UKRAINE MINISTRY LOCATION NUMBER 1: Chernivts

UKRAINE MINISTRY LOCATION NUMBER 1: Chernivtsi

After battling a Kidney Stone for 10 plus days, the trip over was a “breeze,” even though it required 48 hours from crawling out of bed on Tuesday until we arrived here in Chernivtsi. (It is located in the south-western part of Ukraine close to the country of Moldova.

The first leg was air and took only 19 hours flying time to get to Kiev; 7 hours layover waiting on our train and then 14 hours to get to Chernivtsi. It was not bad, because we had “beds,” better “bunks” (and that is using the term loosely.) 

Then it was time to get all things in order and discover that our schedule had another service was added to our  schedule – making it 3 on Sunday – 11:00, 3:00, and 5:00.  But that is the “perilous joy” of this kind of ministry.  And it does make time go fast! 

Our first schedule was a Thursday evening service with Pastor Dmitry and Natasha Nemchenko at Word of Life.  And on Friday evening we had another service.  I thought it was to be a communion service, but when I looked and there were no communion elements in sight I decided to inquire.  Thank God I did!  Even though it was there monthly communion service, the communion was postponed.  So I turned immediately to God and asked for the direction.  It was interesting.  I had been trying to discover why even though I was prepared for a communion service as was previously stated, I had another message burning in my spirit.  So a quick switch with my trusty iPad Mini and I was all set.  Well, after changing the scriptures in my Kindle Fire for Oksana Smertina, my secretary here in Ukraine and interpreter.

When the service was complete, Pastor Dmitry approached smiling from ear to ear and the top of his head shinning (it is like mine - all ready for the glory to descend with nothing to dull the cloud).  He began to tell me how he and the assistant pastor, Vitaliy Pavelenko has spent over three hours discussing the chapter I used as a my text just a couple of days previously.  Isn’t God Good?

Then today, Saturday, at 4:00 until 7:00 I became a “teen leader” again.  (Do not laugh - I was once s youth pastor and I know all their tricks!)  Anyway it was great to see the youth again.  The past two years I have been involved with them at picnics and parties.  One of the greatest thrills was to see two of the youth who were in the orphanage and to whom Word of Life has ministered, involved in the youth ministry, even though they are no longer in the orphanage. 

And of course, there is always the time set aside just to fellowship with the pastors.  There is nothing more thrilling than having this privilege.

Marilyn will have a session with the ladies on Monday evening and I have a cell group meeting on Tuesday.  Man am I privileged to share the Word with God’s special people here in Chernivtsi.

So tune in again to the blog – watch for notification if you are a friend on Facebook of Marilyn or me.

God bless and thanks for your prayers and for sending us to do this ministry.

Dr D and Marilyn