"So Jesus answered and said..."

Well, we've been living in Ukraine for 10 days already. It's feeling like home more and more everyday, which is an answered prayer from the Lord. The first few days that we were here, Emily and I kept asking each other, "what are we doing?" Culture shock was stronger than we expected, jet lag was harder to get over than we were used to, the city was more difficult to get around than we remembered... we had no idea what we were doing. But we remembered the promises from God that he gave us back in Denver as we were preparing to leave. His promises gave us the answer to our questions on why we are here and we held onto those promises.


Just over the last 10 days our prayers have changed a lot. From "Lord, just help us get through today" to "Lord, direct our path today, give us a daily vision on how to reach the people in this city." And now we remember again what we are doing. We're here in Ternopil to impact these people for eternity. Today I woke up so excited and grateful that the Lord has called us to be missionaries. Not everyone has been called to the mission field, but I feel so blessed that the Lord wants to use Emily and I in this way.

Another thing that was harder than expected for me was leaving our home, family, and friends from Colorado. Last night we were at the midweek Bible study and Pastor George shared a passage that was so encouraging to me.

"So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Mark 10:29-31

Jesus is explaining what a blessing it is to be able to leave everything for the sake of the Gospel, and of course there will be times of persecutions, but wow, I am so blessed to be here in Ternopil serving the Lord. Leaving everything for this is totally worth it!

Wednesday Night English Club

So the last few days have been really good (aside from the running water being turned off for 2 days :D) as Emily and I have seen a number of different ministries, met a bunch of people from the church and universities, and begun to get a vision for what the Lord wants us to be involved in. We are beginning the process of starting a young adult (university student) Bible study group as well as planning outreach ideas for international students in the nearby universities. 

Please continue to pray for us as we struggle with the language, bus routes, and adaptation. You guys are the best! The Lord is so good and so faithful!

God Bless,
Byron