It is time to update and this is Wednesday here but actually Tuesday’s Blog. Why? Because I finally used up all my Svit-On-Line time. I have not added any time to my account since November of 06 so I guess it was time for it to hit the bottom of the barrel.
We spent the part of the time yesterday determining what we “had” to take with us to Donetsk. That is after I did the laundry. Yes, you got the pronoun right - “I”! Because I understand the machines and their method of operation. Anyway we accomplished the task and have reduced the luggage for this trip to two suitcases - one each and our carry-ons. It was a monumental task but satisfactorily completed.
We had a lunch-dinner (I am not sure what to call it because it was at 2:00) fellowship - encouragment time with Pastor Vadim and Inna Uruymagov. Inna is believing God to deliver her from a very aggressive form of breast cancer. Her biggest struggle seems to be the emotional pressure and harassment of the accuser, not the physical though she does have pain from time to time.
They were in the United States, Florida, and to be exact - Lakeland for three weeks in July. The first service they attended after arriving in the US - at a Church in the Orlando area - a man of God called them out and told her that she would not die from that which was attacking her. They had never met. Their first time in the service and he was a guest speaker. He was also the last pastor to speak to them about the situation and again restated what he had said and added that there was much more for her to accomplish for the Lord. They attended the revival in Lakeland where many others they met shared the same message from the Lord.
Her husband said that she now preaches better than he and with greater anointing than before. You can see and hear the work of God that is going on in both of them as they have come to recognize that there is more to life than life! They said that they have been able to “release life” from their own control and have grasped hold of God more than at anytime before.
Lena the wife of Eugene Taits, who is our host and the Dean of International Institute of Theology - Zoe (Covenant Life University here in Ukraine) is ill with a chest congestion/cold, etc. Remember her in prayer.
It seems that IIT-Zoe is attracting the attention of many Russian speaking pastors from other countries of Europe: France, Germany, Italy, and Israel is about to re-open, and a Church in Moscow. So everything is moving forward.
Wednesday at 5:30 we leave the apartment here and journey to the train station for a twelve hour over-night ride to Donetsk where we begin with a Thursday evening service in a Rehabilitation Center. Marilyn and I each have a service Friday evening - she with the Pastor’s wives and me with the Pastors and leaders. Saturday seminars at 10 and 2 and then three services on Sunday - 9, 11 and 5.
God bless and thanks for your prayers.
Dr. D. & Marilyn
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Monday, October 6
Get Up! Clean Up! Pack! Eat! Load Car! Travel! Take unexpected detour! Driver doesn’t know the way to the train station! Recall Immediately! Perfect! Extra Time! Find Restaurant! 65 Minutes Train Departs! Eat! Go to Train! Board Train! WHEW!
That is a summary of the day. It was all complicated because we have not been able to make the “sleep” adjustment. Your stomach is seven hours off. You are just getting sleepy and the sun is coming up. Even when you have taken two Tylenol PM’s the eyes just will not get heavy enough to close. So you watch a movie on your IPOD or listen to the Bible being read from the IPOD. But your adjust and keep on keeping on during the day.
It was hard to say goodbye to Chernivtsi and the people we have loved for nine years even though we know we will return in the Spring (April sometime). You can hear the unsaid words, “Hurry back. We need you. We want to have more fellowship.” But Donetsk and Kiev are calling. So you give them a hug and say, “God bless you. See you sometime in April.” Then you crawl into the vehicle and begin the journey to Khmelnitsky.
As you are departing the city of Kamenets-Podolosky (when I first heard it I thought they were saying, Communist Podolosky) a policeman signals that the road is closed and you have to take a detour. The road is narrow, hilly, and rough. Some places the pavement has become mixed with mud and potholes are everywhere. The traffic is slower and you wonder if we will make it to the train station on time. We do and even much sooner that I expected going the normal route. Thank God!
We do have time to eat and it will help those who brought us to Khmelnitsky to eat now instead of after they place us and our luggage on the train. While in the restaurant, The Big Goose, I notice a man looking and smiling in my direction. He starts to get up and then stops but decides after I nod at him to come over. Would you believe it? He is a member of the Dawn of Life Church in Khmelnitsky where we have ministered many times. And he speaks English. So we greet one-another and after a brief chat go back to eating.
The train ride takes four hours and twenty-three minutes according to the schedule. Normally they run right on time. Tonight they take fifteen minutes longer but we arrive and Eugene Taits is there as scheduled to take us to his house for the next thirty-eight hours. We arrive at his house and discover that his wife and youngest son, Nathan are sick. Eugene takes over and we converse for a couple of hours and then settle into the preparation for Tuesday which includes laundry, re-packing and meeting Pastor Vadim and Inna Uruymagov in downtown Kiev for a time of food and fellowship.
They are going through a tough time. Inna has been diagnosed with breast cancer - a very radical type. They have decided to believe God for her healing. My call to Vadim to confirm the meeting informs me that Inna has had a rough time during September. You can tell they need us to spend time with them.
And I ask you to place them on your prayer list to stand with them for God’s divine healing.
God bless.
Dr. D. & Marilyn
That is a summary of the day. It was all complicated because we have not been able to make the “sleep” adjustment. Your stomach is seven hours off. You are just getting sleepy and the sun is coming up. Even when you have taken two Tylenol PM’s the eyes just will not get heavy enough to close. So you watch a movie on your IPOD or listen to the Bible being read from the IPOD. But your adjust and keep on keeping on during the day.
It was hard to say goodbye to Chernivtsi and the people we have loved for nine years even though we know we will return in the Spring (April sometime). You can hear the unsaid words, “Hurry back. We need you. We want to have more fellowship.” But Donetsk and Kiev are calling. So you give them a hug and say, “God bless you. See you sometime in April.” Then you crawl into the vehicle and begin the journey to Khmelnitsky.
As you are departing the city of Kamenets-Podolosky (when I first heard it I thought they were saying, Communist Podolosky) a policeman signals that the road is closed and you have to take a detour. The road is narrow, hilly, and rough. Some places the pavement has become mixed with mud and potholes are everywhere. The traffic is slower and you wonder if we will make it to the train station on time. We do and even much sooner that I expected going the normal route. Thank God!
We do have time to eat and it will help those who brought us to Khmelnitsky to eat now instead of after they place us and our luggage on the train. While in the restaurant, The Big Goose, I notice a man looking and smiling in my direction. He starts to get up and then stops but decides after I nod at him to come over. Would you believe it? He is a member of the Dawn of Life Church in Khmelnitsky where we have ministered many times. And he speaks English. So we greet one-another and after a brief chat go back to eating.
The train ride takes four hours and twenty-three minutes according to the schedule. Normally they run right on time. Tonight they take fifteen minutes longer but we arrive and Eugene Taits is there as scheduled to take us to his house for the next thirty-eight hours. We arrive at his house and discover that his wife and youngest son, Nathan are sick. Eugene takes over and we converse for a couple of hours and then settle into the preparation for Tuesday which includes laundry, re-packing and meeting Pastor Vadim and Inna Uruymagov in downtown Kiev for a time of food and fellowship.
They are going through a tough time. Inna has been diagnosed with breast cancer - a very radical type. They have decided to believe God for her healing. My call to Vadim to confirm the meeting informs me that Inna has had a rough time during September. You can tell they need us to spend time with them.
And I ask you to place them on your prayer list to stand with them for God’s divine healing.
God bless.
Dr. D. & Marilyn
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Sunday, October 5 - Chernivtsi
Our time is coming to a close here in Chernivtsi for this trip. It is always hard to leave the loving people of God with whom we have such precious fellowship. It has been a rewarding time of ministry to the faithful.
Marilyn spent four hours in ministry with one former staff member of a local Church. She has been through a lot of agony in her soul and spirit from the events of the past having faced disappointments in the life of her former pastor. Marilyn reported that she has finally come to the place where she is ready to risk it again by once again going to Church, but now she must make the choice of which Church.
The service this evening was special. The congregation of forty were intense in their worship and a sweet spirit filled the room as the Holy Spirit ministered to the worshipers. We were able to present an Ordination Certificate to Pastor Vitaliy Pavalenko and challenge him to be the kind of Pastor Christ would have him be. It was on my last trip here that I laid hands on him and set him apart to the call of God, however I did not have the necessary documents available to present his certificate at that time.
Pastor Pavalenko stated that the Word this evening was “right on” as to his needs and the prayer of his heart, being just what he needed. We ministered prophetically to several and again the report was “right on.” As always we took time to minister to the needs of those who came forward for prayer.
Saying “good-by” is always hard when we are here and it was no different this evening. We had to make a promise to return in April or thereabouts and to promise to spend some special time with some of the people. Of course that is part of what we enjoy the most. We do not come to Chernivtsi to just be with pastors but many of the leaders and people have become very special to us after almost nine years of ministry in the city. It is as though we leave part of our heart here when we depart.
So now it is time to finish the reproduction of the sermons preached, leave some material for the pastors to study, then proceed to pack and be ready to leave via car to “Khmelnitsky and catch the evening “fast train” to Kiev, arriving there about 9:03 P.M.
We will have two day, well almost, in Kiev to do some laundry meet with a pastor and his wife and then depart for Donetsk.
Dr. D. and Marilyn
Marilyn spent four hours in ministry with one former staff member of a local Church. She has been through a lot of agony in her soul and spirit from the events of the past having faced disappointments in the life of her former pastor. Marilyn reported that she has finally come to the place where she is ready to risk it again by once again going to Church, but now she must make the choice of which Church.
The service this evening was special. The congregation of forty were intense in their worship and a sweet spirit filled the room as the Holy Spirit ministered to the worshipers. We were able to present an Ordination Certificate to Pastor Vitaliy Pavalenko and challenge him to be the kind of Pastor Christ would have him be. It was on my last trip here that I laid hands on him and set him apart to the call of God, however I did not have the necessary documents available to present his certificate at that time.
Pastor Pavalenko stated that the Word this evening was “right on” as to his needs and the prayer of his heart, being just what he needed. We ministered prophetically to several and again the report was “right on.” As always we took time to minister to the needs of those who came forward for prayer.
Saying “good-by” is always hard when we are here and it was no different this evening. We had to make a promise to return in April or thereabouts and to promise to spend some special time with some of the people. Of course that is part of what we enjoy the most. We do not come to Chernivtsi to just be with pastors but many of the leaders and people have become very special to us after almost nine years of ministry in the city. It is as though we leave part of our heart here when we depart.
So now it is time to finish the reproduction of the sermons preached, leave some material for the pastors to study, then proceed to pack and be ready to leave via car to “Khmelnitsky and catch the evening “fast train” to Kiev, arriving there about 9:03 P.M.
We will have two day, well almost, in Kiev to do some laundry meet with a pastor and his wife and then depart for Donetsk.
Dr. D. and Marilyn
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Saturday, October 4
An exciting event has been the return of the water heater – we have HOT WATER! You can actually feel “clean” and refreshed. It is amazing how much you take for granted when you have it and then miss whatever it is when you do not – even such a simple thing as being able to take a shower with warm water cascading down upon you.
Marilyn and Oksana went for a walk with the express purpose of going to see Nadya a girl who has done a lot of translation work with us in the past. They did find her at her work and received a warm welcome. We hope she will join us in service Sunday evening.
Because of the 600th Anniversary Celebration downtown today and with the President and Premier of Ukraine here we were not able to have any services. But we spent the evening with Pastor Vitaliy and Ira Pavalenko at a very nice restaurant outside of Chernivtsi. We had a small dinning room in a courtyard area that would seat at the most comfortably six. The portions and quality of the food was excellent. But as we were surprised at the order in which the food was brought to us. The waitress brought the salad – so far so good. Then she brought my side plate of roasted potatoes – it turned out to be a large plate. We asked about the soup and were told that they served it after the second course. That means, eat the salad, the potatoes, then your soup (salanka) and then she brought my meat.
The others had their meals brought to them in a similar manner. Then we were asked about desert. But when asked about Marilyn’s main course – her meat plate which was plate of verenika (meat filled dumplings) we were told that it was presently being cooked and would be out shortly. So we told her to be sure and bring it before she brought the desert. When all was said and done, the evening was great, the food was superb and our stomachs accepted the order in which it was placed in its care.
We were able to continue sharing pastoral philosophy about caring for God’s sheep, working with pastors of other denominations and persuasions and how to handle those delicate areas that arise with relationships. Not all apostolic ministry is in the pulpit. In fact the majority of it is directly to the pastors and leadership.
Marilyn has an 11:00 meeting with a lady who was one of the former staff pastors of a Church which underwent a devastating trauma. She hasn’t been able to get back to even attending Church at this time. Remember her in your prayers.
Our final service here will be Sunday evening and then we journey back to Kiev for a day and one half then on to Donetsk.
Dr. D. & Marilyn
Marilyn and Oksana went for a walk with the express purpose of going to see Nadya a girl who has done a lot of translation work with us in the past. They did find her at her work and received a warm welcome. We hope she will join us in service Sunday evening.
Because of the 600th Anniversary Celebration downtown today and with the President and Premier of Ukraine here we were not able to have any services. But we spent the evening with Pastor Vitaliy and Ira Pavalenko at a very nice restaurant outside of Chernivtsi. We had a small dinning room in a courtyard area that would seat at the most comfortably six. The portions and quality of the food was excellent. But as we were surprised at the order in which the food was brought to us. The waitress brought the salad – so far so good. Then she brought my side plate of roasted potatoes – it turned out to be a large plate. We asked about the soup and were told that they served it after the second course. That means, eat the salad, the potatoes, then your soup (salanka) and then she brought my meat.
The others had their meals brought to them in a similar manner. Then we were asked about desert. But when asked about Marilyn’s main course – her meat plate which was plate of verenika (meat filled dumplings) we were told that it was presently being cooked and would be out shortly. So we told her to be sure and bring it before she brought the desert. When all was said and done, the evening was great, the food was superb and our stomachs accepted the order in which it was placed in its care.
We were able to continue sharing pastoral philosophy about caring for God’s sheep, working with pastors of other denominations and persuasions and how to handle those delicate areas that arise with relationships. Not all apostolic ministry is in the pulpit. In fact the majority of it is directly to the pastors and leadership.
Marilyn has an 11:00 meeting with a lady who was one of the former staff pastors of a Church which underwent a devastating trauma. She hasn’t been able to get back to even attending Church at this time. Remember her in your prayers.
Our final service here will be Sunday evening and then we journey back to Kiev for a day and one half then on to Donetsk.
Dr. D. & Marilyn
Friday, October 3, 2008
Friday - October 3rd
Slow days come and go without a lot of fanfare. This was one of those days. There wasn’t a lot on the schedule. In fact, there wasn’t anything until 6:30 this evening. So we were able to do some preparation for the coming days that will not be classified as “slow days.”
I thought I would be wise and instead of preparing a list of the scriptures in Russian for my interpreter, I would do them in Ukrainian. Why? Because that is the norm for being here in Western Ukraine and it has been requested that way in the past. But to my dismay Oksana turned to me during the worship time and said, “I will borrow a Russian Bible from someone because that lady does not understand Ukrainian.” So I guess you never know which to have prepared but from now on I’ll have both.
Tonight we were with Vitaliy and Ira Pavalenko and the people of the Church their pastor for their Friday evening prayer meeting. The group was small tonight but the spirit of their worship was excellent. They have been a long time in getting started with the official status of having a Church. The delay has been getting over the past disappointments and hurts. It has only been in the recent weeks that they added a Sunday service. So my message was directed toward that goal with the challenge from Exodus 14:15 – “Go forward!” The content dealt with forgetting the past, with not looking back but acting out their faith by moving toward the goal they have spent months praying about. There does come a time when God says, “Stop praying and go forward.” There is a time when faith must be acted upon if it is faith.
O Yes! This weekend Chernivtsi is celebrating its 600th Anniversary. The main part of the city will be closed to transportation. They have been redoing many of the facades of the building in preparation for this day. We were here last year for the 599th Anniversary and it was a nightmare trying to get through the people and traffic. I can’t wait to see what it will be like this weekend. The celebration begins tomorrow so I will not have to wait long.
Thanks for your prayers.
Dr. D. & Marilyn
I thought I would be wise and instead of preparing a list of the scriptures in Russian for my interpreter, I would do them in Ukrainian. Why? Because that is the norm for being here in Western Ukraine and it has been requested that way in the past. But to my dismay Oksana turned to me during the worship time and said, “I will borrow a Russian Bible from someone because that lady does not understand Ukrainian.” So I guess you never know which to have prepared but from now on I’ll have both.
Tonight we were with Vitaliy and Ira Pavalenko and the people of the Church their pastor for their Friday evening prayer meeting. The group was small tonight but the spirit of their worship was excellent. They have been a long time in getting started with the official status of having a Church. The delay has been getting over the past disappointments and hurts. It has only been in the recent weeks that they added a Sunday service. So my message was directed toward that goal with the challenge from Exodus 14:15 – “Go forward!” The content dealt with forgetting the past, with not looking back but acting out their faith by moving toward the goal they have spent months praying about. There does come a time when God says, “Stop praying and go forward.” There is a time when faith must be acted upon if it is faith.
O Yes! This weekend Chernivtsi is celebrating its 600th Anniversary. The main part of the city will be closed to transportation. They have been redoing many of the facades of the building in preparation for this day. We were here last year for the 599th Anniversary and it was a nightmare trying to get through the people and traffic. I can’t wait to see what it will be like this weekend. The celebration begins tomorrow so I will not have to wait long.
Thanks for your prayers.
Dr. D. & Marilyn
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Thursday - Chernivtsi, Ukraine
One update to yesterday’s blog: The afternoon was spent with Pastor Dema and Natasha Nemchenko. They came and we fellowshipped with them, shared insights and encouraged them to go forward in faith for the work that God has placed before them. They will begin Sunday services on October 12th with their new congregation – The Light of God’s Love. So remember then in your prayer.
Today began as yesterday – trying to finish out enough sleep to get through the day without yawning while meeting with members of the Body of Christ. But it also had a unique twist. Taking a shower-bath with two quarts of water! You read it correctly!
When the hot water tank has opted to quit and the new one has not arrived and you have not had a bath in two days you will find a way too get the clean feeling. That is just part of the excitement of traveling abroad and staying in the home of God’s people. I would just as soon have this minor inconvenience than stay in hotel. You get closer to the people by living with them and experiencing life with them on their terms.
This afternoon and evening from 1:00- 9:00 was spent in personal and apostolic ministry. First, we were with Vika Kosovan and her children. The two younger children (Igor and Rostislava) have really grown and Alena has become a beautiful teen graduate. It is always a pleasure to have fellowship with them and to talk about what God is doing in Vika’s life. She is moving forward and we believe into a greater ministry from the Lord. And she certainly is an excellent cook. In fact we sat down immediately to eat and it seems we ate all the time we were there.
At 4:30 we were taken to a meeting with Pastor Vitaliy and Ira Pavalenko and his leadership. After eating a delicious meal at a table spread with enough food for three times the number present, we were bombarded with question on how to establish the church with proper guidelines and a Biblical foundation. The hunger and eagerness of those leaders were presented a platform for Marilyn and I to teach from the Word and share from our experiences. And of course who can eat at a Ukrainian’s table without some “Chi,” Ukrainian chocolate candy and pastries. So we left, full of food, fellowship and with the lingering of laughter from the time with God’s people.
Dr. D. & Marilyn
Today began as yesterday – trying to finish out enough sleep to get through the day without yawning while meeting with members of the Body of Christ. But it also had a unique twist. Taking a shower-bath with two quarts of water! You read it correctly!
When the hot water tank has opted to quit and the new one has not arrived and you have not had a bath in two days you will find a way too get the clean feeling. That is just part of the excitement of traveling abroad and staying in the home of God’s people. I would just as soon have this minor inconvenience than stay in hotel. You get closer to the people by living with them and experiencing life with them on their terms.
This afternoon and evening from 1:00- 9:00 was spent in personal and apostolic ministry. First, we were with Vika Kosovan and her children. The two younger children (Igor and Rostislava) have really grown and Alena has become a beautiful teen graduate. It is always a pleasure to have fellowship with them and to talk about what God is doing in Vika’s life. She is moving forward and we believe into a greater ministry from the Lord. And she certainly is an excellent cook. In fact we sat down immediately to eat and it seems we ate all the time we were there.
At 4:30 we were taken to a meeting with Pastor Vitaliy and Ira Pavalenko and his leadership. After eating a delicious meal at a table spread with enough food for three times the number present, we were bombarded with question on how to establish the church with proper guidelines and a Biblical foundation. The hunger and eagerness of those leaders were presented a platform for Marilyn and I to teach from the Word and share from our experiences. And of course who can eat at a Ukrainian’s table without some “Chi,” Ukrainian chocolate candy and pastries. So we left, full of food, fellowship and with the lingering of laughter from the time with God’s people.
Dr. D. & Marilyn
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Wednesday, October 1
Another day has come to a close in Ukraine.
We spent the day trying to catch up on sleep -- but not all day, just until 3:00 AM Florida time (10:00 AM here.) I know it sounds like we were lazy but we are still trying to adjust to the time difference (7 hours) and the lack of sleep on the flight here.
The afternoon I spent in preparation for this evening and also in thought for the coming activities, meetings and services here in Ukraine.
It seems that all of our "homes" away from home are having some type of water problem. Svetlana, Anya Beach's mother's flat has problems with their water system so plans are up in the air for it. The home of our Dean, Eugene Taits, had severe water damage that went down two floors into the flats of others because some guests who stayed there while they were visiting his father in New York turned on the hot water and when nothing came out, they did not turn it off and water, water everywhere. My secretary's flat had their hot water tank go bad and the company has not arrived as promised to install a new one-----but we will survive and find new ways to keep refreshed.
Back to the "spiritual"! Tonight we ministered or as they say "served" the cell group under the direction of Pastor Dema and Natasha Nemchenko which meets in the flat where we stay with Tolik and Oksana (my Ukrainian secretary)and Tolik's aunt, Luda. We had a good meeting! What else do you expect me to say when I was the teacher? Seriously, we had a good time of fellowship both physically and spiritually. Their hearts are open to hear, learn and receive ministry.
Then it was time for the best Pizza in Ukraine made and served by our hostess. It may even be better than the best Pizza in Florida. We had a traditional Ukrainian salad with it made of tomatoes, cucumbers, goat cheese, celery, and olives.
All this after 9:30 PM and I am supposed to sleep with this in my stomach! But it will take us some time to get to sleep because we have not completely adjusted to the time.
Well, If I am going to get some sleep or attempt to, I'd better stop and move to the bedroom.
God bless and keep us in your prayers,
Dr. D.
We spent the day trying to catch up on sleep -- but not all day, just until 3:00 AM Florida time (10:00 AM here.) I know it sounds like we were lazy but we are still trying to adjust to the time difference (7 hours) and the lack of sleep on the flight here.
The afternoon I spent in preparation for this evening and also in thought for the coming activities, meetings and services here in Ukraine.
It seems that all of our "homes" away from home are having some type of water problem. Svetlana, Anya Beach's mother's flat has problems with their water system so plans are up in the air for it. The home of our Dean, Eugene Taits, had severe water damage that went down two floors into the flats of others because some guests who stayed there while they were visiting his father in New York turned on the hot water and when nothing came out, they did not turn it off and water, water everywhere. My secretary's flat had their hot water tank go bad and the company has not arrived as promised to install a new one-----but we will survive and find new ways to keep refreshed.
Back to the "spiritual"! Tonight we ministered or as they say "served" the cell group under the direction of Pastor Dema and Natasha Nemchenko which meets in the flat where we stay with Tolik and Oksana (my Ukrainian secretary)and Tolik's aunt, Luda. We had a good meeting! What else do you expect me to say when I was the teacher? Seriously, we had a good time of fellowship both physically and spiritually. Their hearts are open to hear, learn and receive ministry.
Then it was time for the best Pizza in Ukraine made and served by our hostess. It may even be better than the best Pizza in Florida. We had a traditional Ukrainian salad with it made of tomatoes, cucumbers, goat cheese, celery, and olives.
All this after 9:30 PM and I am supposed to sleep with this in my stomach! But it will take us some time to get to sleep because we have not completely adjusted to the time.
Well, If I am going to get some sleep or attempt to, I'd better stop and move to the bedroom.
God bless and keep us in your prayers,
Dr. D.
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