Report 12 | October 20, 2011
Today has been a good day in spite of the head cold/sinus that is plaguing both me and Tanya. I guess we were out in that blustery, wet, cold wind in Sevastopol and “caught” a cold. All day yesterday we were both sneezing. Tonight I told the study class that if I had one kopeck for every sneeze yesterday I would be a rich man today. After I said that, Vasya (who was with Ivan in the car with us yesterday) said that he and Ivan were both trying to dodge the sneezes and after he got home he ate so much garlic that today people could smell him coming before they saw him! I put my order in with the cook for some good homemade chicken soup and tonight she delivered! So I think I am on the mend. Of course, I am being treated to a number of other cures that are guaranteed to drive the cold away. But I draw the line at eating garlic!
Today Ivan and Vasya picked us up and we continued visiting places where our shipments have been distributed. We visited the Regional Hospital at Nadvernia. (We had visited this hospital previously and on my last visit it was here that I was presented with the three handpainted Easter eggs.). When we arrived, the Chief Doctor met us and apologized because he was rushed. Evidentially there had been some kind of explosion and the news media were there to cover it. He did take time to show us items that have been received from our containers. The last containers to be distributed have arrived from Columbus, MS where Kathy Cadden’s group had loaded them. The beds and equipment were great and much appreciated. This is a 200+ bed hospital and they are asking us to help furnish all of the beds. This hospital is willing to work with Ivan in a number of ways and even offered to provide their conference room for us to come and present a series of lessons to all its employees and to the community. The hospital is refurbishing its maternity house and I was shown where several of our incubators and infant warmers had been placed.
Tonight was the first Bible study session scheduled. When we showed up I found out that all of the women and children had stayed home because they were fearful of getting ill and some had just recovered from being ill. I am told there is some kind of flu making its rounds here. When they heard the news that both Tanya and I were sneezing and coughing, that was sufficient concern to keep the children home. Some present even wore masks to keep from catching any germs. So the class was all men except for Tanya. I was scheduled to continue the marriage and parenting class that we began in the spring, but once I found out the women were not going to be present I decided that I needed to change lessons. The men thought it would be a great time for me to talk about women! I decided to give a survey on the Book of Galatians putting into contrast the Law and the Gospel of grace. We had a visitor tonight named Slavik. He is a friend of Vasya and was very interested and active during the class. I decided upon a study of Galatians because of the visitor and thought it would provide a good discussion for one brought up in the Greek Catholic Church with its rituals and legalism. Evidently Ivan has been talking with Slavik because in the class Ivan referenced several things about Savik’s religious relationship. It was good to hear Slavik say at the end of the class that he had been wrestling with some questions and the class had helped him know what he should do.
It is encouraging to me to see how Ivan has encouraged the members to reach out to their family and friends in a non-offensive manner. Volodya is now talking with his mother who lives in a village. Julianna and Marina have been able to get their aunt to attend and this was shocking to all.
When I arrived at class tonight I heard that Andrew and Marina are to be parents again! It is really very early (about 3 weeks) so Andrew says there are many questions unanswered about the pregnancy; but as a precaution he wore a mask so he would not take any germs home to Marina.
Today I was delighted to receive a phone call from Galina. She has worked with Gary Jerkins and Ron Swang for many years and is a dear sister in the Lord. She is the amazing coordinator of Gary’s project SeaStar Kids—a summer camp that follows the kids all through the year to make sure they get integrated into a local congregation (this has really turned out very well and is laying a solid foundation for future years). Galina called me about some dental equipment that Ron is shipping to various locations in western Ukraine. Ron is a dentist in the Nashville, TN area and was responsible for setting up the dental clinic in Starry Lisets. He is now working to set up a dental clinic in the village that has given land for the Church to construct a meeting place. On our next two containers out of Judsonia we will have 6-8 dental chairs and units along with compressors and various tools—all by the effort of Ron!
I failed to mention in last night’s report the intriguing fact that when you visit the villages in western Ukraine you do not greet them with the customary “Good morning or afternoon or evening. Instead you say “Slava Hesus sou Christo” (“Glory to Jesus Christ”). When we stopped to ask directions, Ivan forgot this greeting and used the customary “Good afternoon.” As we drove off he asked me if I noticed the way the people looked at him when he greeted them. From that point on he remembered to greet them with “Slava Hesus sou Christo.”
Thank you for your continued interest and prayers in the gospel’s efforts!
John L. Kachelman, Jr.
Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
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