Day 28 - Tomatoes are growing!  We have one that is a little bigger than a marble.  We have added more fertilizer and more ingredients to the compost pile.  Bugs are starting to eat some of the leaves, so treating them will be next.

Day 18. Looking good so far. We had to tie the plants to the wire because they were starting to lean over a bit. We added flowers shortly after the initial planting - we got the idea of mixing flowers in the garden area from Ukraine. Our friends Roman and Nadya had a beautiful garden - they had many different types of flowers planted amongst the vegetables.

Japanese Tomato Ring

Our first attempt at the Japenese Tomato Ring. Our garden attempts in FL have not fared well before, so we decided to try this. Planted June 5, 2012.

Ok - here is the idea behind the Japanese Tomato Ring - the ring of compost feeds the tomato plants. We used humus, fertilizer, topsoil, and leaves to start and we continue to add veggie scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells, etc... We water the compost pile, not the plants. This method of watering is recommended as direct watering of the tomato plants promotes disease and rot.

Loch Lomond Fishing/Hiking Trip July 16-17 2010

View of Loch Lomond and the falls from 11,200', just East of the Continental Divide


Mt. Evans and our campsite


West view & trail to Lake Caroline



Heading out toward the falls - water was rough on Friday


Base of the falls


Looking up the falls


Looking back toward camp











Marmot friend


Jeff testing out 4 low with Deric spotting


Snowmelt runoff stream with lush surroundings





"Test Hill"


Halfway to the top


We passed - Jeff D & Jeff A


Looking East


South view


West view - Deric, Dustin, Jeff A, and Dominic - shooting guns

God's Chisel - The Skit Guys

Visit to Крим (Crimea) pronounced "Cream"

Don't forget to roll the "r" (р)!

We had a nice trip to Крим, it was beautiful there. The city we visited, near the Sinitsa's, Evpatoria, dates back to 2500 BC. It is said that the Apostle Andrew preached near there. As I stood in the Black Sea, I could only imagine him arriving on shore with a fresh passion to tell others about the One he knew and walked with side by side. I pray that God will increase my passion for Himself every day until I see Hm face to face!

We met up with the Sinitsa's. It was so good to see them! We were welcomed as family. We shared tesimony of what God is doing - it was very encouraging to be there. Their home & yard is still in bad shape from all the destruction. Pray for them as they work to complete this big job.

Here is Jeffrey and "Papa" Sinitsa heating water for their outside shower. Papa really loves Jeffrey & Emilee.



Faith, Katrina, Jeff, Tonya, Emilee, Jeffrey, Nina, Alla (Mama), and Papa

This is the hotel where we stayed in Саки (pronounced Sock-ee). The people that own it are Christians and are good friends of the Sinitsa's. They lived in the US for 11 years before coming back and building this hotel.

The top circle is where the Sinitsa's live, Evpatoria is just south on the coast, and where we stayed in the hotel is the other circle.

Be Disciples.

This one's for Mom

I remember when Mom used to joke about the "honey wagon". So, when I saw this honey wagon in Crimea, I had to take a picture. Of course, this honey wagon has "real" honey!

This honey (МЕД) wagon has the hives on board and possibly a place to sleep.

Love you Mom!

Be Disciples.

Final update on Katrina

Katrina made it through the surgery ok. She needed 7 pins and a plate to repair her broken fibula. Her tibia was broken as well, but the doctors said it would heal on its own. We praise God that her flights home went smoothly and she only felt pain on the car ride to the hospital. She is home now, but will be in a wheelchair and will have a walker for the next three weeks. The doctors have said she will need to be home for 3 months - Katrina says 6 weeks:)

Be Disciples.

Update on Katrina

American doctors confirmed Katrina's leg is broken in 3 places. It is a severe injury. They are scheduled to do surgery sometime during the day today August 3rd (central time). They have removed the “missionary cast” and replaced it with a splint. She was kept overnight at the hospital (St. Johns in Joplin, MO).

Pray for protection from discouragement from the enemy. Pray for Katrina’s family and her doctors.

Be Disciples.

Pray for our friend Katrina

Katrina Randolph, our friend and fellow missionary here in Nova Odesa, broke her leg in Crimea. She and a friend, Faith, were hiking a hill near Simferopol and on the descent, she fell. Faith, who does not know how to drive a manual transmission vehicle, had to drive Katrina back to the hotel where we were staying. Katrina shifted while Faith pushed in the clutch. Our friend Nina Sinitsa and her nephew Dima drove Katrina to the hospital. X-rays were taken and they showed Katrina's leg (fibula) was broken diagonally, just above her ankle. The doctor (yes, only one doctor in the whole hospital), said she needed surgery immediately. They only put a partial cast on the back of her leg and under her foot. Because of the severity of the break, it was decided that she return to the US for proper care. The hospitals here in Ukraine are quite inadequate, and the processes are not the smoothest (or the cleanest).

We spent that night at our hotel because she needed crutches and could only get them the next day. Katrina was able to use the crutches to get around in her room and to the vehicle. The owners of the hotel helped take care of Katrina and were a huge blessing. The owners are Christians and live in the hotel. They recently moved back to Ukraine from Oregon where they lived for 11 years. So it was nice to be able to communicate in English during this time.

It was decided that I drive back to Nova Odesa. I am not legal to drive here, but only because of Katrina's medical condition I was. It was a 7 hour trip. Katrina was a good sport. We got back to Nova Odesa around 9:30pm Friday and met Jason, Jeff Appling, and Josh. They spent the night after arriving by bus from Osikovo, and would take Katrina to Osikovo and then Sunday to the Kiev airport.

Pray for Katrina and for the doctors/nurses in the US. Also pray for the needs here in Nova Odesa. With Katrina gone, there is a vacancy in the ministry. She may not return for 2 months. Faith will be returning to the US Aug. 17th.

Be Disciples.

Map

Here is a map detailing where we are, where we've been, and where we are going. The red rectangle is the area we covered on our Bible trip. The top circle is the Osikovo/Kenyasechee area - Jason and Joanna live in Osikovo, Roman and Nadia in Kenyasechee. We spent some time in both places, preached, held VBS's. The lower middle circle is where Tonya, the kids, and I have spent most of our time - Nova Odesa. The bottom circle is where we will be going to visit our friends the Sinitsa's in Crimea.

Be Disciples.

Bible trip near Belarusian border

On Tuesday, July 21st, Artyom, Roman, Jason, Stephon, Jeff Appling, and I, left for our trip to deliver Bibles to remote villages along the Belarusian border. We traveled up to 2 miles from the border. There was a threat of encountering border guards, but we prayed that we wouldn't run into them unless God wanted us to give them Bibles. We didn't - God had other plans for us. In most villages, we split up into 3 teams, each with a translator, so we could reach more people. Some of the villages were very small, 10-20 houses, with many vacant and only a few residents. The people survive off their own little gardens and fruit trees. Some go into the forests to pick wild blueberries to sell them. Very few ever get out of the village - they rely on weekly or bi-weekly deliveries of bread. Many of the babushka's (grandma's) that we met, we very lonely. They told us stories of WWII when the Nazis came into their villages and killed people and burned their villages. Some told us of losing their children to alcohol. They opened up to us and cried. Many of the older people were blind and uneducated. I was reminded of the verse, Matthew 9:36 - Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.

Sergey (with the bandage), was the first to repent. When Roman and I went in his home and started telling him about Jesus, he said, "I want this". He told us he just had his 4th car accident and that he went to a "witch doctor" babushka that told him he was going to die in a car accident. We told him how God spared his life and is having mercy on him and how God is more powerful than a witch doctor. He was ready to receive God's word! Please pray for him. In this picture left to right: Artyom, Roman, myself, friend of Sergey, Jason Sturtevant, friend of Sergey, Sergey, Stephon, and Maxim (Jeff Appling took the picture).


Our first campsite. We stayed in a forest that was plush with moss. Perfect for bedding under the tents. Jeff Appling and I brought these tents from the US - they worked out perfectly for the 6 of us. God blessed us with unity in our group and we had great fellowship and times of encouragement and devotions. God knew exactly what he was doing when He put us all together.

The forest was full of wild blueberries. All the plants you see in this picture are wild blueberries. Many of the villagers depend on these for food and money. We had some for a midnight snack and breakfast the next morning. We praise God for providing for the people and for us.

Roman calling to see if anyone is home.

Jason and Roman with a 98 year old man. This man told us stories of WWII and how he remembered Americans coming to help him. He was happy to see Americans again and did not want us to leave. He accepted the Bible and we prayed with him.

Our second campsite. We were about 75 miles from Chernobyl. People in this area talked alot about the radiation and how it still affected them.

Artyom and I were weary from going house to house for quite a few hours. We talked with many people and even got yelled at one time. We were waiting for Jason to pick us up to go camp for the night, but he did not show up. I told Artyom that we needed to pray and ask God for strength because we were hungry and tired. I did not want Satan to discourage us from reaching more people. We prayed. We walked up the street and saw some benches in the shade - looked like a good spot to cool off. Before we got to the benches, we saw these children with puppies. We gave them Bibles and Bible story books. They went and got more of their friends. Jason, Roman, Jeff A, and Stephon showed up. The benches started to fill up with men, drunks included. Before we knew it at least 10 men came and Roman and Stephon started to preach. They all listened and received the Word. More people showed up. More children too. We gave out more Bibles and tracts at this one location than any other on our trip!






Be Disciples.

Pray for Tural

Last evening, July 11th, the kids were outside playing and the dogs that are here at the house where we are staying, were barking like crazy. Tonya looked outside and saw Emilee & Jeffrey talking to a neighbor girl thorugh the fence. to keep the dogs quiet, she told the kids to go outside the front gate near the street. A little later, I noticed it was quiet and decided to go check on the kids. I went out the gate and saw a guy. He didn't look Ukrainian, but he started to speak to me in English. We introduced ourselves. His name is Tural and he is visiting from Azerbaijan. He met a local girl on the internet and has been here for about a week, staying with her family. He bought a one-way ticket and is not sure when he will return. He said I was the first American he has ever seen and talked to. I thought that was pretty cool! I taked to him about God and invited him to come to Bible study this morning and church this evening. He has never been to church. He came to Bible study this morning! We studied Rev. 1& 2. He paid close attention and read along. Afterwards, I asked him if he believed in God or Jesus and he kindly said, no. I gave him a New Testament. He does not seem opposed to the Bible or church. Please lift him up in prayer, bring him before God's throne. What are the odds? Meeting someone in Ukraine, who is from Azerbaijan? Pray that God will draw him close and that the Holy Spirit will lead him to the Truth. Pray that he will see Jesus. May God be glorified!

Be Disciples.

Ukraine scenery - Nova Odesa/Ulanivka

Our kids aren't used to seeing so many cows close to houses and roads. The owners usually tie them to a stake in the ground and will move them from every day or so.

The soil here is very dark and fertile.

Beautiful wheat fields! We have been watching them harvest the wheat - big combines and tractors.





Be Disciples.

Our first VBS - Ulanivka

Our first VBS location was about 45 minutes from Nova Odesa. Remember the picture of the highway to Nova Odesa? Yeah, the roads to Ulanivka were a lot more fun! This village was nice and we are thankful that we had a little house to be in. It was very hot and the block house provided sufficient relief. We had as many as 19 kids (including ours). They were all very attentive and respectful. Continue to pray for the kids age 11 and older that they may attend our youth camp in August.

The view down the street from our VBS house

Entrance to the VBS house

Look at all the sandals!

Bobbing for apples - new game for the Ukrainian kids. They had fun!

Emilee got one too!

We had a picnic day the last day of VBS - pinata, food, and best of all - Bibles. I wish you could have heard the kids busting that pinata! They never saw one before and they loved it! We blindfolded them and spun them around - it was great! One of the girls, Anya, cracked it open. Then after it all settled, we gave them all Bibles. Sasha asked for one the day before and when he got his, he started reading it immediately. Continue to pray for Sasha. I will point him out in the group picture.

Scrambling to get all the candy!

Stephon sharing with the kids after receiving their new Bibles

Pray that Sasha will learn the Word and will disciple the other kids.

Be Disciples.