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.