This week Deb’s parents have arrived for a visit.  The kids are relishing all of this attention.  This morning the kids had their first horse riding lessons.  The teacher is a widower, her husband passed away last year.  They have several nice horses on a small ranch and have begun giving classes. 

Even Noah and Clark got in on the action!

I’ve been enjoying some new areas of study.  I recommend the book, “Tactics” by Gregory Khoukl, (you may also like his radio show, www.str.org) it’s a refreshing look at defending our faith in some relevant, non-offensive ways.  For me, I find that my personality, and poor tactical skills often lend to offending more than the truth claims I represent.   Amazing how Christ dealt with the skeptic, the hypocrites and religious of His day.  He masterfully exemplified the art of questioning, exposing either illogical or hypocritical thought.  It’s one thing to ‘tell someone something’, it’s another to help them see it through interaction, questions and thinking through issues.   In Ukraine, there are more atheistic/agnostics than in Texas, and this encourages me to sharpen my thinking in preparation for a God honoring defence of the hope that is within me.  I’m not inclined to reading like my ‘novel per day’ wife (not that she has time anymore), but I’ve ordered some more books along the lines of apologetics, and we are studying how to practically respond to many of the tough critiques of the Christian faith in our home group each week.

 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” 1 Peter 3:15

The gospel saves, but sometimes we need to help them understand why it’s good news, and what they are actually rejecting.  Basic Christian 101 stuff here, but challenging me to think more passionately.  We are, after all, commanded to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and all your mind.”  Are you exercising that thing squished inside your skull (or noggin the kids would say)?  I figure we have a few more good years before we start to forget as much as we remember!

Update-

– We were encouraged this week by a meeting we had with the city.  They are asking us to register an organization  (church or charity) in order to continue partnering together.  At first I took this as an act of control, and a negative thing.  However their attitude is more to help us, and for legal protection.  They offered to help with this (through the city lawyer) and also encouraged us to ‘not’ stop serving and helping while we figure this out.  Pray for us, there’s a lot of work involved in registering anything in Ukraine, and whatever we do needs to be thought out and planned long term.

– This Sunday went well, I spoke at the ‘all church ‘ meeting, about 100 people from the town.  I shared on Marriage & Relationships, and how a good marriage is a practical way to be ‘salt and light’ in this community as we reflect God’s example of forgiveness and love.  It’s amazing how many people yell at each-other here, it’s a normal way to treat people under your authority (at work, getting documents, in marriage).   It was well received, several ukrainians came up and shook my hand or quietly nodded when it was through, although who knows what Dan actually translated:)   We are at a crossroads with the ‘all church ‘ meetings and will be making future plans this coming Sunday.  Pray for our meeting, and pray that God directs our hearts and decisions. 

Sincerely,

Bruce & Deb

Our fall newsletter has been printed, if you didn’t get a copy you can read it by clicking here. 

Last week we enjoyed having my parents and family visit.  They brought with them suitcases full of items we can’t buy here in Ukraine, like brown sugar and cheetos:)  It’s neat to watch guests react to the culture, so many things (like children riding scooters on the highway, and without helmets) we don’t even notice anymore.  Deb and I took advantage of having my parents here and enjoyed a weekend in Poland, a nice 90 minute flight to the west, it’s become our little america.  We hadn’t been on a date since Cassie left so it was extra nice.  Poland is so much more western, with big malls, nice restaurants, hotels.. It’s sort of like living in Mexico, and having Texas next door…. but this time we’re in Mexico:).

[Deb and I enjoying a little getaway weekend, thanks Mom & Dad!]

This Sunday I spoke at church, we’re focusing on outreach, becoming salt & light in this community.  We met this week as well with the foreign missionaries, excited to continue meeting together and grow in substantive unity.  Wednesday nights have started back up, we have two groups meeting weekly for home groups.  Our group is going to focus on apologetics for the next few weeks-months.  Looking topic by topic on some of the tougher subjects of the Christian faith, and together learning how to communicate our beliefs.  This coming Sunday is the ‘all church’ meeting and I’m sharing at that service as well, on the designated topic of “Christian Relationships.. Marriage, Dating..”… should be interesting!  I’m going to try and coherse my wife into joining me for some of it.

There’s an interesting series of evening meetings in Kiev this week on the Great Commission, from a group called “Call2All”, which is hosting a series of international ‘congresses’ on the state of missions.  I want to go at least one of these and check it out.  I really don’t like going to Kiev anymore, I’m a country boy at heart and each time I venture into Kiev I’m terribly happy to leave it.

Deb and the kids are doing well.  They’ve started back into full school weeks, Broderic and and Bronwyn are being tutored two times per week with Ruth Pirini who taught in Kiev last semester at a private Christian school.  Jon, Ruth’s husband is one of the three elders in our church.  Brent and Tucker stick with Deb, and Clark and Noah.. well, they wander around getting into trouble.

¹³“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. ¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. -Matt 5:13-14

Thanks for checking in-

Been a busy week with family from Canada in town.  Wonderful to speak full english (canadian accents and all) and be with my parents, Uncle and Aunt.. and cousin.  They’ve had a good time taking in the culture and understanding our world a bit more over here.

This week we’re finishing up our deck railings (parents are extra happy about that, it’s 15ft high off the ground), visiting some of our local friends we’ve made (police/mayor/principal of school), and we also delivered some knitted slippers (thank you Aunt Annette!) to two orphanages, along with some vitamins from the Texas group.

Pray for:

Cheryl’s Apartment to be ready for Simeon and Asia returning on the 12th, it’s getting there!
Marriage Conference possibly hosting one for region in the Spring with some other churches.
Continued relationships in the town
Our language skills to improve (and the motivation/discipline to improve them)
Outreach (marriage, college, so many areas here to focus on, God’s direction needed)
Leadership here in RZ,  for God to continue to develop the young church and those serving in it.
Safe travels for everyone leaving on Tuesday, and for a few of us going to Poland this weekend.

 
Tucker and the beautiful Deb.

Organizing the slippers before delivering to the orphanages.

Blessings to all our friends and family!

bruce & deb

Video Greeting!

Busy week, I’ll share mostly with pictures!

[ Deb and I at Andrei’s birthday party, northeast of Kiev, it was also Indendance Day ]

During our 2.5hr drive to the party, we came across 3 fatal car accidents.  2 of the wrecks literally had bodies on display from the accident.  This being Ukarine and the amount of alcohol consumed on a regular basis (especially holidays), the accidents weren’t a surprise, but the lack of prompt emergency assistance was truly sobering.  Who knows how many lives are lost because of the inefficient and outdated systems here.  The kids were given real life examples of what happens when you drive like a maniac under the influence of alcohol.  I was very thankful we made it home safely, and didn’t hit any of stumbling hitchhikers on the way.

On a positive note, remember Dema our friend that was diagnosed with terminal cancer last year?  He was at the birthday with his wife and kids.  He looks great.  The doctors have told him the cancer is not growing, and they believe (much to their disbelief) he is going to be fine.  We are praising God with him, and he sends his appreciation to those that joined in prayer for him.

[ After eating, the group headed off to the woods for a game of soccer.. pronounced ‘fuutball’, it made for quite an obstacle course.. that’s Broderic in front of me, and tucker with the red pants. ]

[ On Saturday I went with Alyosha to my first ‘AutoBazaar”, where literally 100’s of people show up, sit in their cars (or sleep) and wait for someone to come and inquire.  It was pretty interesting, sort of like an auto trader in real life.  Alyosha found and bought his first car, I was pretty excited for him.. and glad that he can now go to the hardware store without me! ] 

[ All church meeting this weekend, we weren’t allowed to rent the normal hall, but we were given this old theatre/disco place, it was smaller, darker, a bit smelly, but it worked out really well.  Jon on stage posing with his air guitar, and Broderic setting up the mics. ]

[ Cheryl, Sveta and our friend from the city social services department.. can’t remember her name… inviting the kids for tomorrow handicapped day camp.   Cheryl and Sveta have been preparing all week for this day, they have horse rides lined up, food, a movie, and a solid crew of volunteers from the church ready to make this day a special one.  Pray for the kids and the parents that come, that they would be blessed and God honored with our efforts… Oh, and please pray for safety.. I tried to convince the city they needed a liability waiver form signed from the parents (silly westerner!) but they replied, “But, you ARE responsible if anything happens, who else would be?”…  whoa horsey! ]

Till next time-