More PHOTOS from Ukraine '07
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Medical supplies courtesy of
Global Mission Medicine |
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Dr. Luda |
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Ukrainian children |
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Dr. Blake, Carol,
(hygienist),
Dr. Dane |
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At church in Vilsk (Pastor Yuri) |
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Pastor Ken, Pastor Anatoly |
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Pastor Victor & Tanya |
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Joan |
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Dr. Blake, Carol |
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Kathy (background) |
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Pastor Ken, Pastor Yuri |
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Work site: Addition foundation |
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Work site: Addition foundation |
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Pastor Nicholi & wife, Dr. Luda |
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August 8, 2007
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Pastor Ken
Sanders |
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It's hard to believe that we have come to the last day of the dental clinic and work on the Gorodische church building. As of the last night, the dental clinic had seen and treated about 108 children, including a few adults. We hope to top 120 by the end of today. For many of the children, it was their first time to a dentist. There were at least a few children who had 14, 16 or 18 of their 20 teeth which needed treatment. There have been a few real noisy little ones on the benches this time, but over all, the clinic has been quiet and orderly and has run wonderfully. The health of the team overall has been excellent this summer. In yesterday's team devotions, the subject was from the book of Acts, chapter 13 and 14 on "how to communicate to those back home all the things that God has done". We saw that the church was gathered together and report was given. The context suggests that Paul and Barnabas spoke of the intense hunger for the gospel, the electing grace of God, the trials and hardships, also the joys in the Holy Spirit. The team shared ideas of how to share with those in our families and churches. The use of testimony, the sharing of pictures, and video were some helpful suggestions.
Today is the last day of clinic. Our plan is to work until 6 pm, eat dinner, then pack up the clinic afterward. Tommorrow is a free day. Then Friday, the plane departs around 12 noon UA time, arriving back in Boston at 4:35 pm on Friday. A little later to Cinncinati and Colorado and N.Y.
Joan has had great success this summer is speaking Russian with the children and parents at the entrance to the clinic. She has listened to many stories and has enjoyed a special relationship which we all long for. The language barriar is the largest roadblock to going on to a deeper friendship and brotherhood. We are very thankful for our translators this summer, Julia, Julia, Luda and Natasha. They have worked tirelessly and lovingly for many hours and after hours. Pastor Kovba speaks English fairly well and is a "large help" in helping us to understand and learn.
Marilyn enjoyed working with the children at the entrance to the clinic the first few days but now is permenantly (until the end of the mission trip) working well at the cleaning bench. Her service there has freed Kathy up to move up to an assisting position. Kathy has been assisting Dr. Dane, Elizabeth has assisted her father, Dr. Blake, and Ian has done an excellent job working with Carol!
Of course, Blake, Dane and Carol have been inspiring to all of us in both their loving attitudes and diligent labors. Patrice has single handedly run the sterilization unit this summer. I wonder how many dental tools she cleaned? Hundreds? Pastor Ken has helped on the mechanical end. Jon has also spent some mornings problem solving and learning the mechanical aspect. Paul, Sam, Isaac, Daisy and Jon have been working with Pastor Nicolai every day at Gorodische. They have learned to build forms, mix concrete, move heavy objecs and tear down walls (inside the existing building).
A highlight yesterday at the clinic was that a Belarussian family travelled about 7 hours to come to the clinic with their children. We are grateful for God's provision for this family.
A need exists here in the Zhitomir region not only for dental clinic - perhaps a future medical clinic? - building projects - but also, there is a need , God willing, for a Reformed pastor to come and live among these brethren, and teach them aspects of biblical church government, theology, church membership, church planting, etc.. Please pray the Lord would provide this, if it is His will.
As this is the last email from the Ukraine, I want to express on behalf of the team, our great thanks for all the prayers and support that have been given. "Brethren, pray for us" was the apostle's request and is ours as well. We have seen the Lord's hand in so many ways. Our hope is that this annual summer mission will be a blessing to our home churches, to the brethren in Ukraine, to those who have come on the team and to those who pray for it. Our hope is that God was glorified by this work and that He might receive this as a "living sacrifice". Our prayer is that God's elect in these villages will become awakened by faithful preaching and orderly churches and that Satan may be resisted and that Christ and His Word honored.
Writing on behalf of the team members - Blake, Dane, Carol, Daisy, Elizabeth, Sam, Kathy, Isaac, Jon, Paul, Patrice, Ian, Joan, and Marilyn -
In Christ,
Pastor Ken Sanders
August 6, 2007
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Pastor Ken
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Hello to everyone from the Zhitomir region in the Ukraine. Our communication access has been less than last year. We do have use of cell phones but the email access is a dial up connection only available during the day at the clinic. Last summer, we did most of our email and updates to website from the hotel in the evening hours. We are doing our best to keep the website updated and contacts with family.
The gracious and sovereign Lord has been richly blessing the mission trip this summer and our hearts rejoice in His Word and faithfulness.
The Team
We give thanks to God that the team has been healthy so far. Team devotions this morning were opened by Dr. Dane Logan. He taught us from Psalm 103 and emphasized the goodness of God in the many common grace blessings we have in America.
we called to be thoughtful on dedicating our whole lives in service to Christ. The fifteen member team fits perfectly into the fifteen seat van of Pastor Anatoly.
Work on Gorodishche Church Building
Each morning, Paul, Sam, Isaac, Jon and Daisy have been leaving the dental clinic at about 10 am and traveling about 10 minutes down the road to Gorodishche. They have completed a raised foundation of cement and have been tearing out walls on the inside of the existing building. They have been finding some interesting things in the building. A World War 2 winter jacket was found which was full of moth eaten holes. Since it was going to thrown away, a few buttons were cut off as souvenirs. The team has enjoyed working together with Nicolai. He is robust and cheerful man who is a hard worker and sets an excellent example of industriousness. In three weeks, all the brothers, who are now working on the new seminary building, will have completed that work and will move to Gorodishce to complete the church building. Pastor Kovba will be sending us detailed pictures of the progress of the work which will be posted on this website.
Dental Clinic
This summer, the dental clinic is staying the whole time in the church of Gadzinka.
Dr. Blake, Dr. Dane, Carol and Marilyn have been working at the benches. The assistants have been Elizabeth, Daisy, Ian, and Kathy. We have also had 3 or 4 translators every day. The clinic, in two and half days of clinic last week, has seen already over 50 children. Today is Monday. We are seeing children from the city of Chernakov. Many of these children have never been to the dentist. Dr. Blake treated one child, who was very noisy on the bench, and this child required almost every tooth to receive some kind of treatment. Chernakov is Pastor Anatoly's home town and the place where , by God's goodness, he has been able to begin a second church. About 15 - 20 are meeting on the Lord's Day afternoon. Pastor Anatoly preaches in Vishpol in the am and Chernakov in the pm. So far, mechanically, the clinic has run without any major glitches. Saturday was not a work day so the team will be working until 7:00 pm for the next three days to make up a little lost time. The free day for the team has been moved to Thursday. The team hopes to pack up the clinic Wednesday night after dinner, free day on Thursday and then fly home to USA on Friday. With two dentists, one hygienist and one working at the cleaning bench, the progress has been sure and steady.
Saturday and Lord's Day
This past weekend was special because on Saturday morning three churches came together for a service of baptism. 20 people were baptized. Then, on the Lord's Day morning, two more were baptized in Vilsk.
We praise God for his goodness in building these churches and we ask prayer for these people that they may run the race marked out for them by our Savior.
On Saturday afternoon, Pastor Sanders met with the four pastors and one deacon and enjoyed an hour and one half of "open forum". Each pastor asked a question from one area of practice; theological, practical, ecclesiastical, worship, church order, etc... and then the other pastors gave answers. It was a blessed time with the presence of God's Spirit and a joyful time looking into Scripture. Questions about spiritual baptism, church membership, the roles of pastors and deacons and finances were asked. Please pray for these pastors that they may grow doctrinally but also practically as they seek to apply biblical principles to the many, many practical areas of church government and practice.
On Lord's morning, the team worshiped in Vilsk. Pastor Yuri served communion. Pastor Sanders spoke a few words of encouragement to the congregation. In the pm service, the team traveled to Chernakov for a 2 pm service. Pastor Anatoly spoke from the letter of Romans on Christian growth. Pastor Sanders gave a word of encouragement about Christ as the Good Shepherd who calls His sheep and they follow Him. He told them that they don't need to worry if their building is small. When the sovereign Lord calls His own in Chernakov, they will come and join and Christ will be glorified. On the Lord's day, the team also visited the new seminary building.
Writing for the team and in our great and faithful Savior Jesus Christ,
Pastor Ken Sanders
August 2, 2007
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Pastor Ken
Sanders |
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Today was the second day of the Ukraine mission trip. The team began the day with breakfast at the hotel and team devotions. This mornings Scripture was from Philippians about how the Christian faces hardships and times of abounding. There was a good time of sharing and there was encouragement to do all things through Christ who strengthens us. The clinic began well today. By five pm, the total children seen in the clinic so far was close to forty five children. The team planned to work longer but there was a power outage in the village. Dr. Dane had one child prepared in a number of teeth and then we lost power. We pray that this child will return tomorrow.
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The clothing distribution has been going very well. There are many boxes from which the children can choose from. They have really enjoyed digging into the boxes to find just the right color hat, scarf or pair of mittens! Pastor Sanders had the opportunity to speak with one of the translators named Luda. She lives in a part of Zhitomir in which there is a very high crime rate. She shared that their dog died the other day. A dog in the Ukraine is many times not only a pet but also a means of protection for the house and family. Some time ago her dog had caught a their and cornered him in a downstairs room. She tearfully misses her dog who just died from a disease. She plans to use some of the money she will receive from working in the clinic to buy her family another dog so that they will be safe when they are away and asleep at night. Another one of our translators is named Julia. Julia is helping us for the first time this year. She has graduated from University and is working as a teacher during the school year. Her salary is $100 per month. She wishes to move to another job to make more income. The only other income she makes all year is from our dental clinic and a few others groups that come to Zhitomir region. The work project in Gorodishche is off to a good start. Each day, Paul, Sam, Isaac and Jon travel from Gadzinka to Gorodishche, about a 7 kilometer drive. The footing for the new sanctuary was poured two weeks ago. In Ukraine, it takes about 2 - 3 weeks for "cement" to dry. It is all mixed by hand. The young men helped the last couple days building a form which will raise the footing out of the ground and make it level. On Thursday they finished mixing and pouring the rest of that "raised" footing. They have also worked on some interior remodeling of the present building so that the two building may be joined together into one. When the work is finished, they will both receive new siding. Pastor Nicolai will also build a kitchen, a bathroom and one room for a medical clinic where his wife Luda, a medical doctor, may see patients from the village. The dental clinic may consider leaving one of their benches and one of their dental lights available for Luda during the year.
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We have already see the Lord's rich blessings on this 4th mission short term mission trip. The team is working very well together. The health of the team has been very good overall. There has been some good fellowship with the Ukrainians and good hearty times of laughter.
On Saturday, a few of the churches are coming together at 11 am (4 am EST) for a joint baptism of several of their members. Afterward, the team will enjoy a meal (shaslik). Pastor Sanders has presented the idea of having the pastors come together in the afternoon for a time of "Open Forum". One pastor will ask a pastoral, biblical, or theological question and then with translators, each pastor will take a turn to help with the answer. Then , the next pastor will ask a question and so on. Please pray for the continued health of the team. Also, for the Lord's direction as we continue to seek the most stewardly and faithful ways of ministering to our brethren here.
In Christ's grace,
Pastor Ken Sanders
August 1, 2007
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Pastor Ken
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Greetings to everyone from the Ukraine!
The air travel to Kiev yesterday went very well. We met Dr. Dane Logan at Amsterdam airport and then arrived into Kiev. We have finished our first day of the dental clinic and work project and we have seen the Lord's blessing upon every part of the work today. After the morning team devotions and announcement time, the team went to the Gadzinka church and began set up at 9 am this morning. By 1:00 pm and after the extremely diligent work of the whole team the clinic was set up and ready to go. After a very wonderful Ukrainian style lunch, presented to us by our cooks, the clinic opened at 2 pm and the children from the church and neighborhood began to come. With two dentists this year, one hygienist, we were able to treat almost 30 children during our first half day of clinic!
Sam, Paul, Isaac and Jon worked very hard this afternoon on the Gorodishche church building, as they were helping set up this morning. They worked with the cement foundation for the new addition to the sanctuary which when completed will set between 50 and 60. This will be a vast improvement as presently the sanctuary is the size of a small bedroom with seating for about 15 - 20. Tomorrow, Pastor Sanders will be going to the site and Pastor Nicolai plans to explain in detail , through a translator, the plan for the outside and inside of the building. Pastor Anatoly has been faithfully transporting the team and Pastor Kovba has been helpful to the team at all times.
We are very grateful to our Sovereign Father in heaven as we see His hand very plainly knitting the team together and preparing good works ahead time that we are privileged to walk in. Many children have been helped today in the dental clinic. After the clinic Marilyn and Joan give each child a Ukrainian tract in the Ukrainian language and encourage them to bring the tract home, read it and then give it to their neighbor. The children have enjoyed receiving many beautiful hats, gloves, scarves, and many other clothing items. Also, they have enjoyed crafts sitting outside in the front of the church.
We hope to update the website each evening and send new pictures as well. May God richly bless all our spouses, families and beloved brethren in the USA and we ask to pray for our health, spiritual strengthening of our faith and love and for the Holy Spirit to bless these Reformed brethren and the work of the gospel here.
Yours in our faithful Savior, Jesus Christ,
Pastor Ken Sanders
Raising up a Church Building in Gorodishche, Ukraine
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Pastor Ken
Sanders |
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Gorodishche Church Building Fund (Goal: $20,000)
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$20,000 (100%) |
We would like to share with you that the Lord has led us as a church to return this summer, July 30 - August 10, 2007 for a 4th Ukraine Dental Mission Trip.
The team has worked primarily as a dental outreach to the children in the churches and villages. Other goals which we have been pursuing are: providing medicines from Global Mission; providing some teaching of pastors and seminarians in the Ukraine; working on a few small scale work projects; and seeking to enlarge team membership representation from other sister churches.
We have adopted the goal for this summer of raising $20,000 to build a church building for Pastor Nicolay in the village of Gorodisha. I visited the village of Gorodisha last summer. Of the four ordained pastors in the Zhitomir region, Pastor Nicolay is the only pastor who does not yet have an adequate church building. This village has believers in Christ who came here from Chernobyl after the Nuclear disaster in 1986. Pastor Nicolay who holds to the Reformed understanding of Scripture and the doctrines of sovereign grace presently has more people who desire to come to the worship services than their small building can accommodate.
Pastor Viktor Kovba writes about this need. "I think it is necessary to build in Gorodisha. There is a need for it. It will help the work there. People and children cannot be placed in this small room which they now have. Many people do not go to church because they know there is a small building and everyone cannot fit, and also it is cold in the building."
We have included a few pictures of the present building and of the church building in Vishpol which could be a model for the new one in Gorodisha. The new building will have a large room for worship, a Sunday school room, an indoor bathroom and a small kitchenette. Also, a heating system.
We hope this work project can begin by the month of May 2007 as it will take most of the summer months to build. We hope this summer’s mission team will be able to help work on this church building while they are there in August, 2007. Gifts toward this project can be sent anytime up until September 2007. The pastors and other men of the churches will be providing the labor for this project and therefore the benefit will not only be a new church building in Gorodisha where the Word of God will be preached, but also the greatly needed provision of income for these brethren in the Ukraine.
April 28, 2007
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Pastor Ken
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By God’s grace and providence, we plan to return to the Ukraine July 30 - August 10, 2007, for our fourth annual dental mission trip. We have seen God’s goodness in continuing to open the door for ministry to some of the Reformed churches of the Zhitomir region in Western Ukraine.
This year we are excited about the ways the Lord has been opening some new doors of ministry. A second dentist, Dr. Dane Logan, is planning to join the team. Dane is a dentist from Cinncinati, OH and his addition will enable the team to treat more children. Also, a fourth dental bench will be added to the clinic and will be fully equipped. We are also very grateful for team members from other sister churches who will be going for the first time on this mission and will broaden the church support for the outreach. Lastly, we have been praying about the goal of raising $20,000 to build a new church building in Gorodisha, where Pastor Nicolay ministers the Word of God. Letters describing the goal and asking for support have been sent out to churches and individuals.
May the Lord be glorified, for the upbuilding of His visible churches and the ingathering of His elect in the Zhitomir region of Ukraine.
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