Ukraine Challenge

UPDATE 6:  July 20-26, 2003

“Sleeping in tents… blood pressure checks… opened many hearts”

 Retired nurse Shirley Acosta, her husband, Daniel, and friend, Jo Baucum, opened many hearts and doors to the gospel message with blood pressure checks, simple health remedies and lots of love and concern in Tetariv as Billy Seller’s team continued their second week.  Children’s camp, village evangelism and discipleship classes continued through Tuesday and ended with a glorious rally on Tuesday night resulting in at least four professions of faith.  (Other team members listed in Update 5.)

 Beth Nichols from Jacksonville ended her six-week stay in Ukraine by visiting the many friends that she made this year and last year.  She also explored the possibilities of future mission opportunities with the International Mission Board.  Beth will begin seminary work in mid-August at Southeastern.

 Steve Dobbins, Gary Rhyne, Wayne Marks and Patsy Whittle began their stay in FASTIV, a city about an hour southwest of Kiev.  They were involved in a children’s camp that ministered to about 150 children.  The men of the team also helped with remodeling a house to be used as a small church on the outskirts of the town.  The pastor of the central church in Fastiv is very actively planting new churches in each region of the city.

 Mike Ayers, clocking in his tenth trip to Ukraine, was busy this week with personal ministry in the village of Zdvishivka.  Mike has been here many times with camp and construction teams.  Coming alone this year, it was possible for him to visit many friends, build relationships and do personal evangelism.

 The biggest challenge was faced by Troy Meachum’s team:  Tony and Rebecca Donato, Jerry and Neil Fowler, Randy Clayton, Kate Fulk, Jessica Goffigon, Amber Merritt, Anthony Morris, Scott Parker, Steve Smith, and Scott Pataro.  They traveled about six hours out of Kiev to lead a youth camp held in the woods.   Sleeping in tents and surviving the rain, mud, mosquitoes, etc., the week was pronounced a tremendous success.  Teams from Grey Stone Baptist Church in Durham have ministered in the small town of Kelmintsi and neighboring villages for many years.  On Saturday, they traveled to Kiev to prepare for their second week working with the IMB on Project 25.  (More about this in the last update.)

 Buddy and Janada spent the weekend with two guests, Elizabeth Laney and Mark Koehler.  Elizabeth is a volunteer working in the library of the seminary in Prague, Czech Republic from Raleigh and Mark is an independent missionary from Greensboro working in southern Ukraine with two different projects for children. 

 Pray for each team as projects are completed and everyone returns home.

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