August 2007 Update - Bila Tserkva, Ukraine

Dominic and Joshua cashing in on scrap metal

This month seems to have gone by quickly, especially for the boys who will hopefully be starting school on Monday (we’re still working on enrolling them). They’ve had a lot of fun and adventures this summer and they’ve made some new friends. I don’t think they’re quite ready to have it end. We don’t have a lot of things around the house to keep them busy, but we’ve noticed that they never seem to get bored. One of the ways they’ve found to entertain themselves and earn a little bit of money is to collect and sell scrap metal. The people next door that they sell it to, Andre and Luda, are really nice people and they get a kick out of the two hard working American boys.

Maxime, the little boy that lives across the street, still comes over to play whenever he can. We took him with us to the river one day and barbequed. We all had a great time and wondered why we hadn’t done it sooner. The night before, Maxime’s mother Vera, came to our apartment and gave us permission to take him. She gave us all a hug and kept telling us thank you. After we got back from the river I printed out some of the picture I took of Maxime and he gave them to his mother. When ever she sees Edna now, she talks to her like she’s an old friend. We are greatly encouraged by how much she has warmed up to us. We are still hoping to take Maxime with us to church one day.

The girls in our neighborhood are always coming by to hang out with Edna, so she decided to have them over for a tea party. We thought it would be a good opportunity to tell the girls what we’re doing here in Bila Tserkva. We had Maria come over to help translate and answer questions. Edna asked one of the girls named Tanya how she was doing in Ukrainian and Tanya just looked at her and didn’t answer. Then one of the girls repeated what Edna had said in Russian and Tanya answered Edna in Russian. Edna thought it was a little strange that Tanya didn’t understand Ukrainian until she told her that she was Russian. Tanya is from St. Petersburg, Russia and was just visiting for the summer. So Tanya turned out to be the guest who had traveled the farthest. The girls all had a good time and a few of them expressed an interest in going to church with us. Edna taught them how to play the card game Uno and it was an instant hit. Two of the girls, Oksana and Anya, stayed until it got dark and their parents called for them.

Edna has always joked about how the time she spent learning Spanish was a waste because she’ll never use it here, but now we aren’t so sure about that. Edna was sitting at the table with a girl named Masha and she told her that if she ever needed any help with her English homework that she could help. Masha was very grateful, but she said the language she really wanted to learn was Spanish. She said that she couldn’t find any books on it or anyone that could help her learn. Her face lit up when Edna told her that she would be more than happy to help teach her. She is planning to come back with her little sister Olha and have Edna teach her some basic Spanish. We still can’t believe what a great opportunity it will be to share with her about Christ. Already, she has had several questions about prayer and the true role of Jesus in our lives.

Anya, Edna, and Joshua on Independence Day

On Independence Day, August 24th, we all went with Anya (one of the girls from the tea party) to a little amusement park in the center of town. She talked us into riding a few rides that left us a little pale to say the least. I guess as adults we’ve kind of forgotten that if it doesn’t make you sick or in genuine fear for your life, then it isn’t fun. The ride that spins you around in a swing suspended by chains was pretty fun though. Edna went on it twice. Anya likes hanging out with “Miss Edna” as she calls her and it gives Edna a chance to get a break from us boys.

Just as we were getting to know Halla and Yaroslav, they moved out of our building. Yaroslav is in the Army so they said they are use to moving, but that Bohdon will really miss Joshua. Halla said that Joshua was always so kind and patient with Bohdon. We’ll miss little Bohdon too.

We met a new friend here in Bila Tserkva named Katya. She has been going to church in Kaharlyk and didn’t really know anyone here until Danny Foote got her in contact with us. She went to church with us here last Sunday and then came by our apartment the next day. She speaks English, but after a few hours we were starting to give her a headache. We promised we’d learn more Ukrainian before next time.

Bohdon and Joshua saying goodbye

Last week we went with Maria and her mother to visit her aunt, Baba Hanya, in the hospital where she was recovering from an injury to her elbow. The conditions we saw in the hospital made us feel grateful that God has kept us all in good health. It was a blessing for us to see how happy Baba Hanya was to meet us and visit with us.

Baba Hanya is now home so we spent yesterday in her small village about 20 minutes away from where we live. We went with Maria’s father, Fedir, her mother, Vala, her sister, Stacia, and a neighbor, Valeri to help Baba Hanya and her uncle, Serhiy, harvest their potatoes. (Maria’s aunt and uncle are brother and sister. Neither of them ever married so they live together in their old age.) As we got off the bus to walk the couple of miles to the village, it began to rain. It made for a beautiful walk as we descended into the misty valley below. The rain stopped just as we got to Baba Hanya’s place. We had a delicious breakfast and then headed for the potato field.

Edna, Baba Hanya, and Dominic

I helped the men dig up the potatoes as Edna and the women gathered them in baskets and then into sacks. The sun came out after awhile, but it didn’t get that hot. It turned out to be a beautiful day for harvesting potatoes. Dominic and Joshua had fun with all the animals. Baba Hanya has chickens, pigs, cats, and a dog named Topeek. Joshua especially liked all the Ukrainian songs that Valeri would sing as we worked in the field.

Me and Edna harvesting potatoes

When it was time to go and we were all cleaned up, they made sure we had plenty of fresh vegetables to take home with us and of course some salo (salted pork fat). Needless to say we were all pretty tired by the time we got home. We took some of the freshly harvested potatoes and made Deroony (Ukrainian potato pancakes) for dinner.

Today both of us are a little sore and a little tired, but we feel so blessed to have been able to help Maria and her family. They have been so kind and helpful to us and are living examples of how Christ is glorified here in Ukraine.

Joshua and Dominic enjoying kvas (a non-alcoholic Ukrainian drink made from black bread)

Now that school is starting and children are back in the city from the villages and from vacations to the sea, we are praying that they would be back in church here. We are starting a children’s ministry in the church here so please pray that the parents would start bringing their children and that more children would be brought to Christ here. We are excited to see what God has planned for these little ones.

Sometimes we are surprised by how well we are received here by our neighbors. Ukrainians are a warm friendly people, but normally only to people they know and accept. So we feel blessed when our neighbor Olya comes to our door to share the food she has prepared or invites us into her home to celebrate her birthday with her family. We feel blessed when the woman that Joshua helps in her garden, who we call Babusya Natalia, brings Edna a bouquet of her best flowers from her garden. And we can’t help but feel blessed when a little old woman who can hardly walk, gathers cooking spices from her garden and offers them to our family. When we first arrived here, we were met with suspicious stares and silence when we offered a greeting. All I can say is that God continues to open doors and soften hearts.


“Now I am happy in my Saviour’s love. I can thank Him for all, even the most painful experiences of the past, and trust Him without fear for all that is to come.”

-James Hudson Taylor

Prayer Requests

• That God would continue to lead us according to His plan
• Learning the Ukrainian language and culture
• For the children in our neighborhood and in the church
• For the boys as we enroll them in school and supplement with home schooling
• Wisdom in sharing the Gospel
• Opportunities for discipleship and service
• Financial provisions
• Health and safety
• Spiritual growth and discernment


Support can be sent to:
Calvary SLO
P.O. Box 1463
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
With an attached note: "For Greg and Edna Silva"


“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” – Matthew 18:5


In Christ,
Greg, Edna, Dominic, and Joshua
Our blog: http://m24expert.blogspot.com/
Our photos: www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim