Ukraine by Matt Dugan Read more about Ukraine here REPORT FROM MARIUPOL, UKRAINE January 2005 Dear Brethren, Winter is finally upon us. Although it has been cold enough to require regular coat wearing, it has not been unbearably frigid. Snow is frequent but usually does not stay on the ground more than a few days at a time and has not yet been a hindrance of any kind. More troublesome are the layers of ice that often form over the dirt paths and sidewalks I must negotiate regularly as I go about my business. The first occasion I had to walk down the ice covered paths went rather badly because I failed to realize how difficult it would be to cross uneven terrain in this conditions. Okay, I wasn¹t paying attention like I should have been. At any rate, my nonchalant stroll came to an abrupt end when I suddenly found myself staring at the sky with the disconcerting feeling ...[more] REPORT FROM MARIUPOL, UKRAINE February 2005 Dear Brethren, I feel compelled to make some explanation as to the extreme lateness of this month’s report. The best I can offer is that this has been the busiest uneventful month in recent memory. More on that later. We began the month with a study of the book of Esther and the Providence of God. The brethren here were very impressed with the chain of events that eventually brought about the salvation of the Jews from their enemies. That very evening, as I was traveling home from the study a lady sat down next to me on the bus and began reading her Bible. I could not let an opportunity such as this get away and so I directed Vera to ask her where she currently attended. The lady introduced herself as Larissa and very eagerly described a Pentecostal group that meets just ou...[more] REPORT FROM MARIUPOL, UKRAINE July 2005 Dear Brethren, It would be unkind of me not to take a moment to express my gratitude for the many kindnesses you all lavished upon me during my recent visit to the States. I was amazed and humbled by the great generosity that was shown to me regularly during my stay – often from people with whom I am not well acquainted. I find Mt. 19:29 to be more true all the time. You all certainly did your share to reinforce the truth of our Lord’s words where I am concerned. I thank you for it and am greatly encouraged by your attitude. It was such a great pleasure seeing most of you during the month of May, that it was rather more difficult to leave this time than I expected it to be. Consequently, I have been a bit slower than I expected to be getting back into the swing of things since my r...[more] REPORT FROM MARIUPOL, UKRAINE September 6, 2005 Dear Brethren, I apologize once again for the lateness of this report. As it turns out, the past few weeks have been among the most difficult I have spent in my entire time overseas. As a result, there have been numerous demands on my time that would not have otherwise been the case. It all started with my meeting with Alexandra which I mentioned in my previous report. There are some of you who have spent more time with her than I have and come away with a different impression. However, I have not been impressed with her at all since I started working here and this meeting certainly did nothing to change my opinion. Although I repeatedly stressed the need for reconciliation, forgiveness, and repentance, she continued to insist that she had never done anything wrong and that the ...[more] REPORT FROM MARIUPOL, UKRAINE January 2006 Dear Brethren, Greetings and best wishes for the New Year from Mariupol. The previous month has been by far the most pleasant and encouraging I have spent in this country due to the arrival of my fiancée Amanda Campbell and our friend Rachel Davis. As I mentioned in my last report, I have been looking forward to their visit for some time. As their departure nears, I cannot say emphatically enough that the time we have spent together has far exceeded my hopes and expectations. Isolation is one of the most difficult aspects of this job. Thus, I am always glad to see visitors. During the holidays, it can be especially hard to be separated from those whom I am closest to. Thankfully, this year, I did not have to struggle through the coldest, darkest time of the year alone. I was als...[more] REPORT FROM MARIUPOL, UKRAINE December 8, 2005 Dear Brethren, Many apologies for neglecting this report for so long. From the time of my last writing, the pace of the work here has quickened dramatically, sweeping me along with it. To say I have struggled to keep my head above water would be an understatement. As I mentioned previously, Vera, my interpreter, agreed to study. We did so, three times per week (which more than doubled my regular workload, but I’m not complaining), according to the following outline: 1. Truth about reality is knowable. 2. The opposite of true is false 3. It is true that the theistic God exists. This is evidenced by the: a. Beginning of the universe b. Design of the universe c. Design of life d. Moral Law 4. If God exists, then miracles are possible. 5. Miracles can be used...[more] REPORT FROM MARIUPOL, UKRAINE February 2006 Dear Brethren, Greetings from frigid Mariupol. I learned in History class that Russia’s three greatest allies have always been December, January, and February! I believe it. The brethren tell me that we are having a winter like there hasn’t been in 20 years. Temperatures have hovered consistently below zero for the entire month save for one week when they made it up into the thirties. None of this would be so bad were it not for the strong winds (20-40 mph) that blast in from the Sea of Azov. I’m hoping that the winter will bottom out this weekend with expected temperatures of â 25! As you might guess, I don’t leave the house unless I have to. In addition to the cold, it has been a month of shortages. Some of you may be aware of the dispute between Ukraine and Russia ove...[more] REPORT FROM MARIUPOL, UKRAINE March 2006 Dear Brethren, Greetings from windy Mariupol. Spring is finally starting to break Winter’s grip. The snows of January have finally melted away making walking outside much easier and more pleasant. This has, of course, come at the cost of the high winds (20-30 mph with gusts over 50) of March. The locals tell me that we can expect two weeks of perfect weather in May followed by an unbearably hot summer. However, as cold as it has been this winter, I have a feeling I’ll be able to bear the heat quite well. A few days after writing my last report, I made my way to Kiev to meet the Gillespies. Because the flight to Mariupol was full, it was necessary for us to fly to Donetsk (the nearest city to the north) instead. Having found this out a week beforehand, I planned carefully to ensure ...[more] REPORT FROM MARIUPOL, UKRAINE April 2006 Dear Brethren, Greetings from Mariupol. Spring is in full bloom and folks are beginning to work in their summer gardens. This usually means a precipitous drop in attendance at worship and Bible classes. I am, however, happy to report that such has not been the case thus far this year. It is extremely encouraging to see the maturity that the brethren are showing in this and many other areas. Our shift from the one year survey of the Bible to a 4-5 year survey has gone surprisingly well. When I first arrived, I suggested studying the Old Testament on Wednesdays and the New on Fridays. The brethren rapidly shot this down saying it would be too confusing for them. Considering how unused they were to systematic study, this was probably true and I did not argue. This time around I wa...[more] REPORT FROM MARIUPOL, UKRAINE August 2006 Dear Brethren, Greetings from a hot Mariupol. Much of Europe is enveloped in a heat wave as, I am given to understand, is much of the United States. Because we are experiencing such high temperatures, the local government decided that the inhabitants here certainly wouldn’t mind having their hot water turned off for repairs (as is common in the summer for a month or so) until the middle of October! As a rule, I would not recommend bringing a new wife into a situation in which hot showers are suddenly a luxury item. However, I am proud to say that I haven’t heard the first complaint out of mine. The fine woman I married is truly a helper “suitable” for me. It has certainly been easier to get back to work in a well run household than it ever was on my own (those of you who have vis...[more] REPORT FROM MARIUPOL, UKRAINE September 2006 Dear Brethren, Greetings from Mariupol. The hot weather appears to have ended for this year and has given way to days in which neither fans nor heaters are called for and we are very grateful. Usually, with the turn of the weather toward cooler days, the city government kindly restores our hot water. This year they have not yet been so gracious – which means that Amanda and I have now been without for 3 months! They have promised to restore it by October 15. We hope that they keep their word but must admit that this hope is more desire than expectation by a significant factor. In addition to this, several factors have made the weeks following my last report among the most difficult of my time in Ukraine. I mentioned in my last report our hope that my sister and brother-in-law...[more] back |