BACK TO ODESSA

Hi,

Thanks for your continued prayer support. The team have just returned to Odessa after a few days in Kiev - I'm sitting in an internet cafe in downtown Kiev before flying back to the UK this evening.

The first couple of weeks in Ukraine have been great - lots of good relationships formed and stepping out in areas of gifting. John acted as a tour guide for some of our Swedish friends whilst in Kiev, Christina has been a blessing to many with her rapidly developing Russian skills - I can say "ya nee panameeyoo pa russkee" ("I don't understand Russian") with incredible fluency - and Dan is learning to hear God's voice, share His heart with people and pray. Our Kiev trip has been packed with fun and interesting experiences - from a Vineyard worship event to walking through crowds of people demonstrating with old Soviet flags!

My laptop battery is about to run out so I will post more fully in a few days time and the team will begin posting more frequently too.

Blessings,
Andy

3 Days In...

Wow!

The last week has been eventful to say the least. I am now in Odessa, Ukraine with Christina, Dan and John.

God is doing a lot in Peter's life at the moment and as a result he made the brave and wise decision to stay in the UK. Although I firmly believe this was the correct decision it feels like something is missing. Please pray for him back in the UK that he would encounter the fullness of what God has in store for him.

I will try and give you a few updates over the next couple of days but for starters here's a taste of our journey to Ukraine:

We set off from Birmingham at lunchtime on Thursday and arrived in Kiev - the capital city of Ukraine - after a short stopover in Amsterdam. Arriving in Kiev we endured the mildly intimidating welcome of customs and immigration. Ukranian people are wonderfully friendly...with the exception of strangers in uniform who are trained to avoid smiling at all costs! Eventually we all got through unscathed so that we could pick up our luggage. Christina thought she had seen her luggage but then it disappeared. The rest of us retrieved our bags without any problem but Christina's was nowhere to be seen. The terminal slowly emptied of bags and people and we were left with the likelihood that somebody had walked off with Christina's luggage. Great start! So we prayed. The situation was outside of our control, there was very little likelihood of the suitcase being returned without God's intervention so we needed Him to come through for us. Before you can say 'amen' a lady runs back into the terminal and exchanges Christina's bag for her own. Now that is a great start to a missions trip!

Unfortunately the internet connection I am on does not allow me to upload large files so pictures will have to wait until I return to the UK.

Please keep praying for vision, health, energy and good relationships. All of the team are picking up Russian phrases quickly and Christina's linguistic abilities are a fantastic asset.

Paka! (Bye)

Ukraine Here We Come!

EACHOFUS Ukraine Trip 07

Well here we are just three days before we leave for Ukraine. We fly out from Birmingham International Airport on Thursday afternoon and fly via Amsterdam for Borispol Airport in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. From there we drive down to Odessa to arrive around 5am. I've provided some prayer points and an itinerary of the first week or so but please check back for personal updates from Christina, Dan, John and Peter.

Prayer Points

• Travel - pray that all of our connections run on time, that our baggage travels with us, for safety and for rest
• Health - Christina and Peter both struggle with sleep so please pray that they find rest and are able to sleep during our travels. Also pray for me as I have had an irritatingly inescapable throat infection the past few weeks!
• Henrik and his team - we are joining an existing team in Ukraine led by my good friend Henrik. I am travelling out to Ukraine for the first ten days so that Christina, Dan, John, Peter and Henrik can acquaint themselves with each other so that Henrik can effectively take on leading them.
• For Emma and I - please pray for my lovely wife Emma as we are apart for the best of two weeks and for my safe return on Monday 30th April.
  

Itinerary

Thursday
Depart Birmingham International Airport at 13:40 BST
Arrive at Kiev Borispol Airport via Amsterdam Schiphol Airport at 21:50 local time (19:50 BST)
Travel down to Odessa by minibus

Friday
Meet Henrik and the team in Odessa
Team meeting, sightseeing and sleep!

Saturday
Intro to Ukrainian culture and customs

Sunday
Meeting for teenagers from one of the orphanages we are connected with

Monday & Tuesday
Servant Evangelism & Outreach on streets and university campus

Wednesday
Home Group

Thursday
English Club – with local university students
Travel to Kiev

Friday
Relaxation and sightseeing in Kiev

Saturday & Sunday
Worship Conference (hosted by Vineyard Records UK)
Team return to Odessa

Monday
I fly back to the UK

If, as you pray, you sense God speaking to you or you would just like to offer some words of encouragement please reply to this post and leave your comments. Alternatively email me by clicking on this link. More soon...

Love & Blessings,

Andy

Leaving for Ukraine!

We now have our marching orders! We fly out to Kiev on 19th April and will spend the following two months based in Odessa on the Black Sea coast (returning 19th June).

Please pray for:

Vision, God to show us His heart for the Ukrainian people.

Integration and friendship forming with the Vineyard team already in Odessa.

Making the most of the time, being motivated by God's Spirit.

God's hand on the practical details, His peace to guard us from any anxieties.

Spiritual protection over us individually, several of us feel 'under attack' with the enemy seemingly getting to us through our weak points.

..and, of course, ... many of you have experience of mission work; we have none! Please pray about those things we've forgotten or that have never occurred to us!!

If you sense God 'saying' anything or directing your prayers, please share with us.