(To download a pdf file click here)
MONDAY, JULY 10, 2023 — DESTINATION KIEV
KIEV
What a great experience.
“HAVE A GREAT DAY!”
We spent our time in the central district passing out tracts. Every time someone took one of the tracts I would tell them to have a great day.
Sometimes I reminded them that failing grades were not acceptable. (SMILE!)
INTERESTING
In Kiev we ran out of the tracts that I brought to Ukraine. While there we started using other stuff. Ten thousand was not enough.
TEST YOURSELF!
As we passed out the tract “Are You An Intelligent Person? Test Yourself” people sometimes sit down with their friends, take out a pen, and begin working their way through the booklet, testing themselves.
Olexander
He was passing by and stopped. His eyes were bright with wonder and asked, “What is this?” I told him it was good news, the Gospel. He responded by saying, “I got saved!”
That surprised me, to say the least. I said, “tell me about it.”
He said three years ago he was a drug addict. All of his thoughts were on suicide. He didn’t see the usefulness of living.
Then he went to a rehab center. They helped him get off the drugs and they taught him scripture.
I encouraged him saying, “this is a great testimony, tell me more.”
He continued saying after a year in the center he repented and trusted Christ as his Savior. After another year in the center he was baptized.
I kept encouraging him to tell me more.
By this time he was quoting scripture, preaching to me, telling me that Jesus is a wonderful Savior.
Then I told him how important it is for him to share his testimony every time he has the opportunity.
THE RENTED CAR
This was such a blessing to me while in Ukraine. However, there were a few drawbacks.
On the second day I was stopped for going too fast. I really didn’t see the sign that the speed limit had dropped but that didn’t change things.
The policeman expected me to have an International Driving Permit. I told him I was here last summer and didn’t need one at that time. He said things had changed and wrote me up. The fine was almost $100.
I paid the fine but decided I should study the road signs so as not to pay more fines along the way.
Frustrations in parking
Parking was also questionable. I parallel parked along one street in Zhitomer. I was at least two car links away from a handicap parking sign. Evidently not far enough. Frustrating.
One day in Kiev I was looking for a place to park and found a place to parallel park. To make sure the car was parked legally I looked at the car in front of me and the car behind me. Both had parking tickets under the wiper blades so I moved the car.
I found another place and was absolutely certain, according to the signs, I parked legally. However, a parking cop came out and started
taking pictures of some vehicles around where I was parked.
I approached and talked with him about my parking spot. He said it was legal and he wouldn’t fine me. But he wouldn’t be surprised if someone else fined me. I argued with him about their tactics.
Most of the time when parking I would drop a pin so I could find the car. The hassles of parking, reparking, and arguing with the parking police and I didn’t drop a pin. I looked for the car for almost two hours when we were ready to leave.
That was frustrating. I scolded myself but finally decided I was where I was supposed to be, doing what needed to be done. This was part of it.
Frank and I separated. He found the car much sooner than I did and sent me a message. I didn’t receive it until I found the car. However, while Frank was waiting on me to find the car he was able to witness to a man. It wouldn’t have been possible if we simply jumped in the car after evangelism.
DESTINATION BEREHOVE, UKRAINE — JULY 17, 2023
VODAFON
On the way to Berehove, before we got to the town of Rivne my phone quit responding. When we got to the town I told Frank to look for a Vodafon along the city street so I could take care of my phone issues. We both looked to no avail.
I pulled over and parallel parked in city center. I stepped out of the car to look around. Directly across the street from where I parked was a Vodafone. God met my need in a spectacular way. I was both surprised and grateful.
PROPHETS CHAMBER
My pastor in Russia is from Ukraine and has a large family. While I was in Berehove, before I left to go to Odesa and Kiev, his sister called me.
Her name is Olena and she invited me to her house in Mukachevo, Ukraine. She and her husband Andrei live in the Czeck Republic but are building a house in this town.
I have met many in Misha’s immediate family and they all have been so good to me. They prepared a nice meal for me and showed me around their place. They offered me a “prophets chamber” as long as I am in the area. I am so grateful.
STEPAN
Andrei introduced me to Stepan. He takes care of their place in their absence. He told me I would get the keys from him. He also said, “He’s a good brother, a believer. He printed and distributed Bibles during the Soviet Union.”
They returned to the Czech Republic while I was still roaming the countryside. Stepan made sure I was familiar with the house and gave me the keys.
I recently met up with him again and asked him about printing Bibles. He answered with a flick of the wrist as if it was no big deal.
“Oh that,” he says. “That was a basement deal. We had to do everything we could to keep it a secret. We would print Bibles and then load our truck to take produce to Moldova. Under the produce were the Bibles we printed. There were five of us. We did it from 86-88, until the KGB killed the main guy in a fabricated auto accident.”
He said he was born in 1964 and was still a young man without a family and without obligations. So he was free to do as he pleased.
I asked him if his parents were believers. He said yes. The Gospel came to them from the states in 1950. They accepted it and lived with the consequences.
I asked him if he still went to church. He said yes, they have the same small church as they did back in the day. He said it seems like it is not so impressive as churches today.
He also said freedom has demanded its price. And that few today would take the risks or pay the price to advance the Gospel under threat of death.
I enjoyed my visit with him and felt like I was granted the opportunity to fellowship with a true hero of the faith.
Thank you, Stepan, for your courage to advance the Gospel in Soviet Russia.
