Team Kharkov Requests September 25th-October 1st

"I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.  I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High." (Psalm 9:1-2)

          The choice of Scripture this week is personal.  I am in Budapest right now (where we are blessed with excellent medical care because of your giving) and have completed a week of post-cancer check-ups.  I never enter this annual event without a reminder of His faithfulness to me, and His love for me, regardless of the results of all of the tests.  Today I am giving thanks to the Lord and rejoicing in Him for granting me 10 years of cancer free living following cancer treatment in 2000-2001, yet I desire my heart to be so certain of His love that I would rejoice and "sing the praises" of His Name even if those results were different.
          As Amanda and I have had the opportunity to share our lives with women in the Donetsk and Lviv regions of Ukraine this past month, both of us shared how we discovered greater depths of His love for us in the midst of the storms in our lives.  The world outside our doors needs to know He is ALWAYS with us, even when the tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes of our lives change everything in a moment.  Pray we would continually have hearts ready to give an answer to those who come across our lives needing to know He is here - walking ahead to show us the way through the storm, walking alongside to hold our hand in the storm, or lifting us up in His arms to comfort and carry us while the storm rages around us.

Sunday, September 25th  Christian Life Church and New Hope Baptist Church will both celebrate "Zhatva" (thanksgiving) today.  Church members will bring in produce, sweets, and food of every kind to share with others as they give thanks to Him for His provision in the harvest.  Pray this would be a time in both churches when many non-believers would come and experience His love and provision through the hands and hearts of believers.

Monday, September 26th  Marina is a young (21 years old) woman the Lord has brought into Amanda's life.  She is going through chemotherapy for lymphoma right now.  She is not a believer, but is open to hearing about Christ.  Pray for Amanda as she has opportunity to walk alongside Marina during this time.  Ask the Father to cause His Word to penetrate to the very marrow of her bones, bringing new life to Marina not only spiritually, but physically as well.

Tuesday, September 27th  Pray for me (Linda) as I meet with a rheumatologist in Budapest today and discuss some "issues" with my back that have continued over the past few months.   This is the time of year when the weather is perfect for meeting friends in the park to fellowship and talk.  Petition the Lord to grant me healing through physical therapy and exercise so that I might walk and work more freely physically.

Wednesday, September 28th Please continue to pray for Amanda and I as week seek the Lord's face individually and corporately concerning His plans for us as Team Kharkov.  Our desire is to see Him do more than we can ask or imagine in and through our lives to impact the lostness in eastern Ukraine.  Intercede for us to have hearts sensitive to His Spirit leading and guiding us each step of the way.

Thursday, September 29th  Pastor Vitaly Sorokun has a vision for focusing more on small group Bible studies and ministry for folks in New Hope church.  Team Kharkov's ministry to International women students is a part of this ministry.  Ask the Lord to even now prepare hearts of many International students and Ukrainian believers to desire a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Father through group study.  Pray He would grant Amanda and I wisdom as we prayerfully consider how He would have us minister to these young women throughout the coming school year.

Friday, September 30th  My hope is to be released from the doctor to travel home to Kharkov today or tomorrow.  Pray the Lord would go before me as I secure return tickets, that I would return to Ukraine in His time.  Ask the Lord to grant me time of sweet fellowship with Him each day while in Budapest and as I travel back to Kiev whenever He chooses.  Pray this would be a time of refreshing spiritually, emotionally, and physically as I wait upon Him.

Saturday, October 1st  Pray for Amanda as she leads The Book Club English group this afternoon at New Hope Church.  Ask the Lord to cause His word as revealed in the book of Romans to penetrate the hearts and minds of those who come.  Pray this would be the time when we would experience a bountiful harvest of new brothers and sisters in Christ as a result of the planting of His Word in the hearts of many in this group over the past years.

IMPACTing the Kharkov Region of Ukraine with the love of Christ!