Back on Track

Last Friday we had our second administrators meeting of the year. The College experienced many changes in the Fall and Winter, so our regular administrator meetings were canceled. In December, I left Ukraine to visit my family in the US for the Holidays. My visit to America was extended for six weeks which also held off our administrators meetings. It was good to get back to College business in our February meeting.

In August, we had twenty colleges. It was discouraging to see that less than half of the administrators attended this meeting. We met at a pastor’s home outside of Kyiv. In the past, we met at the office/apartment and I provided the meal. Now and in the future, we will meet at a different college location on a bimonthly basis. It will be fun to travel a little more and meet more students.

We started with prayer and scripture from Psalm 28:7 and Luke 5:1-11. We discussed partnership and how it is advantageous for us to be partners with our spouse, children, children’s schools, our church leaders, and etc. Then we analyzed the importance of ministry or college partnership. Discussion followed regarding our new affiliation for accreditation. Everyone is delighted to have this new affiliation.

We discussed two prophecies given to me and the ministry which were received last August. God has done a great work since then. Many positive changes have and will continue to affect the ministry.

I shared a testimony of the great miracles God performed for my family during my stay in the U.S. I testified of a choice for salvation by one of my grandchildren on Christmas day and the reconciliation of a husband and wife who were scheduled to attend their last child custody hearing. Now they are in Christian counseling. I praise God everyday for His grace and goodness! I was truly blessed while visiting America.

To assure the administrators that I am not leaving Ukraine or the ministry, I informed them of my church membership in Cherkasy. I think this brought a sigh of relief to all. In their minds it means more permanence for me in Ukraine.

We discussed a business plan and our vision for the ministry. It is time to write our vision in detail with an emphasis on the future. The need for both a spiritual and business advisory council was mentioned. However, this will be discussed more in-depth at our next meeting.

Several tuition payments were received before our meeting. I am sad to say that administrators are not paying the required fees. Less than half the tuition fee was paid. A tuition fee of 50 hrv or $6.25 is charged per student per month. The office should receive twenty-five percent of this which equals 12.50 hrv or $1.56 per month for an Associate or Bachelors degree. I am saddened that ministries have not fulfilled their financial obligations. More finances are needed to keep the office and the colleges running smoothly. The office must have the ability to pay its own obligations. Please pray for the students’ revelation and ability to fulfill their commitments in these areas.

In order to keep the colleges from becoming an offering to the students, new contracts are being drawn up. The colleges will receive a form to report student payments on a monthly basis. I pray this will help those who are not fulfilling their obligations to begin to see what is needed for the ministry to continue.

Before we dismissed the meeting, I received some disheartening news. One of the current administrators volunteered information that my former interpreter called him last fall. The interpreter tried to ruin my reputation and begin her own ministry. It appears that she has attempted to split the ministry. Those who attended our meeting and remained faithful admitted that each of them received a call from my interpreter, but they have chosen to support the college and me. I never thought such garbage happened in ministry. Please pray for protection for the ministry and myself.

I am waiting on God to bring a new administrator/secretary/interpreter to the office. During this process, I am in prayer and watching for the people that God is bringing into my life.

We closed our meeting with prayer and lunch.

The Rest of the Story . . .

What an experience returning to Ukraine. I hope each of you had time to read the last blog. I arrived in Cherkasy late Friday evening and was glad to be home. I carried my suitcases through eighteen inches of snow for two blocks! What a homecoming.

I spent my first week recuperating from a fall from Saturday morning then I fell again Friday night on the ice and snow. On Monday, I visited the hospital to make sure everything was ok. I feel fine, however every muscle in my body hurts. Then on Friday night, a week later I fell again. I think this fall put everything back in place, if that is possible.

It was an adventure at the hospital. Someday I will have to tell you about it, they gave me tons of pills and herbs to take. I also visited the chiropractor last week and he confirmed that it was ligaments and muscles, nothing very serious, just down time from exercising to heal! Now for me that is tough. I like my daily exercising.

This past week I celebrated my 55th birthday. Thank you for all your greetings and best wishes on Facebook. Also Pastor Matt sent me an email with the significance of the number 55 plus ‘Happy Birthday’ translated in many different languages; it was fun to read, after my guests left.

I invited numerous friends for dinner to fellowship and get to know each other better. I invited the senior pastor, his wife and the acting pastor and her husband; along with girlfriends, interpreters and other very dear friends. We met on Saturday, which is Shabbat. After our meal and wonderful cake we participated in a biblical discussion.

Shabbat consists of time spent with family and God. We gave God glory and thanksgiving for His work in our lives. This was a very special day for me to spend in this manner with friends. Our discussion included a few controversial topics. However, we were able to converse and pray together even though we do not agree theologically. God is good in giving us grace for each other.



God bless each of you.
Your humble servant,
Kathy

Last Day in America and Return Trip to Ukraine

What an Experience!

My trip was extended by an additional two weeks. I spent this time helping family. My last day in America was going to be spent sorting and distributing weight between my checked luggage, the carry-on and my computer case. I try to bring back essentials for the office such as Reese’s Pieces! The airlines permit fifty pounds for overseas, I traveled to America with twenty pounds and returned with a considerable amount more. There are a few food and office items that I cannot purchase in Ukraine and I bring back as much as possible.

My last day in America . . . I was scheduled to walk my grandson to the bus at 7:00 AM. During the packing process, I took the house key from my coat pocket and set it on the counter so I would not accidently take it with me. I forgot my warning not to go out of the house without it! Wanting to return with clean laundry, I was still in my pajamas when I walked Micah to his bus. Fortunately I put on my winter coat, scarf and gloves. As we left the house, the door closed, OH NO . . . we were locked out of the house. I did not have makeup on and had not combed my hair. What a mess.

Now what? One of the bus drivers allowed me to use her mobile phone. I called my daughter in order to make arrangements to get back in the house. Fortunately my father was in town and he came to get me. The next forty-five minutes were soooooo . . . cold. I did not have socks on and my legs were bare. When dad showed up, I was so relieved; it took me all day to warm up.

Later that day, we had to pick up my mother from the airport who had spent two weeks in Florida with family. What a day! I planned an orderly and quiet day. These crazy things happen and we can either laugh or cry, it is our choice.

I arrived home on Friday after traveling for twenty six hours. What an experience! At the Minneapolis airport the agents unpacked my carry-on because something showed up as potentially dangerous. I had purchased Celtic Sea Salt on the advice of a doctor. I never realized that it would cause so much trouble. This slowed me up enough that I did not have time to call anyone from the airport.

I flew from Minneapolis to Chicago and then flew to Frankfurt, Germany then onto my final destination; Kiev. In Frankfurt I had to go through two scans, the first one was not a problem. The second one was absolutely humiliating. The wand went off because of a button, hooks, and the buckle on my boots! I tell you, this was the craziest trip of all. However, I was blessed with empty seats next to me the last two planes. The extra seat was wonderful from Chicago to Frankfurt, I was able to stretch out a bit.

Arriving in Kiev, everything was beautifully white and clean. Annessa and Victor, friends from church met me and brought lunch and hot tea, it was a wonderful greeting. They told me it had been snowing for three days in Cherkasy, I was excited to see the snow. The trip from Kiev to Cherkasy is normally about two and a half hours but this trip lasted four hour and a half hours. The roads had not been plowed and were in poor condition with lots of ice and snow on the road.

Arriving in Cherkasy, I was in a state of shock! The snow banks are at least 9 feet high. The buses were not running and the roads are horrible. Victor tried to drive me home, but could not. He had to let me out a block from home and I carried a forty-nine pound suitcase and my twenty pound computer bag through eighteen inches of snow and Annessa carried my carry-on for me. Then we carried the suitcase up three flights of steps. I was exhausted and could hardly find my breath. I had not eaten all day, so I sat down with a cup of coffee and a yogurt. I was glad that my traveling was over for this trip.

Now, the fun begins . . . back to work on Monday. This weekend will be spent organizing everything I brought back with me and I need to shop for groceries. Then when I figure out my problem with the internet, I will notify family and friends that I have arrived!

God bless each of you.
Your humble servant,
Kathy