November 22, 2006
UPDATES
Sorry I am often so tardy in updates here...as well as emails to you all...trying to catch up...
THE VAN
PRAYER Well, let's see...muffler is fixed, starter replaced (muffler fell off because of new problem, not mechanic's work...fun)...not as expensive as I expected, but still money. Then I got the electrical fixed (supposedly) so that the windshield wipers and heater fan would work and then....I had a fire inside the dash with the wiring for the heater! I'm driving down the street and I literally see flames visible through the slats where the slider controls for the heater are (VW owners know what I'm talking about). So I'm driving and trying to blow this out! Crazy. I was successful and next week it goes back to the mechanic. Lest you think "why did she buy such a dump?" understand that it came highly recommended by people I respect (the previous owners) and that the problems are really par for the course for an older car AND the price was a steal for here AND it was all I could afford (even MORE than I could really afford...I only have it thanks to the generousity of an anonymous donor and CCAG) AND it really does run well most of the time...its just I only need prayer when there are problems and so you all hear about it then! :} SO...please pray that the mechanic would be able to fix the electrical problem once and for all.
PRAISE Praise the Lord, despite all the problems, in the last few months I have been able to use the van to do the following:
- Haul books, equipment and people to three conferences where I set up bookfaires for conference attendees
- Help a fellow missionary get to and from doctor's appointments and finally go home (a town 5 hours away by car) after having surgery in Kyiv
- Haul books and equipment to the church bookstore
- Help the usual folks get home late at night, in bad weather or when they have lots to carry, etc. etc....
So all in all it has been a blessing!
AND Praise the Lord that when recently it had a radiator problem, the original owners were back visiting in Ukraine and the husband fixed the problem (that turned out to be simply a loose clip on radiator hoses).
THE APARTMENT
PRAISE Praise the Lord the landlord's paid for all the repairs in the office below after the busted pipe and didn't ask for any from me. I still haven't gotten the bathroom repainted as that hasn't been high on my budget. THANKFULLY, there hasn't been anymore plumbing disaster's and the landlord finally even came and fixed the hot water faucet in the kitchen so we can use it again. (He fell through a roof recently and so was, obviously, unable to come!).
PRAYER REQUEST Please pray, because I think my landlord is going to raise my rent. He hasn't for a long time and my rent is currently MUCH below the average in Kyiv (which holds spot # 121 in the list of most expensive places in the world to live!). So although he wouldn't be unfair in doing so, please pray because my budget is already pretty stretched as it is. I know that God will provide one way or the other, I just don't want to "have not because I ask not" as the Bible warns.
MY HEALTH
PRAISE A good doctor was recommended to me by a few friends (both Ukr. and American). I went to see her and liked her right away. She speaks English fluently but had no problem understanding my Russian either. She recommended a good lab to go to for all my checkups (they don't do them in the office) and so I will get all that done next week (hopefully) and return to see her for analysis and further examination.
PRAYER REQUEST Please pray that I would be able to afford all the tests and/or have wisdom which ones I maybe don't need to do immediately.
THE CHURCH IN KYIV / TREE OF LIFE
PRAISE I have stopped doing the bookstore every sunday and only do it once a month. That is less stress for me (since I am without any helpers now) and seems to actually be more efficient and practical for everyone else, too.
PLEASE PRAY It seems like their may be a young couple in the church that would like to take over the bookstore ministry, or at least in regards to the bookkeeping, etc. aspect of it. It is a very needed ministry, people are always buying books, ordering books, asking about books etc. But I just don't feel like I can do all of it myself right now.
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
The READ ministry opportunity didn't really pan out, but they are a great group of people so I am confident that God has good things for them still in Ukraine.
The trip to Kyrgistan, as of yet, hasn't panned out either! Please pray that God would provide both the funds and specific desire from God as to when I am supposed to (or not!) go there.
COMPUTER YIKES! I have had SO many computer, internet, etc. problems this last year...on top of everything else! ha! :} Please continue to pray that the guy who built it for me would have time to come look at it and fix it, and that it is fixable!
That's enough (more than!) for now...thank you all...love you and God bless! :)
