary related to school.  Not all the teachers or students at this private school are believers, so pray that they will see a difference in us that is only possible through our relationship with Christ.

An update on the needed permissions for the conferences on Wednesday and Thursday.  We have only received one permission and this will not change.  We still intend to travel to the region and will teach the one conference.  Instead of the two other conferences we will host an informal time of fellowship and crafts with one group (we will not be allowed to do any kind of teaching - no Bible study, no learning styles, nothing).  On the 2nd day when we were to host the 3rd conference, we will cover the area with prayer through prayer walking/driving.  There is no greater privilege than to pray for these people who are experiencing such great oppression.