Teams and Camps
The church in Poltava was blessed with two teams this summer. The
first was from Melbourne, Florida. The second was from Cedar Rapids,
Iowa. For three weeks straight we had a non stop schedule of going
to orphanage camps and providing children’s festivals. I was
on the face painting team and had a great time decorating the kids.
The children loved it. We did experience some opposition towards
the end, when the children’s shelter and the children’s
hospital in Poltava didn’t want us to return with the second
team. Pastor Eric said, “We must have made Satan mad”
We continue to pray that doors will reopen for the church to minister
to the kids in the future. The church will continue to go to the
camps throughout the summer, but not two a day as we were doing
with the teams. We were all exhausted and it took me a while to
recover, but I’m always blessed to see people coming from
the states to minister for the Lord during their vacation time.
I’m thankful for the encouragement and love the children received
and also for my new friends I made from the teams.
There was one boy at one of the camps, Kolya that I would like
to share about. He was 14 years old, but looked about 10 or 11.
When I talked with Him, he just got sadder and sadder. I finally
took him over to Eric and he was able to bring a smile to his face
and encourage him. So many of these kids know of the love of God,
but their situations are so difficult in the orphanage and they
know they are rejected by their families. It is heartbreaking. My
prayer is that Kolya, and so many others like him, will know Jesus
love and peace in their hearts and be able to forgive those that
have hurt them so deeply.
Move to Ternopil: Our Team
During the first week of August, I made two trips to Ternopil to
complete the move. We had a big van, but we also needed to bring
my faithful helpers, Vadim and Vadim, Levi and myself in the van.
The first trip we brought half my stuff, moved it into the apartment
and went straight back to Poltava. It was a 31 hour trip. Three
days later we completed the move along with another helper, Sashko,
and my cat. We had a great time of fellowship and the boys were
so excited to be in West Ukraine, as so much of their heritage is
displayed here. I am now unpacking and taking care of details of
life, getting my apartment set up and learning the city. With the
help of the leaders at the YWAM base, everything is coming together.
I am having a problem getting an internet connection, so please
be patient with me as this is being worked out.
I am so grateful to my brothers and sisters in Poltava, who helped
me pack, clean and move. The church there is filled with love and
I am going to miss them so much. The women’s ministry is filled
with women who love to study the Word and I am so humbled to have
served with them. Please continue to pray for them and for Pastor
Eric and his wife Tanya as they lead the church.
My new apartment in Ternopil is around the corner from Tim and
Christina’s and a 20 minute walk to the YWAM base. George
and Sharon are still looking for an apartment. It is our prayer
that they will be in the same neighborhood as the rest of us. That
way we can meet daily for prayer and direction from the Lord. At
this point we know we are called here. Now we are waiting on the
Lord to tell us what to do next.
I’ve already made a friend at the furniture store and have
requests for an English club for teenagers. That’s a ministry
I’ve always enjoyed because I can meet teenagers from outside
the church. As each day unfolds, the needs of the city are being
revealed to me. I was encouraged by YWAM that there is a great need
here for ministry to the young people and to the hundreds of international
students who are studying here. This region is filled with churches,
tradition and legalism. We know we are called here to share the
gospel of grace through Jesus Christ. Please join us in prayer for
the planting of Calvary Chapel in Ternopil.
I want to share this verse that the Lord is encouraging me with.
My prayer is that our witness will glorify God in this way:
“You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly
and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you
know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you,
as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of
God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” 1 Thess
2: 10
Thank you for your prayers and support. God bless you!
Marilyn
Prayer requests:
* For Calvary Chapel Ternopil to be planted with the foundation
of God grace
* For relationships to be made in the city as we go about our daily
routines
* For unity of the team through the love of God to bind us together
* For good health and for the Lord’s continued provision
* For the Holy Spirit to pour down upon Ukraine and for spiritual
revival
* For the orphans of Ukraine to know their Heavenly Father who
will never leave or
forsake them
I praise God for His faithfulness! He has blessed me above and
beyond what I could have ever expected in the ministry. I look forward
to what He is going to do in Ternopil, Ukraine.
New contact information:
gibbsinukraine@gmail.com
www.missioncalvary.com
Letters and packages may be sent to:
Marilyn Gibbs
PO Box 1031
Ternopil, Ukraine
For more information about the ministry and support, please check
out the Calvary Missions website: www.missioncalvary.com
