UKRAINE NEWSLETTER

Gene and Mary Parker

Donetsk, Ukraine

Dear Supporters, Family, and Friends, 

The weather did a switch in June here in Ukraine. May was warm to hot and dry. June has turned cool to almost cold. On the morning of June 4th we had 40 degrees and it remained cool all month long but stayed dry until the latter half. The last ten days have seen good rains and continued cool. It was just in time to save the gardens.

On the 6th of June the Proletarski ladies had their annual Ladies Day Conference. The attendance was good but down some from previous years. We don't know the reason. But they came from many congregations in the area and enjoyed a great day. This is a great edifying experience for our ladies as well as the many visitors.

Our congregation sponsored a three day campaign in a depressed area of our district June 26 thru 28. Even though we did not have many visitors, our members supported it extremely well. We think maybe the Orthodox Priest had something to do with the lack of visitors as it is in a strong Orthodox area. We know he was made aware of it a week or so before. It was planned and organized by one of our men who just graduated from Bible Institute in May. The old building where it was held had a leaky roof but we just moved over when it rained and kept right on. We did have three that were very interested in the church. Two of them, a man and his wife visited our worship on Sunday. So if it brings just one, two or three souls to God, we consider it a success and know He does.

We had the privilege of seeing three more souls added to God's Kingdom in June. One was the man we wrote about last week coming out of a conservative Baptist Church. And two ladies, one the mother of a man who was baptized several months ago, were baptized.

Sunday July 6 will see our teens get on the bus for the third year to go to camp. Lynn and Ray work hard to prepare for this each year. It has been a time when the teens can focus on relationships with each other and God. They will have about thirty people including counselors. Some are from other congregations including 6 teens from Budyonnevski.

You may remember about three years ago we sent a picture in a newsletter of a young girl who had been born with badly disfigured face. At the time we were thinking of trying to get her to America to have surgery. But then found out that it could be done in Odessa here in Ukraine. So with help from His Kids Too and help from the benevolent fund you have provided, and three surgeries later we can see results. We are including a before and after picture. She still has more surgeries to go but now waiting for her to grow into what has been done.

Again, we  remember you in our prayers and hope you do us also. God has provided us  this wonderful opportunity to work in His Kingdom here and with wonderful partners in each of you. Thanks, In the Love of our Saviour, Gene and Mary Parker