Category: Bruce Posts (Page 185 of 211)

Decompressing.  Unpacking a pretty special evening two nights ago in Kiev.  Passion returned to Kiev for a night of energetic worship, attracting close to 7,000 young college age kids from around the region.  There were groups represented from Belarus, Moldova, and Russia as well.   Our group packed into 5 vehicles (60) and ventured to the big city.  Three hours of Christ-centered lyrics, a simple but powerful message by Louie Giglio.

Tonight we invited the group to hang out at my place, passed out invitations, going to drive to one of the local colleges and see if anyone wants a ride (I don’t think any of them have vehicles plus they don’t know where I live).  Nobody could show up, 20 could show up.  One thing I do know however is that seeds were scattered, and we have been praying for their hearts to respond.  An entire generation walks around this town oblivious to God that created them, has designed purpose for their lives, and loves them more passionately than we can imagine.  We caught a glimpse of that at Passion, and I pray it continues to mature in our hearts as a church – we are not here for our own pleasure, but for the glory of our Great God!

We are very close to signing on property downtown.  The seller has agreed to a price, we like the location and property… and a few signatures/stamps remain that could be cleared up within a week!  Tomorrow we will know more as we meet and comb through the documents, but thank you for praying and believing God with us.  More than ever we are convinced that God is directing this, He is providing the laborers to run it, the funds to build it, the teams to partner with us during construction and the community perfectly situated with all these young people to invest into for Jesus Christ.  Lighthouse Cafe, a multipurpose ministry center to promote passionate obedience to the God who deserves our all.  I have a hard time concentrating on this one, because my heart wants to start looking at more communities and build 50 of them.  I’m convinced the ‘church’ needs to get out of their buildings, re-invent their witness to be something relevant, in the marketplace, in the community… we need an evangelistic edge, unsettled with routine and incubation.  We need to be uncomfortable, regularly ‘out there’ doing stuff that requires faith and God to do the heavy lifting.

As I type this, I hear the banging of a basketball outside my office door, and children squealing with delight on the trampoline.  Every day, for about two weeks, we’ve had an incredible amount of kids playing at our house.  Our 6 kids aside, we’ve had 10-15 in/out during the day playing all over the place.  There’s a lack of public playground here, actually I only know of one outside of the police station which is only for toddlers.  It’s our third summer here, but it feels like the first summer where we could enjoy the kids and not feel overwhelmed with other things.  Deb and I find it amusing and a joy to have them encircling our house 12hrs per day.   If you ever move to a foreign country, take a trampoline, seriously, it will be your most successful ministry outreach without fail.  We’ve even had parents coming and wandering around trying to find their kids.  We now know more of our neighbors as a result.. they can’t get their kids to come home!

Next week we have the Ireland group coming, it should be a wild week of cooking and building.  Neils house is coming along quickly now, sheet rock/mud/tape and garage being built.  I think they will be in it by June at this pace.. if he doesn’t run out of money first ha… actually that’s not funny.

Thanks for checking in –

Bruce & Deb

This little picture of Noah at the market reminds me of new life.  Yesterday I meandered through our little orchard, we have about 7 fruit trees.  I actually have no idea which is which, some grow apples, some nuts.  After a long hard winter, these trees looked like dried up kindling.  It’s amazing to consider that life still resides in that dead looking thing.  Sure enough, we are seeing little buds, flowers, and bees racing around gathering whatever they gather.  Everywhere you look, the color of life is returning to creation.  It’s more spectacular than any CGI hollywood movie, we can’t recreate this from scratch, it just happens, and declares God’s glory.

God wants me to bear fruit, good fruit that reflects His nature.  Kindness, gentleness, love, forbearance, patience.. I think I often look like those dead trees.  How often can you see God’s grace in my life, sprouting out and bearing reflection of God’s character?  I’m thankful today for mercy.  That God is patient with me, that He has deposited life in me that grows, and keeps working on the inside even when it isn’t obvious on the outside yet.

Busy week, appreciate prayer for continued property searching downtown.  We also have a gentleman from Ireland coming to make sure their construction week is prepared for, house still packed full of N&N’s boxes.  Getting ready for Passion, 53 signed up and ready to hear from God!

Bruce & Deb

For friends and family that haven’t visited Ukraine (most of you!), thought a little video tour would be nice.  These are the main roads that I drive in town, if you like them, I’ll take some more:)

[Brent looking suave while Broderic poses at a skate park in Kiev]

Random Bullet Update:

• If we can find a Ukrainian citizen that would give up their privitization, they City will donate a block of land by the school. The only other way to buy city owned property is through auction, and not ONE has successfully made it through the courts.  Still looking at some private properties, one is $250k if anyone of you have some loose change around?
• Neil’s container(s) have arrived, our house is packed with boxes.  Only $1000 ‘payment’ needed at customs to allow it in for 1 yr.
• Neil & Noline have been stuck in England for 2 weeks from this volcano cloud.  They hopefully return Saturday, we really miss him in the kitchen.
• There are at present 9 Ukrainians employed by our unofficial construction company, plus 2 sub-contracted on another house.
• Got the new van registered and Tom/Dan legally driving it, at least for 3 months until we have to do it all over again (permanently).
• Simeon & Asia return next Wednesday with their new little bundle Amelia, and mom in law.  Van pick up!
• Tom took the new van to Kiev this morning with the director of the Kuzmencia school/orphanage, to pick up humanitarian aid.  They did not have any transportation.
• Next week last Home Group until the fall.  We are going to host a monthly ‘event’ night at our house, BBQ, music, invite neighbors and non-church folks.. build more relationships in the community!
• Our spring newsletter is out, those in US/Canada should see them on shelves near you, grab one, Deb wrote it:)
• Bronwyn is excelling at piano lessons, her hands now officially move faster than mine, how unfair!
• Cypress is about to undergo some major server migrations, going to cloud based hosting, very cool stuff (for the techies out there).
• It is very muddy at the moment, I actually got my SUV stuck beside my house, from snow to mud.
• We just wrapped up studying various characteristics of God.  Everyone (except for one kiwi:) did a great job studying and sharing on their topic, it was great to relax and listen.
• We have 25 young men and women committed to Passion Conference in Kiev.  What is cool about this, is that most (15) of these are unbelievers or at least, non-church going students from English club, and friends of friends.  Pray with us May 10th!!
• Jono needs a boat motor, his is fried.  Without it, Camp 120 transportation/logistics become very difficult.  Donate towards it, and I’ll pass it on!
• Another couple is moving to RZ.. Shane and Jemimah from Australia are getting married, and coming over in August for a year.
• Sergei and Tanya, and Sergei and Lesya need a place to live.   Add to the list, Shane and Jemimah.  Can God do it?  Let’s join them in prayer regularly until He does:)
• Special Needs outreach in town (led by Cheryl & Sveta) is this coming Saturday.  Last time only one family came, pray they all come out again, a lot of effort and planning go into these outreaches.
• Deb & I will be sharing at a marriage conference this September (we think) in Ireland.  More details later, but pretty neat opportunity to share to young marrieds.
• Some neat open doors for sharing concept of Missions Network through Christian TV/Radio in Europe.  More on this later too!
• Bo, Beth and Brady Bolding are scheduled to come end of July.  We are terribly excited about this and hope to plan a small leaders retreat for missionaries and church leaders in area.   They will be an encouragement to us and our friends.I think that is about it for now!  A few pics of the kids for family, we miss you 🙁

[Brent at the door of the store, entering on his own, he came out with exactly what I asked for!  две белые хлеб – two white bread]

[Tucker and Clark hanging out in the toddler play area, park in Kiev, they were selling burgers and charging top dollar]

Bruce & Deb