booklet

"Where's the exit?"

This booklet is for women thinking about abortion. I’ve stapled Olya’s business card on there, and I’m giving a stack of them to the head doctor of our women’s prenatal clinic.

I go to this clinic 2ce a month to do a one-hour lecture for expecting women about newborn care and life with small children.  So I’ve gotten to know this doctor a little. He attended church for a while, and he’s told me that he’s stopped writing abortion papers for women asking for them.

So I wanted to put these booklets with Olya’s phone number for consultation there. And he wants to give them out to women who are thinking of aborting.

Pray for opportunities to witness and reach families and women through this.

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memorial service

Saturday we had a memorial service to honor these moms and their babies.

Our girls’ group (back of heads) sang several beautiful songs, and two girls read a poem. We had some group songs, Olya and I spoke briefly a few times.

This is the center table. It has some decor on , then small tea candles, one for each baby, the big white candle represents Christ. At one point during the service, each lady comes up, lays her white roses (representing her children) in the basket and lights the candles for her babies from Christ’s candle. Then she tells us their names and says something to us or to God if she wants.

Our pastor’s wife spoke from the passage  abut how our deeds will be shown for what  they are–wood, hay, straw will burn and gold, silver, precious stones will last. She comforted us with the thought that our unworthy deeds will be destroyed, they won’t be with us to regret all eternity. And we can build deeds that will last.

Was a special time.

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Forgiven & Set Free, lesson 2

“The Character of God”

This is the longest lesson. And there’s a great reason it’s at the beginning because it gives ladies a foundation in understanding God to undergird them for the rest of the study.

When Claire, from England, taught  the introductory lesson for this chapter, she started by saying that for women who’ve had abortions, they usually see God as Judge, and it’s hard for them to see God as their Father.

This chapter takes them through several names of God–God who provides, God who heals, etc. Then through several of His main traits. Then the study addresses God as Father and His discipline.

Several ladies commented on how they were touched by learning that the purpose of God’s discipline is to produce righteousness and peace in us. Isn’t that a beautiful truth to comfort us?

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Forgiven & Set Free, July 30-Aug 1

I was a little emotional that I would be leading this seminar during Skyla’s fifth birthday (July 31).

The girls so graciously and happliy parted with me on the 30th, and I cannot say enough how thankful I am for Vitaliy for fatherhood, for his love and work as a parent.

He took them to the beach that day. Then they bought party supplies, and the girls decorated one balcony–hats, favors, etc. They bought candy, a cake, etc.

The next day they celebrated, and they went out an bought Skyla a pink scooter–I’ll try to get a photo in here. She LOVES it.

Basically, they had a blast, and the girls didn’t miss me a bit. I probably felt sadder than anyone, but I’m glad Skyla had a great day!

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Forgiven & Set Free, lessons 1-7

Leading these intense Bible studies is an amazing experience. I feel like we’re sitting there for these days, ladies studying their Bibles, going through their abortion experiences and the aftermath again, this time with God, and . . .

And I’m sitting there watch God grow fruit on them. Right before my eyes.

Fruits of exchanging God’s truth for lies, godly anger management in the place of bitterness and rage, forgiveness where there was unforgiveness, acknowledgement and repentence where there was ignorance, excuses, and hardness.

Truly, it’s watching God even visibly transform a person. It’s . . . indescribable.

More to come . . .

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Life

“Life for every mother and child.”

That’s our working vision for the mother-baby center right now.

I like it. It’s simple; it’s positive; it’s packed.

Life.

Such a powerful word.

Living life. Choosing life. Abundant life. Eternal life.  

Physical life. Spiritual life.

Breath of life, tree of life, all the days of your life, the Book of Life, water of life, the crown of life, from death to life, the Word of life, the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, the aroma of life leading to life, the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh, he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life, the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, newness of life, we shall be saved by His life, the light of life, I lay down my life, I am the resurection and the life, the Prince of life, he who loses his life for My sake will find it, give His life a ransom for many, in Him was life and the life was the light of men.

He who has the Son has life.

Life.

Life for every mother and child.

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ministry, ministry

big day for me.

10am was mommy group–it was cold and rainy out, so we decided to keep the kids at home and the mommies met at the mall! we had a special speaker some and talk about health.

then i left early at 12pm (they weren’t done yet) to go to a meeting for the mother-baby center. All the project leaders are meeting and presenting their plans for 2010. The church we were at had wi-fi, so i took my laptop and got on Skype so Olya (in PA right now) could be with us and take part. She and I have been working together writing the plans out, so it was good to have her there.

According to the plan, Lord willing, when she returns at the end of the year, we start truckin’ to start a crisis pregnancy center in Kiev; however, it won’t be one center. It will be a hotline, and clients will be sent to a counseling point in their own region with a counselor from that region. (Trying to locate in one place is a huge hamper for getting clients because traveling thru the city is a great hassle.)

Anyway, short story, there is a lot to do. That’s a good thing, and we are happy to do these things It’s all about reaching lives with the gospel! Touching eternity  . .  one life at a time!

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Mother-baby center

Last week and next week, the leaders of Father’s House projects are presenting plans for next year.

Olya and I are the leaders of the mother-baby center, so we are writing our plans for the year 2010.

Some issues have arisen with the location of the center, issues with the government. They hopefully will be decided in a month. But until then, our renovations of the building have stopped. If this building doesn’t work out, we will have to find another location. We are praying about this a lot.

Olya standng in front of the former pioneer camp we've been renovating into the mother-baby center

Another exciting opportunity is one of Olya’s dreams, to start a crisis pregnancy counseling center/network throughout Kiev. Lord willing, we’ll be able to work on this next year as well.

The idea is to advertise a hotline offering free pregnancy testing and counseling. We would have volunteers and locations to meet throughout the city (so clients don’t have to travel far), and in this way we would be able to personally evangelize and influence abortion-minded girls and women. We are thrilled We need much prayer. We will see what God will do.

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modern human slavery

I heard recently the fact that there are more human slaves today than when William Wilberforce was fighting slavery in England. Two areas have specifically been brought to my attention:

1. Sexual trafficking of women and minors

2. Using child slaves for harvesting beans (chocolate and coffee)

if you want to read more, here are some sites:

Where to buy Fair Trade items

Project Rescue

Very sad, eye-opening article in the NYTimes

Abolish Human Trafficking blog

Stop the Traffik

Those are just a start. There is a lot of information on the Web. It’s made me stop and think twice about my latte and my chocolate bar. Maybe God wants you to be involved somehow–by boycotting, by advocating, by serving, by giving.

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pray, please

Tomorrow, Friday evening, starts our first post-abortion Bible study. Friday evening, all day Sat, then next Friday eve, all day Sat and closing service on Sunday (the 14th).

we will have 2-4 women, Christians, and they are all longing for more complete healing and for God’s truth. The Bible study, Forgiven and Set Free, is very Biblically based and is full of Scripture. For confidentiality reasons, I don’t think it would be right for me to post many details or photos. Pray for healing, that we would see God as we look into His Word, and that He would teach each one what He knows she particularly needs.

and I would ask you to pray for me. I’m assisting Olya, she’s experienced at doing this, and I need to speak on several occasions. It’s a new topic for me to be talking about so in-depth in Russian, and the first time I’m talking on these certain subjects in this context. So I would appreciate it if you pray for me about that, too.

Thank you!

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