Team Kharkov Requests December 18th-24th

The Gift of Love

   "In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God.  ² He was in the beginning with God.  ³ He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. ¹⁴ So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father."

John 1:1-3, 14

     The third week of Advent brings to us "The Gift of Love," come to earth in the Person of Christ Jesus.  How easy it seems to be in our materialistic world to forget our celebration is for His birth, through which we have each been given the Perfect Gift.  In the busyness of the days that lead up to the celebration of His birth, may we take time to allow Him to renew the wonder of that Gift within our hearts, and cause our lives to be a reflection of His love to each one we see!  Please join us in praying for the following requests over this coming week.  

• Pray for Amanda as she goes with youth from Christian Life church to an engagement celebration Sunday afternoon.  Ask the Lord to continue to deepen her relationship with the youth, and to draw more young people from the community into this fellowship.  
• Pray for Linda as she flies on Monday from Kharkov to Kiev, then on to Yerevan, Armenia for a week of fellowship with the Wofford family.  Ask the Father to grant good weather for travel, and no delays in any of the flights.  Intercede that this would be a week of refreshment, encouragement, and renewal for her as well as for the Woffords.
• Petition the Lord to grant Amanda opportunity this week to meet up with a friend from the states who is beginning a Peace Corps term of service in another city in Ukraine.  Pray they would be able to spend the days of this week together as they celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior.

• Praise Him for enabling the men of the Zmeeov church to get a roof on the church building before winter weather sets in (seen in photo).  Pray the Father would grant Pastor Yuri and the church members wisdom in continuing construction through the winter months.  Praise Him for financial provision through brothers and sisters in Christ in Mississippi with a heart for the people of the Kharkov region of Ukraine. 
• We praise Him for drawing Yana, Marina, and Natasha to know Him through study of the bible and discipleship with Amanda.  Intercede for Marina as she confronts her fear of entering into a personal relationship with Christ.  Pray the opportunities He has given Amanda to work with each of these young women would encourage and renew her heart and spirit, even as He uses her to disciple them.

Internet service in Armenia may be a little sporadic, prohibiting me from getting our requests next week out before Christmas.  Should that be the case, Amanda and I would like to wish each of you and your families a