Category: Bruce Posts (Page 156 of 211)

We finally finished submitting (for the 5th time) my Residence application for Ukraine.  However, we now have to leave the country by the 21st of May and get new Visas again.  The closest and most familiar spot for us is Krakow, Poland.  It has a KFC, so we don’t mind going.

Before we can go to Poland however we have this little thing called a newborn baby that can’t leave Ukraine yet!  So, Natasha is running around helping us get the necessary invitations and paperwork ready for our departure in a few weeks, and we need you to pray with us that Abbey’s passport is completed by then.. we’ll be in a bit of a pickle if it’s not.

We have so many documents and submissions going on right now between the Cafe business and our own personal, it sometimes feels like a full time occupation.  Money for this, chocolates for that person, welcome to Ukraine.

A friend of mine posted this cute little video on Ukraine last week, I’ve posted it before, but if you haven’t watched it, do, it’s a very accurate, lighthearted and creative depiction of life in the former Soviet Union.  For me, it’s therapeutic.

I read a few quotes today that provoked some new thoughts. Thought someone out there might enjoy them as well:)

Everyone is busy, to varying degrees even stressed under the burdens of this life. If we’re not battling some external issues in our life, we’re continually challenged by desire for more spiritual growth and the unwillingness of our flesh.

Enter this thought. When we ‘play’, we are engaged in something divine and even designed from the character of God. I’ve been so focused on work lately, on ‘production’ that I’ve been neglecting the joys of play. Obviously the one who plays too much runs the risk of being neglectful of God given duties, but I wonder if we also risk missing God’s design when we don’t take time to enjoy what is all around us, especially those we love the most in the context of playing.

Consider these quotes –

“God plays. God creates playing. And man should play if he is to live as humanly as possible and to know reality, since it is created by God’s playfulness.” Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica

“When I play a game well, I have for that limited period of time an experience of the body’s resurrection. For there is no hint of a dualism between mind and body with either of them trying to oppress or bully the other. I bring to the game my total undivided self.”H.A.Williams, True Resurrection

“Play is one of our highest callings as Christians. So much else in our lives is properly taken in doing things – things we do to change things, things we do in order that something else may happen. But in play we are not seeking to change anything, nor are we seeking something beyond. We are simply being at home in the world and at peace with God.” Paul Marshall, Heaven Is Not My Home

This morning we gathered at 5:30am to celebrate the resurrection together along the gorgeous Dnepr River in our hometown of RZ Ukraine. Today was overcast, casting a shadow on my creative sunrise video efforts but here you go anyway:)

In Russian/Ukrainian Orthodox tradition, everyone greets one another during this day with “Christ Has Risen!” or “Христос воскрес!” The one greeted then responds with “Truly He Has Risen!” or “Воистину воскрес!”. In the video, the Ukrainian believers (and some missionaries) are responding with the later.

Bruce & Deborah Crowe
Missionaries | Rzhyshchiv, Ukraine
www.liftupyoureyes.org

Street view of new Lighthouse Cafe in Ukraine

This is from 4/13/12 showing the view just outside the new Lighthouse Cafe front door. We have an amazing location for both serving the public with great coffee and pizza (only pizza in town!) and being a visible light for the gospel in our town.

I like these time-lapsed videos, get used to them 🙂 It’s only :45 seconds so take a look!

We’re also considering a summer light construction trip to build out the front deck and some landscaping help if you are interested pray about it. Details to come.

Bruce & Deborah Crowe
Missionaries | Rzhyshchiv, Ukraine