Thursday March 16, 2017

It's so fun to engage the students with stories from our lives.  It opens the door to have significant conversations with them.  We are also enjoying reconnecting with our friends from last year's English Club, both students and teachers alike.

Paul Currier, 2nd trip EC.

Paul & Cheryl Currier-Rifle Colorado

You may have heard those names before, as Paul and Cheryl were part of the 2016 Spring English Club.  Cheryl is a teacher and her background in ESL helped to create the new Lesson Plans for the Spring Classes.  We are so appreciative to her for the hours of prep work she, Fern and Rachel put into this.  The lesson plans were created such, that they could be used over and over.  Great thinking gals.

Tonight is the American Party, where students come and get a 'taste' of America.  Literally and figuratively.  There will be presentations on the USA, and American Cuisine -- that's where the peanut butter comes in :). A few games and singing all to create relationships and show how people all over the world are God's creation and we share so much.  Paul will be giving his testimony and although this is last minute please pray for God's glory to touch the hearts and minds of the students and anyone within ear shot!  Even if you read this after the fact, please pray the seeds that were planted are watered and tended, as we never know who, when or where a soul make may the decision to follow Christ.

We have tons of pictures to post but that will have to wait until tomorrow, when we will also have some of the American Party.
God bless you and keep you

(Thank you so much, Rita, for blogging for the team!!) (Family and friends, these are the members of our team from Medford, WI -- Fern & Grant, Rita, Sandy, and then me with my Ukrainian friend, Natalie.)

Our first Sunday here in Kiev was such a sweet day. One of my friends from years ago was able to join us for church and for lunch. Please pray with me that she (Natalie) would want to join a church family and grow.

I am especially humbled to see how many young families there are in the churches here now and what sincere believers God has raised up here on staff with Cru. It is so beautiful to see how God's church has grown over these last twenty years -- I have cried tears of joy and awe several times in these few days since we arrived.

We have had quite the whirlwind this week. Preparing for class time and setting up the rooms each night does take a lot of time, and the classes are full of eager students hanging on our every word; however, it is all worth it when I take time to reflect on how God is at work, patiently drawing us to Himself -- how He has touched me and trained me so that now I can reach out to others.

Our first night (and every night since), as I stood up to read the passage from scripture to the students, I got chills when I realized I was reading God's Word aloud in a former communist university classroom! What a beautiful, crazy, amazing privilege.

Today was our third class time, and my co-teacher and class administrator, Lena, said she really enjoyed the class and my teaching time. She said I spoke loudly and clearly and that I was relaxed and "enjoying the stage" (the limelight?). I am so thankful for her comments because I have been worried about how class was going.

I would greatly appreciate your prayers for my class. Five students keep leaving before the Bible lesson time, and their attitude is one of "it's not cool" to stay around for Bible study. They seem to leave as a group. Please pray with me that they would have a change of heart.

Praise God with me for how the other students are leaning in to learn and read more in the Bible. Praise God with me for how I have been able to share examples from my own life of how God has touched and changed me.

Last but not least, Friday I will travel alone to my "hometown" in Ukraine, where I lived back in 1997-98. It is an overnight train ride. I would appreciate your prayers for my trip there and back (I will take the overnight train back on Sunday night). I need discernment about who to visit and who to call, etc.

Thank you so much for your love and prayers.

Kelly Schafer

Kelly and Sandy preparing for English Club.
It's so nice to have the curriculum created for us.  It makes our preparation for class much easier.









The picture to the right is Sandy and Linda's Class. Dima is our class administrator, he takes care of all the 'techy' stuff and makes sure we stay on time for each hour.  In Sandy's words... these students are 'awesome'!

Monday Evening 10:53PM

Prayers Answered!  The first night of English Club always holds some trepidation, with timing, computers, seating and you name it, it can happen.  That being said, all went pretty smooth.  The students commented they were happy to be there, and with smiles on their faces.  That may sound funny but as the teams have shared before, the normal facial response is emotionless.  The class lessons ran seamlessly and allowed for much conversation.  The students were prepared to learn.

Sandy shared, as she presented the Bible Lesson Hour, she felt the Holy Spirit 'take over' and the words flowed from her mouth :).  Her sweet spirit is a huge blessing for her class.

The Q&A for the Bible Hour on Creation led to some interesting discussions and a wide variety of answers, from the Big Bang Theory, to it just happened, to 'if there is a God, then I would want to know him', to 'I just don't believe, and then one small voice chimed in, 'I do believe in a Creator'.

Please pray that the Holy Spirit continues to open these young minds to God's Word. That relationships be formed to challenge their thinking process for open discussion, and that they feel 'safe' in sharing their responses knowing they will not be judged.

Thank you to all of our 'prayer partners', God hears you.

Sunday Evening March 12, 2017

The beauty of hearing Praise and Worship in another language makes you stop to think of how wonderful the song of heaven will be!  This morning we attended a Ukrainian Baptist Church that offers English Translation.  Their pastors were at a conference and the service and message were given by a seminarian, who delivered God's word with great impact.  It was so powerful to listen to Scripture being unpacked and shared in a different language, with the conviction of the message so appropriate to the two weeks we have ahead of us in English Club.... it was evident God prepared this man to speak today, and we felt it was for our hearts to hear. 

This evening we had a meeting with Ukrainian Staff.  We reviewed the outline for class, touched on the curriculum and got to meet with our co-teachers and class helpers.  We ended in prayer and fellowship.  Please continue to pray with us for the students minds and hearts to be open to God's Word, and that as teachers we can model Christ to our students-for His Glory.

In the days ahead we hope to share stories from our classrooms so you can pray more specifically for needs that may be presented.

Serving with you, the Ukraine Team

Friday March 10, 2017-DEPARTURE DAY for Kiev English Club Team :)

Left to right:
Kelly Schafer, Sandy Resech, Rita Clark, Fern Brown, Grant Brown, meeting us in Kiev will be Cheryl and Paul Currier, of Rifle, CO.





Lots of prayer, preparation, planning and packing have gone into making this trip a reality.  We are but one of 2 Mission teams leaving from FBC in March.  Like you, we have been in prayer for this trip.  The English curriculum is somewhat different this year, as Cheryl Currier, Fern Brown and Rachel Dolezalek used their gifts and talents in helping create the English portion of our classes. Thank you for the many hours you have devoted to this cause.

In just a few hours we will be immersed in Ukrainian Culture, meeting with CRU staff and putting the final pieces of our English Club together.

Please continue in prayer for God to be glorified in all that is thought, said and done in our days ahead.  We walk on this earth to be used of Him.  Let His light shine through us.  Isaiah 55:9-11, Hebrews 13:20-21
more to come.... stay tuned!