Monthly Archives: July 2012
trip plan
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What if…
What if you could only get on-line once a day. How would that effect you? How would you deal with wondering if this or that had happened? Did so and so agree to do X? What is going on with this or that project? Where can I find a secure wifi connection to do my banking? Sound’s odd in 2012 doesn’t it? Well, right now and for the foreseeable future, that is part of my deal. I step into and linger at my local Starbucks or McDonald’s to give my phone time to connect to wifi and update email, and, in the case of today, this post, which I wrote ahead of time.
I am thankful for free wifi and my phone’s technology! God is good. But if you’ve wondered why I don’t respond to you as quickly as I did at home, now you know why.
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Reflecting… second week…
I write this as I fly back to Budapest on Friday… I post when I find wifi.
This morning, after staying with my first Ukranian friends, Roman and Natashya
I began with a visit to Father’s House… now CEO’s longest partner ministry abroad. As my previous post indicated, it was amazing to see Sasha after all these years… to see him serving God makes all the trips, praying, and fund raising truly worth it!
It was great to get to have extensive meetings about vision, mission and how God does all that with my fellow disciple Ruslan.
The 2 hour discussion with the two Morman boys was enlightening to me. They have no idea why they believe what they believe. My heart goes out to these two guys (19 & 21) who kept going back to what they’ve been told and have not thought critically about what they are spending 2 years purporting in Ukraine. I hope they will one day receive the true Grace of Jesus.
My heart also went out to the kids at the Stream of Love camp. They were 13-16 and it would seem that about 30% of them did not yet know Jesus. I did my best to sow the seeds of the Gospel into their hearts and minds with the aid of Lily, my God-provided translator.
This is the 10th camp season of the camp ministry since God provided the funds to buy the camp and secure its future ministry. I thank God for the thousands of people (kids, teens, young adults, grannys, single mom’s, the Deaf and the physically handicapped) who have had the opportunity to rest, have fun, and grow closer to God there. With the new, young leadership there should be plenty more years of ministry. I was so pleased at the condition of the grounds, the continuing upgrading of the buildings and the energy that the young staff bring!
I had a blast playing volleyball with these guys…
…and am hugely encouraged by the camp’s leadership by Sveta and Yuri…
So, it was a great week! Next up: back to Szeged… teaching/preaching about the difference between guilt and conviction.
Reunion
Twelve years ago I first visited Father’s House and met our partners who rescue and help abandoned chilren. One of the kids there at the time was Sasha. He was 16 years old. This morning I saw him for the first time in years. He is now assisting Roman, the ministry leader. God is faithful and working in people’s lives! What a great blessing this is.
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Last day at camp
Today was my last day at camp in Vinnityisa at the Stream of Love. I spoke from 2 Tim. 2.22 (according) to the plan of the day in their curriculum. In it we are to flee youthful lusts and chase after God. But the things in life that we get rid of through confession and repentance are GONE (as far as the east is from the west!). BUT the enemy wants guilt to linger… so we remember from 2Cor. 7.10 that Godly grief (Spirit led conviction) produces repentance and life but worldly grief (guilt) produces death… be free in the gospel of Jesus where there is no condemnation (Rom. 8.1)!!
Great trips are God planned. This one sure was! On my right is Lily who is from Oregon. All of my usual translators were not available but God had a plan. Due to unexpected circumstances, Lily was available to to be my translator and God used her is cool ways. God is faithful!
kingdom travelin' 