Long time no see

Yeah. I know I should write more often. Never find time for cyber-fellowship. Besides, the blog always lacks feedback, which makes it one way conversation, while I would prefer real world interaction :)
Nevertheless, I am back, and will be posting most recent updates here soon.

Briefly:
- LST program was finished last week, and after a little break I will continue classes with the readers
- there was an annual picnic for disabled people last Wednesday
- there are few people in our congregation that are having severe health problems. Lydia Bairakivska and Yana Shapovalova are among them. More details later, but please remember them in your prayers

I will have lots of pictures, too, so keep visiting this blog :)

Blessings,
Kostya

May Day picnic

I and my Shans class had an outstanding picnic on May 3. We made shashlyk (shishkabab, or whatever you may call it), played games and sang songs - i.e. had fun :)
More pictures here: http://photofile.com.ua/users/kissel.fotoplenka/150424975/

Update

I spent the whole last week in the hospital with pneumonia. It all started with flu 1 week before the New Year, then turned into bronchitis. Three rounds of antibiotics didn't make any difference. Week ago, on Friday i realized i have severe pain in the chest and fever. Well, more antibiotics during last week had removed the main problem, but still there's much to fight with. I will have to spend the next week at home too. Alyona gives me antibiotics and vitamins shots, and my sister Olya lent me a nebulizer.

Actually, it could be another 7 days in the hospital, but i had to ask the doctor to let me continue treatment at home. While in the hospital another problem had developed, osteochondrosis. The beds there seem to be perfect tools for tortures. I had an impression that they don't heal in our hospitals, but rather make you never want to be there again.
Jenya Huchek preached last Sunday about Noah, and i was able to listen to his sermon and part of worship on my cellphone.

Obituary

This is not the most pleasant part of this blog. Loosing people that are dear to us always breaks our hearts.
In January Oleksandr Polischuk ("Papa Sasha") died.



He was born on March 25, 1954. In December 1995 he was baptized. Both of his sons, Andriy and Jenya, were baptized about the same time. He had been a devout member of the church in Bila Tserkva, until he got under influence of alcohol. Unfortunately, all the attempts to bring him back were without success, though at times he seemed to be recovering. In the recent 2 years he moved out of the city to his mother's, and we lost contact with him. As far as we know, he kept drinking, until it finally killed him. Our prayer is for Oleksandr's family to find peace, and seek God.

Also, last weekend father of our dear sister Valentina Shapovalova passed away. He was over 80 years old, a devout member of the Baptist Church in Bila Tserkva. Our prayer for Valentina and her family to find peace in this situation.

Another update :)

"Well, long time no hear" - I might hear this from many of you. Truly it is. December appeared to be an extremely busy month for me. I had been having number of classes and meetings in the church on the weekdays, and Saturday was usually the only day off. On the last week of the year 2009 I became a Did Moroz (AKA Father Frost, a distant relative of St.Nicolas) again. This time we visited over 100 homes, all in 2 weeks. This is when, I believe, I got severe bronchitis, which kept me sick for three weeks now. I came to church on Sundays and preached, but was practically forced to cancel all the other classes and activities.
Also, January happened to be the coldest month in the last few years, with the lowest temperature down to -25C (-13F) and lots of snow. The cold weather boosted the heat bill dramatically. This has been the heaviest financial burden on the church. But there is a hope. In October 2009 Ukrainian government have decided to set the tariff on natural gas for religious organizations and churches on the same level as for the individuals. If it ever happens, we'll have to pay at least 4 times less (for now our monthly heat bills are about 2500-3500 hryvnya - 300-400$, which exceeds our contributions).

Autumn in BT

Autumn came suddently to Ukraine this year. Unusually cold weather for almost a week provided a very quick transition from summer to fall. Still, Oleksandria Park is as beautiful as usually this time a year.



Alyona and Daniel





Nature

Cannons aim for the US

Betty and Joe Cannon are leaving for the US on Thursday, October 29, after spending almost 3 months in Ukraine this time. On Sunday, we had a Farewell Tea Party after worship.
Since this was the Sunday we adjust the clocks to the winter time, some people came and hour early, while those who usually come late, this time arrived on time. What an advantage of having time changed! Haha :)

On pictures, Joe, Betty, Party