Category: Bruce Posts (Page 111 of 211)

Arrived safely yesterday.  Kids and baby did wonderfully well on flights.  If only they made personal bassinets for us adults to sleep in!

The weather here feels like early spring, not a spot of snow to be seen. A stark contrast from the Canadian winter wonderland we left, but we’ll take it!

It’s always neat to see the kids reaction to ‘returning home’.  Overall the attitudes have been very positive, particularly among the little ones.  Noah had undressed and dressed into 5 different superhero costumes within the first hour.   We had immediate guests and neighbors visit to help us stay awake just a little longer.

While away we had Shane and Jemimah Paxa taking care of our place and also helping manage the Cafe.   Thankful for folks we can entrust – allowing us to not worry about stuff while away.

Today is Tucker’s 12th birthday.  We will attempt to find the ingredients to make a cake.

This morning Claire decided to say ‘dada’ for about 5 minutes straight.

Praying for a quick adjustment to time change, and for some wisdom in a few areas of ministry/business.  The dollar value/ratio has really taken a beating the past few weeks and months – our Cafe prices must change immediately, and will be felt unfortunately but this is the economy we must move with.

Lord guide us and grant grace needed to follow your leading – and with your heart in ours!

Thank you for all those who’ve prayed for our safety and journey over the past two months.  We so enjoyed connecting with everyone – our family was encouraged, refreshed and energized for what our God wants to do through our lives and in this area of the world.  Our kids saw the Kingdom of God, the varieties of fellowship, communities, worship – they saw God is as work, and filling His people with passion for Him and those around us.  Invaluable!

Connecting again soon with more on the group coming to minister in April, and specific areas to pray with us about!

Bruce & Deb

 

As we prepare to return to Ukraine in two weeks, our hearts are heavy with the reality of what we will return to.  The war has escalated, more lives are being lost, and the country is hemorrhaging economically.

Two years ago, we embarked on the purchase and renovation of what is now the Lighthouse Cafe.  At worst, we prepared for slow growth and temporary outside support as we got on our feet.   At best, we hoped coffee and food sales would cover our monthly expenses with a small profit to ear-mark for outreach and community involvement.

Before we were able to open, much changed.  The revolution on Maiden ushered the country into a state of economic and political instability.  What little foreign investment Ukraine was enjoying all but ceased as the government began top down reform.  The fragile and antiquated economic engines in Ukraine strained as sanctions, both from the East and West (intended for Russia) has driven the country to the brink of economic collapse.

For a bit more perspective, Ukrainians already make on average less than the equivalent of $300/mo in our town.  Police, school teachers, firemen, etc. eat from their gardens and live on bare necessities.  It is not uncommon for families and pensioners to buy half loaves of bread, literally existing one day at a time.   Unemployment is astounding – nobody truly knows the % out of work, but it’s higher than 30% in my estimation.

Buying a cup of quality coffee is a luxury for most, and one that we provide as inexpensively as possible – averaging around $1 per item on our menu.

Ultimately, the economic situation in Ukraine, and the inability to get the gas company to do their job (so we can sell pizza) has altered the financial trajectory and ministry plans for this year.  For the 4yrs prior, the Ukrainian currency (Hrvnya) hovered at 8:1 to the US dollar.    Over the past year, and specifically past months, embattled in war and with no significant economic reforms to help business, the Hrvnya now sits at 26:1 !  Imagine for a moment what this would look like in any western nation if the currency lost over 3x’s its value in less than a year?   This means our costs have and will continue to rise for coffee, milk, utilities and staff.

What was already an enormous challenge for the Cafe as a business before the revolution is now an impossibility in the short term without financial partners.  Yet conversely, never before has there been the opportunity to shine and provide such a haven for our community. 

Double-edged sword!  We are so thankful that we are in Ukraine for such a time as this, yet the needs are greater than we can handle on our own.  Even though the Cafe has taken off, embraced by the community and we receive a steady flow of daily traffic and many loyal customers, we are forced to keep prices at cost or below in some cases or the place will be empty.

To make matters worse, many men are now serving, by draft or volunteer, in the army. They reluctantly leave behind wives and children to survive on their own, with irregular and dismal army stipends.   The Cafe donated (through our home church in Texas) food packages to families who have a loved one serving in our town.   So many avenues to help and be the hands and feet of Christ.  We want to serve so much more than coffee!

We also have many students that frequent the Cafe, an estimated 60% of our customers are under the age of 20.   These students have very little discretionary income, especially the younger kids who often come with no money at all, just to sit with friends and huddle around a gadget.    We provide younger kids with popcorn and occasional free hot drinks – we love to lose money on these kingdom treasures:)  We must keep the doors open for these guys, and continue to invest in relationships for the long haul.

These are just some of the factors in play for us as we consider both the short and long term sustainability of the Cafe.   Our ultimate passion and vision for the Cafe has not changed.

Besides providing a warm and clean place with great coffee, our primary objective in all things is – “To shine the Light of Jesus Christ” – He is the Light to every nation and we give him this facility to guide in the coming year!

The Challenge: We are currently needing between $500-750 per month to keep the Lighthouse Cafe open through this next year.  We believe this will be a temporary need to weather this economic storm.   As Ukraine stabilizes, we believe we can self sustain – but we don’t know how long that will take.

Our Request: We need a handful of partners (individuals, families, churches or businesses) to contribute towards the Cafe specifically.  It can be a one time gift of any amount, or monthly regular contribution.  Any amount will help, and all will be invested into the Cafe and ministry efforts this year!

I’d love to see, for example, 25 partners giving $25/mo –

How to Help:

A) You can give online, on this site by clicking on DONATE*we use paypal, which accepts all major credit cards – and if you have a free Paypal account you can also setup recurring giving (eg. $25/mo).

B) You can send tax-receipted donations by check to:

Crossroads Community Church

Memo: Ukraine – Lighthouse Cafe
1400 East Loop 281
Longview, TX 75605

C) If you’d like to talk in more detail about any of our projects and needs, I’d be happy to call you personally.

Thank you for taking the time to read and pray about this challenge.

We were so encouraged during our travels this past month and believe God is going to provide – but I know we must do our part to humbly communicate and ask the family of God.  I enjoy raising support for others, but do not find pleasure when it pertains to our own efforts as much – I do believe, however, in the viability and sustainability of this work, and future discipleship that will take place in and out of the property – we’re just in a very precarious season and need money to keep moving forward.

Bruce & Deborah

We returned this Saturday from our US Adventure.  The kids are busy writing papers on the trip, their perspective and things they learned.  One of the highlights for me was introducing our children, especially the older one’s, to more of our spiritual heritage.   We all are on a spiritual journey, and the longer we’re on it, the more obvious relationships are of essential importance.

The kids received hugs and love from passionate Jesus followers wherever went.  This increased their faith and hope that God is alive and at work in this world.

We were able to worship, pray with, and hang out with believers from 6 states.  Reconnecting with family in Florida will be a lifetime memory.

God opened doors for a team to join us in April, and possibly another one in June.  We met with several churches and groups, and had an article printed in the Kilgore News-Herald – click here to read it http://www.kilgorenewsherald.com/news/2015-01-14/Front_Page/OPEN_FOR_BUSINESS.html

Later this week we’ll be posting some more information on the team coming, as well as the vision God has placed on our heart for discipleship this year – and some opportunities to join with us.  We are embarking on some larger faith steps, and need the body of Christ!  The situation in Ukraine is worsening, however we believe God is orchestrating his gospel to move forward and shine it’s grace and hope upon hearts.

Sharing tonight at Men’s Group, then this Friday Deb and I will be sharing to couples at an event with Emmanuel Baptist – contact us for more information, we’d love to see you there!!

Bruce & Deb

It’s with mixed emotions we continued our adventure, leaving Texas this morning.  Our past 10 days have been filled to the brim with meeting new folks, connecting with old friends.  I only wish we had more time – several intended visits.. ran out of time.

A few highlights included sharing with Crossroads body (and new connections!), taking our kids to an amazing Museum in Dallas, our Dallas Stars game with the guys from our business, and our last evening with Bo and Beth (got another steak in!).   We received some neat times of prayer as well, nothing like several dozen folks laying hands on you and lifting up the continued work in Ukraine, and the country itself in these trying times.  We’re hopeful this year, in spite of the war and political tensions, to host at least one short term trip this summer.  It’s clear that more folks are interested in greater levels of involvement, even to moving over for a season – that’s an encouraging sign.

We’re now in New Orleans, having stopped for a visit at Duck Commander, and our dear cajun Mom & Dad, Pete and Kathy Simoneaux.   For 2 yrs we lived on the Bayou in south Louisiana.. 16-18 or so years ago.. I can’t even remember.  It is so neat to reconnect with those in the faith, God has been so faithful to us all.  I look forward to eternity when I think of these sweet folks.  Hopefully God makes them cook there.

Our plans are to continue on tomorrow after another quick visit in the city with another old friend, then onto Florida.. destination – Boca Raton, where Deb’s brother’s family – cousins that haven’t met, a reunion Deb is especially looking forward to.  I too am excited to have a few days of rest after the past few weeks.   We’ve been gone now almost 20 days, living out of suitcases..  but overall been very cool experience.

The Cafe continues to be open daily in Ukraine.  Thankful for Shane who is manning the ‘management’ side of things in my stead.  Still frustratingly dealing with ridiculous billing procedures, and a gas company that hasn’t turn the gas on – but things are progressing.  We do need sales to climb back up, we’re in a post Christmas (Jan 7) and New Year lull.. it’s all new for us.

A few items to pray for :

– continued safety mercies/safety.  So far no issues, van working great, and good conditions.

– couple possible meetings in Jacksonville, FL, as well as connecting with a few friends next week – but nothing like Texas.. just a couple things I pray will be a blessing to folks.

– YWAM is coming to Lighthouse in April!!  A DTS outreach will be partnering with us to see some cool things take place in our area and other parts of Ukraine.  I believe God is at work in this, and the way it has come together is really neat.  Pray with us for God to work this all out in the coming weeks.

– Feb 13 event in Canada at Emmanuel Church – Deb and I will be sharing and the main thrust is to reach some folks that maybe wouldn’t normally darken the doors of a church.  Pray as it gets advertised more that God draws people to this event so we can share our story, some practical tips, but mostly the love of God in the gospel!

Praise Note – This past week while in Texas, a ministry that serves the Persecuted Church in hostile areas of the world, contacted me to discuss a project.  It was a project that we had originally declined on 6 months ago, because our company (Cypress) was trimming back and not taking on any new projects.  Long story short, we are moving ahead and the guys from Texas will be producing a site for this ministry.   I’m thankful that though we passed on it, they continued to pursue us and it now is perfect timing for both parties.  It’s cool how God works like that.

Thanks for checking in,

Bruce