As reported by William R:

Even before Adele and William left the SFO airport, ministry began.  While standing in line to get our boarding we heard Ukrainian being spoken by the two next to us.  We showed our Kiev Ukraine destination to them.  Only the son spoke English; his mother was returning to Ukraine after having enjoyed her newest grandchild.  When we approached security checking, the son had to say good bye.  We assured him that we would help her with any language problems.  Between our slight bit of Russian and Ukrainian, and her bit of English, and a grat deal of hand waving, we carried on a conversation of sorts and helped her along.  The flight took off on time to a clear sky.  Thanks for praying!  When we arrived on time at JFK we helped this “babushka” navigate through the airport to the proper  gate.  We had been explaining  the purpose of our trip and GAiN  to her, so she understood when we introduced her to our waiting volunteers.  We exchanged email addresses and will continue  contact with this sweet  woman. 

God had another “appointment” for us as we boarded the next plane; one young believer from Florida saw our name tags and said he wanted to talk to us once the flight was under way.  He has made several trips on his own to missions in Ukraine and surrounding countries and was looking for a group to go with next time.  We gave him contact information and a card to help him remember us when he chooses his next trip.

The second flight was through clear weather as well as speeded along with a tail wind so that we landed early, but our Ukrainian director was waiting there for us with a bus to take us to the first hotel.  It was mid morning and sunny, so after lunch we all walked down to the metro station and four stops later found ourselves in the center of old town Kiev.  We walked around, got our bearings and enjoyed the walking after so long a plane ride.  From California it was exactly 12 hours of flight.

The next morning we carried our suitcases down to the waiting bus and were on our way to our home base for the next while, Poltava.  Again God provided brilliant sunshine over the frosted fields.  You must have been praying to have so many lovely days in a row.

We began our ministry at a Baby House where we were told that there was an epidemic of flu and we would have to stay off of the carpets, not get close to the children, and be careful.  The children had other ideas and ran up to us and gave us hugs and enjoyed the love that we returned to them.  We were able to see more of the facility than we had been told, and were able to hold the children, and were able to take all the pictures we wanted.  Praise God for this change in attitude.

The second facility we visited that first day (Feb 18: Kremenchuk Shelter for Minors) had mostly young children under the age of 13, but there was one 17 year old by the name of David who remained sitting quietly in the back of the room during the gospel presentation and even afterwards as the younger children enjoyed the fun and games we provided.  One of our 18 year old interpreters sat down in front of him and began talking.  His story was very unusual.  He had been arrested five days earlier because the police said they had photographic evidence that he had committed a crime.  The drove him the hour and a half from  Poltova to place him in this shelter temporarily, only to tell him shortly before our arrival that they had apprehended the real criminal, and he would be free to go the next morning after the paper work was completed.  This David went on to say that he had been having vivid dreams that Jesus and Satan were talking to him.  He had grown very angry over the five days.  The gospel message rang true to him and he promised that he would go to the interpreter’s church next Sunday.  He said he would also bring his sister.  Praise God for the way this tragic mistake opened up eternal life to this young man.  Pray for David that he will follow through and be drawn to God.