Ukraine November 2011 | Day 5

It’s Thursday night here at the conference center and we sure have been busy. Since I last wrote Gayle (TSC Sparrows Ministry Leader) spoke at one of the sessions. She talked about how she was asked to start this ministry to single moms at TSC and how she thought she had failed after the first ministry meeting. She was certain that she would just tell Pastor Carter that she couldn’t do it and he simple replied “Pray about and see how the
Lord will lead you”. She shared how in her inadequacies, God had a plan and showed it to her by first taking her to the first single mom in the Bible,
Hagar.

Uncle Glenn has been focusing his sessions of the early Pentecostal movement in the US. His knowledge of early Christianity is unbelievable. I am learning so much for this conference.

Today three of us visited a day treatment program in muckachevo  for children with physical and mental disabilities. Shari (I call her aunt Shari) spoke on the perfection of God’s creation to the mothers of the children and the workers who work with their children. It was such a beautiful word and she tied it all in by talking about how God through David showed favor and love on Jonathan’s lame son (I can’t spell the name)

This program is the only one like it in it’s region which makes it hard for many children who need programs like this to thrive despite their disabilities. We counseled and prayed with some of the moms before leaving the program.

Just after our visit to the program we visited the home of Serge, Lesya, Avi, and baby Nadine who served with the translation ministry at TSC and now have moved to Ukraine to serve here. Serge along with our new Ukrainian friend Olya have been translating for us.

In the early part of the evening we ladies walked around the downtown area and had French Fries while talking about “As seen on TV” items like snuggies, and jamma-jeans. There has to be room for laughter…

Finally tonight’s evening session turned into a time of worship and prayer. Uncle Glen prayed for the pastors and their wives as well as anyone who came up for prayer.

And then after all that, we played a game of Skip-Bo and I won!

- Amy

Ukraine November 2011 | 5

It’s Wednesday night here and I just discovered if I sit in the right spot here at the Nehemiah conference center I can get the free wi-fi available for us guests.

So since our last entry we’ve moved from the Eunice Brown Home to this conference center where Glenn Brown (i call him uncle glenn) is the main speaker for a week long seminar on unity in the body of Christ. His sisters Shari and Gayle have also been asked to speak at a couple of the sessions.

Shari is the leader to a widows ministry in PA which ministers to widows from many different churches. She spoke an incredible word of encouragement that I know I needed to here. Tomorrow Gayle, our TSC Sparrows Ministry leader will be speaking and I am very much looking forward to hearing what she has to say.

Now back to uncle Glenn, I know I said he really compels  me in my own walk with the Lord but I gotta tell you he has more energy than I could ever muster up. While uncle Glenn was doing the last two sessions for today, three of us ladies went to a women’s meeting at a local Methodist church.

There were 11 precious women at this meeting from various difficult backgrounds. We all shared one testimony with them, but the main speaker was Carrie McFarland from Germany who shared a beautiful story of God’s love,healing, and freedom. It was beautiful.

It was so neat to meet her because I’ve read the book God’s Smuggler and in this book Brother Andrew talks about his friend John and this friend John is Carrie’s late husband. And the neatest thing was to hear that as great as her husband was, God had a plan for her and is using her even after he has passed away.

- Amy

Ukraine November 2011 | Day 4

Mukachevo
Yesterday we traveled from Warsaw, Poland to Budapest, Hungry by air. Then we drove about 5 hours into Western Ukriane to a town called Mukachevo. The population of this town is about 200,000. It is a small town compared to NYC but large for those living in this area.

We arrived at the Eunice Brown Home to a very hardy welcome and a huge dinner. Because we had traveled all day, we all went straight to bed after dinner.

Today we went to the pentecostal church in the area. Our oldest team member Glenn, was the guest speaker. Glenn will be 84 years old in just a couple of months and he has been coming to Ukraine for 20 years now. He will be preaching again later this evening at a Gypsy church.

Glenn may be the eldest on the team, but I must say he is the most energetic of all of us. To see someone his age serve God and have such a genuine love and fire for the things of God is both compelling and convicting. As someone who is almost 5 decades younger than Glenn, I am apprecating more and more those around us with gray hair on their heads. It is true what the scripture says…gray hair is a crown of glory.

Ukraine November 2011 | Day 3

Poland & The Eunice Brown Home

Our team has spent the last two days resting and visiting some of the sights of Poland. We have been staying with our friend Asalina, who is the Ambassador to Poland from Nigeria. It has been a real treat for us to be here in her home and tour the city as we have the last two days.

Yesterday we saw what is known as “”Old Town”and today we walked through a beautiful park and visited a palace. The day ended over a traditional Nigerian meal with a beautiful Polish pastorl family. Only in the family of God can you have a bunch of Americans, a couple of Nigerians, a Polish family, and an Indian be in the same room and they all speak the same language. Only the love of God truly transcends all barriers.

Early morning tomorrow we head out to Ukraine. Our team; Glen, Vern, Sherry, Barb, and Gayle and myself are excited to visit the Eunice Brown home. For Vern and I, this is our first visit,so we are extra excited to finally see this beautiful home that we have heard so much about.

Ukraine November 2011 | Day 2

So we finally made it to Warsaw, Poland, where we will spend the next two days before getting to Ukraine. First of, it’s not as cold as i thought it was going to be…Thank God!

We had a longer flight than expected because of an accident which took place in Warsaw, so our flight from Budapest to Warsaw was re-routed to another city in Poland and from there we took a 2.5 hour bus ride to get to Warsaw.

Isn’t it funny how you can spend a 30 hours hours with someone who is a stranger to you and then suddenly you become like family. Two members of our team met us in Budapest. So now we’re a total of 6 — and 3 of the 6 will be speaking at a pastors conference which will take place next week.

Please keep us in prayer.

- Amy Mathew

Ukraine November 2011 | Day 1

There are four of us among others at gate 42 waiting to board a flight to Milan, Italy with the final destination being Ukraine. I’m traveling with three sisters who travel there often to visit the Eunice Brown Home for Children; a home named in honor of their mom for orphaned children.

I’m not sure what to expect and I’ve learned that sometimes all you have to do is expect God to show up and He without a doubt always does. If I counted correct, this is my 18th missions trip and it’s hard to believe that I still feel the same excitement I did when I went on my first trip. It always amazes me that God really can do the most incredible things in and through a life that is willing to simply say YES!

- Amy Mathew