Fall 2003
A message from the President
November
proved
to
be
an
exciting
trip.
The
Sunday
before
we
left
our
Pastor,
Charles
Adams
of
Toledo
Foursquare
Church,
prayed
for
Sherrel
and
I
during
the
morning
service.
As
he
was
praying
he
was
lead
to
pray
that
doors
would
be
knocked
down
not
just opened. That God would move in ways beyond our dreams – AND HE DID!
The
leadership
meeting
with
Vitaly
and
Marina,
Kim
and
Angelo
was
extremely
productive.
There
was
a
common
thread
of
unity
which
knitted
us
together
more
than
ever
before.
We
were
able
to
catch
the
vision
God
laid
out
before
us
and
we
worked
together
to
implement
that
vision.
One
of
the
words
that
kept
coming
to
mind
was
that
The
Least
of
These
is
a
ministry
to
help
ENABLE
God’s
people in Ukraine.
We
were
also
blessed
by
Oksana’s
ministry
in
Sevastopol.
She
brought
15
kids
of
Orphanage
House
#2
to
church
on
Sunday.
After
church
we
took
them
out
for
pizza.
We
had
a
great
time.
Oksana
also
invited
all
of
us
to
her
wedding
in
April
to
Pasha.
Pasha
is
a
graduate
of
the
Ukrainian
Theological
Evangelical
Seminary
and
is
on
staff
of
the
church
in
Sevastopol.
I
am
looking
forward
to
seeing all that God has in store for this sold out couple for God!
Another high-
light
of
the
trip
was
building
our
relationship
with
Susanne.
Her
story
below
illustrates
her
love
and
commitment
to
the
Lord. I hope you enjoy her story as much as I did.
Rich
From the heart of Susanne
What
does
it
mean
to
go
on
a
mission
trip?
What
is
the
true
work
of
a
missionary?
These
are
the
questions
that
ran
through
my
mind
as
I
began
praying
about
a
mission
trip.
I
didn’t
know
where
to
go
or
what
to
do,
I
just
knew
that
God
was
preparing
me
to
go!
After
one
year
of
prayer,
God
answered.
Ukraine.
After
10
minutes
on
the
TLOT
website,
I
knew
this
is
where
God
was
sending
me.
My
heart
was
filled
with
His
compassion
for
the
Children
of
Ukraine.
I
had
to
go
and
it
had
to
be
soon.
My
heart
was
torn
in
two…half here and half there in Ukraine waiting for me. I couldn’t wait to get there!
I
had
no
idea
what
to
expect.
This
was
my
first
mission
trip
of
any
kind.
I
started
to
dream
of
what
God
would
do
for
the
children.
Of
all
the
miracles
that
He
could
perform
and
of
the
great
needs
that
could
be
met.
And
at
the
same
time,
I
was
nervous
about
so
many
things.
That
I
didn’t
know
enough
Russian,
that
the
conditions
might
be
more
than
I
could
bare,
that
the
weather
would
be
too
cold or that I might get sick. I thought about all of the things that could go wrong in traveling to another part of the world.
By
the
time
I
got
there,
I
was
too
excited
to
be
nervous.
I
couldn’t
wait
to
see
what
God
would
do
first.
But
as
my
time
passed,
there
weren’t
any
big
revelations
or
miraculous
healings
that
were
visible
to
the
eye.
There
were
no
revival
services
or
even
skits
or
songs.
There
was
just
time
with
the
kids
in
a
small
cold
room.
Filled
with
lots
of
ping-pong,
chess,
laughter
and
hugs.
But
somehow
I wan’t disappointed, it was still more than enough.
Even
though
I
didn’t
speak
much
Russian
and
the
kids
didn’t
speak
English,
we
had
the
most
beautiful
few
weeks
together.
You
don’t
need
fancy
speech
to
share
a
hug,
a
laugh
or
a
smile.
It
is
more
than
enough
to
hear
the
stampede
down
the
stairwell
with
20
children
running
and
throwing
themselves
at
you
in
mass
bear
hug
hysteria!
What
a
blessing
to
see
the
sheer
joy
on
their
faces
just
because
you
came
to
see
them
that
day.
Not
because
of
what
you
bring
them,
what
you
say
or
even
what
you
do,
but
simply
because
you are there. If only we could all experience such joy!
These
are
children
that
the
world
has
forgotten.
They
don’t
get
visitors,
birthday
cards
or
Christmas
presents.
All
they
have
in
this
world
is
each
other.
And
when
you
enter
into
their
lives,
it
means
so
much
more
than
you
can
imagine.
It
is
God’s
love
in
the
most
pure
form…
The
love
of
a
child.
Hugs
speak
more
loudly
than
the
most
eloquent
sermon
ever
could.
It
reaches
past
the
boundaries
of language, age and culture. It reaches from God’s heart straight into theirs.
To
see
through
God’s
eyes
for
even
just
a
moment
changes
everything.
No
matter
how
much
I
do,
the
normal
Christian
life
is
no
longer
enough.
I
want
to
do
more.
I
need
to
do
more.
All
I
could
think
about
was
getting
back
over
there
to
be
with
these
kids.
They
need
someone
in
their
lives
that
will
love
them
as
Christ
loves
us
all.
And
I
know
that
as
long
as
I
am
able,
I
want
to
be
one
of
those
people!
God
has
built
a
firm
foundation
upon
which
He
is
building
His
work
in
Ukraine.
I
saw
with
my
own
eyes
what
God
is
preparing
in
the
hearts
of
His
people.
He
is
knitting
together
a
powerfully
anointed
team
that
is
dedicating
all
they
have
to
see
His
Will
be
done
in
Ukraine.
By
His
sovereign
Grace
alone,
God
opened
doors
to
minister
to
the
largest
orphanage
in
all
of
Crimea.
420
children
will
hear the Gospel this spring and summer because of the obedience of God’s people. Praise the Lord!
I
left
home
hoping
to
see
things
changed
in
Ukraine.
But
when
I
returned
home,
I
realized
that
I
was
the
one
that
had
been
changed.
Changed
forever
because
of
my
time
with
these
children
and
with
my
teammates.
God’s
hand
was
upon
every
moment
of
this
trip.
From
the
moment
my
visa
application
was
mailed
off,
to
the
moment
I
stepped
off
of
the
plane
back
home,
God
was
in
control.
He
proved
Himself
as
Almighty
God,
Blessed
Redeemer,
Healer
and
Friend.
Even
healing
a
team
member
of
a
painful
cyst
that
had
plagued her for years.
And
this
is
just
the
beginning.
This
is
what
God
did
in
just
one
orphanage!
There
is
still
such
a
great
need
for
the
children
in
the
orphanages
all
over
Ukraine.
God
is
not
done!
The
Summer
2004
Outreaches
will
be
yet
another
opportunity
to
reach
even
more
children.
I
am
counting
the
minutes
until
I
am
able
to
go
back.
And
again
I
start
to
dream…
What
will
God
do?
Hundreds,
even
thousands
could
be
saved,
healed
and
set
free!
Is
God
preparing
your
heart
for
these
children?
Ask
and
see
where
He
will
send
you.
“Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord!”
A ministry targeting young people around the world,
sharing the Love of God in Word and Deed.
