Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
I. Going to Ukraine
When Misn. John told me he wanted to go to Ukraine as a permanent Missionary, I asked him where is Ukraine? Then he asked me if he should resign his position as teacher in the Chicago Public School. When he asked me this, our desires to become missionaries to CIS stopped being a prayer topic and it became a reality. To my surprise I said “yes.” On July 31, 2003 my family was commissioned by Chicago UBF to be permanent missionaries to Kyiv, Ukraine. Misn. John went to Ukraine with no job but with only God’s promise in his heart and within two weeks God provided him a good paying job in an international school. God also helped us to get our documents and necessary money by cashing our retirement funds. God answered all our prayers practically. One time while we were driving on the Kennedy Misn. John and I were discussing if we should sell our mini van or ship it to Kyiv. After asking this we were hit in the back and immediately Misn. John said, “I think we should sell it.” After we sold our car and house, we became debt free. Romans 13:8, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” What a load of burden off our backs knowing we have no more debt. We were free to serve God in a new country. We left to Kyiv with 9 suit cases and one cello case.
II. Life in Ukraine
When we first arrived in Ukraine, Misn. Ruth Ushimirsky and other brothers and sisters met us. I have never seen such beautiful people. At first it was very difficult to live in Kyiv. I didn’t speak the language. I really felt like the deaf and mute man. When I went to the store to buy food I pointed to the things I wanted and grunted. One time I went to the store and bought something. I thought the sales person said 900.00 griven but actually it was 90.00 griven. Fortunately Misn. Point’s mother was with me and got my change back. After three months in Kyiv I wanted to teach the Bible. But because of the language barrier it was impossible. Then Sister Nina, Misn. Point’s mother in law just got out of the mental hospital for depression. I knew she needed to study the Bible so I asked her daughter, if her mother would like to study the Bible with me. Then I asked Misn. Ruth to translate my John’s Gospel study in Russian. I simplified each lesson with only one point. She read the Bible and my notes in Russian then I tried to explain in pantomime. During this time I also began studying Russian in the University. So I sprinkled some Russian words here and there. We laughed so much. Amazingly she understood me and later she told me, meeting me for Bible study each week was the high light of her week. I also gave her the direction to be a great mother of prayer for Turkey and Ukraine. Soon her depression was healed and she became like St. Peter’s mother-in-law, serving many guests who came to Kyiv.
Our children were having difficulties adjusting to the new country. One day when Johnny left his school lunch at home with chocolate pudding, he got so upset that he called the principle “monster face” and he left the school grounds. He was only 9 years old and it took four men to hold him and bring him back to school. Our eldest daughter Maria Joy was so depressed, telling us we ruined her life and that she didn’t want to live anymore. Misn. John and I felt so helpless so we prayed for them. Our children were going to an American Missionary School. This gave them some stability in their lives. After two years we had tuition free at our international school but we decided to keep our three daughters in the Missionary school paying $10,000.00 a year for them for two more years to help them adjust living in Ukraine. God heard our prayers. Maria Joy became valedictorian but greater than this she decided to be a missionary to a Muslim country. Last year she got accepted to Bosporus University in Istanbul, Turkey and finished her freshman year well. We are praying for her to get her masters and PhD in Princeton and go back to Bosporus University as a Professor missionary. Last year Christy and Sarah began their studies in our international school. They invited their friends to Praise Night every Friday night. But Christy realized that Praise Night was for missionary kids but her friends never read the Bible. So she is planning to start a group Bible study for her friends before praise night. Johnny is a sweet boy and makes friends easily. He cooks and serves Missionary John and I, coffee and tea. He also serves our guests and sheep when they come over.
God blessed us to buy some land and build a three-story house with the money from selling our house in Chicago. Because foreigners could not get loans or credit cards we lived simply and I began working part-time as a preschool teacher in our international school. We are renting the third floor to sisters in our church. We are currently remodeling our first floor to accommodate another family. God has blessed us so much so that we can be a blessing to others. God’s promise is true in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” When we lived as missionaries, God blessed us more than we could ever imagine, in our family life, financially, and spiritually. I can say without a doubt, the missionary life is the best life to live. Amen.
KYIV MISSION REPORT II
“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” Isaiah 54:2,3
I. God’s work in Kyiv UBF
God has been blessing our ministry as well. There are currently four fellowships in Kiev UBF: P. Jonathan, P. David, P. Watchman and P. Samurai. They are young and enthusiastic growing disciples of Jesus. We concentrate on inviting students on two campuses: KPI and Shevchenko. M. Maria and I are serving P. David’s fellowship; he is also a disciple of M. Point, who is currently the director of Turkey UBF. M. Maria’s sheep P. Olena is growing well and serving Kiev UBF as a full time intern shepherdess. She will be sharing her life testimony at the SBC. Her other growing sheep, Alona, went to California this summer to work and has been attending Downy UBF. She will also be attending the SBC. Maxcim is a faithful Bible student but not so faithful in SWS. But several months ago I challenged him if he was faithful to SWS he could attend the SBC. Ever since then he never missed SWS and he will be attending the SBC. I also study with Pasha who has been studying the Bible faithfully the last three years. God granted us many other sheep as well. Most of all, we thank God for our children Christy, Sarah and Johnny who have been our coworkers in the mission field. Christy and Sarah serve the orchestra and we pray for all three to be future missionaries to Muslim countries.
Now our church building is complete. Many of our children prefer to go to church than stay at home. In the center there is the word of God, English lessons, internet, ping pong, basketball and a kitchen with a full refrigerator at all times. Students like to hang around the center as well. One of our sheep said, “I like to go to church because I can always talk to someone.” Our shepherdesses stay in church from morning at 5:30am to 11:00pm at night. They only go home to sleep. We love our church and we take turns cleaning it every other week. God gave us a beautiful and big center that can seat 300 people. Though we are not yet to this number, we believe God will bless us to fill our church. Isaiah 54:2,3 says, “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.” I remembered when Chicago UBF first moved into our center from our old center on Ashland Ave. We never thought we could ever fill this church. So Dr. Lee had us sit on every other row. But now Chicago UBF has grown to 8 other centers, Triton , Wright College, DePaul, COD, University of Chicago, IIT, West Loop and the main center, the headquarters of World Mission. We need only to enlarge our tent and God will do the rest.
We thank God for Dr. Peter Kim who is a man of great vision. Though Ukraine is a poor country he trains our Ukrainian shepherds and shepherdesses to be great men and women of God. He gives them direction to be missionaries and pioneers and excellent Bible teachers. Though we do not have many resources, we built a new center with 5 loaves and 2 fish. He himself gave the most, sacrificing the completion of his own house and using his house as collateral for our church loan. Because of the financial and spiritual burden of our church construction, several of our dear coworkers left our ministry. But Dr. Peter Kim was not daunted. With joy he encouraged us to push forward and give glory to God. In this year he was appointed as the CIS director though he has already many responsibilities as a self supporting missionary, UBF director of Ukraine and a father of three children who are attending a Missionary American school which demands tuition payments. Not once have we seen Dr. Peter complain of his struggles and burdens. God blessed our Kyiv UBF and in the last 5 years we have sent out 7 missionaries and pioneers, M. Anastasia to Princeton, New Jersey, Shepherd Jacob and Joan of Arc to Harkov, Ukraine, Misn Point and Rebekah to Istanbul Turkey, and Misn. Maria Joy Peace to Istanbul and just recently Misn. Ruth Ushimirsky to Chicago UBF. When he recently visited Poland to work on his visa, he met with Misn. Elijah Park. Misn. Elijah Park and his family are the only one serving a big city Warsaw Poland. Right away Dr. Peter decided to send one Ukrainian family to help with Poland ministry. Though our church is not so big we have heart, we have vision, and we have faith. We are just going through the pruning process of our ministry, but the season of Christ will be coming soon, with abundant fruit. We need only please God and love one another.
II. Thanksgiving and prayer topics
First of all, my family would like to thank you all for your prayer and support for our family the last five years.
Secondly, our topic for Kiev UBF is to be a shepherd nation and missionary sending nation.
Thirdly, may God bless the Purdue International Conference as our prayer to make America a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
