Spring 2008.  From April 21-May 17 John will be in Ukraine following up on shipments of benevolence items, involved in preaching and teaching in local congregations and in meeting with various government officials. The meetings with various officials will address points of interest and concern on a broad latitude. The trip is expected to be filled with activity and travel from the time he disembarks from the airplane a Kyiv’s Borispol Airport to the time he returns to Borispol in the wee hours of the morning on May 17 to return to the USA. Tanya has scheduled everything and has just returned from her mom’s where they planted the family garden. In the below email she highlights the schedule planned for this trip. We have included a map of Ukraine so you can see the places mentioned.

Email reports will be sent back as John has access to internet connections. You may have already subscribed to the email report list where these are automatically sent to you. If you have not then you can subscribe by clicking here and following the directions for receiving the reports. Or simply read the reports on this web site as they are posted. On this trip John will be going alone because those that normally travel with him have spread out their trips to have a more constant presence in the areas where they are working. This means that he will miss being with those companions and will especially miss opportunities to torment his dearest “Emma.”

John continues to be thankful for the support that has been given that allows this trip to be possible. Thank you also for the continuing support that allows our efforts in Ukraine to continue. The scope of our involvement in the world has become a juggernaut and as John leaves we are in involved not only in Ukraine but also in Honduras, India, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, Sudan, Somalia, Nicaragua, Iraq, Tajikistan, and Mexico. There are discussions as to immediate involvement in Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Laos, Thailand, and Zimbabwe. Just this week we have been presented with an opportunity to be involved in Dilijan, Armenia!  [Read about John's Misison Work around the world]

Here is Tanya’s email:

“Hi John,

I'm back home. The trip back went well and the bus did stop so I didn't have to spend nine hours in an open train (sometimes bus driver does not want to stop so I prayed he would stop and God heard my prayers). Also another prayer was answered as Victor and Andrew met me and helped with heavy bags (Mom sent them some canned veggies). I had a lot of time to think over the schedule and I realized that the next week after we get to Donetsk will be a holiday week from Mon through Sun. We need to move trip to Kramatorsk to May 3-5 and then we could fly to Ivano-Frankivsk the next day and stay there through May 14 - 8 days and then you have to go to Kyiv for final meetings and Department of State conference where you are to address the assembly. You are scheduled to meet with several chiefs in Ivano-Frankivsk as Ivan is taking care of that situation. Of course in Ivano-Frankivsk you will be going to several villages and certainly with Mayor Anatoly in Staryy Lisets. The trip to Krivoy Rog could occur on the holiday week since most will not be attending classes because of holiday giving opportunity to work in dachas. I'll call Volodya and tell him to get in touch with those places that wanted to meet with you and talk about humanitarian aid and tell them that if they were still interested in it we could meet with them April 28, 29 or 30. Also the Sunday upon your arrival (April 27) is Orthodox Easter and Victor and Victoria have invited us. It would be good to visit with them. Meeting with Our Home will be Thursday April 25. It looks like we will be traveling a lot. We need to think about best time for going to Konstantinovka as well and perhaps checking on Rovno. As for teaching it looks like you are scheduled to teach in Kramatorsk (which will include Konstantinovka), Krivoy Rog, and I-F. I received your note to Ivan about class topics in Matthew 5-7 so it looks like we are set. Time in Kyiv upon arrival will be full schedule as you are to meet with Cabinet of Ministers and then with Sergiy that Ed S asked. I think Sergiy will want you to teach at the congregation there as well. This is what we have definite. But you know how appointments become added almost instantly once you set a foot into Ukraine and people hear you are back.”

John will be sending back email reports as often as possible. At times he will be in locations where email is not possible. You can receive the email reports automatically by subscribing to the mailing list.

Be sure to keep John in your prayers as they travel and work in various aspects of this trip!

Click here or on the Ukrainian coat of arms to see a map of Ukraine that you can use to follow the travels and places on this trip.

Last Updated 05.11.2008