Teaching Resources International

We Have Hope! (August 2015 Update)

On July 13^th, Nadia Ehrhard entered the world. She seems to enjoy her new-found freedom from her mother’s womb and enjoys seeing mom, dad and sister, Kristina, face to face. We struggled to find a name that would “fit” our new daughter as well as be one that could be understood in English, Ukrainian, and Russian. We also wanted something that would have a good message. We finally settled on Nadia (Надя) which means “hope.” It reflects the hope we have for the future of Ukraine and well as the eternal hope that we have in Christ alone. So… we have hope – our new baby girl – and, most of all, we have “a hope laid up in heaven” (Colossians 1:5). And we hope Nadia will be a constant reminder that the hope we have in Christ is one that will last forever and ever (“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” – Hebrews 6:19).   (more…)

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My Summer Vacation … Sort of (July 2015 Update)

Normally at this time of year, we are starting our summer vacation in the US.  But this year is totally different.  First, we’ve already had our “summer vacation” this spring while we were in Arkansas to see Meredith and Sean’s new baby, Haven, as well as visiting friends and family.  We had a busy but wonderful time there!  Then, at the beginning of June, we headed back to Kiev to have our real summer vacation…sort of. (more…)

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Grace and Blessings Abounding! (May 2015 Update)

The Blessing of Fellowship

What a joy it has been to be back in the US seeing friends and spending time with family!  We have been to Fayetteville, North Little Rock, and Cabot in Arkansas.  We have visited with dear friends in Memphis, TN, Phenix City, AL and Atlanta, GA.  And we are still on the road, on our way down to Florida to visit with friends and family there.  (more…)

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We are back in the states trying to catch up from jetlag!  Kristina did the best.  She adjusted after just 2 days.  Katya and I are still feeling the effects but getting close to normal.  We arrived late Sunday night (March 22), gathered our stuff from storage on Monday and headed to Fayetteville on Tuesday to see the new grandbaby, Haven Grace Cooper!  Katya and I have been helping Sean and Meredith with cleaning and cooking and just enjoying being together.  We have been especially blessed by their church, New Heights Church here in Fayetteville.  They have a great heart for missions and they are allowing us to stay in a missionary apartment while we are here helping Sean and Meredith.  We are looking forward to worshiping with them at New Heights this Sunday.  (more…)

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Ready to Head Home … Almost (March 2015 Update)

We are getting excited about our trip home in just a little less than a month!  Talking with my children and grandchildren by Skype even makes us more eager to get back home and spend some time with family.  Especially when we are talking with Meredith and Sean and realize that her due date is just a couple weeks away!  We can’t wait!

But… we are not ready yet.  My spring schedule is packed and so I’m running around trying to get everything done before we head back at the end of the month.  I just finished teaching Research and Writing for Biblical Counseling.  This was my first time teaching this Master’s level class.  We’ve taught a similar class on the Bachelors’ level for the last 5 years.  But I had to totally re-work this class and add a number of examples and research related to Biblical Counseling.  The class was one week, from 8:30 each morning until 6 pm each evening.  I was definitely tired but I felt really good about what the students were able to accomplish in 1 week.  I will still have their final Case Studies (research papers) to grade in about a month.  But overall, the class was very helpful and I know it will be a benefit to many for years ahead in their ministries.  The director has already asked if I would teach it again next year.  (more…)

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