Tuesday, we began by taking a trip to a Rehab home for men hooked on alcohol and drugs. Pastor Vitaly (far left) led these men to the Lord in his church in Ternopil, but found the men were addicted to alcohol and drugs and couldn't get victory over it. He began this home way out in the village to help the men stay away from their bad influences and put them in an atmosphere of Bible study, hard work, and accountability.
We sat around the living room and the men sang and gave testimonies of how God worked in their lives. It was a time of giving God glory for intervening in their lives. This home needs additional funds to complete the building. They raise their own chickens and rabbits, as well as work a large garden for food.
After the trip to the rehab home, we visited Pastor Vitaly's church in Ternopil. This is a city of 230,000 people and over 30,000 college students. Pastor Vitaly started the church from scratch 5 years ago and has seen alot of souls saved. In this picture is Tony Quirici, myself, Sam, and Pastor Vitaly. Tony is from New York and has been to Ukraine numerous times. He is alot of fun to be around.
Below is Pastor Vitaly's new building. They are meeting in a rented facility right now and can only have the facility on Sunday, because of the cost. This building, when it is finished, will let them have a place 7 days a week. They will be able to have an office and classrooms for Sunday School and youth meetings.
We spent the night with Pastor Vitaly and his family out in a village. They are a very sweet family.
Wednesday morning, we left and traveled back to Kiev. On the way back, we stopped and saw this man, Leonid. He is the tallest man in the world at 8'5". He is slouching a bit in this picture, but still towers us. He has recently been saved after Tony got a burden for him several years ago and started witnessing to him. Leonid had a tumor in his pituitary gland that caused growth hormones to explode. He is not in the Guiness Book of World Records, though, after denying permission for them to put him in.
Wednesday evening, we had dinner with Pastor Igor Boloshov and his family. Igor is also the director of the Servicemen Center in Desna. He preaches at a nearby church plant. He served in the special forces of the Soviet Union army before coming to Christ. What a blessing it was to hear his testimony, as well as his wife, Lana.
Lana fixed us a really good Ukranian meal.
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