The last couple of months have been full of blessings and challenges.  But it is great to know that God is in control of it all.  Our biggest project this summer was Vacation Bible School at the end of July.  We tried something a little different from the standard method of week-long VBS, and held 2 day sessions in four different neighborhoods in L'viv.  We also passed out tracts and invitations the day preceding each location.  Overall, things went very well.  The children were excited about the games and activities, and gave attention to the Bible lessons and gospel presentation.  We estimate that a total of 200 children attended the sessions.  That was an answer to prayer.  Our presence wasn't entirely without resistance.  The first day at our first location a woman told us we had no right to be there (teaching "heresy") and threatened to call the police.  She then told all the kids they shouldn't be there and not to return the next day.  Well, the next day started off slowly, with just one girl showing up for a while.  We kept on with the program, and slowly by slowly more and more kids came.  By the end of the day we had a full group of kids, and no problems.  The lady did call the police, and when they came and our men told them what we were doing, they just said "OK" and left.    One of the reasons for meeting in different areas around town was to get an idea for the openness to the gospel in those places and the possibility of starting a new Bible study or children's club.   We have started a new Saturday Bible club in one of those areas, and other than this past cold, cloudy Saturday, we have had a good response.  This leads me to say that after much prayer, consideration and discussion, we have discontinued our other Bible club in the area we have been in for 7 years.  With rising costs in rent and utilities, plus other factors surrounding the situation, we have felt that our window of opportunity has closed and that God has opened a new one. 

   

 

As you may recall in a previous letter I asked for prayer that we would have enough people to help with VBS.  The Lord more than supplied our need, and blessed above measure, as a group of young adults from the Kiev area, all folks that attend churches from Mike Ireland's ministry, came for the first week of Bible school.   They were prepared with Bible lessons, songs, etc.,  and all I had to do was give them the general overview of the events and schedule, and they took over, using their many talents and abilities to gather the kids, grab their interest, and teach them the Word of God in a way that only a national could do.   It was a good time of fellowship for us as well, as Dan and Laurel Bardwell opened up their home to accommodate the 10 young people and me for the week. 

 

The second week we were just as blessed to have the CMO team minister with us at one of the locations.  Jessie Beal and his group of young men taught and used their chalk art skills to present the gospel in a very clear and interesting way.  The highlight for the children was the skit the guys performed about the life of David, and especially his victory over Goliath.  Undoubtedly, they will remember these young men acting as sheep, scared soldiers, brave shepherd, and of course a bold, defiant, and eventually dead enemy. 

 

As the fall gets underway, so do my plans for the upcoming few months.  We will soon start a new unit in Jr. Church, and I hope to have an opportunity to start ministering to patients in the children hospital.  The correspondence course is going strong, as I recently finished filling requests for nearly 50 new students.   Continue to pray for my health and strength.  Conditions are a little different than that in the states, and constant walking and riding on public transportation on bad roads has given me back and feet trouble.   Thank you for your faithfulness.  May God bless you.