(Updated on November 6, 2009)

•  We have arrived safely in the U.S. and are getting settled in a great home provided by the church in Wheaton where I used to work.  People have gone out of their way to make us feel at home, and it is great to have such a warm reception!  Juliette’s first few days in kindergarten have gone well, and her school is only two blocks away.  We are still getting settled in and trying to take care of mundane tasks such as getting cell phone service and a driving license for Anya.  We’ve also started off with a slew of doctor’s visits, and these and other errands have kept us on the go.  We hope to settle down soon so that I can focus more on the important work of visiting churches and friends who have been participating in our church-planting work in Ukraine....  Pray that we will somehow get a driver’s license for Anya (there are many complications, including needing a SS card), and that I will be able to visit at least all the churches that currently support us.

•  The H1N1 scare has finally reached Ukraine -- as a full panic!  People are wearing masks, public meeting are restricted, traveling around the country is discouraged and somewhat restricted, and all school and university classes are cancelled for three weeks!  The center of the scare is in western Ukraine, where L’viv is located.  Apparently the streets have been very empty....  Please pray that God will protect His people from physical and other problems, and that all these limitations will help and not hinder the growth and well-being of our groups and ministry.

•  We have continued to follow up with students who attended our English camp this past summer.  Around 20-30 students have been attending our Thursday night large group meeting, which has now moved to a new location in a park building next to L’viv’s two largest universities.  In addition, some of the female students attend a Bible study taught by teammate Masha Shepherd, and guys gather on Wednesday evenings to discuss whatever they feel like at the home of our interns, Jon Powell, Clarke Norton, and Sashko Nezamutdinov (from L’viv).  Every other Friday the Shepherds have students over for an English movie night.  Furthermore, we also organize trash pick-ups and other ways to show God’s love in the city.  It is exciting to see this group gain momentum and identity, and we look forward to witnessing God’s continued work!

•  After taking a hiatus this past summer, we have restarted the Sunday evening community group/ Bible study.  We have been studying the Ten Commandments in the context of God’s relationship with His people.  It has been an enjoyable time of learning and fellowship, and several people have attended with some coming every week.  We hope and pray that this group will, in time, help provide the formation of a core group for our new church here in L’viv.  Our teammate, Doug Shepherd, will continue this group while we are away in the U.S.

•  Anya found out that two of her friends/ acquaintances in L’viv (and mothers of Juliette’s friends) have gotten involved with the Jehovah’s Witnesses!  The latter have headquarters and a printing press in the L’viv area for all of the former Soviet Union; thus, they are very active here.  Please pray for God to open these two women’s eyes to see this awful cult for what it truly is!  Pray for Anya to know how best to help them as she studies up on this infamous cult and for these women to be drawn to the real God and the real truth!

•  The Nikolaev church (where I used to serve) is currently without a pastor.  The previous pastor, Alexei, has left the church along with his family as his own personal and faith struggles have recently moved him to adopt more or less an atheistic view of reality.  Andrei and Sasha remain the two elders of the church, while Yura -- who served as the church’s pastor after me -- is helping Andrei to carry the preaching load.  Please pray for these church leaders and for the congregation to emerge stronger and healthier from this new trial!  Pray especially for Andrei as much of the pastoral responsibility has come to rest on his shoulders.  Also ask our Lord to help Alexei and his wife Vika to wrestle well with their own beliefs and unbeliefs, and to give them wisdom in knowing how to relate to the Christian faith and the church.

•  We appreciate your continued prayers for our family’s physical, emotional, mental, and -- above all -- spiritual health!

THANK YOU FOR JOINING IN OUR MINISTRY IN UKRAINE THROUGH YOUR PRAYERS!