“March (and April) Madness” (April 2013 Update)
No, it’s not about basketball, although I certainly love that too! It’s about our busy schedule. At the end of last month, I helped out with a church planting class on prayer. Jim Albright (from the International Church in Milan) taught the class but I helped with preparations, hosting, grading and teaching some of the classes. Katya and I were delighted to have Jim and Karen spend the two weeks at our home also. It was a great joy being able to see them and having Jim teach his first class for us. But it was also very busy with class every day and small group or other ministries each night. All of this with the biggest snowfall in Ukraine since the 1960s!
The Prayer class for Church Planters was a special joy. This group of 4 students will be graduating this May and it was great to spend the week with them learning more about their lives and ministries. (Normally I teach classes of over 30 so I don’t have a lot of one-on-one time with students). One student from Lithuania came to Christ in prison and he is actively involved in leading a new church plant in Lithuania. Another student has planted a church near Kiev after serving as a missionary in Kazakhstan. The other two students came to faith out of drugs and alcohol (one out of Satan worship!) and they are planting a new church in eastern Ukraine. What a joy to hear how their seminary education has changed their lives and helped them in ministry!
Teaching
After the 2 week Prayer class, I began to teach Pneumatology and Eschatology (larger class of nearly 30). I’m certainly tired and battling a head cold, but the class so far has been a real joy as we are looking at what the scripture says about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I’ll have a short break (Easter/Spring break) following these classes and then I will be helping teach Research and Critical Thinking 1 for two weeks and then, and then I will be teaching Research and Critical Thinking 2 by myself the last week of May and the first week of June. I am looking forward to a little rest this summer!
During this time, we are leading small groups every Wednesday night with a wonderful group of college and young married couples. Their hunger for God’s Word is exciting each week. I am alos still helping each Thursday night with an ESL outreach at the National University in Kiev.
April in Ukraine
I’ve been telling you about the colorful names for the Ukrainian months this year and April is no exception. The name for April is “Flowers” or Квітень. This is the only Ukrainian name I already knew before this year. On every street corner there are 24 hour (usually) flower shops with the sign квіти above them. Flowers are important in Ukraine for almost every occasion, for women and for men! And April is the month that the warmer weather usually begins to return and the flowers begin to bloom. I’m ready for Квітень!
Russian
I’ve been continuing my Russian and seeing a lot of improvement. I can talk with the students and understand most of what they are saying. But I can see that they struggle to understand my Russian L . Still I’m making a lot of progress. Unfortunately, with so many classes coming up in the next two months, I will be struggling to put in much time with Russian. But I’ll keep trying!
We cannot tell you how much we appreciate your prayers and support while we are serving here in Ukraine! We are looking forward to getting back to the US this summer for some much needed rest and also a chance to catch up with some of you too! May the Lord bless you with a wonderful spring and many opportunities to serve Him with all your heart!
By His Grace,
Jim and Katya
Teaching Resources International 