Thursday, December 31, 2009

December 2009 Update - Bila Tserkva, Ukraine

Greg, Edna, Dominic, and Joshua
Me, Edna, Dominic, and Joshua on the playground

The month of December started out much warmer than usual, but we were eventually rewarded by several days of heavy snow. This was great news for all the kids with sleds. The schools have been closed most of the month because of a flu quarantine so kids won't be back in school until their holiday break ends after Christmas (January 7th here).

Our Neighborhood in Snow
The view from our bedroom window

On the 10th, we visited a baby orphanage here in Bila Tserkva to see if we could arrange for regular trips to spend time with the children there. We don't know exactly what the final outcome will be, but you can read about it by clicking HERE.

Baby Orphanage in Bila Tserkva
The baby orphanage in Bila Tserkva

Left to Right: Dominic, Joshua, Edna, Olya, Zhenya, Vlada, and Oksana
Dominic, Joshua, Edna (holding Taras the hedgehog), Olya, Zhenya, Vlada, and Oksana

On the 19th, we met up with Olya, Zhenya, Vlada, and Oksana from Chernihiv to visit a nearby orphanage in our region. We were so blessed to be able to spend time with these precious young children. We desperately want to go back again especially since the bus ride there was short enough for Edna to handle without too much discomfort. You can read about the time we spent at the orphanage in the village of Velykopolovetske by clicking HERE.

Orphanage in Velykopolovetske (Великополовецьке)
Valya and Natasha at the internaught/orphanage in Velykopolovetske

We spent the 25th quietly at home by sharing a meal together as a family and acknowledging that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. We decided not to exchange any gifts until January 7th, when most of Ukraine officially celebrates Christmas, so that the 25th was just about Jesus.

Edna in Park Oleksandria
Edna in Park Oleksandria on her birthday

On the 29th, we celebrated Edna's birthday by taking a morning stroll in the park with all the fresh snow. (You can see some of the photos I took by clicking HERE.) Later, Edna's friend Tanya came over and they celebrated their birthdays together since Tanya's is on January 1st.

Birthday Girls
Tanya and Edna celebrating their birthdays together

Sadly, we haven't seen much of Maxime because his grandmother has kept him in the village since the schools closed here on the 15th for quarantine. He has not been to church with us in a very long time or been allowed to stay in our home. We are, however, happy to share that Maxime's mother Vera joined us for church this month and everyone was able to pray for her and encourage her. She is currently living with her parents and a disabled sister.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." - Ecclesiastes 3:11

"And people who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives... and when the bubble has burst they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted." - Nate Saint

Нехай Бог Благословить Україну
(Let God Bless Ukraine)


Prayer Requests

• 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.
Please pray that God would provide the $2,500 needed for our plane tickets.
• For Edna's health problems and medical costs.
Pray that we finish well here and make Christ known in all possible ways.
For God's protection against illness.
For continued friendships (especially among our neighbors) that lead to Christ being made known as a personal Savior.
• For spiritual growth in all of us, unity in our marriage, protection from spiritual attack.
For the planning and everything that must be done in preparation for our move back to California.

Support can be sent to:
Calvary SLO
4029 S. Higuera Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
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



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