Mixed Emotions plus Spiritual blessings

I spent the first week of September with a friend praying and fasting. I desperately needed God’s wisdom and guidance. There are major changes occurring for me personally and for the ministry. Personally flowing with the change is ok; but it is much more difficult to uproot a ministry and move it after five years. Yes, I have been in Kyiv for five years this November. Can you believe it?

One of the administrators offered me a ride to my friend’s home. I would normally take a small van for this trip, but it was pleasant to visit and listen to worship music. Several weeks prior to this trip had been very stressful and I had very little peace in my life. During the ride I prayed and thanked God for my dear friends here and the opportunity to serve Him. I asked God to bless my friends and touch their lives abundantly. Little did I know, I would be a recipient of some of these blessings. God continues to surprise me.

Most importantly, God began to fill me with peace, peace that I have not experienced for some time. I know that God is always in control, but I do not ‘feel’ that way sometimes. How about you? I love God dearly and my desire is to serve Him, no matter what. Now, I am experiencing the ‘no matter what’ phase. I am sure you can relate to this experience.

There are so many changes transpiring that my head is spinning with all the details. I have that crazy administrator gifting and I like everything in order! Sometimes this gift can be a detriment. People do not realize I have a lifetime of experience moving and they want to tell me what to do. It is just like people (or us), we always know better than the next person, right? In other words, my way is the only way. I try not to convey this attitude, but sometimes I want to scream ‘I am in charge here, listen to me.’

People react rebelliously to my gifting. They claim I do not know what I am talking about. Ohhhh . . . sometimes, I wish God would sit me in a classroom so I could listen rather than be the teacher.

God blessed me with an overwhelming peace during this quiet time with Him. I am able to think clearly about the necessities that need to be taken care of and the needs of the ministry. Please keep me in your prayers especially during the next two months. A missionary needs prayer continually, but sometimes there is a special need.

I want God’s approval and blessings for the changes that are transpiring. If I am in His will, the ministry will be blessed and grow or change, also! That is a disconcerting thought, is it not? Especially for those of us who have known it to be Dr. Vernette’s work. She did an amazing work here, and the work I am doing is based on her lifetime commitment and obedience to the Lord.
Mom, thank you for being an example of a strong Christian woman.

May God bless each of you and may His face shine upon you.

Busy, busy, and more busy

We had our first administrators meeting of the year Friday; and the last in my current residence! What a contrast! This was a difficult meeting for me. We debated the location of the office and if the college should be handed over to a specific church or union. Of course this was not received well. However, our human nature does not like change and we want to hang out in our own little groups. Am I right? For myself, I dislike change.

We covered the new or updated materials. Luda worked tirelessly on translating the new charts and graphs this last year. I am excited this project is completed. We discussed the new prices and procedures. The new degrees were introduced and the administrators were impressed. One of our administrators worked with an attorney updating the degrees.

Graduation this year will be slightly different. I am unable to attend several services because of the immediate need to find an apartment, pack, and move by the 20th of September. Yes, this came as a surprise, at least so quickly; but as always, I know the Lord will provide.

The last several weeks I planned to go out of town for fasting and praying regarding the ministry for the coming year(s). I spent the last of my money on food for the administrators meeting and the next day was my scheduled date for traveling. I had set aside $50.00 and a friend needed the money for their rent. Even though I did not have money I continued to believe I would be going. I reminded God this was His plan and would have to provide the funds. It always amazes me how God works!

Please pray for me. I need God’s wisdom and patience. I am not sure where to move the office and how to handle the college from this point on. Throughout this situation my emotions run from one extreme to another. One day I want to throw my hands up and say ‘I quit.’ The next moment, I am resolved to stay and stamp on the enemies head! I want to walk in God’s perfect will for my life and the ministry and I covet your prayers.

May God bless each of you and may His face shine upon you.
Kathy

Patience

When you think of patience or a patient person, who do you think of? I think of Abraham. How many years did he wait for his promised son? I believe he waited 25 years. What a great example, right?

Now, we need to ask ourselves; how is our patience? Do we get aggravated when we are waiting to take care of business in the drive through? How about the grocery store checkout line? What is it that aggravates you the most when you are waiting in line?

Next question: what would Jesus do while waiting in line? Have you really thought about it? Jesus said He came to (Isaiah 61 and Luke 4):
• tell everyone the good news
• Comfort those with broken hearts
• Announce freedom to those who are bound
• And set the prisoners free from their prisons

As I see it, our mission field is where we are planted. The people standing next to us in line, who are becoming irritated waiting. A kind word may help soothe that person, or allowing that person to cut in front of you. Are we Jesus’ true examples in everything we do?

This morning, I dreaded having to go to the banks (yes, plural) and take care of business. Last month it took me three hours, to pick up money at one bank and go to another to pay the bills! Can you believe it? This morning as I headed out, I asked the Lord to help me smile at the right people, to say hi, to bless those who really needed it and open a door(s) for the elderly.
God answered my prayer. I was looking for an opportunity to serve Him while completing my own business. What an honor it is to serve our God and Savior. Instead of being frustrated with the wait I was able to look for His opportunities to serve others. By the way, I only waited in line for forty minutes today! Minding God’s business first, made my waiting time seem much shorter and hopefully I was able to bless others today.

Next time you are in line, look for an ‘opportunity’.
God bless you.
Kathy

What Are You Going To Do?

What are you going to do?

As many of you know, I am using this summer to study the Word and write a few more courses for the college. This afternoon I came across the following and found it quite touching. I began thinking about my life and whether or not I impact people for the Lord. There is so much more work to do, I am not qualified, but I am willing.

I cannot take credit for the following, Chuck Missler used it in one of his teachings and he credited his friend for this information. I hope you enjoy the story.

Edward Kimball –who went to a shoe store to speak to one of his Sunday school students
Won the young man to the Lord – the name of this student was . . .

Dwight L. Moody
Dwight was preaching in the British Isles at Meyer’s church
He told of an emotionally charged story of a Sunday school teacher who witnessed to every student in his class and they were all saved

Frederick Brotherton Meyer was inspired to become an evangelist by Moody’s story of the Sunday School teacher.
He visited America several times
One time he preached in Northfield, Massachusetts
He asked ‘if you aren’t willing to give everything to God, then are you willing to be made willing’
This remark affected a confused young pastor in the audience and

J. Wilbur Chapman accepted this call in his life
He became one of them most effective evangelists of his time
A volunteer in Chapman’s ministry watched and learned how to preach from J. Wilbur Chapman, this volunteer was . . .

Billy Sunday
Sunday eventually took over Chapman’s ministry
He became one of the most effective evangelists in the 20th century
His message turned thousands to Christ
Inspired by a 1924 Sunday crusade in Charlotte NC by Sunday, a committee decided to reach their city for Christ, inviting . . .

Mordecai Ham to hold a series of evangelistic meetings
A lanky 16 year old sat in the crowd and was spell bound by the preaching of this white haired preacher
Night after night this lad attended and eventually answered the call of salvation
That teenagers name . . .

Billy Graham – we all know what Billy Graham has accomplished!

Edward Kimball – a nobody, who went to shoe store impacted the world today


Without Him we cannot - Without us, He will not

What do you think?
What are you going to do about it?

God bless you. Kathy

Collecting Stones for Rebuilding the Temple Altar

Collecting Stones for Rebuilding the Temple Altar

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Personal Thoughts

It has been a couple of weeks since I wrote on the blog. I thought I would give you a break from my intense tour of Krakow. I am in Kyiv studying, spending time with God, and enjoying my alone time.

The other day, I visited the Botanical gardens it was a very hot day. I found a couple of paths that were canopied with trees. What a refreshing spot to sit and enjoy the weather and the beautiful gardens. There were many grandmas and grandpas with their grandkids.

During my garden tour, I met two American women who attend a Ukrainian church in New Jersey. It was fun to pray with them and bless them, along with their Ukrainian host family.

I wonder, if I was in America, if I would be as bold about my Christianity as I am here. I guess maybe so, it has become a lifestyle for me.

Traveling to the garden was long and hot. I took one small bus, the Metro, (train) and an electric bus. Wow! It took 90 minutes riding around town. I enjoyed being out and about and away from my intense studying. And visiting the garden is worth the time. I found a less time consuming way home!

Personal reflection:
Krakow has changed me forever. It did not have the same impact as Israel, nonetheless I have changed. I loved Krakow, it is a beautiful city full of rich history. I highly recommend it as a must see!

Auschwitz: it is hard to imagine that a human being could inflict so much pain and agony on another. The trip is very educational, yet so oppressing. I wonder if this type of persecution will be experienced by Christians someday.

I also realized that as many times as Satan has tried to destroy God’s chosen people there is always a remnant that survives. Studying Matthew, the feasts and now doing an in-depth study of the Old Testament, I see all the different attempts to stop the Messiah from coming forth. As Christians, we know the Messiah came and fulfilled the Spring Feasts and will return to fulfill the Fall Feasts. Praise God!

I mentioned that I am making a few personal changes, this week I visited my favorite beautician and had my hair cut and styled. She cut off 8 inches! I could not believe it, don’t worry, I still have hair! It was fun to do something really different for me.

God bless each of you for your faithfulness. Kathy

Tour of Kazimierz, The Ghetto, and Schindler's Factory

Day 4 – Kazimierz, the former Jewish quarter and Schindler’s factory

Today, I woke up as early as ever with the sun shining at 4:30 AM. I finished writing today's blog of yesterday’s journey. Did you get that? I am a day late on the blog.
I will be touring the Kazimierz and The Ghetto today. I have been to both of these places on the little golf cart on Monday. I know three hours of walking our guide will provide more historical details and enlighten me even further.

I want to see the Remuh Synagogue it contains the oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe. This is a photo of the carving over the synagogue door.

I left the hotel at 8:30 this morning. I had to buy a ticket for the tour and I wanted to sit on the Main Square, drink coffee, and relax. I had about 45 minutes to sit and watch people and the busyness of the morning preparing for another day.

I strolled along to our meeting place. I took a few photos of the Square and the small church; waiting for the guide to arrive. Jacek was the same guide as my Tuesday trip: ‘The Royal Route Tour’. He is interesting and extremely knowledgeable. Rebecca was on the tour to Auschwitz yesterday with me. She is a nice young lady from Australia who is traveling throughout Europe on her summer break. There were two mature women from Sweden, it was great fun to listen to them speak Swedish, at one time in my life, I knew a little bit of the language. The married couple was a Jewish couple from New York! He is a Kohen*. This tour turned out to be surprisingly interesting. I talked to everyone and of course, I had tons of questions.

*Today one is considered a Kohen if he is a direct descendant of Aaron, the
brother of Moses! God blessed me once again with a new friendship.

Once again, we had a small and comfortable group. It was another hot day, with a breeze. We walked for three and a half hours, learning about the Jewish district and The Ghetto. There were so many facts, one I found particularly interesting was the small Jewish trading square had two roads leading through it. These roads connected the market square internationally.

There were 60,000 plus Jews living in Krakow pre-WWII. This was one-fifth of the city’s population. There are/were seven main synagogues in the old Jewish Quarter. The Jewish population today is only 200. The synagogues are used as museums and not worship centers.

We visited the memorial for the Ghetto; it is a large squared area that originally was the entrance point to the Ghetto. It is filled with empty chairs, the chairs are oversized. The chairs are symbolic of the Jewish furniture the Germans throughout in the square, while evacuating the Jews to the concentration camps.

The guard house still stands and is used for a flower shop today. Jacek told us that the ghetto was set up in such a manner that when the Jews entered, they realized they were going to die here. Now, I am unclear of all the facts regarding this, but the wall surrounding the ghetto appeared to look like Jewish tombstones. If that does not make one uneasy, I do not know what would.

We were able to go into the Remuh Synagogue. It is a very small synagogue and contains the oldest Jewish cemetery. The cemetery was used between the years of 1500 and 1800’s. The Germans of course desecrated it by using it as a place for garbage. Archaeologists discovered it many years ago and have restored it. Today, you find pebbles which people bring in to honor the dead. This tradition dates back to the time of the Wilderness wanderings.

A commemorative wall has been built surrounding the cemetery. In Jewish cemeteries they use symbols and sayings on the gravestones. Notice the different symbols the artists used in the wall.

The Kohen immediately washed his hands upon exiting the cemetery. He made the comment that he was not supposed to be in there. I did get a few pictures of him enjoying the sites of Kazimierz and The Ghetto.

We also toured Schindler’s factory. They only have a small part of the new museum opened. However, we were able to read the history of Schindler and his factory. I am sure many of you have seen the movie ‘Schindler’s List.’ If not, I would recommend you watch it. We were able to visit the original sites that were used in the movie!

Today was not as emotional as touring Auschwitz, but the reality of what happened has become real. It is no longer just a story or part of history on the other side of the world. I have seen the faces, their homes and where they died. I witnessed photographs of inhuman abuse of one another. I have seen photographs of Soldiers without a care; sending people to their deaths. Even the innocent children died because someone did not like them because of their heritage.

The point is; will this happen to us as Christians someday? Is the world safe or will we face concentration camps in the near future?