Technically

I asked Gavin and Emma to go outside and play. This is what I found a few minutes later.

Conference Update

We had a great time at the Singles Conference . People came from six different churches all over Ukraine. We were happy with how many people were able to come. It was good seeing so many old friends. What was really encouraging for me, was to see so many people, (mostly younger) seeking God's will and wanting to know Him more. This first picture is Reenie (my little sister) and Christine sharing with the women. Together they planned and organized this conference. I am so thankful for them hearing from the Lord and putting this together.

Danny and Olya thanks for the pictures! Click on their names and check out their blogs.

Singles Conference

This Saturday I get the privilege of teaching at a singles conference in Priluki. As you can see, Emma is pretty excited about it. She has been running around the house with one of the posters for the past couple of days, talking about what her husband is going to do for her when she gets married! This conference was put together by Reenie and Christine. Our hope is that it would encourage and instruct our brothers and sisters to walk in purity, to acknowledge the will of God for their lives to walk in holiness. Reenie and Christine will be teaching the women and I am going to have a blast sharing with all guys! Please pray that people would love Jesus more through this time.

Elizabethtown,KY

I would like to introduce you to some dear friends, the Marlette family. This is Josh and Charlene and their four beautiful children. (From the oldest to youngest... Aiden, Zoe, Isabella and Diego. Josh has been been serving as assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel Wildwood Yucaipa, CA. Three years ago Josh and Charlene lead a short-term missions team out to Ukraine. Since that time we've had the privilege of getting to know them and there family. Their friendship has been a huge blessing.

Recently the Lord led the Marlette family to leave sunny California and move to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, to plant a church. Please keep this church plant in your prayers, that God would use this new work to grow His Kingdom. I'd also encourage you to check out their blog here.

I ask that you would pray specifically for Charlene during this time. Her father, Rudy, battled leukemia during the same time as Koren's father. He received a stem cell transplant a year ago, after which he was in complete remission. A few days before Josh and Charlene left for KY, they received the news that Rudy's cancer had returned. Rudy began chemotherapy on July 16th, the same day that Josh and Charlene moved to KY. Please pray for healing for Rudy and for the Marlette's and their entire family during this time.

Mom & Sis

Emma, Grandma and Gavin in the back yard

Emma, Koren, Kylie, Gavin and Grandma at the ParkAuntie Kylie and Emma jogging in our woods

On June 19th the Lord blessed us with a special visit from Auntie Kylie and Grandma! Kylie was here for a couple of weeks and Grandma just left us a few days ago. It was Kylie's first time in Ukraine so we really enjoyed showing her our beautiful country. Grandma is an old friend in these parts and everyone was really happy to see her again. We loved having them both in our home, resting, hanging out, laughing, crying, and just being together. The Lord blessed us deeply with this sweet family time and we will be forever grateful!!! Mom and Kylie, We love you!!!

My Girls

Sing It

The artist formerly known as Jake hopes to see his new album hit the market this fall. This new album will be rightfully entitled Heart And Soul. Jake and I went over to a recording studio of a guy that came to our English classes. We were helping them with their pronounciation of an English song they were doing. Of course we were fooling around at the studio and I managed to get this shot of Jake. If you don't know who Jake is, he's the Pastor of the Church here and one of my best friends! It's an honor and a joy to serve the Lord with him! I'd encouage you to check out Jake's blog here and see his family.

Voice Update

We just completed day two of Voice. We had 140 students the first day and added a few more people today. It has been a blast getting to know so many new people through this. The group around the big table is my class. You can also see Reenie with the class she is teaching. We are showing english films every night. Last night we showed "Cinderella Man" and tonight is Napoleon Dynamite's turn! We are having a lot of fun.

What Up Dog.......

I have been wanting to get this picture up for a long time! Meet Maia. She is Jake and Anya's little girl. She's a sweet baby and just as cool as she looks in this hat!

Under The Beer Tent

Our church is putting on children's festivals in a local park on Saturdays. This past Saturday was really cold and looked like it could rain at any minute. I didn't think any kids would show up. Thankfully, I was wrong. A bunch of kids came! And when the rain came, we made good use of the tents where they serve beer in there park at night. Gavin doing crafts and hanging out with the kids.Vova, Tanya and Tracy, three of our good friends.

Festival Of Hope

Friday night was one of the most encouraging evenings I've had in a long time! Koren and I and a van full of friends drove down to Kiev to hear Franklin Graham preach. And well, this is what we saw.............

It was awesome watching so many people walking down to the field to receive Christ.

Posters & broken glass

Yesterday I went over to the church to install new glass in all the windows that were broken a few weeks ago. When I got to the church I found more evidence that someone really isn't very fond of the church being here. Posters like this one had been put up on our church reading "orthodoxy or death." I'm sure that it's the same group that keeps smashing our windows with bricks. Please pray for them, that God would convict them!

Accepted

"When we look at ourselves,

at the littleness of our love,

the barrenness of our service and the

small progress we make toward perfection,

how soul-refreshing it is to turn away to Him;

to plunge afresh in 'the fountain opened

for sin and for uncleanness';

to remember that we are

'accepted in the Beloved' ... '

who of God is made unto us wisdom,

and righteousness, and sanctification.'"

(Hudson Taylor)

This weekend

This weekend is the Festival of Hope in Kiev. Lord willing thousands will gather to hear as Franklin Graham and others share about Christ's love for the people of Ukraine. We have been praying and waiting for this weekend for more then three years. Please pray for revival in Ukraine! That thousands would hear that Jesus is the only way and that they would believe and be saved!