Thanksgiving and Other News

Sorry we haven’t been updating in a while, there has been many changes for us and for me with the arrival of Sebastian in late September. Now we are in Horodok which I think is one change that will definitely be for the better! Not better because it will be easier, because it will be harder, and not better because there will be a better place to live, because it will be more difficult and still needs much work. However, it will be better for us to minister to the people in Horodok. This is the city where we have been working year after year for the past 6 years. Many of you have spent money, given of your time, or offered prayers for our work here. Now we are living here. We walk here. We take the bus to and from here. We shop here. We do many things here and we are more a part of their everyday lives, which is really great. Already I have seen friend’s parents in the bazaar that recognized us. Even if it is a little more difficult to live here and we have to take an hour to an hour and a half on a couple buses to get to L'viv I still think it is best that we are here in Horodok, a place that has become like a second home to me and many others at Calvary.

We have also been very, very busy. On top of trying to settle into our apartment in Horodok, which includes cleaning, installing furniture, and shopping for things we need, we have been teaching many English classes. Our schedule right now is two ESL classes on Monday, one at 230 and one at 6:30, a class on Wednesday at 2:30, and we teach kids on Friday from Andriy in Alona's apartment in Horodok at 4:00. Soon we will be adding two more classes in the number 3 school in Horodok, so please pray for these classes that we have and will soon have. Pray that we would develop a good relationship with these kids and that we will live a life that shows them Jesus and His love for them. Pray that we would be bold to speak the truth whenever we can and that we would make an effort to tell these kids about Jesus at every opportunity. Also pray that we could get some small bible study group started. I really want to start some sort of group where we will get the kids simply reading the Bible. I would like to start with some kids from camp this summer that I already have a pretty good relationship with. I'm not thinking any deep study of different books, but I think it would be really great, and effective if they were just reading God's word...something they probably have never done. So pray for us that God would give us wisdom and show us what will be best to do.

Thanksgiving was a few days ago, and we had a wonderful opportunity to spend some time with some other Americans here. We really had an awesome time of fellowship and food and it was truly a blessing for us. We spent our Thanksgiving with the Blessings, and Ledfords, some missionary families that have been very good to us and a great encouragement. Please pray for the Ledfords as they need to get some papers to stay in the country and are having some difficulties. Pray for the Blessings as they renovate their house and turn it into a house for Jews migrating back to Israel, where they will minister to them and share with them about Jesus. Once again, thank you all for your prayers and support and we will update you again soon. God be with you and bless you! Your brother in Christ - Joey

Finally an update. But first an introduction.

Hello my name is Sebastian Harris. I’m sure if you are reading this post then you probably already know who I am, but I feel the need to introduce myself to those who may not know me. I joined Calvary’s Ukraine mission team in 2007 and have been returning every summer. This year though God opened a door for me to stay longer in Ukraine and allowed everything else in my life to be put on hold.

He has provided abundantly for me to come here. Besides the material aspects, He has also provided circumstantially. Anything and everything that could have prevented me from going on such a trip for a year didn’t hinder me at all. What about school? It isn’t going anywhere. What about my scholarship? I can take up to two years off without losing it. What about losing my job? My bosses assured me they would hire me the day I got back and even give me a pay increase as an incentive to come back. What about family obligations? I have none, as my parents are self sufficient. What about money? I figured if God wanted me to go then He will provide. And He has. All this goes to His glory for providing in every way.
I will boast in the Lord some more. I cannot explain how great God is. For the first time in my life I flew by myself. I left TPA and flew to JFK. From JFK I flew to Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. Then finally from Kiev I flew to L’viv where I was picked up by my friends. For the most part of my 24 hour journey to Ukraine I was lost and very anxious. Get this, I got lost in JFK where everyone speaks English, so imagine how lost I was when I was in Ukraine where next to no one speaks English. Again it was because God intervened and guided my every step that I arrived at the L’viv airport.
Now more than a month has passed since my arrival. In this time Joe and I have been teaching ESL at Central Baptist Church in L’viv. After each class we have there is a bible study for any who want to stay.
This last Monday we had nine students come for ESL and eight stayed for the bible study afterwards. Please pray for those who stayed, for the person who didn’t, and for those teaching the bible. We will be starting another ESL class that will be on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning next Monday the 15th. After the class we will invite them to a club called JAM that meets every other Friday. During JAM they play music and perform other activities that are fun for youth. At the end of the night Oleg the pastor at Trinity speaks to them. Pray that many will come to the club and that they will believe the gospel preached to them there. We moved to Horodok about two weeks ago and we are glad to finally be where we have been desiring to work. We will be having a meeting to discuss which new ministries we will start in Horodok, as we have already started a couple. Pray that God would lead us into what ministries He wants wants us to start next, and what ways will be best to reach these people for Christ.