Odessa Mission
January/February 2007 Newsletter
Staying The Course: 2007
All of us at KRCC anxiously anticipate 2007 and the things God is planning for us in Odessa. We're also excited about what God has planned for you because of your steadfast commitment to this mission. God definitely sees your spiritual maturity backed by a rock-solid dedication to the spread of the gospel in Ukraine, regardless of the obstacles we face in the process. As you know, those obstacles are often spiritual attacks that are simply inevitable for those who are faithfully moving in the right direction. And, just as we face them in Odessa, you will also face them where you are. So we're encouraged by the sacrifices you're making, the level of your faith, and your prayers and support. We appreciate you so much for sticking with us through thick and thin. It's encouraging to know that we don't have to go through the fires alone and that, as we all pass these tests together, God is setting the groundwork for some very significant victories in our lives.
Ira and I were at the bazaar the other day and saw an Orthodox priest, whose threads could have put Aaron's to shame, visiting each store and offering his blessings. He had a cup of holy water in his left hand and a brush in his right. The brush was used for the purpose of dipping and "consecrating" people, places, and things, to ensure greater success for the businesses and their clerks. The priest was also accompanied by another man holding a cup, which was obviously their version of an offering plate. I'm not sure how much money they collected but I can say that they didn't get any from us, despite the fact that the priest "consecrated" me as he walked by. Am I considering starting a business now? Absolutely not! Anyway, we proceeded to walk into a store that sells baby goods, including strollers, lay-pens, and cribs. While talking to the owner about one of the cribs, Ira asked about whether they'd deliver the crib and how long we'd have to wait, etc. "Since you'll probably be in the hospital for about five days," the owner replied, "your husband can just swing by and make the arrangements then. We guarantee that you'll receive it within twenty-four hours after your order." Well, you should have seen that lady's response when Ira said that we wanted to buy the crib that same day. She just couldn't believe that we'd do something like that. Although she didn't try to talk us out of it, she was obviously shocked, to say the least. I certainly noticed the woman's response but didn't understand it until Ira explained. Because Ukraine is steeped in superstition, one thing you never do is buy baby gifts before the child is born because that could jinx everything. Could you imagine how that woman would have reacted had she known that some of Olivet Christian Church's women threw a baby shower for Ira when we were stateside? Boy, am I glad we're Christians because those baby gifts will really be a big help, especially since most baby stuff in Ukraine is imported and way overpriced!
In any case, that gives you a hint of some of the strange ideas we have to contend with here. Along those same lines, do be praying for Natalia. She plans to be baptized at Kind Road sometime after the first of the year and comes from an especially superstitious background that's been influenced by Orthodoxy, astrology, and eastern mysticism, among other things. Natalia is one of five children and has a son named Elijah. She's also struggling to save her marriage at the moment. For years, her husband, like the majority of Ukrainian men, has battled with an addiction to alcohol. Please also continue to remember Natalia's immediate family in your prayers. Since the middle of 2005, I've invested many a Monday in their sauna with her Dad, Gregory, and God's plan is apparently beginning to unfold.
In the US, I had the chance to spend some time with students at Roanoke Bible College. Four of them are seriously considering doing internships at KRCC in 2007. Evidently, two of them even plan to come over as full-timers in the Fall. It's so exciting to see how open these students are to God's leading, and I'm sure He has BIG plans for each of them no matter where they end up. Please pray for all of them: Shaun, Kimmi, Mary Ann, and Kelly. Let me share a recent letter I received from one of them: "Hey John! My name is Mary Ann Godley and I'm a senior at Roanoke Bible College. When you were on campus, you challenged us to pray ten minutes a day for two weeks about ministering with the Odessa Mission. I did that with the assumption that God would close that door for me (maybe even wishing he would). I did pray for ten minutes every day for those two weeks; I even set my alarm clock to time myself. Never did I think that I would do any kind of ministry in Ukraine...nor did I ever want to for that matter! But, when you were here, you challenged me in a way that I have never been challenged. Later, that day, you spoke in my Prayer for Missions class and I was even more challenged by the things that you said. I am graduating in May and I want to go work overseas...this has been a passion of mine for a long time. Please let me know what I can do there in Odessa to help out. Thanks so much for the challenge! In Him, Mary Ann"
Finally, I'd just like to remind our supporters that with a new year comes a new address and forwarding agent for our mission. Now, all checks for the Odessa Mission should be made out to Gethsemane Church of Christ and sent to Bill Ware at: 5330 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville, VA, 23111. We also want to take this opportunity to thank both Al Kunkel and Northampton Church of Christ for their faithful service and significant contributions to the work of the Odessa Mission. We will forever be grateful for all they've done to help establish this important ministry for both the sake of the gospel and the glory of God.
Happy New Year, John and Ira
The Odessa Mission, KRCC