March: A Month of Opportunities (March 2016 Update)
As we move into March, we will be having one of our busiest months of the year. I will be teaching 3 classes this month (I usually teach 1 each month). So this March will be extra busy for me. While I am still working on the papers from my February class in Lviv, I will also be preparing to teach 3 classes in March. It will be a very busy month for me – I’m just hoping that I can find some time at the end of the month to watch some March Madness games J. Additionally, we are facing some major decisions about our housing (see below) that could be a real blessing for us!
Ministry Opportunities in March …
First, I will be teaching English Clubs with our Campus Ministry here the second week of March. This is a great ministry. Last year, this group presented the gospel to over 500 students and there were a number really solid conversions! Be praying for the leaders and students as they put together the details for this outreach. Also, pray for us, that the Bible lessons will open the hearts of some who will be willing to follow-up with conversations and Bible studies.
In the middle of the month and the end of the month, I will be teaching two classes at Kiev Theological Seminary. First, I will teach pastors and church planters a course on the Theology and Practice of Prayer. This has been a class that many have said was one of the most helpful for them both practically and theologically. Pray for me as I teach this class.
The next week after the Prayer Class, I will be teaching a Master’s level class on Research and Writing to the Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling Group. This is also a very foundational class on doing research and writing papers as well as learning how to analyze Internet and written sources. Thanks for praying for me as I teach these classes.
A Big Opportunity for our Family …
God has always blessed us with wonderful places to live in Ukraine. First, we rented an apartment that was a 5 minute walk to the seminary. The apartment was much larger than the traditional Ukrainian apartment and we were offered the opportunity to buy all the furniture for the previous tenants for very little! We still use the furniture (and dishes – which we did not know they were also leaving)!
Then, when we needed to move to the more expensive right bank to be nearer ministry, church and language school, God provided a spectacular apartment nearly twice the size of our old apartment, for almost the same as we paid on the left bank! We have loved being here and truly see how God has provided.
Now we may have another opportunity that we are now praying about. One of Katya’s family just received religious refugee status to immigrate to the US and they have an unfinished building on a piece of property that they want to sell to us. The property has a very large garage (like a barn – but really solid – out of brick!) that needs a lot of work. It also has a mature fruit garden with apple, cherry, apricot, and pear trees as well as strawberries and grapes. Right across the street, other relatives operate a farm with milk cows and chickens. So we would also have fresh vegetables, fruits and eggs and milk. If we did this, our monthly costs would be about half our current rent! We are still working out the details but we plan to get a short term loan to finish the building. We will use the savings from our rent to pay the loan back quickly. We would also be doing much of the work ourselves to save money. We would hope to complete the building in a year or so depending on finances and time to work on the house. Right now, we ask you to be praying for us to make wise decisions. Already from our church we have an architect doing the designs/blueprints and a floor & heating specialist to work on the plumbing and heating. I will be meeting with roofers and others this weekend to get some estimates. We are excited and a little nervous and we certainly would appreciate your prayers as we examine this opportunity for us! We’ll let you know more about this opportunity as we find out more ourselves.
This would also fit well into our long-term plans. With two small children, Katya and I have been talking about how long we will stay in Ukraine. We would like for the girls to finish their education in America so we are looking at 10-15 years here in Ukraine. That would also put me at retirement age to collect some SS (if it still exists). If we buy the property, we would save over $125,000 that we would be spending in rent over those years, not counting inflation and increased rent costs. Finally, we are hoping that the monthly savings might allow us to come to the US more often (maybe annually) to see everyone. So we are praying we can work this out to make a home for us for the next few years of ministry in Ukraine.
Family …
Nadia and Kristina are growing every day. Nadia is crawling everywhere and already pulling up. It won’t be long before she will be walking. She’s now eating solids and loving every bite-full. Kristina continues to amaze us with her understanding and use of both English and Russian (and some Ukrainian). She even seems to know who to speak each language with. Once, Katya told her to go show papa her красивая сумка (pretty purse). She ran into the other room and said, “Papa, look at my pretty purse.”
Continue to pray for Ukraine…
Things in Ukraine appear to be heating up again with the “ceasefire” now in Syria. Russia seems to be encouraging attacks again and more Ukrainian servicemen are being injured and dying to protect from this creeping Russian invasion. We have friends and students serving on the frontlines, some in ministry and others in the military. We also have a number of men serving as chaplains in the Ukrainian army that could see more and more direct action.
Also, be praying for the government of Ukraine. Right now there is a lot of difficulty breaking away from the old Soviet corruption in government and business. Much progress has been made but there are many more steps that must be taken for Ukraine to really be free. Right now, there is a lot of government in-fighting that needs to end so that the government can make a unified stand against Putin and his plans to destroy the Ukrainian government.
Continue to pray for the people of Ukraine and for peace in Ukraine! Also, pray that we can train many ministers of the gospel who will be able to give the hope of the gospel that can truly change them!
Thanks again for your support and prayers for us.
By His Grace,
Jim, Katya and Kristina and Nadia
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