Category: Bruce Posts (Page 146 of 211)

A happy 11th birthday to Brent! All week I thought he was turning 12 so I’m delighted to get that year back. We’re very proud of him. He’s had the most challenging of the three entering Ukrainian public school this year. His attitude has been sensational in light of the language barrier and challenges with his math. We celebrated tonight, my Mom is in town and treating us to daily meals, cleaning and watching Abbey.

This morning we had our monthly men’s breakfast at the Cafe. We then headed to the boys school where we played with some of the kids staying there. We’re trying to not call them orphans, because they legally aren’t. However if they do have a living parent, they have been stripped of their legal rights and are in a government program. There are a few kids there that might as well be orphans, the parents make little effort to visit, and are in no shape to provide care. The challenge for these particular kids is that they are only permitted to stay at this local ‘orphanage’ for 1yr, and then if their family situation doesn’t meet the requirements, they will be shipped off to a full orphanage where their hopes of a healthy life greatly diminish.

Us after Russian Classes - thankful for our teacher!!

I’m proud of my daughter Bronwyn who has been a big sister to a few of the younger girls. Their eyes light up when they see her, and give her hugs. They’ve been making beads and crafts. We’ve been playing road hockey, these little Ukrainians make for some good hockey players. My boys play as well so we have a full out game. We furnished some of the kids in need with shoes, and the remaining we donated the rest of the money supplied from last month for those still lacking. We really like the director and her assistant and the relationship there is key to the liberty to love these kids and invest into them.

Pricing out the options in Kiev for dishes

Tomorrow we get to Skype our church family at Crossroads. It’s a monthly blessing to see old (cough) faces and enjoy a few minutes with them over the big screens. This Skype we’ll be doing from the Cafe! We’re going to show folks around and have a few friends that we’re serving with there too. We’ve raised about $3,200 so far on the Tables & Chairs and this week met with the local guy who is going to help us get those in place. Our goal is $4,000 so we’re very thankful to be so close! The next thing to raise is kitchen supplies, cutlery, dishes, cups.. we need $2,000 for this, then we’ll have everything in place to open except for some documents which we’re told should be 1-2 months. We still could open before the end of the year, that’s our goal at this point.

It’s starting to get chilly!  We’re trying to winterize ahead of time this year.  Tucker here is cleaning windows, you can see our new exterior insulation/rendered.. we finished one wall on our house this fall.. the cold side.  Hope it helps!

Thanks for checking in!

Bruce & Deborah

Last week I wrote of a meeting several of us had with a director at one of the local technical colleges. This particularly college has around 350 students that study agriculture, cooking and driving (larger trucks and machinery). The directors met and agreed to allow a room fro 3hrs each week!

This is no small update as we were transparent with our desire to promote Christ, and build relationships with students for the purpose of giving hope in God, elevating Christian ethics and teaching practical skills. Shane and Jemimah will be leading this ministry and we ask you to pray for them as they prepare for the first meetings and the students that God would allow investment into.

May God continue to give us favor in that school, and walk in wisdom with this tremendous opportunity.

We believe the combination of on-campus ministry, and the eventual opening of the Cafe will be a very effective one-two punch for advancing God’s heart in our town, especially among the next generation.

Bruce & Deborah

Two weeks ago we sent out a request to help us raise $4,000 towards tables and chairs for the new Lighthouse Cafe & Ministry Center we are building.  We received more gifts this week, only $900 to go! Thank you to everyone that has given thus far. We’ve had family from Canada, friends in Texas, even some people that we’ve never met give!

If you’d like to join in and help us chip away at this $900 remaining, please use this widget below or if you are on a Mobile device the DONATE button below.  For any that have visited our town, you can testify to the amazing opportunity before us to impact many lives for God – we believe this Cafe will be a catalyst for the Kingdom of God in our area.

Mobile Users use this below –

Remember all donations are tax deduct-able, and no amount is too small.  Give with joy and without compulsion:)

A big thanks from our family for your support and prayers.
Bruce & Deb

Fall is here and the apples are falling.  Our baby Abbey is 5 1/2 months old and a joy to us. The kids are entering their 3rd week of school in Kuzmenci. We’re not sure how they are doing but one things for sure, it’s an adjustment for everyone. Poor Deb has spent at least 5 full days in doctors offices around the area, been yelled at and generally treated like an ignoramus for refusing the shots they offer (not required by law). Our kids have now had psychiatric evaluations to add to the list, and still need a few more signatures to allow them to do physical exercise..

It’s political season here in Ukraine as well leading up to the October elections. This week I was approached by a local representative of a conservative party UDAR that is gaining ground here led by the reigning WBC Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitchko. He is also running for Mayor of Kiev. They want to hang a banner outside our Cafe, they realize our location is great, right in front of the bus station. I’m still considering it, and asking around locally to get a feel for any potential backlash. It’s not like putting a sign in your yard in the US, there are real considerations to be had particularly for foreigners. Real change however won’t come from being silent, especially in this environment of intimidation. The party does have Christian influence and financial backing from outside Ukraine. As far as I can tell is the only one campaigning on morality and ethics specifically. Klitchko is supposed to be stopping around our town in October.. if I had a sign up maybe he’d come in for some coffee, I would love to meet and grab a shot of him pretending to punch me!

Speaking of the Cafe, last night I was reminded just how invaluable having a place downtown will be in our effort to be salt and light in this community. Celebrating it’s 841 birthday, Rzhyshchiv was once again downtown lighting fireworks, selling popcorn and шашлык. Don’t forget the blaring music from their outdoor stage, they love to really crank it. It seems this town is becoming more of a party town in the summer. We like to stroll down with the kids and be a part of the community more, recognizing friends and sharing a quick chat with folks. Yet, there’s nowhere to go and sit for a coffee, only alcohol and the youth are found walking around each with beer in hand. It’s a sad reality that most of these young people will grow up all too familiar with alcoholism, a wasted life. The town tries to look the part of a happy community with it’s many growing festival. When I go down there during these events I leave hurting inside, the broken heart of God for all those that settle for a life without Him!

Click here for short clip of last night’s festivities

Tomorrow my mom is coming for a visit! We’re all very excited to see her and receive her acts of service:) My dad won’t be coming this visit, he’s busy farming.

Our four school boyz looking dapper.

Russian lessons have been wonderful! Nine of us have been enjoying Irina’s classes every Tuesday and Friday at the Cafe. She travels from Kiev on the bus each time, it’s quite a day for her but so far I think she’s enjoying it too. The challenge is for October she may not be able to continue coming down twice per month, we’re hoping she can at least continue them at some level, she’s an amazing teacher and we’re all gaining ground.. Lord God please keep us progressing! We’re all studying again, flash cards all around the house, kids and parents, let’s go!

Deb and the ladies hosted their wives meeting at the Cafe yesterday. They only had 10 ladies come, and I believe all were Christians. A bit disappointed that more didn’t come but Deb said they all had a good time and will start planning for the next one.

The Orphanage in Kuzmenci just received 3 more kids. Interestingly they are children that Tom was picking up and bringing to Sunday school for a while. Their parents have been forced to enter a 1yr treatment program for drinking and the kids were taken away. They are also in school there with our kids, and in Clark and Brents class I believe. We’ll be hanging out with the kids there next weekend and continuing to love on them, and practice Russian. We’ve delivered two pairs of shoes but still need to get 2 more pair (for those that gave thank you!!).

Thanks for checking in-
Bruce & Deb