Ukraine Update: April

April Update Letter PDF

Here’s my April Update Letter PDF so you can print it out if you would like to:

Spring is Here!

After a cold and rainy winter, Spring is finally here. The weather has been beautiful. The sun has been shining a lot more, and everything is starting to bloom.

Here are some pictures:

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Getting in the Language

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Basketball

Before the quarantine really locked down, I was going to basketball court near where I live and playing basketball with my friends there. It was a great way for me to be able to meet new people, be in the language, and stay active. I haven’t been able to play since it has been banned, but I am looking forward to when it will reopen.

The Bazaar

This is another place that I really enjoyed going to and practicing Ukrainian while buying groceries. It is the Market, or as they call it here, a “the Bazaar”. Unfortunately, it is closed right now too, and won’t open until the quarantine is lifted. As of right now the quarantine is set to end on May 11th, if it doesn’t get extended again.

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Yaroslav Sherstyuk

While I was out giving out tracts to people and trying to practice Ukrainian, I met this guy named Yaroslav. After introducing ourselves and talking for a little while, I learned that he too was a believer in Jesus Christ! It turns out that he had gotten saved a couple years back while attending a Campus Crusade for Christ Bible study that was taking place on his college campus. He is now serving and ministering with a local church here in Lviv.

It was really encouraging to be able to meet and talk with him! Plus we were able to talk for a long while, which was great Ukrainian practice for me!

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Practicing Ukrainian and handing out tracts

Lately, I’ve been trying to focus on trying to find people who are willing to talk with me. As well as handing out tracts to people. It has been good. God has blessed me to be able to meet new people, and start/develop relationships with them.

This is a place called the Ska. There are some nice trails in the woods, clearings, and a place for people to exercise/walk their dogs. I have been able to hand out a good many tracts here, and also at a soccer field that is located just over the top of the trees in the picture above.

Here are some of my friends near where I live. I had a good time practicing Ukrainian with them and was able to give each of them a Bible comic book called Good&Evil.

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Easter

In Ukraine, they celebrate Easter one week later than we do in the States. Ukrainians don’t call it Easter, they call it Великдень (velykden’) which means “Big Day” in Ukrainian. Since we aren’t allowed to meet in groups of over 10 right now, those of us who play music for church services went and recorded some Easter songs. That way the rest of the people at the church could listen to them.

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Zoom Meetings

For the past few weeks, I have been a part of a Saturday morning Bible Study/Prayer meeting with a group of men who are all actively evangelizing and sharing the Gospel right where they live. It has been very encouraging and motivating to study/learn more about our great Saviour Jesus, and how to share Him with people. https://www.onwardforchrist.org/

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Things you can pray for!

1. Pray for more understanding, learning, and speaking ability in Ukrainian.

2. Pray for people who I have given tracts to, that God would work in their lives and open their eyes.

3. Pray for people that I have met out and about, that God would bless and further those relationships.

To God be all Glory, Honor, and Praise

– Kade Bloom