Category: Bruce Posts (Page 170 of 211)

Noah's Beach Birthday Party

This morning we jumped in the van and went down to the beach to celebrate Noah’s 4th birthday.  It was the first time we ventured into the Dnepr this year.  It’s not too dirty (yet), and still pretty cold.  It’s great to have this little beach within minutes of the house, even if older people bath in the river sometimes and instead of swimsuits, wear their underwear!

My right (and left) hand, Alyosha

Here’s a picture of Alyosha.  He’s been working with us on construction projects since we moved here.  We’re on our 5th project now, the Cafe, and Alyosha researches and buys all our materials, as well as oversees construction daily.  He’s a good friend to the family now and the kids enjoy seeing him.  His wife Oxana loves to paint and can be found up at Neils in his studio often.   They don’t fellowship with on Sunday’s, but come to many different outreaches / events.

We received $2500 from Crossroads toward the Cafe this week!  We don’t know who gave, but we thank God for the funds, we need them as we’ve been going week to week hoping for an infusion of cash to buy some larger materials.   We’re going to be framing up the kitchen counters soon, as well as installing all the electrical now that the floors are complete.  We need around $20k more toward materials I suspect to finish the downstairs enough to open.

Please continue to pray for Dan.  Tomorrow he goes to Kiev to see some more doctors and they are having to make some tough decisions regarding surgery potentially.  Thankfully his health seems to have returned along with his speech returning to normal.  Pray for his wife Priscilla, who is carrying a lot on her shoulders through this.

I thought this little video was a cute ‘insider’ look of the life of Noah (shot by Brent, somehow on my phone.. they must have cracked my password!).  Noah is rarely found out of character.. I think he’s being Sonic here.

Thanks for checking in,

Bruce & Deb

Was great to Skype in once again to our church in Texas. We are so appreciative of having a caring, loving community of believers that support us and value what is happening for the Kingdom in this part of the world.

We have continued to meet with some of the students from the men’s retreat 3 weeks ago, as well as meeting with new students weekly in a variety of ‘formats’. The new believers have been reading their bibles, as well as meeting with Dan in a more personal environment to ask questions (they’ve had a lot too!) and grow in their faith.

For the past 2 Sunday evenings we’ve opened our home to the students to come and hang out. We were originally thinking the guys from the retreat would come, however many of them go home on the weekend. Instead, we’ve had a good group of new students, some we know, some we are just meeting. About 10-13 of them have come, we’ve watched some videos (Passion-Louie Gilgio translated into Russian), eaten hot dogs, played some games, and been able to share the gospel in a very down to earth, challenging format. I believe we are seeing some hearts open up for the first time to the gospel, and it’s just too bad that school is about to close down next week and many of these guys will be heading off to different villages. It’s going to be a neat fall, building so many new relationships and momentum with these young men, they are hungry, they are open for truth that is being lived out, and we are simply loving these guys with the love of God.

I can’t remember the last time I have shared the basic gospel message so frequently as this past month. It’s been so wonderful to remember myself the basics of God’s great love and plan for salvation through Christ. I love God more because I’ve been literally daily thinking upon the gospel, it’s a message for me today as much as it was 20 some years ago when I gave my life in surrender to Him. I thank God for the privilege, along with my Ukrainian brothers and missionaries here that we are being given this great opportunity to sow eternal seeds into open fields right now, and ask that you pray with us that these fields remain open, and that we remain faithful moving forward… because the fields are truly ripe for harvest, and God is not willing that any would continue a life lived without knowing Him.

Please pray for Dan. This past week he had another minor stroke. I’m not sure if there is such a thing as ‘minor’ when it comes to your heart. He is in stable condition, although his motor skills are a bit sluggish. He has been to the clinic in Kiev, and I believe to be getting good medical attention (though at home and under house arrest.. to rest!). The body needs this brother, not to mention his wife and 4 growing kids, pray as well for the Gollan family.

This week a precious couple in our church is getting hitched. Sergei and Lena will be married on Saturday, lots of last minute preparation going on. Deb is the official driver, I’m running sound with Tom, and playing a Ukrainian love song with Tanya and Larissa. Sergei Susidko is the preacher man, doing his first wedding I think. Cheryl is heading up decorations, so many people doing lots of things, there will be several families there from both sides that don’t know Christ, we are praying that we will all be a light for Him during this event. Sergei (getting married) is a local policeman with our town, but unfortunately can’t help us with our continual (all foreigners) road police problems, it seems every week someone is getting into document or ticket issues with these road bandits and their magic sticks.

Kids have planted some things in the garden. We just finished today planting about 150 sweet corn seeds, have another 100 or so left, but it was too hot out there! I’m used to air conditioned tractors, this real farming is not easy stuff, especially when you’re stupid enough to do it in the middle of the afternoon. I planted it today in tribute to my dad, who is at present unable to plant his several 1000’s acres of corn because of too much rain. This was for you dad!

Thanks for checking in, and especially for praying with us. Our battle together is a spiritual one, and our weapons are not of this world.

Bruce & Deb

Today, through another series of events that look like the handy work of our loving God, we confirmed one of the boys (remaining nameless for obvious reasons) who entered out stole things from our house yesterday (we did find some things missing after all) is from a family that the Child Services department is monitoring. They have been considering taking this child from the parents, who are neglecting his basic needs. The young boy was missing for 3 days recently, only to be found in another town. We don’t have much information, but what we know grieves our hearts.

We want to walk in obedience to God through this, and appreciate your prayer as we visit with the Child Service people this week, and determine if there is anything our family in particular can do to help. We have a good relationship with the town social workers, and we hope our involvement will only encourage some changes in a positive way. I publish this not as news update, I sincerely ask those of you that read this blog to spend a few minutes asking God for wisdom on our behalf, to be His hands and feet in a delicate situation that needs attention for the sake of the boy and the parents. God is a God of hope, and we feel God would like to insert Himself into this broken home and into their hearts. It won’t happen without your prayer support and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Sincerely,
Bruce & Deb

We have had a series of ‘unfortunate events’ recently relating to thievery around our property and in our house. With the dozens upon dozens of various neighborhood kids playing in our backyard, it’s been hard to nail down who are the guilty parties. We have been growing in genuine love for these kids, many of them ‘returnees’ from last summer. It’s disappointing that a few are giving way to temptation of this magnitude, today we returned to find out while we were in Kiev, some boys broke into our house.

We haven’t found anything missing on this particular instance, and material ‘things’ aren’t what we are asking for prayer about. Through a series of ‘fortunate’ events we have, we believe, narrowed the escapades from the past few weeks down to two little dudes. The two families represented need the Lord. One family is extremely poor, and has 15 children, they are not Christians. The second family the parents are alcoholics, and we’re told encourage (perhaps even force) their son to steal, sell at the market quickly and furnish them with money for their drinking.

While we don’t see the human heart, it’s motives nor understand perfectly the situation, we do need to address this. We plan to visit both families this week in an attempt to reach out to these families. I am not angry, nor is Deb upset. We both feel a sense of sorrow over the condition of these families, who represent more than likely more Ukrainian families today than we realize. Only God can change the human heart, rescue from sin and give new life. We want our God to show up in this situation, not to scare kids away, but use it draw them in even more.. as friends and not thieves.

Thank you for your prayers!
Bruce & Deb