On display

Tuesday brought us a variety of things. We focused today on completing paperwork in girl ‘k’s region. We picked her up from her school in mid-day (I know she was devastated to leave) in the village where her orphanage is located, then we made the drive to the inspector’s office for her area. Vickie, Kole, and I waited in the dark hall while Yuriy, girl ‘k’, and Luda went inside to answer the questions from the inspector. We were prepared to sit for a while, but God was gracious in allowing this to be really short. This allowed some time for us to go to a notary and prepare official letters that would essentially ask both regions to “get their ducks in a row” in a government fashion for the SDA to petition for court.

This signing and stamping went smoothly, and so we had a little time to go eat and go back to girl ‘k’s village for a really encouraging time with a gathering of believers. Now this was close to New Testament church! First of all, they met in an unused “town hall room” and there were families, and kids, and elderly people packed into the room. Different people, kids included, shared songs and short offerings of thanks to God. We were pointed out as “the family” who had come to adopt girl ‘k’ and she smiled and was proud to have us there to show us off to her friends. What was really incredible was that since the room was full, they had already made the decision for several in the room to begin a similar gathering in a village near by. Yes! They had only been meeting 3 times in this room. Talk about multiplication-I pray it would be so for us as well. When the time together was completed, we were able to meet with the pastor-leader of this “church plant”, and to share with him and pray with him. I think he was surprised that I was so excited to see them beginning more gatherings in another village, and his eyes were focused as I told him I was praying for God to give him the whole nation of Ukraine and beyond.

He wants to meet with us later this week and have dinner. We look forward to this for several reasons. He is the actually the overall director for the Christian orphanage, and he serves as one of the Pastors at the larger church we worshipped with on Sunday. Right now, we are praying that God would speed along the “cancellation of guardianship” for girl ‘k’. We explained this earlier, but there is still some uncertainty on who decides. God is sovereign in this, and we are seeking grace from Him to see His work and to display His glory through the process, and not to display our fatigue or emotions, but rather to display His word. We miss our kids, our M17 family, and all of Brook Hills. Please continue to pray for us to share, show, teach, and serve His kingdom.

1 Thess. 2:19-20
“For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you in the presence of the Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.”

It will not be our fortunes that show when we come to His presence. It will, however, be lives, people, faces, that we have shared with, shown, taught, and served.

Blessings