This audio clip is from Pastor Mikahail’s church in the Ukraine:

Mikahail’s church in Ukraine singing

Interactions like this were common during our time in Ukraine and are a large part of what makes this country so special. The people are so open and approachable. If you are willing to listen Ukrainians are willing to share. You learn of their lives, their passions and their prayers. We might not remember his name but we’ll never forget the man who took his goat for a walk one cool fall morning in the Ukraine.

Here is a newsletter we sent out to supporters. If you did not receive this and would like to be on our mailing list, please contact us through the contact form on the website or email Justin@pocketsofchange.org

Time sure is flying here in the Ukraine. We’ve been here a week already in Nikopol and it’s hard to believe how quickly the time has gone. Justin and I have heard many stories, so many it gets overwhelming. I have filled an entire notebook already in just one week, and we still have another full week here before we leave for Uganda.

We have seen great need here. We have also seen the power of Christ at work in people’s lives. Those that have nothing praise God for giving them breath and life even though they have very little else. Most have had a lifetime of hardship yet their faith is so much stronger than mine.

One thing that has really stood out to me is the ravaging effects of alcohol here; it is rampant. It’s clear Satan has a hold on many Ukrainians through this destructive substance and their families are hurt because of it. We met a woman yesterday who exemplifies this problem. Her name is Luba. Her husband drinks. And she hates it. The sadness in her eyes when she told us that said more than her words. A pool of tears welled up in her eyes as she shared about her husband. Then she told us her son went off to war, and when he came home he had mental problems and started to drink too.

“I can’t express what a suffering it is,” she voiced about her pain.
Yet Luba gets up every day determined to live as Christ would have her live. God reached out to her and saved her and she lives each day with a joy that can only come from Christ, not from her life circumstances.

For Justin, what has stood out has been how similar the Ukraine at first glance looks to Canada. When you’re driving through the streets of Nikopol and out into the countryside, it looks so similar to back home. Visible evidence like signs in another language and alphabet never allow us to pretend for too long, but the trees, the landscape and comforts of the guest home sure make it feel like home.

But, what Justin has observed, is that the more we talk to people and get to know their stories, the more foreign this country has become. What he read in history books in school is now more real than ever. These people we are meeting have lived through communism, they lived through Stalin’s regime and the concentration camps and the starvation and the corruption. It’s no longer just words in a text book; it’s real people with real experiences.

We would like to encourage those that would like to, to drop us a note once in awhile. Justin and I both are feeling out of the loop from life in Canada and sometimes feel like we’re floating in the ocean without a tether to home.

We eagerly await a chance each day to see if the internet is working and check our mail only to find out there are no messages for us. Certainly we don’t need to hear from everyone all the time, but if you are praying for us, or if you have a cool verse to share or something, we would love to get an email.

Justin and I know that we could not do this project without the support from back home. And we know that there are people praying for us as we have been protected, healthy and gathering the stories of life change we came to gather. Thank you for your prayers, for your concern, and for your friendship. We value each one of you and appreciate your support.

We went to two different churches yesterday to fellowship and bless the congregations. We hosted two banquets and handed out clothing, food and hygiene hampers to each family and each widow. One woman came up to Nadia after she received her food hamper and said God’s timing is perfect. She had just run out of food and had no money to buy more; this woman literally had nothing in her cupboards. She looked at the hamper and said this food would now last her until Christmas. Praise the Lord!

Another woman found a skirt in a pile of clothing we had laid out to give away, and she started to cry. She grabbed my arm, pulled me close and told me she had been wearing the same skirt for the last 20 years. Now she would have two skirts and was overjoyed!

Another story we heard was of a man who was thrown into concentration camps in Germany and in the Ukraine. He nearly starved to death, weighing only 36 kg when he escaped. He looked at the food and exclaimed what wealth we have now!

Still another woman came up to one of our team members after the church service and told us she just accepted Christ during the service. She had been to church before with her Christian mother. But on this day the testimonies shared by our team members as well as the sharing by Pastor John and Mary really spoke to her heart. Her mother celebrated and the daughter cried as she told us she was now born again.

It is incredible to hear these stories. Every person had one to share. Every person saw how God had worked in their lives, or how their faith had been strengthened. God is so evident in the midst of so little here in the Ukraine. There is such poverty. And there is such joy. And the endless flow of stories all point to the one Provider: Jesus.

We are very grateful to be here when there is a team so we can be a part of such incredible moments as these. We have many more to share in the days to come. The power and internet have cut in and out during our time here but we will be sure to post again shortly if we are able.

Today we tagged along with the team from Chilliwack to a men’s rehabilitation home. For the men it was a day of cleaning up the yard, stacking bricks and burning garbage as the women helped inside the house. New linens and some clothes were provided.

We had a chance to show God’s love in a small practical way and had a chance to sit down and visit with the men and learn how God has led them to the home and helping them battle their addictions.

We have two long travel days ahead of us which will take us on 3 planes, to 4 airports and one long car ride to our destination of Nikopol, Ukraine. Please pray for safety as we travel and that God will lead us in our work there.

We will post an update as soon as we get settled and find an internet connection. Stay tuned and we encourage you to comment on the blog as we go. Let us know what you think.