Just around the Corner! … (March 2017 Update)
A lot of things are happening for us this this month and next so we have a lot coming “around the corner. We have ministry opportunities with English clubs and also with teaching at KTS. Additionally, we are trying to get everything ready for moving into our house, hopefully at the beginning of April. So we have a lot coming around the corner this month.
Teaching in Lviv …
In February, I taught theology classes to the students at Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary in Lviv. It was a very busy time but very productive but very busy since I had 40 students and this was their first time using Moodle (our online system). So I taught all day and then spend almost all evening sitting with students helping work out problems with using Moodle for the first time. But in the end, they all agreed that Moodle is a very helpful tool for learning!
In class, we covered topics like the creation of man and what it means to be in the image of God in our Anthropology class. We also examined the Doctrine of Sin and its origins and its sources. We are talked about the problem of evil and how to minister to those suffering because of the problem of evil. Finally, we had lectures on Christology. After studying about man and sin, this was refreshing as we looked at the person and work of Christ.
I was reminded of a man who said he went to London at the end of the 19th century to hear some of its great preachers. He heard Joseph Parker in the morning and said, “What a great preacher!” He heard another preacher in the afternoon and said, “What a great sermon!” Then he went in the evening to listen to Spurgeon preach. When he left, he said, “What a great Savior!” That’s how I feel every time I get to teach Christology.
I should be getting final papers this week so I will also be working on grading 40 papers! The final paper for the students involves reading John Piper’s Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ and doing a book review of it. This is a wonderful book. Get a copy and read it and you too will be talking about our wonderful Savior!
Additionally this month, I have been working on preparations for teaching the prayer class in March and 2 Critical Thinking classes in May. So February was a very busy month.
English Clubs …
March is the time for spring English Clubs at Shevchenko National University. We’ve been doing this for about 5 years now and it is one of my favorite outreach ministries. We will have 3 hours every night for 2 weeks with the students, most of whom are non-believers. We will have an hour of English lessons, an hour of Bible reading and discussion and then an hour of conversation and games. It is really a lot of fun, but also builds many bridges to students. Plus we get to look at biblical passages each evening.
Be praying for the Campus staff. They will be creating lessons and putting students into groups. Last night, we interviewed over 500 students who want to be in our English clubs! Unfortunately, we can only take about 200 students. So be praying for the staff as they review the interviews and decide which students will be in our clubs.
Housing Update …
In between all this, I have about 2 weeks to work on building things for the house. I have been working all day trying to get things finished so we can move in April. I have been building furniture with leftover wood and other materials that we have. We are trying to save money every way we can and building our own shelves and cabinets and furniture will save us a lot of money.
The doors should be hung this week and the kitchen should be in by next week. We have several minor (but important) things to complete before we can move in, not the least of which is clean up. There is dust and dirt everywhere since most of the construction is taking place inside the house now. But, hopefully, we will be moving into the house in April. 🙂
Family …
The girls continue to grow and they are excited about the house too! Every time they are in the house they go running around having a wonderful time. Nadia is starting to talk much more. One of our favorites is that she turns lights on and says, “Sun, Sun!” She understands the idea of light but I don’t think she knows the difference between sunlight and artificial light!
Kristina loves being a little girl and wants dress up in a dress and nice shoes every day. She also tries to put nice things on Nadia but Nadia does not cooperate. Kristina says, “Nadia makes me very sad. I just want Nadia to be pretty. But she doesn’t want to be pretty.” We try to explain that dresses and shoes don’t make a person pretty but I don’t think she understands yet.
Pray for Ukraine …
The war continues here in Ukraine with attacks in the east every night. So far Ukraine continues to hold the line against the Russian-backed troops. About 4-5 soldiers die every week. Continue to pray that the gospel with go forth to the soldiers and to the refugees from the east. We have many students and friends ministering there!
Thanks again for your prayers and support! We have much to look forward to – just around the corner. But most of all, we look forward to the coming of Christ when we will all say, “What a great Savior!”
By His Grace,
Jim and Katya
Kristina and Nadia
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