Evil Forces are at WORK
Back in the 90’s if you came to L’viv Ukraine, you were met with an Ozzie caring man who, before letting you off the plane, had to see you passport and invitation letter that invited you into the country. If you made it through customs, you know after they took out of your luggage everything that they wanted. Once you were in town, you were faced with a dilemma. You couldn’t get anything done, without paying a bribe here, or a bribe there. And it was a time when people said evangelicals, especially Baptists, ate children as a part of their religious rituals. It was quit ridiculous, and it really wasn’t until these past few years that things have started looking better. More stores opened, more products added to the shelves. Churches began sprouting up here and there, growing in numbers, and for the most part, people started doing their jobs, not always expecting a bribe in return (granted problems still remain).
Now when I moved back, to this country that looks very different from the last time I lived here, I was coming back with high hopes and big eyes. All the new things, the changes that had been made, gave me hope that Ukraine would not be stuck as a third world country forever. But I am beginning to see that I may be wrong, and my hopes were in vain.
As you all are aware, we recently faced troubles in Poland with obtaining our Visas. With your prayers, and those powerful angelic forces, we got them. Now the problem we face is getting our visas registered with the government here in L’viv. We only have 45 days to get all the paperwork done or our visas will no longer be valid. It may be difficult to understand why we have to spend more money to do more paperwork to get more permission to live here, but when you live in Ukraine long enough, you learn that its best to not ask why, because if you do ask why, you’ll go crazy over the illogicalness of it all.
For the most part, the steps have been going smoothly, just more money spent on background checks and translation work. But alas, the problems could not keep away, and we are faced with yet another situation that we are in dire need of your prayers! It’s probably best at this time to not disclose all the details, but the prayer you can pray is that whoever may stand in the way of our paperwork, would be removed. That all obstacles would be shrunk and that God would get all the glory.
Times are regressing here. It is getting more expensive to live here, and harder to stay legal. Next thing will be religious persecution. It’s coming. It’s already begun with all you have to do to get a religious visa. And it is not just in the secular world, but inside church establishments as well.
But this is the light that I was recently reminded of… my prayer for this country that I love, is that revival would break out. That people would passionately and radically fall in love with Jesus, and serve him with all their being. That the gospel would spread, and idols would be burned. And when does the gospel flourish? In times where leaders have said it was not allowed.
During Soviet times, people smuggled Bibles into the country, underground churches were established. People were killed if they did not denounce their faith. It was a time of persecution. It exists already in so many countries. As Christians we have to stay united. When one brother is persecuted we all are, because we are the body.
Please pray for us here, for not only me and my family, but for all the other missionaries as well. Everyone is struggling with this whole registration process as well as other spiritual battles. We are dropping in numbers here as missionaries, so pray that God renews our strength, that more people will come to bring light to this city and that financial blessings will be showered on all those who serve in this difficult place.
Please network for me. Put me and my family on any prayer list that you can. If you know of church groups or Bible study groups who would be willing to support me financially please share the word. Without the body supporting each member it is weak. I am exposed to the evil around, when I do not have people like you praying for me, advocating on my behalf, and encouraging people to give to support missions here. So please pray!
As always thank you for reading this blog! And please share it along!
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