English class activities and an attempted break in

December seems to be moving along at a fast pace. We are nine days away from Christmas and we have been keeping busy and there is more on the way.

On December 9, we had our regular supper and devotional time with the Hope For Each students. It is great to be able to share about Jesus and the Christmas message. Christmas isn't a huge event here as their focus is on the New Year. Even for those who call themselves Christians, there needs to be a shift as to what is really important and that is celebrating the birth of Christ. From our understanding, the move away from Christmas to New Year celebration came out of their influence of communism and being a part of an atheistic culture for so long.

Student supper


Student supper


Student supper
Our next supper with the students will be on December 23 and the staff will also be a part of it as we celebrate a Christmas meal and devotional together. We will probably also be taking students into the city for a Christmas Eve celebration.

In the past week or so, we have been to Zaporosia to pick up some things for Garry and Teresa that they bought from Steve and Jo, Canadian missionaries who have moved back to Canada. Scott has also made a trip in as the students enjoy doing some grocery shopping at Ashan. The groceries are cheaper there than in the village. It is also an event for them and they like to make a stop at McDonald's. Scott asked them on the way in if they like McDonald's and they enthusiastically said "Da" which in English is "YES!"

This past Saturday, we were able to sub in for Garry and Teresa at Leana's English class. We have been here about 4 times and it is always fun to share with the students of all ages. Some have very good English and many are learning baby steps, just as we are learning Russian.

Leana's class
On Sunday, we brought our English Bible study out to the village where we live to do our last class together before we break for Christmas. We were able to borrow Garry's van and it was full with nine people. We had some food that was generously supplied by our students and then we gathered for our Bible study where we read the Christmas story found in Luke 2. We always have good discussion and there are questions asked that I would never think of, so it is always interesting.

Bible study
After our class we sat down to eat supper and most of us were still not real hungry after our lunch a little earlier. It was good to sit around the table and share stories and laughs and what we were thankful for in 2019. We are now going to take a break and we will resume our classes on January 12 back at our church in Dnipro.

Ukrainian food


More food


Visiting - l-r - Scott, Walter, Shannon, Tonya

English class supper l-r - Tonya, Svetlana, Shannon, Walter, Scott, Amina, Iryna, Andrey


English class supper - Leana included (Tonya taking the picture)
After we had supper, we got back in the van and returned everyone to Dnipro. We really had a great time and this class is a highlight for us. We have two students who are seeking truth and hopefully we are bringing the Christmas story alive in ways they never knew before. The goal is that Jesus would become their Lord and Saviour and change their lives as He has changed ours.

As we were pulling into our driveway, we received a phone call from Victor telling us that there was an attempted break-in at our place. Someone had smashed the kitchen window and broke it badly. I guess a neighbor heard something and Max came down to check things out. It looks like they had tried to grab the natural gas line and climb up the side of the house, but the attic door wouldn't budge for them. It is a reminder that I need to make sure the attic door is totally secure.

Attempted break-in, broken class, dirt on the wall where they tried the attic door
Lately we have been noticing that when we unlock the porch door in the morning that someone has tried to open it because the door isn't latched. The other night, someone came in the porch while we were in another room and checked out the porch and left a window open. We have started locking the door as soon as it is dark, which is shortly after 4 pm. It is a little unnerving to feel that you are being watched. The window that was smashed last night has had footprints around it as if someone is looking in while it is dark. As I type this blog out, Shannon is making a curtain for that window.


This morning Valentina knocked on the door with a note written in English. She needed her coat pockets mended and she wanted to come in for tea. Shannon mended the coat while they had tea and chatted. Both of them were practicing their new language (without Google Translate). Lately we have become the repair shop for the students. We have fixed boots (super glue!), pants and now pockets! Later today some of the students will drop in for tea. That will be fun. Last time we played Uno.

Anyway, that is it for now and we will post one more blog before the end of the year.

Have a blessed Christmas and may Jesus make this Christmas more real to you than ever before!















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