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October
01, 2007
“…and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8b
Chapter 3
Volume 1
July-October 2007
Summer arrived in Poltava and we found ourselves very busy with
two teams that came to serve alongside us from June 15 to July 2nd.
The first team arrived June 15th and departed for the states June
26th. The second team arrived June 26th and departed for the states
July 2nd! No time to rest in between teams as we were very busy
everyday tending His gardens. The majority of the time when both
teams were here, we had two ministry opportunities everyday -that
meant we would leave the church at 8:00am, and arrive back at the
church about 8:00p.m., go home, eat, sleep, and the next day do
the very same thing. Many seeds were planted during the time the
groups from America were here as we ministered to both children
and adults with evangelistic children’s festivals at summer
camps, hospitals, orphanages, psychiatric hospital, our local neighborhoods
as well as some of the villages surrounding Poltava. God was very
faithful during this time of outreaches as many were very open and
receptive to the Lord; this was a huge blessing as well as answered
prayer.
New Friends from summer camp
We were also blessed with sunny weather (we were only rained out
once during the time both groups were here!), and no one became
ill or injured (despite not being able to minister at one children’s
camp that was quarantined with chicken pox)! In order for the ground
to not become overgrown with weeds or cluttered with stone, Calvary
Chapel Poltava continued with summer children’s festivals
at the camps and various other places where they had previously
ministered, watering the seeds which were planted. Pray for gardeners
to continually tend to the seeds that have been planted in fertile
ground.
Milking Kvitka!!!
For most of my life, I’ve lived in the city, but in my heart
I yearned for the country. My desire has finally been fulfilled!
July 22 I moved (well, my body moved, my earthly belongings moved
on September 1 ) to Borodyanka (pronounced: BORE OH DAHN KAH) a
very country town of about 4,000 people (not including surrounding
villages)where it is not uncommon to see a horse drawn cart carrying
potatoes etc. to and from the market. After much searching and putting
up of announcements “apartment wanted”, the Lord blessed
me with a 1st floor remodeled apartment situated near the center
of Borodyanka. Although the price is a little higher than I expected,
and I hesitated for a moment to say “yes” and sign a
year’s lease (to insure the monthly price does not go up at
least until the end of one year), I believe the Lord desires for
me to walk by faith and that He will use this apartment not only
to bless me, but most importantly, to bless others through it as
He uses it for His service. Already I have seen His hand upon the
apartment, with His angels helping to move and repair donated furniture
(the apartment was unfurnished), sew and hang curtains, organize
the Church library and Children’s ministry supplies, (which
are now located at my apartment) as well as helping me to not move
“mountains” and to stay focused and calm. The Lord already
began to use the apartment for His service one week after I moved
in! I live on the first floor; (my Pastor and wife moved to an apartment
on the 9th floor without an elevator and we have several elderly
who attend our church) and I am now blessed to host prayer meetings,
mid week Bible Study and now Women’s Bible Study at my apartment.
If the church is moved out of its current location temporarily (such
as when the hall is used for voting purposes) church services are
also moved to my apartment! Therefore, not only am I preparing to
teach our Women’s Bible study (we currently are inductively
studying the book of Ruth), but you can also find me in the kitchen
amidst a cloud of flour and baking pans, preparing something scrumptious
for the tea/coffee/fellowship times after our meetings (I am usually
baking three times out of the week). I am very thankful that the
landlord installed a new oven that works wonderfully (the best out
of all the ovens I have had as a missionary)!
Women’s Bible Study
Since moving to Borodyanka I have had the privilege of teaching
twice, both at the women’s Bible study and the Babushka Fellowship.
What a joy it has been to share God’s word with the women
and Babushka’s of our small fellowship here in Borodyanka
allowing me to get to know them a little better.
Vanessa and Babyshka Nastya
Many commented how much they enjoyed these teachings and how the
Lord used them to help them to think differently. Now that I am
“settled” into my apartment, I am teaching the Women’s
Bible Study on a regular basis every Thursday beginning with an
inductive study in the book of Ruth.
My desire is to help the women learn how to glean out of the Bible
for themselves, to prepare them to teach in the future instead of
listening to others teach (like myself). These women have been taught
the Word for several years now, and I feel that they are mature
enough in their walk with the Lord, to begin to learn how to use
the resources that they have available to find the treasures that
are hidden within the Bible. When the announcement was made that
women’s Bible Study would be starting, there were many exclamations
of joy from the women, they were all very interested in what we
would be studying as well as when. What an awesome privilege to
see the joy on their faces, and to hear the excitement in their
hearts as we together look forward to spending time in His Word.
Kyiv Fall Conference
Each fall the Calvary Churches in Ukraine gather together individually
to retreat into His Word. This year was no exception as the Calvary
Kyiv church invited Borodyanka and the new church in Ternopil to
gather together in Kyiv to glean from His Word. The theme of this
years fall conference was taken from Galatians 2:20 “Christ
Lives in Me” with each Pastor attending teaching on a different
section. Pastor Alosha Satenko (Calvary Kyiv) opened and closed
our conference with being crucified with Christ, and the importance
of putting aside our flesh, dying to our self, to our flesh. Pastor
George Markey Jr. (Calvary Ternopil) taught on God who loves me
and gave Himself for me. This was essentially the theme of the conference,
why we desire to put to death our desires, our wants, and that as
a believer it is He who lives inside us therefore our relationship
with Christ comes from that and this then is what others should
see. Oleg (Elder Calvary Kyiv), continued with it is not I who live
but Christ who lives in me; and Pastor Geoff Smith (Calvary Borodyanka)
the life I live I live by faith in the Son of God, once you believe
in Christ it is no longer your life, and whatever you do, wherever
you go God wants to use you, and He may take you to a new place
where you really don’t know what will happen so you go by
faith. We are to have faith in Christ, not in people, not in things,
but in Christ. The worship drew you into a time of laying down your
flesh at the foot of the cross. Calvary Borodyanka was privileged
to lead one of the worship sessions; and I felt as if the Lord through
the worship time, was drawing me to lay aside all my selfishness
at the foot of the cross and to allow Him to truly minister to my
heart. I left the conference encouraged to live selflessly for Him
and to allow Him to minister in and through me without “me”
getting in the way (as I so often try to do).
Coming “Home”
I truly enjoy being a part of Calvary Borodyanka, and feel as if
I have “come home.” The women immediately accepted me
as if I had already lived here forever; the church has become a
“kindred spirit” to me, very dear to my heart.
Vanessa and Tanya Belyashapka
I look forward to ministering and being ministered to and am very
blessed and honored to be a part of Calvary Borodyanka.
In Him Who Loved Us First,
BaHecca (Vanessa)
(check out my blog spot: www.bahecca.blog.com “the people
in my neighborhood” pictures of Calvary Borodyanka)
Prayers and Praises
Please pray for:
- Edich-who often loses himself in alcohol
- That the women would truly glean from studying His Word
- Pastor Geoff-that the Lord would use Him mightily as he shares
God’s Word with the church
- Tanya-God would continue to speak through her in song as she leads
the worship team and us in worship of Him
- My apartment would be used for His glory and purposes
- Sasha-our teenager that he would grow into a man after God’s
own heart
- Evangelism outreaches in Borodyanka-that we would step out in
faith-looking to Him and not ourselves
- My health-wisdom for the doctors~patience in the midst of trials
for me
Praise God for:
• my new home and family
• a blessed time at the fall conference
• the “angels” in Poltava who helped me pack and
move
• the Borodyanka “angels” who helped me get “settled”
• God’s love that is seen in the lives of those in Calvary
Borodyanka
• His provisions
• all of YOU-I truly could not do this without you-thank you
from the bottom of my heart
For continued and new supporters: all support should be in by the
last Sunday of each month to be counted for that month’s donation.
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