Have you ever had this question go through your mind? Recently I had to opportunity to help out a little gypsy girl two days in a row. I don’t know her name, but I have seen her around town off and on since I moved to Uzhgorod. She was a young child begging on the streets when I first saw her. I remember her face well, because she has these beautiful sea blue/green eyes. This time when I saw her she was carrying a baby. I asked her if the baby was hers and she said yes. Then I asked "How old are you?" Her answer shocked me, "sixteen". She also told me that the baby is a year and four months old, one month younger than my Jake. She then proceeded to tell me how she and her husband had had a fight and she left.

She now lives on the streets and the two of them sleep at different stations (train, bus, whatever is open). I helped her buy some medicine for her baby who had the chicken pox and something to eat. The next day I ran into her again. She told me that her mom had thrown her out because she doesn’t want the baby around. Her mom (grandma) had told her to ditch the baby. She said that she doesn’t want to that. "He is mine" she said as so looked at him. She also told me that she wants to travel to another city to see her dad. My dad loves the baby and will take us in. So again I gave her a little money, almost nothing and wished her the best. In these situations I feel so helpless. Why me? What can I do to help her? Does my small contribution help her overall situation?

Let me paint a picture for you of what life might look like for a gypsy. The culture is cruel and binding (meaning that if you are born into it, it is difficult to get out). Education has no value and most gypsies do not finish school. The few young women that do finish have no chance to get further education, because their families won’t allow them to leave. Girls get married starting at age 14 and start having children immediately (there is no education nor money for contraception). Alcoholism, adultery and abuse seem to be woven into the culture. Most gypsies live in a gypsy village, meaning broken down shacks and no running water or sewer. There are not many jobs available for them. The orange coated army that sweeps the streets in the morning is mostly gypsies. Other than that I have seen them selling handmade wooden spoons or clothing at the bazaars. Gypsies have a reputation of being dirty (and they are because of where they live) and thieves (not necessarily true but a sterotype labeled on them). Ukrainians for these two reasons greatly dislike them and so there is discrimination against them.

Why was I born an American and this little girl a gypsy? Why was I so blessed? It is a hard question to answer….. God knows what he is doing. He has just as much a plan for this little girl as he does for me. So, I guess all I can do is be faithful to use what He has given me to help others, be His hands and feet to reach out to those less fortunate. I think that is all He is asking of us. Our responsibility is to respond.

I have to add… When gypsies get saved they are so different. It is like night and day. And going to a gypsy church is a party you will never forget!!! God can pull each of us out of the pit and He does it everyday!!

"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:2,3

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"Kent, your brother is in Heaven." The words are etched deeply in my memory, probably forever.

The news came on a Saturday afternoon in Ukraine shortly after I had returned home from running a few light errands. I received a call from the office informing me that my mom had called and that it was an emergency. Suddenly, my focus shifted to Manitoba (central Canada) where my older brother Garreth had been fighting lung cancer for the previous seven months. I was pretty sure of what the phone call could mean, yet I hoped I might be wrong.

"Kent — are you there?" I could hear the concern in my mother’s voice, but I couldn’t speak for a moment. Her words were so penetrating. They offered comforting assurance mixed with searing pain and it was a little too much for me right then.

By Tuesday I was in Manitoba with my family and would be there nearly two weeks before returning to Ukraine. The time was good, but hard. I wished I could have been there during his final weeks and days as stories and experiences and memories were related to me by family members. I was to deliver the eulogy for a brother I had hardly known.

Many people are praying for our families. Without this support, we would surely be a mess. Back in Ukraine now, I’m able to continue because of His healing and comfort in the work to which God has called me. Recently I was asked by someone if this loss would affect or change what I’m doing. I was able to answer confidently and without hesitation, "No."

I’m a missionary and for most of the time I knew him, my brother’s heart was hardened toward God. Our lives went in very different directions. During his brief battle with cancer, Garreth softened and took advantage of what would be his final opportunity to get things right with God.

An age difference of more than nine years between my brother and me reflected another tragic loss suffered by my parents. Garreth is not the only sibling I now have in Heaven, but the other two got there even before I was born.

I am now my parents’ only son. Ukraine and Canada are far apart and my being away is hard for all of us. My treasure is found in the Lord through them. They have known much pain, yet were always a steady example for us when tough times came. I’m blessed by their witness and the faith they so consistently hold to. My life is definitely richer because of them, and I see that more clearly now.

What is the treasure in your life? May it be your Source of joy and peace and comfort. May it give you hope in the midst of trials. May your treasure truly be in the right place and may your heart be there also.

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I am a bit of a skeptic by nature. I tend to doubt and worry more than I should about things. This is something that God is working on in me. More and more He asks me to place complete trust in Him, even when things look impossible - because our God LOVES to do the impossible to show us His power.

Recently, I’ve seen God at work so faithfully that even a skeptic like me has a hard time staying skeptical. Here is a recent example. Over the past several months, we have had some personal financial concerns facing us. We were facing expenses that simply were not in our budget to meet, and yet in great need of being met. We sought God in prayer and were reminded that He is in control and desires only our belief in His faithfulness. Well, shortly after Christmas, in a span of about 2 weeks, we met people who were interested in helping us meet this financial need. At this time, we are awaiting the final promised check to arrive so we can take care of this concern. To see God (and his body) meet this need so quickly, encourages us to keep trusting in Him for everything that we need and to keep our eyes open to watch Him work. He always has a plan.

I tell this story here to encourage you that as the summer arrives and churches all over the place prepare for summer mission trips and projects, that it is a time when fund raising is high up on everybody’s mind and priority lists. Be encouraged! God has the resources to meet whatever need you have (financial and other). Just keep trusting Him and seeking His leading. Sometimes the process of fundraising for a mission trip is discouraging if things don’t come together as we think they should. But God has a plan for such things. Keep listening to Him and trusting Him and see amazing, “impossible” things accomplished. Then remember to offer praise and thanksgiving to Him for His continuing faithfulness and desire to teach you to depend on Him.

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"Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?" Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, "Love others as much as you love yourself."

Matt. 22:36-39, CEV

It’s all about love.

God and I just keep on coming back to that. A simple lesson, one you’d think I’d have down by now. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor. Not so difficult. We humans, though, we have this need to complicate things. So we, usually unconsciously, add a little bit here or there. Love the Lord and your neighbor, and don’t drink or smoke. Love the Lord and your neighbor, and make sure you don’t skip your quiet times. Love the Lord and your neighbor, and make sure that you’re volunteering at church events. Love the Lord your God and your neighbor and, and, and…. We add this never-ending list of “ands” to what is required of us.

That’s all peripheral stuff. What’s the GREATEST commandment, according to our Lord Jesus Christ? To love. Love God with everything in you and love your neighbor. Not just in theory but worked out in the everyday practicalities of life. I am 100% convinced that if we simply loved each other as Christ loved us we would see revival on a scale we scarcely dare to imagine. I’m not saying that it’s easy to love like Christ loved. It’s not; sometimes it’s incredibly difficult. In my human efforts I fail at this daily, often hourly. God alone can teach us to love as He loves, and I have a feeling that it’s a lifelong learning process. But it’s one I’m willing to undertake and that I pray you are, too.

My father has told me more times than I can count that the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing, to keep my priorities in order. Christ has prioritized for us, better than we ever could for ourselves. It’s all about love. I urge you to love Christ with everything in you and to love those around you with a passion stronger than you’ve ever had before.

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Here’s an update on what’s going on in my life: Things are going well with the family that I’ve been living with. Dima & Nina have been really wonderful in helping me learn more Russian words & how to use them. I feel more confident when I ask questions and sentences now. I even enjoy trying to follow conversations!

Since living there I’ve felt more comfortable with their different schedules, lifestyles and personalities. At first, it was challenging for me to pray for them, but now I know how to ask for specific things and even the little stuff that gets on my nerves. We had some great celebrations during the New Year & Orthodox Christmas. Even though it was a little sad to be away from my family, I was surrounded by good friends here. Lately Dima and I have had more serious discussions about Ukrainian history. I’m shocked at the things I’ve learned about Communism rule, the influence of the mafia and the exciting possibilities for the future. I truly believe that this is a time of change for Ukraine and I’m excited to pray in God’s will for this nation and city.

My work as a teacher here is also exciting. While a few of my students are ones that I taught last semester, many of them are new to me. It will be great to get to know them each more personally, through walking or going out for coffee/tea, etc. Also as a teacher, I’m excited about finding more creative ways to present the material. Now that I have taught a semester here, I feel a closer connection with the other teachers and office workers. (I hate calling them that because it is so formal. They are truly brothers and sisters in Christ.) It is amazing to work in an environment where we are free to uplift each other up in prayer at any time and speak out our feelings, no matter if we agree or not.

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