November 7, 2016

The Fall Kiev English Club ended one month ago, but the communication and friendships continue to grow.  The Medford WI team and Blairsville Georgia team will forever be on each others hearts.  The youth in Kiev, that is a given, they are 'our kids' in our hearts forever.  God has blessed this English Club, I have been told, with an outpouring of love.  Staff, students, teams connected on a level that only our Blessed Lord and Savior could have orchestrated.

We want you to know this is all for His Glory, and because of Your Faithful Prayers!!!!!

I am reading a book, Finding God's Will, and it continues to bring to mind that in order to find God's will, you need to know the God of God's will.  This was confusing at first but through this mission trip I believe I understand what the author was getting at.  God is working His Will all the time, in so many ways, and being open and obedient we are offered a glimpse of this glorious plan.  Whether that obedience means physically by being involved or spiritually through prayer and meditation. 

This English Club will have Eternal rewards. 

Please join us in prayer now, as we plan for the Spring Kiev English Club in March 2017.  The harvest is white.  God bless each of you.

Meeting with the Dean of the Agriculture University.

Rachel Dolezalek, Karen and Terry Voltz, along with the Team Leader for Cru, Losha met with the Dean of the Pilot English Club Program Thursday morning.  The pictures below were taken and will be used on the University's website.  The three teachers from the Wisconsin team received a warm welcome from the Ukrainians.  They praised the team members and shared plans of having the program continue.  This is a huge answer to prayer!

Class Pictures and goodbyes ....

Thursday night was filled with laughter, smiles and some tears too, as students received their certificates for English Club, and for some this was their time to say good-bye.  The Ukrainian Party is tonight, however not all the students will be able to attend, as some will be traveling home, while others will be working. 

The impact these youth have had on our hearts is beyond what words can capture.  We have come to know them and love each one of them.  Here are two of the class pictures, we will post more as they become available. 

Tonight is our last class!
This week has flown by as schedules were packed with student meetings, staff meetings and class preparation.  The student meetings have been special to each of us, as they are the topic of conversation whenever we get together.  Seeing God move through His Word is Amazing, but then we serve an Amazing God. Our hearts have been challenged along the way, and obstacles try to trip us up, but your prayers have provided the strength, encouragement and protection for all of us here.  Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Many will be sharing their testimonies with their class tonight, please pray that the students have ears to hear and hearts that are tender, that the seeds of God's love would sink deep and take root.
We ask to specifically remember Ann, Maria and Alex. 

We praise the Lord for you and His work here.  God bless.

September 30, 2016

Click on the link below to start the video.

American Party, for the 2016 Fall English Club Students- Kiev, Ukraine

Day 6 in Kiev.  We have been blessed with beautiful weather for walking back and forth to school, the market and just to get the lay of the land.  Below you will see the hotel that we are staying in. Its comfortable and so quaint. 

On the way to the 'soup house' we ride the trolley.  It costs 3 hryvnia (grivna) or about 12 cents one way.  Terry Voltz is shown with the ticket lady for the trolley.  She was enamored with the 'Americans' and was so happy to have her picture taken.

Tomorrow night is the American Party!  We will host the entire English Club student body at a nearby center.  Someone said it could possibly be 350+ students. 

Each of us have shared how fast this week is going and how excited we are to see the relationships take root.  God's Spirit is with us through your prayers.  His Will be done!

Blessings from Kiev.

English Club, night two!  Great conversations that didn't want to end, students getting to know each other and feeling more comfortable, participation levels increase-the Holy Spirit is moving in English Club.

Your prayers are the support and encouragement we need each day.  Knowing you are praying for the students, staff and all those who may interact with us is appreciated more than we can ever tell you.  We love our students and relationships are being built. 

We keep up our strength with visits to the market to purchase items that remind us of home.  Ukraine is noted for their vegetables and chocolate, both very nutritious staples right?  :)

Here Karen Voltz is purchasing oranges.  This is no easy task.  The screen prompts you to enter the category, then the item, sounds easy until you figure out it's all in Ukrainian.  Karen meets the challenge and told us tonight, they are super sweet and delicious. 

...... "great, fun, engaging, sometimes chaotic, lots of smiles, laughter, challenging"  these are some of the comments from students and staff as we wound up the first night of English Club. 

As we met this morning for breakfast and review of our first class, we shared how in awe we are of Our Lord and how He is opening doors here in Kiev to involve another University in this program.  Plus how blessed our team was to have the privilege of serving those new students.  The classes at the new location are over 35 each which is more than they had expected.

In total there are 14 classrooms being utilized for English Club this Fall.  Praise the Lord for how He provided materials, teachers and helpers to be able to facilitate His work here.  As we meet the students we can see that the fields are white.  Please pray in agreement with us that the harvest of souls be abundant.

We arrived safe and sound in Kiev, Ukraine, Saturday afternoon. Today Sunday we attended church at Almaz.  If you would like to visit www.almaz.in.ua, webpage it is currently under construction with the English translations coming soon.  Anya, a volunteer for CRU, has graciously taken care of getting us to where we need to be at the right time.  Tonight is our CRU staff meeting, checking of computers and projectors and preparation for English Club starting tomorrow evening.  Thank you all for your prayers for safe travel, health and strength.  We look forward to seeing how the Lord will use English Club in the lives and hearts of the students, staff and us over the next two weeks.

PS went to the market last night to pick up some necessities, what an experience!  We are so blessed to have Fern Brown with us :).
Here's a picture of dinner the first night, we all hit the bed as soon as we were finished, as we could hardly keep our eyes open.

DEPARTURE DAY!  We met to pack and repack last night so we could be close to our weight limits.  God is so good, all is packed, even the 5 projectors!  What an answer to prayer that our body of believers (that's you remember!!) will be able to bless the English Club and CRU with these teaching aids.
Next Post?  Maybe the airport if wi-fi is available.  God Bless You for your prayers.

TAG:  We made it through check-in!  Our bags all under 50#.  We all had TSA Pre Check except for Doug.  Imagine that?

Team of 8

Team of 8 7....
This past weekend we received confirmation that one of members would not be able to join us on mission due to health reasons.  Our prayers of encouragement and support are with her, as she will be missed.  

As we continue to prepare for our upcoming travel and the classes we will be teaching we remember..... Philippians 4:6-7  Be anxious about nothing, but in everything, through prayer, petition and thanksgiving, present your requests to the Lord, and the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your minds and hearts in Christ Jesus.

• Many of you may know by now we received notice on Saturday (9/17) that the Ukraine Cru Team had requested we bring 5 video projectors with us.  Preparations are in place now to make that happen, as we trust the Lord for His provision for the projectors and how to get them there.

•  On Sunday (9/19) the Prayer Support Lists were dispersed to team members.  What a blessing you are to us.  To know you are in agreement and pray with us and for us, is humbling.  Please know we are remembering you also in our prayers.

• We are encouraged to know a teaching team from Georgia will join us in Kiev.  This will allow for more students to be placed before the Word of God.  How He Works!!!!

Last minute preparations are being made, packing, unpacking, packing again!  Wanting to be good stewards of what God has entrusted to us, we do rely on Him for help in packing too. :) 
Team of 8 will leave Friday morning from First Baptist Church en route to MSP.  We will be updating this blog as we travel, wi-fi permitting.  Gods blessing to each of you.

Expect the Unexpected by Grant Brown

What does that mean?  If I expect the unexpected, then it would no longer be the unexpected. Still it is good advice because it helps us not to rule anything out.  It helps us to avoid saying, 'Nah, that will never happen."  What we think will never happen is precisely what we should expect.  It really means not to be surprised when unexpected things happen.  The walk of faith is a walk with God in which we should never rule anything out.  God loves to surprise us with the unexpected.

Which is why I'm surprised to find myself going to Ukraine for the second time this year.  The first time was rather unexpected, but the Lord laid an opportunity before Fern and me in the spring of this year to teach English in Ukraine with a ministry sponsored by CRU.  CRU arranges evening classes for University students who want to learn conversational English, taught by English speakers from English speaking countries.  After a very positive experience in March, I was open to going again next spring.  Then the unexpected happened.  An invitation came to go back this fall.  Gulp!

Fern and I looked at each other and could not think of a good reason to say "No."  Fern began to tell others of the opportunity, and as a result, God has called out a team of eight who are planning to go this fall.  Four are from Woodland Community Church in Westboro, Terry and Karen Voltz, Sandy Kauer and Rochel Dolezalek.  The other four are from FBC, Dough Thomas, Rita Clark, Fern and myself.  Steve and Kelly Schafer are involved in training and support as we go.  All are seasoned followers of Christ and eager to share His love with young people.

The unexpected is almost upon us. Our dates are set-September 23-October 9 and tickets bought.  We invite you to join us.  I don't mean literally, but spiritually; by investing your time in prayer.We ask that you hold us up to our Heavenly Father each day from now until we return. 

Together we will be praying for:

•  the Cru staff during screening and selection of students.  (Many students will be freshmen from cities and towns around the country, plus they will be strangers to one another.)
• God to prepare the hearts and minds of the students
• as the Gospel is presented in English the students will comprehend its message
• stamina for the Cru staff as they follow up with students (many times they are on Social media late into the night, answering students questions)
• the door to this ministry main remain open into the future
• for our physical, emotional, spiritual and financial needs

Worldly events often give us pause, but God can keep doors open when things look bleak to us.
Finally, I hope you will pray that we will trust God when the unexpected comes our way.

                                  TEAM OF 8   (Back row) Grant Brown, Fern Brown, Doug Thomas, Terry Voltz                                           (Front row) Sandy Kauer, Rita Clark, Rachel Dolezalek, Karen Voltz

August 25, 2016

In preparation for the upcoming Ukraine Mission Trip, we have been asked to include one or two of our favorite verses in our testimonies.  If you are like me there are so many that I love, but two that have always been so very close to my heart are below.

Acts 16:31-Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household. NIV

2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  NIV

Do you ever compare verses from other translations.  I like to.  Many times just one little word makes me see our Lord as I hadn't before.  

In checking the verses above in the Message Bible I found-

Acts 16:31 “Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you’ll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!”

2Peter 3:9 God isn’t late with His promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining Himself on account of you, holding back the End because He doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.

As we prepare for English Club, I ask that you join us in praying that each team member can demonstrate our complete trust in our Master Jesus.  That our lives will shine with His Light, His Love, His Joy and His Peace.  And please pray for the Students we will be working with.  I like to pray scripture by personalizing it with the names of those on my prayer list.  Even though we don't have the names of the students, God knows them each by name, so we can pray....

God isn't late with His promise as some measure lateness,  He is restraining Himself on account of YOU, Students of English Club! God is holding back the End because He doesn't want anyone lost, and that includes you dear student.  He wants none to perish, but everyone of you to come to repentance. So put your entire trust in our Master and Lord, Jesus.  Then you will live as you were meant to live.  For our Lord, Jesus Christ is faithful and true, and it is in His Name we pray.

August 15, 2016

Thank you for your prayers.  Our meeting at the Brown's was packed with information about the upcoming English Club Trip and as always, it was a blessing to see team members learn more about each other.  God has brought this 'team of 8' together as only He could.

We had the opportunity to review a sample lesson plan and ask questions.  What seemed intimidating at first proved to be very understandable and even thought provoking.  Several shared personal testimonies, it was wonderful to see how God's love reaches each of us in different times of our lives, and yet powerful to see the hope and blessing His love provides.  We are blessed to have Steve Schaefer as mentor for our group and the Browns, who have actually taught English Club last spring, as part of our team.

Your prayers for wisdom are appreciated, as we prepare our hearts and minds to be focused on the mission ahead of us.  Thank you for your partnership.  We together are a team, and your prayers are priceless!

Sunday August 14, 2016

Our Kiev English Club team is meeting today at Fern and Grant Browns, and that includes each of you!  Whether you are joining us physically or spiritually we are all on the same team for Christ. 
The email for today's meeting includes prayer, preparation and planning.  We will be using this blog to share our thoughts, photos, updates and of course prayer requests.  Below is a picture of the Ukraine for reference.  May God's blessings be on us all 'for His Glory', as the days and weeks unfold.