A Week of Training and Conferences

It seems like a world away from our work in Krygyzstan.  We have been in Ukraine since Tuesday doing social work training, ministry training and sharing in the very first adoption conference in this country.  Held in downtown Kiev, this awesome conference was sponsored by LAMb International, Father's House and CBN Ukraine among others. It has been wonderful to meet adoptive parents in this country who have such a beautiful heart for the orphans here.

May our pictures tell a small part of the story. As we share these pictures, please know that we are deeply humbled by these opportunities and trust that we honor God in the work in Ukraine.

   WEDNESDAY TRAINING AT THE NEW ILCD OFFICE IN KIEV

Lynn and Ruby conducted caregiver training at the new office of the International Leadership and Development Center.  This is a separate organization under LAMb International whose purpose is to offer leadership training for ministry, social work and business.

This is the first group to enjoy training in the new location.

Wednesday evening David spoke on the Power of Deadly Emotions.  The responses were extremely positive. The pastor reported a number of calls the next day from people who were impacted by the session and felt God had brought healing into their lives. 

While Lynn and Ruby were in one location, David and I were in another.  This is a light hearted moment in our training on Thursday afternoon.

AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY

Prior to the conference on Friday, we had the opportunity for an interview for the television program - 700 Club of CBN Ukraine.  Our book, Telling the Truth to Your Adopted or Foster Child, has been translated into Russian and was the subject of the converation. This is on one of the sets of CBN Ukraine that we visited after the interview which was filmed in a private home earlier.

PREPARING FOR THE ADOPTION CONFERENCE

A valued moment of prayer before this Christian adoption conference begins.

Families from all over Ukraine

        Another view of the crowd, while Anya, one of the ILCD staff shares announcements.

Ruby shares to a packed room of interested families

Sharing from the book, Telling the Truth, which was given to everyone attending. Sitting next to David  in the front row on the right is Ruby and to her right is Lynn.  This conference happened due in a very large part to the vision and work of Lynn and Ruby.  They have been working in Ukraine for over six years.

After our work is completed on Tuesday morning here, David and I will fly to Poland for another round of new experiences and new people.  We will be training government social workers and Polish adoptive families on Wednesday through Friday and flying back to Kyrgyzstan on Saturday morning.

ALLOW ME TO BRAG FOR A MOMENT…..

The pictures above from an awards event. They are of our daughter, Kristy and her husband, Rick Matheson, the award recipients and a picture of Kristy with the award.

Last Friday night, Springfield, Ohio, North High School had an honors banquet and presentation.  The occasion was to present 10 former students dating back to 1950 with the DISTINGUISHED ALUMNAI AWARD. This award was presented to those persons whom the selection committee had decided had made significant social and humanitarian contributions since their graduation. 

Jayne was one of those chosen.  Since we are out of the country and could not attend the banquet, presentation and other activities surrounding the event, our daughter, Kristy and her husband Rick, were there to receive the award for Jayne.  We are very grateful to them for being there and representing the family so well and honorably. 

I have included some pictures above from last Friday night, April 16.  Thank you for allowing me to honor someone very special to me and to so many others.

Thank you and may God bless all of you….The Journey Continues

David

 

Possiblities Improving

Just a brief note - it does look like our trips to Ukraine and Poland are a go.  The Kiev airport opened tonight and that was key to our getting to go.

 

What is happening next week is very exciting.  Lynn, Ruby, David and I will be joining national speakers in Ukraine at the first adoption conference held in that country. Among the co-sponsors of this event are LAMb International and CBN Ukraine.  We are to arrive there on Tuesday, will have two days of social work training and then the conference on the weekend. 

 

A week from Tuesday, David and I will fly onto Poland for three days of training both social workers and families.We will be staying in the home of an adoptive family while we are there. We return to Kyrgyzstan on May 2.

 

We are truly humbled by these open doors as we continue to ask God's leadership in what we are doing. 

 

Thank you for sharing our journey....