A number of interesting things have happened that I often forget to include. Two that I remember…

The other day I was in Donetsk finishing a cup of coffee and this obviously foreign guy is there sitting at a table with a lady who had to be his interpreter. I had arrived after they had been there and was about ready to leave. The man got up and went to pay. As he passed me he said, “I could not help but hear English being spoken. Is it Australian English?” I replied, “No it is Arkansas English.” The guy then introduces himself as being Canadian.

One day Tanya came back into the flat with a bag containing ice cream cones (the kind we call “drumsticks” back home—a waffle cone rolled up in paper with a chocolate topping and nuts). She announced that after supper we were going to have ice cream. About an hour before supper she announces that she is going to take the ice cream out and let it get “soft.” I had once been told that children are not to eat ice cream until it is completely melted because if not their throats will freeze and they will cough. While I knew this was the process for children eating ice cream, I had not learned that it was also the process for adults. After an hour sitting out at room temperature, the process was completely successful—my ice cream cone was very soft.

Working in Ivano-Frankivsk

The first day in Ivano-Frankivsk began early as we were trying to meet with several people who could help explain the problems we are encountering in getting approvals from Ivano-Frankivsk to send in containers. We had planned three meetings, but only had one. However, it was very profitable. We first went to the office of the woman who serves as secretary of the humanitarian aid. At first she was not very happy to see us. But when she learned we were not there to blame her but to ask her help, she changed completely. In order for a container to be approved there are several steps in the process.

First, I need to give a gift letter and invoice of what will be shipped to the Consignee. Next the consignee then makes an application to the local humanitarian aid commission asking for approval. Then that approval is sent to Kyiv where the national Humanitarian Aid Commission places the approval in the minutes and the minutes are sent back to the Regional office who, in turn, sends it to the Consignee. The lady this morning gave us copies of the minutes of the Regional Humanitarian Aid Commission showing that Ivan’s applications had been approved and sent to Kyiv in late January. Then the lady called Kyiv and talked with someone there who told her that the minutes approved for Ivan were neither rejected nor approved—they never got to the meeting! What this tells us is that the trouble was not in the regional office but in Kyiv. About that time Ivan received a telephone call informing him that I will have a meeting with the Vice-Prime Minister in Kyiv to discuss the troubles. I asked for copies of the regional letters and minutes so I can take them to Kyiv showing that the documents were approved and sent.

Following that meeting I went to Staryy Lisets where Ron Swang has been working on setting up a dental clinic. We were to meet Mayor Anatoly but our arrival had been delayed and Anatoly had given up on waiting for us and left his office. I was able to go to the dental clinic building and look at the remodeling that is on-going. They have done a really good job in dividing up the large rooms into smaller rooms. Ron’s clinic is coming along just fine and as soon as we get some voltage converters over here (these are to be delivered on the first container coming into Ivano-Frankivsk) then the clinic will be fully operational.

While in Lisets Ivan took me to the building that the city is offering to them for a meeting place. Actually it is a complex of four different buildings and a large garden spot. It will take some repairs and remodeling but it should work just fine. At this point Ivan is storing materials and other items there because he has no space elsewhere for storage. In looking at the dental clinic and then the house, the prospects of a successful work in Lisets is more exciting. Ivan says that he is overpowered with where to be—he began in Ivano-Frankivsk then Nebliv opened and now Staryy Lisets. He says he receives calls from each location and needs to be at three different places at one time.

Tonight began our study of the Sermon on the Mount. I am focusing upon the Beatitudes. As we started to walk to the Carpathian Hotel tonight it began a heavy rain. The cold wind had blown all day long and with the rain it felt really cold. I was glad I had my scarf and gloves! We had 8 present for the class tonight. A man named “Orest” was present. Orest lives outside of the city and his coming means that he has to overnight. Thus, coming to Bible study takes great effort from him but he is willing to pay the cost. His presence is always encouraging to me.

Tomorrow promises to be another full day. Tomorrow is “Victory Day” over the German fascists. During World War 2 Ukraine suffered more than any other European country. The victory that drove the Nazis out of this country is remembered with fervor and rejoicing each year. This means another holiday that we have to work around on this trip. We plan to go to the village Nebliv and visit the orphanage and take shoes, clothes, and toothbrushes to the children. These shoes are the ones that Kathy Cadden has arranged to be donated free by the “Soles for Souls” group. Tomorrow night we will once again assemble for Bible study and continue our study of the Beatitudes.

Please the pictures on the website.  There are also two videos that you can watch of my travels.

Things continue to go well on this trip. I am continuing to seek and identify the source that has been hindering our efforts in obtaining the necessary HAC approvals to ship containers into Ivano-Frankivsk. Continue praying for our efforts!