July 22 5:55 PM from Kremenchug  

 Our last evening in Kremenchug and with NHC has ended.  It is completely incomprehensible to our team that we're leaving here tomorrow morning (for Kiev).  What is life without this city and these people and NHC going to be like?  We cannot imagine it.  We keep saying and thinking: "we do NOT want to go back to New York; rather, we want everyone in New York to come HERE.  THAT would be perfect."  We love it here.  Funny, though - our feelings this year seem a little bit different than after our first turn here.  Now that we've been here twice, there is a happy security in knowing: we'll be back.  It's easier to say "see you again" because we know that it can and will be done.

Today, it was a little bit like yesterday didn't happen.  Robbery?  What robbery?  It made me think of childbirth: lots of moms  have told me that they consider it a great gift from God that they forget the pains of childbirth, and rejoice so much in their born children that they are mentally able to deal with the process of going through it again to have more kids.  I considered yesterday and today like that: God gave us so many great gifts from yesterday evening through this day, that our minds and hearts were better occupied with things of Him than with things of this earth.  Edward gave a short word during tonight's banquet, saying that in America we have many material things but lack happiness in our souls.  Here in Kremenchuk, God took away some of our material things and poured happiness into our souls - keeping our eyes open to the strong movement of His Spirit within NHC and within Kremenchug through NHC.  I'm thankful that He was so good to us and powerful over us, calling us into obedience and love for Him.  I'm also thankful that our team obeyed and loved when called to do so.

(On a side note, because I know there are those who are dying to get this thrilling little tibdit: the two no-longer-dour detectives appear to have been on our case non-stop.  They showed us some surveillance videotape today - what a bizarre thing to see some strange man pull Edward's wallet out of his pocket and use his credit cards.  It was all very "Law & Order.")

There were multiple blessings and joys today, but I'll share just two for now:

1. At the banquet tonight (mostly to celebrate the retreat last week and to have a sharing time, but also a little bit to say goodbye to us), it was such a sweet thing to be together and to see the obvious ways in which our two families have grown just a little bit closer.  It truly is a relationship now, with certain levels of intimacy having been reached, and a greater understanding of each other's hearts having been achieved.  Praise God, for He is good, and He provides for us brothers and sisters in every place around the globe.  I really felt that tonight - not in a way that was better or more than last year, but in a way that was different, growing, bigger.  God gave me a vision for U09, U10, U11, U12, etc. etc. etc.  EXCITING and JUICY!  So, who's ready to sign up and start language lessons? =)

2. The two detectives came to the banquet!  They sat and ate with us for a short while!  And we were able to give them gifts of gratitude, and extend to them our friendship and future prayers.  Luda says that their hearts were touched.  We pray that God continues to speak to these two men, and that NHC would be empowered to continue communication (and a future relationship) with them.  At this point, we no longer care about the items we lost.  Our only care is that these two wonderful men know WHY they are wonderful: because they are created in the image of the Living God and are immensely loved by Him.

Tired, tired, tired.  Jen, Cesar, Sang, Robert, Grace - you know what I mean?  Tired and happy.  So thankful to God for all He provided and taught and revealed.  For every blessing He poured out.  For every ounce of grace, compassion, mercy, love and power that we were able to receive from Him, extend to each other within the team, and then pour out to those around us at NHC and Kremenchug at large.  We're also so hopeful and excited for God's work here in this city, especially through our sister church.  We can't begin to describe how AWESOME they are.  How much they LOVE JESUS.  How much they LOVE THEIR NEIGHBORS.  To type the over-used word "inspiration" makes me feel ashamed and lame, but that's all I can muster up for now.  NHC is an inspiration to us, and a great blessing and challenge to our team - from now on, how will we walk with Jesus?  How will we study God's Word?  How will we hear His voice, and how will we obey Him?  How will we live, love, sing praises, lift up worship, speak blessing, receive power?  How will we think?  How will we spend each nanosecond that we are awake, for each day we are alive on this earth?  Our prayers for our Father's guidance of NHC and NHF are abundant.

Tomorrow, to Kiev.  Perhaps no $4 ballet this time, but since it's summer, we're looking forward to walking about town, finishing up our gorging on delicious Ukrainian food, and perhaps relaxing and talking and loving on each other with the grace of Christ at some outdoor cafe, drinking this awesome sludgy Ukrainian coffee (being thrown back by Edward and I but doing quite a number on the others, if you know what I mean, heh-heh).  Then to New York (forgive me that it's hard to write the word "home" in that last phrase ...).

We can't wait to see you.  JC is totally right - we miss all of you, our friends & family back in New York, but truthfully, we wish you were HERE instead of us having to leave Kremenchug.  We dare to dream big dreams that one day, on this earth, such a union of our churches might actually happen.

Please continue to pray for us: God's covering in Kiev, safety in travels, and always, always, another day of living all out for His glory and His reknown.

And please continue to pray for Pastor Sasha, the leadership here, NHC, and all of their ministries ... and the people of Kremenchug and Ukraine.

Love,
Cathy