From 1982 - 1988, I spent every summer, all summer in Europe. I was working, at the time, out of the OM USA office, and my responsibilities with Americans joining OM for the summer, the one year program, or the two year program is what had me on that side of the pond. I spent most of the time in Belgium and at conferences. It was a rich time in my ministry history.
In Jan 2012 and Jan 2013, a team from the Ukraine has come to Kolkata. I have loved getting to know them a little bit, and to make a very long story short, I am going to visit them from Aug 9 - 24th!!! It has been a decade since I set my feet on European soil. I am really looking forward to this!
It is going to be a very different kind of experience for me. Firstly, I am only going for two weeks. That seems like a short time to me. The first time the team came to Kolkata, they came for three weeks. They bonded with us, and we with them. The second time they came for just two weeks. They all decided that it wasn't long enough! Maybe since I already know the people that I'll be spending the bulk of my time with, it won't be frustrating. They are also returning to Kolkata in Jan 2014, and in my heart I am planning to do the same . . . no details worked out yet!
My flight is booked into Kiev. On Aug 9th, after an overnight flight from Richmond to JFK and Amsterdam Alla will come to meet me. Alla heads up Kompas Park camps in Kreshchatyk. Children from Ukraine, Russia and Latvia attend these camps. I am not sure how I will fit in at this point, but since English is my mother tongue and many people around the world want to learn to speak that language, I expect that will be a big part of it. Many who have come to Kolkata help with the camp, they share their faith which I will also be able to do. I want also to be an encouragement to them as it is at the end of camp season and I am sure they will be tired!
Roman and Irene got engaged the night before they were leaving Kolkata. Their wedding is Aug 18th and I look forward to celebrating that with them!
The second week I will be with Katya and her family in Cherkassy. Katya and her husband run the Cherkassy Centre for Biblical Studies and church planting. They, too, will also be coming off a busy ministry schedule. One of the things that Katya has asked is for me to meet with the team that is preparing to go to Kolkata in 2014 so that we can discuss how best they might be used.
I've never spent much time in Eastern Europe. I always enjoy getting to know friends better by seeing their situations and learning more of their story. I value your prayers for this trip.
On the way back to the US, I will break my flight in Amsterdam and fly to London Gatwich from Aug 24 - Sept 3. I am very much looking forward to reconnecting with a number of friends that I was with in my OM days and I also hope to meet some former Woodstock School students who live in London. Again, I would appreciate prayer that this would all come together. It will involve a fair amount of train travel in and around the London area, with a couple of trips further afield. Please, Lord, bring this all together and use it for your glory.
I return to the US on Sept 4th.
In Jan 2012 and Jan 2013, a team from the Ukraine has come to Kolkata. I have loved getting to know them a little bit, and to make a very long story short, I am going to visit them from Aug 9 - 24th!!! It has been a decade since I set my feet on European soil. I am really looking forward to this!
It is going to be a very different kind of experience for me. Firstly, I am only going for two weeks. That seems like a short time to me. The first time the team came to Kolkata, they came for three weeks. They bonded with us, and we with them. The second time they came for just two weeks. They all decided that it wasn't long enough! Maybe since I already know the people that I'll be spending the bulk of my time with, it won't be frustrating. They are also returning to Kolkata in Jan 2014, and in my heart I am planning to do the same . . . no details worked out yet!
My flight is booked into Kiev. On Aug 9th, after an overnight flight from Richmond to JFK and Amsterdam Alla will come to meet me. Alla heads up Kompas Park camps in Kreshchatyk. Children from Ukraine, Russia and Latvia attend these camps. I am not sure how I will fit in at this point, but since English is my mother tongue and many people around the world want to learn to speak that language, I expect that will be a big part of it. Many who have come to Kolkata help with the camp, they share their faith which I will also be able to do. I want also to be an encouragement to them as it is at the end of camp season and I am sure they will be tired!
Roman and Irene got engaged the night before they were leaving Kolkata. Their wedding is Aug 18th and I look forward to celebrating that with them!
The second week I will be with Katya and her family in Cherkassy. Katya and her husband run the Cherkassy Centre for Biblical Studies and church planting. They, too, will also be coming off a busy ministry schedule. One of the things that Katya has asked is for me to meet with the team that is preparing to go to Kolkata in 2014 so that we can discuss how best they might be used.
I've never spent much time in Eastern Europe. I always enjoy getting to know friends better by seeing their situations and learning more of their story. I value your prayers for this trip.
On the way back to the US, I will break my flight in Amsterdam and fly to London Gatwich from Aug 24 - Sept 3. I am very much looking forward to reconnecting with a number of friends that I was with in my OM days and I also hope to meet some former Woodstock School students who live in London. Again, I would appreciate prayer that this would all come together. It will involve a fair amount of train travel in and around the London area, with a couple of trips further afield. Please, Lord, bring this all together and use it for your glory.
I return to the US on Sept 4th.
No comments:
Post a Comment