Trip to Ukraine - Friday, September 16

Today, we were able to visit a state run orphanage and distribute children's Bibles and care packages to about 80 children.  It was heartbreaking to see these children, who have for the most part, grown up in homes of alcoholics and drug addicts.  There are 300,000 orphan children in Ukraine.  The majority of them get involved in crime and prostitution when they get out.  BIEM has the privilege and open door to conduct evangelism and Bible studies there and is involved in humanitarian aid to the orphanage.  If your church would like to get involved in putting care packages together or helping to buy a nice hardback children's Bible for $3, you can contact BIEM through their website.

Dr. Larry Oats from Maranatha Baptist Bible College and myself with some of the children from the orphanage.

Eugene and myself distributing care packages to the children.

This boy is happy with his new children's Bible and care package.

With Bro. Slobodian's help, I am explaining to the children that Americans gave for these Bibles to be given.

After that, we were off to lunch at a pastor's home and then to see the church that has been built in the town of Fastiv.  This church is about 15 years old and the pastor is getting up in years.  Pray that God will lead a younger pastor to take his place.  The older pastor shared his testimony with us.  As a baby, he was abandoned during the war.  A lady found him and brought him to a church service.  There, a couple took them as their own son and raised him.  Later, he was saved and called to preach.  This man's son is Eugene, the Ukranian director of the BIEM mission.  What another amazing story of God's grace and sovereignty!  

We are eating borscht (soup) which is always served at the beginning of each meal.  Also fried chicken!  

Anatole and Hala and their children.  Anatole has graduated from the seminary and is the assistant pastor for Pastor Mikhail in Fastiv.  

The church in Fastiv.  It took about 10 years to build.  Pastor Mikhail did all the woodwork himself.  BIEM planted this church in a theater and then helped raise the funds for materials to build the building.  

Me, Pastor Mikhail, and his son, Euguene, the Ukranian director of BIEM mission