We've made it to Kiev last night and suffered through another Ukrainian dinner -- we went to McDonalds. We needed some American grease.
We're still safe and sound. Currently we're waiting in the airport to go through security and get boarding passes.
We're off to Frankfurt, Germany this afternoon and then Atlanta tomorrow.
We should be back in Marion around 10 - 10:30 p.m. (my estimate, not official).
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Friday, July 21, 2006
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Wednesday Night Update
It's Wednesday night about 10 p.m. and this is my first chance to get in front of a computer since the last post.
There were about 32 or 33 decisions Tuesday that I know about. I have not heard an update on today though.
The four-person team I'm on has been on a whirlwind tour of this region. Yesterday we left at 8:30 a.m. and returned to the hotel at about 11:45 p.m. We traveled to Khotin and presented our seminars to between 8 and 12 youth leaders (the number changed every hour).
After Tuesday's seminar we then traveled to the most remote and gorgeous youth camp I've ever visited. Though completely primitive with no permanent infrastructure, they have brought a generator which powers their sound system, computer, television, DVD player, printer, etc.
The camp itself sits on top of a hill over looking the Dnister River which is one of the major rivers in the country, but unlike the Mississippi or Ohio there appears to be no commercial traffic on it. We were there from 3 to 10 p.m. and only saw one fisherman in a rowboat. The kids swim in a tributary, play volleyball and have two-hour church services in the evening.
On Wednesday we left about 8:30 a.m. and traveled for more than an hour to another camp even more remote where we took part in smaller break-out sessions with all the campers before doing or seminar topics in front of about 30 youth workers. We did it outside on a hill side under a grove of oak trees. It was around 70 (yes, the forecasts were wrong, it did warm up) and a nice breeze. In other words, perfect.
At all the sessions we've done this week I think we have been able to encourage the youth workers and at least plant the seeds of God's salvation in the non-believing youth who are there camping.
Keep a kid named Roman from St. Petersburg in your prayers - he believes in God in his head, just not yet in his heart. That's him in the picture watching some of the other campers swim in the river.
Tomorrow morning we go to First Baptist here in Chernivtsi where we will be meeting with youth workers here in the city and surrounding suburbs. In the afternoon there is a group meeting at the church though we have not been given the details. (Bob may know but I haven't seen him yet tonight).
As to issues of national pride I can report that (with the help of our Ukrainian interpreters and drivers) we managed to show a decent team effort in our volleyball games with the Ukrainian kids and their leaders. We may have even won one or two games in the last few days.
It has definitely not been the complete embarrassment seen during our near-infamous attempt five years ago at playing soccer with kids who have played all their lives.
The mission team members who have been witnessing are reporting some remarkable successes, even with strong Orthodox believers. I'll post more as I know more.
I haven't listened to the some of the last few audio posts, but there maybe a few bad ones where I punched the wrong button on the cell phone but a post was still made anyway. Sorry.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Arrived, Rested & Ready to Go
All of the members of the mission team arrived safe and sound in Chernivtsi last night, though some worse for wear. We left Kiev about 9:10 a.m. and arrived at the Hotel Cheremosh here about 7:30 p.m.
After dinner those of us who went to sleep immediately (including the author which explains why he didn't blog last night) managed to get a good night's rest.
Those who stayed up for a while didn't as they couldn't get to sleep when the wedding reception on the first floor took off in high gear. Personally I didn't notice it at all. Joe Wagner on the other hand managed to get to sleep about 5 a.m.
Today we ate breakfast at the hotel — scrambled eggs, bread, thin slices of ham, cheese, butter, a honey spread, and a sweet something with powdered suger on top and something fruity inside. We also had yogurt.
We then took off to the "big church" which is what we call First Baptist to meet up with our local team members, drivers and interpreters, pray over our missions, and eat lunch — a chicken noodle soup without the chicken or the noodles, but with potatoes and some type of meet, plus a rice and pork combination along with bread and cookies.
After lunch we visited the camp for a tour and dinner. The camp is a former Young Pioneer camp (think Soviet Boy Scouts) that the Baptists were able to purchase after Ukraine became independent. There are marked improvements in the camp, especially for those of us who saw it in 2001.
They have new a new shower house and bathrooms, but while they have urinals they still have the turkish-style toilets - a hole in the tiled floor with a place on either side for your feet.
Dinner tonight took place at the camp. It was a salad of quartered cucumbers and tomatoes with an entree of a baked chicken leg and a double serving of mashed potatoes. The drink was a lemon compote (too weak to be called lemonade, but I liked it better than lemonade), and dessert included one banana, five cookies and three pieces of individually-wrapped candy.
Oh Sandy, remember how we joked about Alexis using the mission trip to find a nice young man who speaks Russian? Even Brother Benjamin, the regional association head, has given his blessing. During his speech at our orientation meeting he told her that the best way to learn Russian is to find someone here and marry.
Don't worry too much Sandy, our team leader is married and although our interpreter is 27, an English teacher and former athlete, he's already engaged to a Ukrainian girl studying in Rochester.
There is however, two other 19-year-old single interpreters.
Alexis and I are part of a mission team including Joe Wagner and another member from Andalusia First Baptist. Our local team members include Slavik Nagirnyak, who is the regional youth leader for 150 churches in the Chernivtsi region. Our interpreters are Oleg Kleshch, the one who is engaged, and Marina #1, who was Joe's interpreter last time. She married the son of Brother Vasily last year.
We were going to be spending time at the camp in the morning teaching youth workers and then witnessing in the afternoon.
That plan changed today. That didn't surprise us at all. We knew it would. We were just waiting to find out how.
Now we are going to a different city each day (Monday-Thursday) and speaking at one of the local churches to the area youth leaders. Then in the afternoon we will be traveling to a nearby camp to speak with the campers, many of whom are not saved.
Actually, I like this plan better as we will get to see more of the countryside and larger region outside Chernivtsi.
The city itself appears to be growing. We rode into town on a modern new highway that appears to have farther go to. I noticed more restaurants (though no McDonalds yet), and in the village near the camp they have a new hotel, which was under construction two years ago, that looks as modern and shiny as in any European city.
They also have a supermarket, which is interesting, but they actually use the word "supermarket" rather than the traditional word "gastronom" or something like that, which is similar to the French word for food.
Internet, blank, telephone, telefax, center, are just some of the words that are being included in the Ukrainian business language.
Tomorrow everyone goes out and either preaches, sings or gives their testimony. The team I'm on will go to Hotin which is about 30 or 40 miles north of Chernivtsi.
I've got to get off the computer now to work on my sermon. The hotel has a business center with internet for only $2.80 an hour.
After dinner those of us who went to sleep immediately (including the author which explains why he didn't blog last night) managed to get a good night's rest.
Those who stayed up for a while didn't as they couldn't get to sleep when the wedding reception on the first floor took off in high gear. Personally I didn't notice it at all. Joe Wagner on the other hand managed to get to sleep about 5 a.m.
Today we ate breakfast at the hotel — scrambled eggs, bread, thin slices of ham, cheese, butter, a honey spread, and a sweet something with powdered suger on top and something fruity inside. We also had yogurt.
We then took off to the "big church" which is what we call First Baptist to meet up with our local team members, drivers and interpreters, pray over our missions, and eat lunch — a chicken noodle soup without the chicken or the noodles, but with potatoes and some type of meet, plus a rice and pork combination along with bread and cookies.
After lunch we visited the camp for a tour and dinner. The camp is a former Young Pioneer camp (think Soviet Boy Scouts) that the Baptists were able to purchase after Ukraine became independent. There are marked improvements in the camp, especially for those of us who saw it in 2001.
They have new a new shower house and bathrooms, but while they have urinals they still have the turkish-style toilets - a hole in the tiled floor with a place on either side for your feet.
Dinner tonight took place at the camp. It was a salad of quartered cucumbers and tomatoes with an entree of a baked chicken leg and a double serving of mashed potatoes. The drink was a lemon compote (too weak to be called lemonade, but I liked it better than lemonade), and dessert included one banana, five cookies and three pieces of individually-wrapped candy.
Oh Sandy, remember how we joked about Alexis using the mission trip to find a nice young man who speaks Russian? Even Brother Benjamin, the regional association head, has given his blessing. During his speech at our orientation meeting he told her that the best way to learn Russian is to find someone here and marry.
Don't worry too much Sandy, our team leader is married and although our interpreter is 27, an English teacher and former athlete, he's already engaged to a Ukrainian girl studying in Rochester.
There is however, two other 19-year-old single interpreters.
Alexis and I are part of a mission team including Joe Wagner and another member from Andalusia First Baptist. Our local team members include Slavik Nagirnyak, who is the regional youth leader for 150 churches in the Chernivtsi region. Our interpreters are Oleg Kleshch, the one who is engaged, and Marina #1, who was Joe's interpreter last time. She married the son of Brother Vasily last year.
We were going to be spending time at the camp in the morning teaching youth workers and then witnessing in the afternoon.
That plan changed today. That didn't surprise us at all. We knew it would. We were just waiting to find out how.
Now we are going to a different city each day (Monday-Thursday) and speaking at one of the local churches to the area youth leaders. Then in the afternoon we will be traveling to a nearby camp to speak with the campers, many of whom are not saved.
Actually, I like this plan better as we will get to see more of the countryside and larger region outside Chernivtsi.
The city itself appears to be growing. We rode into town on a modern new highway that appears to have farther go to. I noticed more restaurants (though no McDonalds yet), and in the village near the camp they have a new hotel, which was under construction two years ago, that looks as modern and shiny as in any European city.
They also have a supermarket, which is interesting, but they actually use the word "supermarket" rather than the traditional word "gastronom" or something like that, which is similar to the French word for food.
Internet, blank, telephone, telefax, center, are just some of the words that are being included in the Ukrainian business language.
Tomorrow everyone goes out and either preaches, sings or gives their testimony. The team I'm on will go to Hotin which is about 30 or 40 miles north of Chernivtsi.
I've got to get off the computer now to work on my sermon. The hotel has a business center with internet for only $2.80 an hour.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Safe and Sound So Far
It´s 8:37 a.m. Thursday here at the airport in Frankfort, Germany, though are bodies szill think it´s 2:37 a.m.
Boarding for our next flight - LH 3236 - is in 30 minutes. It departs at 9:40 a.m. and is 2 hours 20 minutes long. We should land at Boryspil International Airport at 1 p.m. local time in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.
After going through customs we´ll meet Brother Vasily (pastor of Church #4) and Brother Wally (Oleta Arnold's long-time interpreter) at the airport. We will then travel by charter bus to the Prolisok Tourist Complex on the western outskirts of Kiev where we will spend the night.
Keep us in your prayers as well as the entire country of Ukraine. There´s a bit of a political crisis brewing as it´s been a few months since the parliamentary elections and still no government has been formed, though it looks like the losers in the election, the pro-Russian faction will have the votes to put a coalition together.
Boarding for our next flight - LH 3236 - is in 30 minutes. It departs at 9:40 a.m. and is 2 hours 20 minutes long. We should land at Boryspil International Airport at 1 p.m. local time in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.
After going through customs we´ll meet Brother Vasily (pastor of Church #4) and Brother Wally (Oleta Arnold's long-time interpreter) at the airport. We will then travel by charter bus to the Prolisok Tourist Complex on the western outskirts of Kiev where we will spend the night.
Keep us in your prayers as well as the entire country of Ukraine. There´s a bit of a political crisis brewing as it´s been a few months since the parliamentary elections and still no government has been formed, though it looks like the losers in the election, the pro-Russian faction will have the votes to put a coalition together.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
On Our Way
It's Wednesday morning and we should be on our way to Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta.
We should meet up with the mission team from First Baptist Church of Andalusia, Alabama, around noon at the airport.
We're flying out on Lufthansa Flight LH445 which is set to depart at 4:30 p.m. EDT. You can check with the flight is on time at the airport's Departures page.
The 8-hour and 45-minute flight should get us to Frankfurt, Germany, at 7:15 a.m. local time which will feel like it's just 1:15 a.m.
We should meet up with the mission team from First Baptist Church of Andalusia, Alabama, around noon at the airport.
We're flying out on Lufthansa Flight LH445 which is set to depart at 4:30 p.m. EDT. You can check with the flight is on time at the airport's Departures page.
The 8-hour and 45-minute flight should get us to Frankfurt, Germany, at 7:15 a.m. local time which will feel like it's just 1:15 a.m.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Arrived Safely in Georgia
Adam got us here safely tonight, though we went through lots of heavy rain between Marion and Nashville.
There's a mix-up on the Andalusia photos. I've got the Griffins mixed up with Charles Young and Betty Lawson. Sorry. I'll try to get it fixed. [It's now correct.]
Pray for a safe journey tomorrow for both groups going to the airport, as well as our flights overnight to Frankfurt and then on to Kiev on Thursday.
We worked on geting Ukrainian flash cards made on the way down. Today we'll actually work on the words.
One more thing, the global rental phone arrived here at the motel. I will be able to provide daily audio updates at the very least.
There's a mix-up on the Andalusia photos. I've got the Griffins mixed up with Charles Young and Betty Lawson. Sorry. I'll try to get it fixed. [It's now correct.]
Pray for a safe journey tomorrow for both groups going to the airport, as well as our flights overnight to Frankfurt and then on to Kiev on Thursday.
We worked on geting Ukrainian flash cards made on the way down. Today we'll actually work on the words.
One more thing, the global rental phone arrived here at the motel. I will be able to provide daily audio updates at the very least.
Mission Team Roster
I've just uploaded a page of pictures for those who want to put names with faces.
The clock is ticking: 2 hours and 24 minutes before the Marion team meets at the church to leave. I'm packed but the "To Do" list hasn't shrunk that much.
The Andalusia group is leaving early tomorrow morning so they can get a good breakfast on the road somewhere rather than tackle the airport food.
We on the other hand will likely sample the fine cuisine at the Cracker Barrel next door to the hotel in Cartersville.
The clock is ticking: 2 hours and 24 minutes before the Marion team meets at the church to leave. I'm packed but the "To Do" list hasn't shrunk that much.
The Andalusia group is leaving early tomorrow morning so they can get a good breakfast on the road somewhere rather than tackle the airport food.
We on the other hand will likely sample the fine cuisine at the Cracker Barrel next door to the hotel in Cartersville.
Tools of Our Trade
Since the church's first mission trip to Chernivtsi in 1993, our mission team members have used a legal-size tri-fold handout that included God's plan of salvation in both Russian or Ukrainian, and English. In addition, each handout contained the testimony of the mission team member in either Ukrainian or Russian.
The other three panels included one on lessons for new Christians, a bit on Baptists, and of course, a contact form for the local church to use in order to make follow-up contacts.
Over the years, these forms have become photo-copies of photo-copies and had degraded so they could barely be read, even assuming you knew Russian or Ukrainian. With help from Brother Walley, Oleta Arnold's long-time interpreter, we've got everyone's testimonies translated, and we've re-typed the whole handout, usually with me typing it in the Cyrillic alphabet and Wally proofing it. As a special feature this time, I've added photographs to the testimony page so people can put a face with a testimony.
Here are the individualized handouts.
Adam Horner — [Ukrainian: PDF version | Microsoft Publisher Document]
Alexis Gibbons — [Ukrainian: PDF version | Microsoft Publisher Document]
Betty Dugger — [Russian: PDF version | Microsoft Publisher Document]
Bob Wagner — [Ukrainian: PDF version | Microsoft Publisher Document]
David Blue — [Ukrainian: PDF version | Microsoft Publisher Document]
Jon Musgrave — [Ukrainian: PDF version | Microsoft Publisher Document]
Kacy Blumenstock — [Ukrainian: PDF version | Microsoft Publisher Document]
Oleta Arnold — [Russian: PDF version | Microsoft Publisher Document]
Rhonda Woods — [Ukrainian: PDF version | Microsoft Publisher Document] Russian Blanks — [Russian: PDF version | Microsoft Publisher Document]
Ukrainian Blanks — [Ukrainian: PDF version | Microsoft Publisher Document]
Also, I've added an expanded version of the Plan of Salvation with the full verses cited and a translation of the "Baptists" panel and the "Lessons for Followers of Christ".
The other three panels included one on lessons for new Christians, a bit on Baptists, and of course, a contact form for the local church to use in order to make follow-up contacts.
Over the years, these forms have become photo-copies of photo-copies and had degraded so they could barely be read, even assuming you knew Russian or Ukrainian. With help from Brother Walley, Oleta Arnold's long-time interpreter, we've got everyone's testimonies translated, and we've re-typed the whole handout, usually with me typing it in the Cyrillic alphabet and Wally proofing it. As a special feature this time, I've added photographs to the testimony page so people can put a face with a testimony.
Here are the individualized handouts.
Testimony/Plan of Salvation Handouts
Also, I've added an expanded version of the Plan of Salvation with the full verses cited and a translation of the "Baptists" panel and the "Lessons for Followers of Christ".
Marion Crew Takes Off
Our mission trip officially begins later today at 1 p.m. when we meet at the church in Marion. We have a 396.5 mile journey ahead of us as we travel to Carterville, Georgia, about an hour north of the airport in Atlanta.
Tonight we stay at the Hampton Inn down there.
The Marion mission team consists of Bob Wagner, our pastor; David Blue, our education minister; plus members Oleta Arnold, Kacy Blumenstock, Alexis Gibbons, Betty Dugger, Adam Harner, Jon Musgrave and Rhonda Woods.
This is David and Kacy's first time on a foreign mission trip. Bob, Oleta and Betty have gone multiple times since the church's first trip to Chernivtsi in 1993. It's my third and it's the second time around for Alexis and Adam who went in 2004 as well as Rhonda who went on one of the trips in the 1990s.
Pray today for a safe trip. Adam is driving the bus.
Tonight we stay at the Hampton Inn down there.
The Marion mission team consists of Bob Wagner, our pastor; David Blue, our education minister; plus members Oleta Arnold, Kacy Blumenstock, Alexis Gibbons, Betty Dugger, Adam Harner, Jon Musgrave and Rhonda Woods.
This is David and Kacy's first time on a foreign mission trip. Bob, Oleta and Betty have gone multiple times since the church's first trip to Chernivtsi in 1993. It's my third and it's the second time around for Alexis and Adam who went in 2004 as well as Rhonda who went on one of the trips in the 1990s.
Pray today for a safe trip. Adam is driving the bus.
'To Do' List Keeps Growing
No matter how much I accomplish my 'To Do' list keeps growing and growning. With 18 hours to go there were 61 items. Now with 9 hours and 46 minutes, I have 66 items.
Wonder if this is anything like the time they used the five loaves of bread and two fish to feed thousands and still ended up with more leftovers than they originally started.
I'm looking forward to sleeping — in 9 hours and 44 minutes. There should be plenty of time to rest on the bus.
Wonder if this is anything like the time they used the five loaves of bread and two fish to feed thousands and still ended up with more leftovers than they originally started.
I'm looking forward to sleeping — in 9 hours and 44 minutes. There should be plenty of time to rest on the bus.
Monday, July 10, 2006
18 Hours To Go
I've got 18 hours and two minutes left to complete 61 items on my To Do list before we meet up at the church parking lot tomorrow. Obviously, some of the items of lesser importance will not be completed.
This message is really just a test of the blog-by-email feature to see if it works and how long it takes for Blogger.com to post it. I hope to be able to update the blog this way during the trip.
Weather Forecast Loods Good
The long-range forecasts for Chernivtsi have been fluxuating all over the place the last few days. Last week AccuWeather predicted highs in the 80s nearly the whole time we would be over there.
Then over the weekend they predicted a cold front would come through dropping the highs down to the 70s for most days and even in the 60s for three days.
Now, with less than a day before we are to leave, the forecast calls for highs in the 80s on only two days, and 70s in during the rest of the time.
The lows are usually about 16 to 20 degrees lower.
You can check out the current conditions at the Weather Underground site where it was 73 degrees a couple of hours ago at around 9 p.m. local time.
Then over the weekend they predicted a cold front would come through dropping the highs down to the 70s for most days and even in the 60s for three days.
Now, with less than a day before we are to leave, the forecast calls for highs in the 80s on only two days, and 70s in during the rest of the time.
The lows are usually about 16 to 20 degrees lower.
You can check out the current conditions at the Weather Underground site where it was 73 degrees a couple of hours ago at around 9 p.m. local time.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Special Prayer for Two from Andalusia
Two of our veteran team members from Andalusia may not be able to go this time due to medical problems surrounding their daughter-in-law's pregnancy.
Please pray for them and their family. Ask God for his healing and blessing on those who will be performing the medical procedures needed.
And we ask that it if be His will, that the couple from Alabama be free to travel with us and take part in this mission.
Please pray for them and their family. Ask God for his healing and blessing on those who will be performing the medical procedures needed.
And we ask that it if be His will, that the couple from Alabama be free to travel with us and take part in this mission.
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