...not so far! We have had a blissfully full start to summer, with gatherings at Mosaic Community, including hosting a virtual Women in Leadership Conferencepresented by the Hope for Europe Network, and continued youth meetings on Fridays! We've also taken every opportunity to grow friendships with new international friends we continue to meet as we live and work in Odesa!
Recently we had the opportunity to host our Area Director who came for a visit to check out our new facility and celebrate what God is doing in Odesa. While he was here, we hosted abaptism serviceright in our home, where a local colleague and friend baptized an individual he and his wife had been discipling.
Opportunities to GIVE
Some tables and chairs, along with some shelving, are due to be delivered this week as we work hard this summer to wrap up the necessary details to launch our student center branch of Mosaic Community! Several of you have already given for different needs, and we THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts! Our desire is to create a space where international students feel welcome, at home, and at ease in this multi-cultural community. Hospitality is our goal! So, if you feel God leading you to give toward something in particular, check out our list of needed items below. Any special giving above and beyond your monthly faith promise for these particular needs can be designated by (1) choosing class 48 in the drop down menu, and then (2) adding a comment such as "couches," "office furniture," or "needed equipment" to your givinghere:
Exciting Disability Ministry Updates!
Remember Agatha? We presented a need for funds to pay for her secondcochlear implant surgery, and God met that need through YOUR giving! Agatha's mother contacted us this Spring tothank YOU for the miraclethis was for their family. Recently, she shared a video of Agatha's piano recital. Let's just say that all five of us listened, jaws gaping, with one of us (Wendy) in a puddle on the floor!Click heretosee this miracle for yourself! GOD IS GOOD!
We are seeing God answer our collective prayers for someone to serve as a Disability Ministry Coordinator! We have had several serious conversations with a young adult with a Special Education background who is feeling the distinct leading of God to serve the special needs population of Odesa. In addition to serving on our church plant team, this individual would be in charge of networking and supporting churches and families, as the idea of inclusion is growing in Ukraine! Please continue to keep this in your prayers!
Family Update
The kids are done with school, and are staying busy with music lessons, fun activities and some service opportunities! We have celebrated Tobin's birthday, Jeremy's birthday and our wedding anniversary. Wendy got to enjoy some time with a precious friend who was visiting Odesa, and then our family traveled to Kyiv to renew passports for the kids and also for some business meetings in order to work on getting MOSAIC fully up and running. We also had the opportunity to celebrate our AGWM-Ukraine MK graduates, and took every opportunity to socialize between business meetings with friends and colleagues we hadn't seen in over two years! It was a full week, and we arrived back in Odesa with satisfied and happy hearts!
June Prayer Points
Praise God for the individual He has led to us, who has a passion for disability ministry. We are SUPER EXCITED to see Him answer this long-standing request we've all prayed for!
Praise God for the continued opportunities we have to gather as MOSAIC Community!
Praise God for the lives already impacted by these gatherings!
Praise God for continued health during this pandemic and safety while we travel!
Pray for wisdom and favor as we prepare to launch our student center this fall!
Pray for this amazing individual who is passionate about disability ministry as decisions are made about serving in Ukraine - THIS REMAINS AN URGENT NEED!
Pray for a Children's/Youth Leader to be added to our growing team!
Pray for our church planting team members, the Smileys, as they fundraise. We're thrilled our team is growing! (contact info: Micah.Smiley@agmd.org)
We are blessed over and over again by your faithfulness as we partner to reach Odesa, Ukraine with the HOPE of Christ!
With love and joy,
Jeremy, Wendy, Dora, Tobin and Ivanna
