Thursday, March 4, 2010

February 2010 Update - Bila Tserkva, Ukraine (Our Final Update)

Joshua, Greg, Alyona, Olya, Edna, and Dominic
Our last day in Bila Tserkva with Olya and her granddaughter Alyona

On the 21st of February we left Bila Tserkva, spent the night in Kaharlyk, and traveled the next morning from there to the Kyiv Airport with the help of Micah Claycamp. We traveled through Moscow, then on to Los Angeles, and drove the last leg to Visalia getting in just before midnight on the 22nd. (You can see our last post from Bila Tserkva by clicking HERE.)

Edna, Dima, and Svita
Edna with Dima and Svitlana

It was a very emotional month for all of us to say the least. In our last days in Bila Tserkva we spent as much time as possible with all the people we would be leaving behind. We are so grateful for all the help we received from our Ukrainian friends. They helped us in so many ways including cooking meals for us and interceding for us in prayer. We will never forget them.

Sierra Nevadas from Visalia
View of the Sierra Nevadas from where we live

When we flew out of Moscow it was snowing heavily and when we arrived in Los Angeles it was sunny and warm. The next morning in Visalia we were shocked to see green grass everywhere and blossoms on the trees. Looking to the mountains we could see snow, but it was such a drastic change from Ukraine. Joshua told Edna that it was beautiful here and that God had really blessed us. I think we can all agree on that.

Sierra Nevadas in Clouds
Another view of the mountains

Almond Blossoms
Almond blossoms

Joshua and Dominic are trying to adjust to life here as they have both started school. Dominic is now in high school and even has some of the same teachers I had. Edna is receiving treatment for her spinal condition and is feeling much better. I've been busy trying to make all the repairs to the house we are living in and get all of our things put away so we aren't living out of boxes.

Taras in the grass
Taras enjoying some sunshine and green grass

We will definitely continue in ministry here in some capacity as God leads us, but we will always have a heart for Ukraine. We are so grateful as to how God has been providing for us through friends, family, and the church body here. Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us (including our Ukrainian friends) and to those of you who are helping us with our transition.

This will be our final blog post for The Silva Family in Ukraine, but I will continue posting to On Second Thought about our lives as a family and anything else I find interesting.


"Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" - Romans 11:33

"Jesus was God and man in one person, that God and man might be happy together again." - George Whitefield

Нехай Бог Благословить Україну
(Let God Bless Ukraine)


Prayer Requests

Pray that God would provide financially for Dima and Svita to attend Bible college this fall (We are working on raising support for them).
• That God would watch over and reunite Maxime and his mother, Vera.
• That God would continue to lead us and take us in the direction He wants us to go.
• For Edna's health problems and medical costs.
Pray that both Dominic and Joshua make friends and adjust to school here in Visalia.
For new opportunities (especially among our neighbors) that lead to Christ being made known as a personal Savior here in Visalia.
• For spiritual growth in all of us and unity in our marriage.



In Christ,
Greg, Edna, Dominic, and Joshua

Our blog: On Second Thought
Our photos: We Desire Him



To see updates for previous months, please click the link below "Older Posts"