Staff Missionary Reports
Reports and Experiences of the Godspeed Staff
Ukraine, May 2001 - Yalta
Dear ones,
Sunday evening, May 27, at the Ai-Petri Sanatorium near Yalta, Ukraine. A beautiful
location; a towering mountain peak looms behind the sanatorium, in front the breaking
waves of the Black Sea. An eighteen hour train ride brought us here from Kiev; for all
our trips to the former Soviet Union countries, this was my first train ride. Four
people (often strangers) ride in each coupe, a small seating compartment which converts
to four bunks at night. I found it strangely familiar, and finally realized it was very
similar to sleeping in a cramped cabin of a small sailboat, in a rough sea.
The work: a three day presentation on parenting, given to about 12 Ukrainian missionary
couples, most with children less than ten years of age. As had been the case last year
when we gave a marriage conference to the same group, we note that many of them have not
been exposed to strong marriages or effective parenting techniques in their own pasts,
and are hungry to understand more about Biblical principles which apply to both roles.
After completing the parenting conference, another group of about twenty single Ukrainian
missionaries will arrive, for a two day conference on Biblical prinicples of singleness,
courtship, and marriage. I will then return to Kiev and repeat that same conference for a
smaller group of singles from another Ukrainian mission organization.
I had already written you about the difficulties I experienced entering the country, and
then Karen's abrupt return to the U.S. because of a death in her family. I had hoped to be
able to contact home from Yalta, but as of yet have ot been able to get the phone (one of
two in the whole complex) to work to get an international operator, and certainly have not
been able to connect with any e-mail (this will probably not be sent until I return to Kiev),
so am in the dark about what is happening with my family. Another clear opportunity to trust
God.
The conferences have gone fairly well. Ukrainian parents, too, have children that leave
dirty clothes on the floor, don't pick up their toys, and take forever to go to bed at night.
Our similarities far outweigh our differences. A number of couples seek individual
consultation about their children; one young father and mother want my opinion on their
eight month old son who has hydrocephalus; they want to know if the medication being offered
to them is the correct approach. Yet, even if I can determine that there is a better way to
approach the problem, there is no guarantee that such treatment would be available and
affordable in Ukraine.
It is a blessing to be among these young servants of Christ. The group will soon celebrate
their fifth year of existence. During that short time, the staff has grown to more than forty,
Bible studies have been developed in cities throughout Ukraine, hundreds have come to Christ,
and four churches have been started. These people are doing a Kingdom work, and it is
impressive that their leadership has prioritized taking care of their marriages, their
families, and their health.
For all the joy of what I am allowed to see and experience, I am personally lonesome and
tired, but feel that I am supposed to be here. This is good work, but I will be happy to be
home, hopefully one week from Tuesday. Thank you for your prayers....they have made a
difference, a definite difference.
Godspeed,
Barney M. Davis, Jr., M.D.
Executive Director,
Godspeed Missionary Care
|
