New Friends

The reason why the Ukrainian flag is blue and yellow

Pastor George bringing the Word

We've really been loving our time here in Ternopil. This is a college town, and unfortunately, a lot of people the missionaries minister to are gone for the summer, but we've still been able to see the heart of Calvary Chapel Ternopil. We arrived here Friday and were taken on a walking tour of Ternopil by a girl named Christina. She was so sweet and helped us to get a good idea of Ternopil. Everything here seems to run a little slower, people don't rush through the streets, and there are lots of children here (making it a prime spot to fulfill our desire of being in youth ministry). The town kind of reminds us of Boulder, Colorado in the way it looks. Very green, large trees, mostly a college town.

Calvary Chapel Ternopil

Sunday, we went to church at Calvary Chapel Ternopil and were so excited about how "Calvary Chapel" it is... In fact, we felt right at home. They're going verse by verse through Romans but have paused for the summer to talk about prayer. Pastor George taught in English, while a man named Sasha translated into Ukrainian.

Fortunately for us, everything is in English and Ukrainian because of how many foreigners are here in Ternopil.

Super Tasty Green Borsch
and a bowl of garlic Sala

Today, I (Emily) was able to go to a moms' Bible study, which was in English and Ukrainian... I'm always impressed with translators, but I was especially impressed with the translator during the Moms' study today, because she not only translated, but nursed her baby simultaneously for almost the entire Bible study! Now THAT takes skill! Haha


The women at the study were just so precious. One woman recently became saved and is dealing with persecution from her orthodox in-laws and husband, because she's the only one saved in her family. Another woman is dealing with having recently giving birth to a child with spina bifida. The doctors here missed that the baby had spina bifida on her ultra sounds, so they didn't know until the baby was born. This is actually a huge blessing from the Lord because Ukraine's

Why Grace Changes Everything
by Chuck Smith (In Ukrainian)

attitude is so different from The States' attitude toward abortion... If the doctors would have known, there would have been incredible pressure to abort the baby immediately. In
addition, if she didn't agree with this decision, the doctors wouldn't have had much sympathy toward her and
her baby after birth, and wouldn't have wanted to give special care to the baby because "they told her to abort and she was unwise in not aborting." However, because they didn't tell her to abort, doctors are very sympathetic toward her and her baby, and she's getting good care for her child and

Calvary Chapel Distinctive (In Ukrainian)

support for herself as she learns how to deal with a special needs child. Praise the Lord, she and her spouse are believers, and they cherish the baby's life and are so thankful they have their baby.


At the Moms' study, we went through 1 Corinthians 7, which was so encouraging to me. When I agreed to go to the study, I was thinking it would be topical and would be directed toward mothers (a category I'm not in), but even the Bible study was done in a "Calvary" way, and the women are going verse by verse through 1 Corinthians.


We talked a lot about how we're called to be the slaves of Christ, and to listen to His calling on our lives, regardless of the cost. This just blessed me so much because I've really been missing my friends and family the last couple of days and have even thought, "I'm not strong enough to leave all of the people and places I love." But the Lord keeps giving me Bible verses and putting me into conversations where I'm being

Afternoon Nap

reminded that my life is not my own and the time is short...

Samuel and Byron taking a nap

How much more important are the eternal lives of the Ukrainians I'm meeting when compared to the coffee shop I'll miss or my apartment, or even my family. My family is saved, Byron's family is saved, but many Ukrainians here are hungry for the Word, just waiting for someone to love them enough to tell them the true Gospel... And I really know, which a firm confidence, that Byron and I have been called to be those people... To tell them the Gospel and teach them the ways of the Lord.

Ternopil slide of death

Other exciting things have been happening here too... We've found a pharmacy that sells insulin, we've been making new friends, and we even found out about multiple English teaching possibilities for me (which many of you know, teaching is my passion). Like it says in Psalm 37:3-5, delight yourselves in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

So, I titled this post new friends but haven't really talked about why yet.

(from left to right) Samuel, Emily,
Byron, Kiyoshi, and Peter

We're staying with George and Sharon right now, who have three really sweet boys (Samuel 5, Kiyoshi 3, and Peter 1.5). Well,
Byron and Samuel are completely inseparable! In fact, as I write this, Byron is taking a nap and Samuel, who hates naps, is sleeping right next to him. Every morning, the three boys stare through our frosted glass bedroom door silently, hoping that they'll see us move so that they can come in and start playing with us. It's been really fun spending time with the boys and seeing the love that George and Sharon have for their kiddos.

And it looks like my quiet time is over because here come Peter and Kiyoshi, awake from their naps!

God bless!
Emily

Byron and Samuel - Lovin' Life