This is Olga and her new washing machine. Back in May the Rogers and us went and visited with her and her coworkers. She is the director of a sanatorium that is about an hour south of Donetsk. Back then she asked if we (Church of Christ) could help buy them a new industrial sized washing machine because their two older ones (over 25 years old) had recently broken and they couldn't get parts for them. They had been washing all the staff and kids clothes along with the 80+ bed sheets by hand. When Jay Don said we would be able to help they were quite excited. So the ladies did their research and found a company in Poland that build good machines for a decent price and bought from them.
When we went and visited last Tuesday, they were soooooo appreciative and happy. They told us over and over again that no one would help them at all except us and they were so thankful that we would visit them. They showed us the machine, went over receipts and such and then served us a lovely meal. Jay Don informed them that much of the money spent on this machine came from donations from the Calgary Church or Christ. Olga told Laurie and I over and over again how appreciative we were and that we had to pass on her thanks. So I want to say 'Spaseeba Bolshoi' to everyone at the Calgary Church of Christ. We are getting a first hand experience of enjoying the company and food of all those you are blessing. And it is good food and good company. During our meal with Olga and some of her staff they kept on telling us of how thankful they are for Christians. They told us they know God is with us because we are helping them and others. Olga then totally opened up and shared her frustrations and confusions of religion. Jay Don did a good job explaining that we just try and follow Jesus and the Bible and not traditions. Unfortunately though traditions sometimes interfere with following Jesus. She had many questions and we spent an hour or so discussing faith and prayer and such. Time well spent in my books. Afterwards, Mary Lee told us that they have been working with that sanatorium and those staff members for 8.5 years and this was the first time they have really opened up to deep faith conversations. Thankfully, God is patient and keeps working on hearts even when we don't see it.
The rest of our week was fairly quiet. I had some free time to work on my assignments. Not done yet though. Laurie and I took on another project for Jay Don that is keeping Laurie happy. A Church from Texas...I think, donated some money to buy toys for an AIDS hospital. And we are in charge of buying the toys. We have visited fives shops and spent all our money so far but Jay Don mentioned that he might have more money for us so we may get to buy more soon. Personally, I don't like spending money (Laurie calls me cheap) but when it is someone else's money... I'm finding it not that hard.
We have also had our friend Nazar over a couple of times this week. He is an 18 year old boy who grew up in orphanages here. We met him through the church we attend. He was baptized there just shortly before we came to the Ukraine. He is still fairly new in his faith and has many questions. And his living situation with other orphans doesn't always provide the best influences for him. But lately he has been starting to ask us more and more questions about Bible passages and concepts. It's exciting to see him growing in his faith. And it's a challenge to us to try to figure out how to answer some of his questions with our limited Russian skills. But thankfully between his Russian Bible and our English Bible we have been able to show him passages that answer some of his questions.
Sunday was an interesting day in that all the Churches of Christ in Donetsk came together for a service at the downtown drama theater. This is quite an extravagant theater so it was a pretty special event. It was packed out and they fund raised over 5000 Hryvnia for an orphanage, so it was all good.
Now we are getting ready to head to Crimea one more time. This time we are going with the Rogers and others to attend a conference of some sort. I don't know the details but I have been told there will be around 500 people there with lots of speakers and such. So I don't really know what to expect but hope it will be a time of learning and worship.
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