2016 Mission Trip (Day 7 & 8)

​Day 7....

We spent day 7 in meeting with different ministry organizations. We met first with a Baptist Mission who are doing a great work in what is called the “Gray Zone.” The UN and Unicef are just a couple of the agencies that are using this organization to bring supplies to war zone. They deliver food packages and provide medical care to those who are impacted by the war. We were told of one of the volunteers was taken captive by the Separatist in the early days of the conflict. His car was stolen and he was beaten terribly. These are some of the danger that face these brave people; whose desire is to show the love of Christ to those who are in need. Check out their web page for further information. The web address is… www.aidcenter.org.ua

After meeting with this agency, we then met with the staff of LOR. This is the Ukrainian mission that DMI has been associated with for over 20 years. Most of the Staff of LOR had to relocate to the city of Zaporizhzhya after the war started. There we met with Vadim Churbukin, his wife Irena and several others. Here they continue to sponsor 2 rehab ministries in the city. They have 4 other rehab centers located in other villages. We met and had lunch with the rehab center for women. We heard the testimony of these ladies who expressed their praise and gratitude to God for intervening in their lives. DMI has been greatly blessed over the years to have helped support not only the Rehabilitation ministries, but also the Prison ministries of LOR [Light of Resurrection] Mission. Day 7 ended with a 500 km [311 miles; 7 hour] ride back to Kiev. We rejoiced in the goodness of the LORD as we traveled home.

​Day 8....

​We saw our mission team travel west to the city of Zhitomir to visit with Pastor Andre Malov and wife Tanya. Andre is part of the LOR Staff. He covers the western part of the Ukraine for LOR; checking on the needs of pastors, churches and different Rehabilitation ministries. There at Andre’s home, we had the great blessing to visit with an old friend, Pastor Vasiliy Derkach, wife Olga and their family. One of the first churches that DMI helped was Pastor Vasiliy’s church in the city of Ugledar in 1993. DMI helped to raise funds for the building of their church. It was a great reunion between Pastor Vasiliy and Pastor Pat McCoy. Please pray for this dear man and his wife. Pastor Vasiliy has MS and his wife Olga is battling a debilitating disease as well. Her testimony though was very moving. Despite their health problems, she praised God for His goodness to them both. No matter what happens, she proclaimed to us… “God is good.” What a great couple of days we had meeting with our Brothers and Sisters at LOR and also Pastor Vasiliy. Please keep these brothers and sisters in your prayers.

Our time is fast approaching to leave for home. We miss our families and will be glad to be back home. But we will miss our families here in the Ukraine. Thank you to all who have helped in the support of this ministry over the years. Through God’s grace and the kindness of many of you, DMI has been able to help meet the needs of many people here. There are still many needs that we feel burdened to meet. If you would like to help or receive more information about this ministry, please check out our web page: www.disciplingministries.org. If you feel led to give a contribution, please know that it will be graciously accepted and will go to help with the ministry of the gospel in the Ukraine