Traveling . . . What is this?

Well, I left Kyiv on Sunday afternoon. This was the first time I was able to get myself to the airport alone! My bus fair was only 22 HRV or about $2.90 for 20 kilometers. My reservation showed departure time at 20:15 or 8:15. The airlines instructed me to be at the airport two hours early which is normal for international flying. However, my flight left an hour earlier than my itinerary! I do not know what happened.

In Kyiv, unless the agents are at the ticket desk you are unable to enter the airport check in area. This was my first time flying this airline, so I asked a question and the agent misunderstood me and tried to send me to London! That would have been great a year ago, but my friends live in Ghana, now. Oh well, I knew the Lord was with me and I have favor wherever I go.

Hey folks, Wizz Air, does not assign seats. What do you think about that? Hmmm, maybe that is why they are so cheap. Oh well, I arrived at my destination safe and sound.

It is another one of those wonderful days that I can count my blessings and ask God to help me walk in faith once again. I arrived in Katowice in great time. I don’t think we were in the air ninety minutes. We touched ground and I was excited to be in Poland. I know God has something special for me here.


Next thing on the agenda is to get through customs. Entering America as a US citizen is a breeze. However, traveling throughout Europe for the nationals is not ease sometimes. Many of us got into a wrong customs line and ended up at the end of the correct line. Some of us stood in line for customs the same amount of time it took to fly! Just another lesson in patience.

We made it through customs and those of us that were last, had easy pickings with the luggage! There was no one to push, step on our toes or push our luggage away. There is always something good about every situation.

I sighed long and deep when I left the customs area. Now it was time to move onto the next step of my journey. I need to exchange money. I did a bit of research and found that Polish money was PLNs. I found the airport bank to exchange money. I asked for PLNs and the clerk gives me zlotkys! Now, I was really confused but I took my 300 zlotkys for $100. Though, I felt a bit cheated. In Ukraine I get 760 hrv for $100.

The next phase is to find transportation to the hotel. Right? Well, I missed my ride due to the length of time in customs. I had reserved a bus ride. The charge was 80 PLNs for a round trip bus ride to Krakow, so I figured about $60 and put this in my budget. However, I was too late to take the bus because of customs and my only alternative was a taxi. OH MY! The driver told me Krakow was 115 kilometers from the airport so I swallowed hard and asked what it was going to cost. Hold onto your belts! The taxi fair to the hotel was $150. My round trip air ticket was less than $80. Ok, God blessed me with enough money for this trip, now I have to step out in faith or ask for help.

Our excursion took an hour and fifteen minutes to get to the hotel. The first part of the ride was very pleasant the sky was pink with the sun going down and dark, dark storm clouds were ahead of us. The country is so beautiful there are many forests, small and large. It was too dark to take any photos along the way so I relaxed and enjoyed the scenery. At times, I felt like I was in northern Minnesota with the forests coming right up to the highway. I was amazed at how much newer the buildings are than Ukraine and how much cleaner everything is.

Along the way we had to stop because of the rain and hail. Finally we arrived at our destination. I registered and went up to my room. I believe I counted 54 steps; I am on the fourth floor. I unpacked and set up the computer, by this time it was about 11 P.M.

I tried to connect to the internet and was unsuccessful. No problem, I walked down stairs and the clerk gave me the password for the wireless network and I returned to my room. I tried to connect again and was unproductive. I decided to go back to the office and see if she had any additional information. She gave me another password and I returned to my room again. Again, I could not connect. I gave up.

I had not eaten or had anything to drink for about 5 hours and I was getting a headache. I walked down to the cafeteria to get some coffee which is five floors. It tasted so good and I finally called it a day.

Just a buzz and a stronghold . . .

Strange title? I hope it worked, if you are reading this, than I accomplished my goal.

Our supermarkets are equipped with those metal things that detect whether or not you are walking away with unpaid product. The stores also have people walking around watching everyone. There is still a mode of distrust but it is not like it was five or ten years ago!

About seven years ago, I was in a supermarket with my father and I took out a pack of gum from my purse and handed some to my father and I partook of a piece. It did not take 5 seconds and someone came up behind me and grabbed my arm and the gum. I thought Oh No! This was my first trip to Ukraine and I could not speak one word of Russian! By the grace of God all ended well and we were allowed to go our way.

Normally I shop alone. I love to go to the open markets or bazaars and shop. I love trying my Russian on the бабушки (grandmas). I purposely go back to the same ladies, they know what I like and understand my poor Russian grammar! The supermarkets are easy; they are like American stores, rows and rows of product and then lines of people at the checkout counter.

If you ever asked God to give you patience and you want to check how much patience you have, please come and stand in some of our lines. I had to do some banking the other day and I waited in line for an hour and then, it took an hour and half to complete the transaction! That calls for patience. As Americans we have a drive through mentality and many of us would not survive in other parts of the world.

Yesterday, it was hot, about 95 when I left the apartment. It was comfortable with a breeze and walking in the shade. I enjoyed the walk three blocks to the supermarket. On my arrival, I entered the store and took a cart; I usually buy more than I can carry while shopping. Sounds like America, right? There isn’t too much difference in Kyiv and America. Now I am not speaking of the smaller towns and villages, some of them are still quite backwards without running water and electricity.

I enjoyed the cool air in the supermarket and watching people as I shopped. There were numerous moms with their strollers and babies. It is so much fun to wink or wave at the little ones and watch their reactions. As I completed my shopping I headed towards the checkout counter.

I unloaded my groceries on the counter and took out my discount card and waited for my turn. The clerk first asks; “Do you want a packet or bag?” Of course I said no, I bring my own and then she swiped my card and proceeded to check each item. I returned the items to my cart, paid the clerk and proceeded to the counter where we bag our items.

As I was returning my cart to the stall, by the way, how many of you do that? NO preaching – on with the story.
I went through the metal and a buzzer YELLED at me and a man grabbed my arm. He began to speak quite rapidly and I asked him to “Говорите медленно пожалуйста” (speak slowly please). He looked at me strangely and I handed him my receipt and told him it was most likely the мясо или колбаса (meat or sausage). He wanted the meat and I gave it to him. He had me walk back through the metal and I didn’t set off the alarms! He walked through with the sausage and he set off the detectors. He made sure that the sausage was on my check he smiled and said спасибо и пока (thank you and bye).

Once again, I survived a day in Ukraine. I am so grateful we serve an awesome God, no matter the situation, He provides all we need. I am learning more and more to trust God in every area of my life. I am glad I have had this opportunity not only to do God’s work but learn to live by faith daily for every area of my life.

Differences in Cultures

How many have attended a funeral of one who went home to the Lord? Now, how many of us watched those without Hope (Jesus); suffer knowing they will never see their loved one again? Difficult questions and complex times – yes.

I experienced these situations the past couple of weeks. I prayed with a dear friend and watched her mourn the loss of her brother. Though she mourns, she is joyful knowing he received Jesus before he left this life. In her brother’s death, she and her hubby have witnessed to several others. They were asked to return and minister to others in the hospital.

We serve a mighty and awesome God who can raise the dead! We believe the young men they have witnessed to will receive complete healing and restoration, please pray and agree with us for Oleg, a young man in the hospital who needs God’s touch physically and spiritually. He is open to listening to the Word of God. Thank you.

Let me tell you the story about a Ukrainian funeral from an American point of view. I say this, because some of my Ukrainian friends will read this and please dear friends, do not be offended or hurt by feelings or my observations. I love Ukraine and those involved in this situation.

The other night my friend called to let me know her brother passed away. She needed prayer and asked me to pray for the children. They were unsettled, loud and difficult to handle. The children are 3 and 6 years old and the family lives in a ONE room apartment! Prayer is an easy way to help wherever we are we can pray. She told me the funeral was the next morning and asked if I would come and pray during the service and I agreed.

I was supposed to meet my friend’s hubby down the street and go with him. Plans changed and my friend stopped by the apartment with her sister. I had no idea of where we were going or what was going to happen. We walked down to the hospital where her brother had been and waited for a bus. They hired a funeral service company to handle all the arrangements.

An old bus pulled up, and drove through a little alley, and we followed. I have seen several busses like this; watching funerals outside the apartment buildings. This was unusual, we went to the hospital. My friend’s hubby bought a suit for the deceased and brought it with him that morning.

The woman in charge took the suit into a little shack, behind an old, old building which was the hospital. My friend told me the hospital was old and very dirty inside, I did not inquire any more about the conditions. The woman took the suit into this shack and a man was standing outside the shack holding a chinchilla. He took the suit and went into the shack. Now, mind you, this shack had a dirt floor! I was wondering what would happen.

As an American, I expected my friend’s brother to still be in the hospital. Well, in a few minutes they carried the deceased in his coffin and his new suit to the bus we were in. They loaded him through a trap door in the back and then placed the cover on, bolting it down lightly with one screw. This coffin is the same type you see in the old western movies; do I need to say more?

My friend’s sister does not know the Lord. When she looked at her brother she began to cry. I felt so sorry for her, I wanted to put my arms around her and tell her that he was in Jesus’ arms and with out pain. But, this would have been inappropriate; so, I refrained.

It is a strange feeling when you have to inquire about how to act, move and what to say at an occasion that one has attended many times. I did not want to offend anyone, and had to be reminded twice to whisper. I had to ask for forgiveness.

We, the family and the deceased and the hired casket bearers rode the bus to the Crematorium office. I went in with the family and observed all the legalities and paper signing along with selecting the final resting place, a beautiful gray and black urn. We returned to the bus and went to the actual crematorium. There was a priest waiting to perform the service and for the family to say their final good-byes. The casket was re-opened for the service.

Photo of the mortuary!

Each of us were given a bee’s wax candle and it was lit for the duration of the service. The casket cover was covered with a traditional Ukrainian cloth embroidered with red and black with a loaf of black bread sitting on the cloth. When the service was completed; on key, we snubbed out the candles, we did not blow them out, we used our fingers, then placed the candles in the casket. We also placed our flowers in the casket prior to the service. The cover was placed on the casket and it was lowered into the crematorium. We stood there for a moment, not a word was spoken. We were escorted back to the bus and left. We were then dropped off at a bus stop to catch a regular bus (marschrutka) home.

I was numb, no tears, no grief, no one kissed the deceased. The priest did not even greet the family members. I am still sitting here wondering where is the unity of a family, the love of a pastor/priest for the people. What is wrong here? When my son passed away, I remember many hugs and warm words. There was nothing at this funeral.

My friend’s sister had to leave for Moscow that same day, I hugged her as she was leaving and prayed with her I told her I loved her and hoped we would see each other again. She began to cry and I cried with her. I wanted her to receive Jesus but . . .

Celebrating A Chruch Birthday

This has been a full weekend for me. I left Kyiv Friday night for Kherson, arrived there Saturday morning and taught until 4:45. We fellowshipped with the pastor and then headed back to Kyiv by 8:30 PM. Arriving in Kyiv at 9:30 AM, I took a taxi which took me to the marschrutka (small bus) that drove me to Cherkasy. Our ride to Cherkasy is normally about two hours; this time it was four. The main bridge was being repaired and we had to take an alternative route. This new route blessed me; it reminded me of the back roads of northern Minnesota. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Arriving in Cherkasy about 2:15, I met Sasha, my friend’s son. We walked to church, it was hot and I was tired, but the walk felt good after riding all night and morning. I was concerned about being late but God got me to the church on time!

The service was wonderful; the churches love to celebrate their birthdays with dance, drama and worship! Please review the attached video and photos. I cannot remember how many pastors were there to honor the church and its work. I do not know the pastor personally, but I know his fruit. I have been working with members of his congregation for three years and am close friends with some of the members. Their lives and servant’s attitude says a lot about their pastor. I commended him for his faithfulness and doing the Lord’s work.

After the service, the church blessed the pastors with a party, great food and wonderful fellowship. The theme was ‘a children’s birthday party’. We had to wear party hats as a ticket to get into the party and all the women received a balloon animal! They had children’s games with everyone participating. The pastors formed a band, using children’s musical instruments. They tied balloons to the men’s shoes and each pastor tried to pop the others. The women participated in other games, also. It was a great time. We were able to be regular people having fun just like children!

Jesus said "Let the little children come to me. Don't keep them away. The kingdom of heaven belongs to people like them."

Alyona had an amazing program for the church birthday. She is the children’s pastor and has a heart to teach them worship and is introducing them to the Lord’s feasts or celebrations. She is truly anointed. She has allowed God to take her to a higher level in worship and dance. (Dancers – this is the fruit of a heart pursuing to worship God and sharing that love and joy with others! Please be encouraged and do not stop dancing.)

Listening to the Still Quiet Voice

Attending the prophetic conference heightened my sensitivity to hearing the Holy Spirit. Now, I need to learn what to do with this information. Sometimes the answer is obvious and other times it is not.

To make a long story short, I had anew interpreter this weekend. We met at the train station and became quite caught up in ministry immediately with our roommates. Do not be shocked, we only had 2, we could have had 45-50! We use regular Ukrainian transportation. We purchase seats/bunks in a coupe (train room) with four beds, it is the most efficient and safest way to travel.

On my way to the Metro, (the city train) I met a young man who is attending the Seventh Day Adventist seminary. He was anxious to practice his English and I enjoyed the visit. It was exciting to hear about his plans to minister in the villages. I prayed with him for God’s blessing and will to be performed in his life.

On the train, our roommates were like night and day. One gentleman is Greek Orthodox and full of questions and believed in a personal relationship with Jesus. I was so excited to hear this. His wife teaches hermeneutics and linguistics in the Orthodox seminaries. We visited for a quite awhile. In fact our neighbors were upset about our religious conversation and asked us to stop! Maybe she was feeling a little conviction? We closed our door to honor her request.

The other man has had an unhappy experience with religion. His wife left, both her and his son are believers. He does not know how to have a relationship with his son. He is angry about his wife’s belief and resents his son reading the Bible. Please pray God opens the door for a new relationship between them.

Class was interesting; once again the students stretched me and kept me humble. The class flowed very well and it helped that Olga and I flowed in the Spirit together. My desire is that this will happen more and more in every class. (This depends on the interpreter’s attitude and beliefs). I want the Spirit to open the student’s eyes to more revelation. This class was introduced to the thought that law and grace co-exist and we discovered the reality of Jesus’ physical suffering on the cross.

Photo: worshiping before class

The Kherson college would like to continue their studies through the summer. I need the Lord’s wisdom and guidance in this area. I was going to use the summer to write more courses. I do not have time to do this during the year, while I teach and travel. Please pray God gives me wisdom.

May God richly bless each of you.