Monday, September 1, 2008

August 2008 Update - Bila Tserkva, Ukraine

Greg, Dominic, Edna, and Joshua
Greg, Dominic, Edna, and Joshua

This was a busy month for us as we wrapped up the summer. Pastor Pavlo was gone for five weeks so Edna and I were on our own to plan the teaching and do children's ministry. We had a lot of fun doing it and are blessed by all the people in the church here and their support.

Valya, Edna, and Maria at church
Valya, Edna, and Maria at church

For several months now, we have been praying that the English Club would grow and that we would have an open door with the university here. God has been faithful in answering our prayers beyond what we could imagine. Through a mutual friend in Calvary Chapel (Ben Morrison), we were able to get connected with a girl named Tanya who had moved to Bila Tserkva. Tanya speaks English and is a teacher at the university. Her husband Kolya is also a teacher at the university and together they know several people who are interested in attending English Club. Tanya has been an answer to prayer and has become a close friend with Edna. We even took a five day trip with them and had a great time getting to know each other better.

Bila Tserkva Train Station
Dominic, Joshua, Edna, Tanya, and Kolya at the Bila Tserkva train station

God has also begun to open doors with Maxime's mother and father. It began with a broken fence that needed to be fixed and painted and we're hoping it will continue with fixing up a room that Maxime can call his own. You can read about what happened and see more pictures by clicking on these two links, Fixing and Painting.

Fixing the fence
Joshua, Dominic, Maxime, and me working on the fence

Dominic painting Maxime's fence
Dominic and Maxime painting the fence

Having tea with Maxime and his mother Vera
Edna, Joshua, Maxime, Vera, and Dominic having tea together

On July 23-27, Western Ukraine was devastated by flooding. Many people were left without food, water, or shelter as all drinking water was polluted and homes were destroyed. The church in Chernihiv decided to do something about it. On August 28th, Dominic and I went with nine other people from the church in Chernihiv to help out and show the love of Christ in action rather than words. We ended up traveling within about a mile of the Ukrainian border with Romania and Moldova where we were truly blessed by what we experienced. A local Baptist church hosted us and directed us on how we could best serve the needs of the people. We were all witnesses to the Body working together to ease the suffering of the flood victims with food, water, and clothing and ministering to their souls. You can read more about what we saw and see more pictures by clicking on these links, Part 1 , Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

Handing out food to flood victims
Dominic helping to hand out food to flood victims in a village near the Romanian and Moldovan border

Greg cleaning out the shed
Me helping clean out a woman's shed that was damaged by the flood


Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. - 1 John 3:18

“God created us to live with a single passion to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion.” - John Piper

Нехай Бог Благословить Україну
(Let God Bless Ukraine)


Prayer Requests


• That God would be glorified even in the tragedy of the floods .
• That God would continue to ease the suffering of the flood victims in Western Ukraine.
That the churches we met with in America would keep us (Ukraine) on their hearts and minds and in their prayers.
• That God would direct us in planning local outreaches using English.
• That God would heal Edna's kidneys.
• Pray that Maxime would continue to grow in Christ. That nothing would hinder him from coming to church on Sunday, or being able to stay with us here at home.
• That God would raise up others outside of Ukraine to serve in Bila Tserkva.
• For a permanent translator at our Church.
• For more young women and (especially) men to begin coming to English Club at the Rosava.
For financial provisions to allow us to travel to Speakers Week at the Bible College in Hungary in November.

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"


In Christ,
Greg, Edna, Dominic, and Joshua

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