The Anti-Manichaeist

I’m on a limited time, using internet cafes and depending on the good graces of my hosts, family friends, to take me to the cafe and back for now. And so I won’t be posting or emailiing pics of my trips in the near future, in any likelihood.

Here in Ukraine, I am staying with the pastor and his family of my family’s longtime sister church, a small church in a rural region near Cherkassy, southof Kyev, and not far from the Dnieper river. The family lives in Cherkassy.

First impressions, things are changing. People are getting cellphones. The youth of the church stunned me with their clothing. Apparently, a lot of second hand clothing from the west has been made available. One of the daughters of the family I am staying with has braces. They now have a tv in the room of the church my family’s church helped to build. The local marshall of the town(and four other towns) was able to enter into the church and apparently is a believer. We talked for quite some time as he plans to become a small businessman when he retires at the age of 38.

A lot of people think that the improved economic situation of Ukraine will make things better, but many others are already pessimistic about the new leadership, unsure that the promises made will be kept.

I shared about my purpose in Ukraine. I have a tape recorder and will be interviewing people about political/religious persecution of the past and involvement in the Orange Revolution and how it has changed their present. I shared my testimony about how I became a Christian and sang the songs, Shut De Do, and an African-American version of Amazing Grace for a pentecostal service.

There was recently a storm where a nonbeliever woman was struck by a lightning bolt and killed nearby the church. A lot of the people where asking questions about why it happened. I shared with the pastor the need to point to Matthew 18:8 where Jesus did not purport to explain why another fatal tragedy happened but pointed to the need to repent and believe.

I am learning Ukrainian some and enjoying living with the family. I appreciate all prayers(and can still use some donations).

more later,
dlw