For Americans, the Christmas holidays in Ukraine seem to last forever, but they are finally over after fireworks at midnight marked the celebration of the "Old" New Year (don't know where that comes from, but I'll check). So we're ready to hit the ground running to build relationships and plant seeds in preparation for the spring "thaw!"
I spent the last 2 weeks of December in St. Louis with my family, along with a short hop to Little Rock to catch up with friends there. I arrived back in Kharkov on the night of the 3rd of January, tired, but thankful the Lord worked out travel without any "hitches". Now, 10 days later, I'm about back to my regular sleep cycle and expecting the Lord to give me, and Team Kharkov, the best year ever!
We are seeing Him do incredible things - things that only He could do, such as bringing almost a thousand children and parents to a Christmas party/play on December 24th, opening doors in schools for character / Christian ethic groups, and giving Amanda and I the opportunity to work in cooperation with the Women's Ministry Coordinator for the Baptist churches of the Kharkov oblast. So we are excited, yet aware of our need to seek His face more than ever.
Now all we need is SNOW!!!!!!!!
