ASSIGNMENT FULFILLED!

Wednesday, November 25

The timing of God is incredible to be part of – to be included in! This trip and its timing was totally planned by God and orchestrated by the Holy Spirit.

It all began the Tuesday morning I received the email from Vadim just before Prayer With The Pastors began. I forwarded it to Pastor. I contemplated responding several times, and when I started, I head Pastor Ryan say I want to read a email my father forwarded to me...that is how it began to flow!

From there God’s people supplied the needed finances and I lifted off from the ground at Ft. Myers on Friday, November 13 – there is nothing bad about Friday the 13th! I landed in Kiev on Saturday at 4:50 PM and was at the Uruymagov home by 6:00 PM, where I saw Vadim’s wife, Inna who greeted me with a soft voice saying, “Papa!” I was there to minister to her and the family as she battled breast cancer.

From then on I was “on assignment” of ministry to the Urumyagovs, their Church congregation - New Time, Abundant Life and Way of Life in Chernivtsi. Each task on this assignment was “on time” and God ordained and Spirit led in what was said and done!

Inna went to glory at 5:00 AM Monday morning.

Today was the climax of my “assignment.” I was the principal speaker at Inna’s funeral. Everything began at 9:00 at the morgue. In Ukraine this is where you receive the body of someone who died. All family and friends gather there to receive the earthly home. Today we were there for almost two hours until the first viewing had taken place by close relatives and friends and the body was loaded on a special bus.

We had the traditional procession – except that it was not led by a police escort, and the journey was 60-65 miles. Oh, did it tell you it was in the high 30's to low 40's and windy – better yet it became very cold as the day progressed.

We arrived at the “chapel” – a room about 20 feet square with only two benches for the immediate family, but no one used them and the rest of us all gathered around standing shoulder to shoulder. That part was probably good because there was no heat in the room, the double doors open and the wind whipped through the room. There was no stand to lay your Bible or notes on. And an invitation was given for anyone who desired to say something to stand to the left of the head of the casket.

I am not making fun, nor do I desire to be-little the customs of any culture or country. It is just that I want to communicate my experience – my first experience for a funeral outside of the US.

The casket was a very simple plywood style box, similar to those you see on the old westerns, but not as deep. After all had shared, including me, those who brought flowers placed them in the casket as the filed by to greet the family.

We loaded up again and made about a 3/4 mile trip to the grave site. It was a simple freshly dug by hand hole just big enough for the casket approximately 3-4 feet from other freshly covered graves. The pastor in charge completed his prayer and before the workers placed the lid on all flowers were removed and distributed to those who wanted one. It was then nailed shut and the workers lowered it into the ground by hand, then proceeded to replace the earth. Large wreaths, about 4 feet high were placed over the mound produced by the excess dirt due to the casket now in the hole.

As is customary even in the US, we greeted and loved on one-another for some time and then made our way to our cars and journeyed back to our homes.

The message I shared, I called: Inna Died In Faith, based on Hebrews 11:13. I had found out on Tuesday when I read it to Vadim after the Holy Spirit placed it so heavily on my spirit, that Inna had been focusing on it and tell him that it was “better to die in faith than live without faith!”

She lived as she died – she walked by faith and lived by faith and died in faith! What more can be said?

Some day I want to read the many sermons she wrote this last year. They are un-preached! In fact she read the Bible through three times since January! She lived by faith!

I start my travels home tomorrow evening, spend the night in Amsterdam (airport) and then touch down in Ft. Myers Friday evening.

Once again! Thanks for being “on time” with your support and prayers. I thank God I was your representative to the Uruymagov family, their congregation, their friends and the believers I was honored to minister to.

God bless,

Dr D