Hello from beautiful snowy Lviv!

We’ve just completed our second day of ministry. Yesterday we went to a baby house. Our small group went to a room with children from about six months to a year old. One child was blind and another was paralyzed from the waist down. The children were beautiful and the we could tell that the caregivers loved them very much. It must be frustrating for them to not be able to give the individual attention children need. There were about ten children with three caregivers.

In the afternoon we went to a home for children with mental handicaps. Our class was about ten to fourteen years old and were easily excitable but listened attentively while I shared the gospel with them.

Today we went to a home for “girls” aged 17 to 92. At first they were afraid of us. They thought we were going to take them away from their “home”. We did a short program for them and shared the gospel with them. I shared the gospel with them. Many of them told us they read prayer books and prayed. We could tell they had much influence from [another religious tradition.] I pray they understood enough to realize they can have a “relationship” with Jesus Christ.

Our last site visit today was a social rehabilitation center for boys. There were about 30 boys there. We had a worship team from the New Life Church with us. They spend time with these boys about once a week. In the class we were in, about six of the ten raised their hand, indicating that they had prayed the sinner’s prayer either with us or with the group from New Life
Church. Pray for these boys. The pull of their broken families is very strong. Two of the boys shared with my group leader that they had older brothers who were in prison. Pray that they can break the pattern of crime that enslaves their families.

Tomorrow we go to a prison with about 200 boys and to a boarding school. I got to see my Natalie on Sunday and Monday. Now she is in Vinnitsa and will be back on Friday. Pray for her Mom. She is not feeling well and would love to be able to meet us. Two of our group were down with a stomach virus the first ministry day but all are well now - a little sleep deprived, but
that’s okay!
 

Dave and Talu, our leaders, were able to meet the Leary’s (missionaries our church supports) in Kiev. Their home in Virginia is close to where Dave and Talu live. They might be coming to Lviv while we’re here!!

Thanks so much for your prayers. I’ll try to send you another note in a few days.

God bless,
Esther