Dear friends,
Please let me start by first apologizing for how inconsistent I have been with this. I have so much to catch you up on, and there are things that I know I will remember even later and have to come back and share.
First off, I'm sorry if I repeat. I have been keeping a journal, and I have been telling people about my time by various modes of communications, so at this point I have no idea what I have already said. As a result, I will just start -
God is amazing. I've always know this, but He has displayed His amazing presence so beautifully here in Ternopil over the last few weeks. When the team from Texas was still here, we visited the church that some of the staff members here attend. It was great. The worship was amazing, and sometime during the first half, this amazing prophesy/exhortation went forth (with interpretation of course). It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced. The Holy Spirit was so present, and everything was done in such a beautifully proper manner. The main message was that we are called to live fully and fearlessly for Christ. We have limited time on this earth, and we are limited, BUT Jesus desires to use us; to live through us. There is no place for fear when we are in the center of God's will. There is no place for insecurity because "it is no longer I living, but Christ living in me." I cannot succumb to fear or doubt any longer. I simply don't have time for that.
Anyway, it was as if everything that was being shared was in direct response to my prayers the evening before. After church, we all hung out, had free time, and basically just enjoyed each other. Later on that evening, we went back to the church for a prayer time. This was just awesome too. We had had some difficulties in the afternoon, and it was so nice just to reenter the presence of God and lay all the stress at His feet. Near the end of the prayer time, the pastor invited anyone who wanted prayer to come to one of the prayer teams. We pretty much all went up. I'll tell you all more about these sort of times in person, because it is simply impossible to communicate everything that went on, but suffice it to say - this was one of many times when God began to make His plan more clear.
The time with the TX team was just so good. It was indescribably encouraging to see kids from the States so in love with God and so desiring to see Him glorified throughout the nations. It was SO hard to say goodbye.
Since the time with the Texas team, we at the base have had more teams come through. We currently have a team of awesome kids from Belarus staying here at the base doing many of the same ministry type things as the TX team did. They're extremely kind, and I'm sure it's hilarious to watch us try to communicate (they all speak Russian or Belorussian and a little English, and I speak English and a little bit of some weird mix now of Ukrainian and Russian).
This team wanted to spend more time at the orphanage, so we went everyday for about a week. It was awesome to get to know the kids on a deeper level than just a visit now and again. I could go on and on about these kids, but I'll wait on that one as well.
I have so much that I want to tell you all; about the culture, about the darkness, about the beautiful displays of God's love and healing, about the faithfulness of the staff here at the base, about the new King's Kids program coming into place here in Ternopil, about my desire to return here - Please, please, please pray for all of these things. I'll try to write again - perhaps even today. There is so much going on this week. If you have a minute, visit www.viruyu.te.ua it will be in Ukrainian, but Google does a pretty good job of translating the basics of the site. This is a citywide event taking place in Ternopil this week. It's amazing.
God bless you all! Thank you for your prayers! The countdown has officially started for my return home!
-Jasper <3
No comments:
Post a Comment