Fri 29 JULY - 23:15GMT

What a wonderful day again.  Lots of travel early in the day.  After staying over in Dnipro (Dnipropetrovsk – which was a closed secret city in Soviet times), we traveled to a retreat center by the Azov Sea (a huge bay off the Black Sea). 

Here we had lunch with the Disciple Making Movements Team of Our Heritage who have been leading a training seminar here for 5 days for more than a hundred (leaders and families) being trained in this unique strategy that God is using so effectively here. I can’t tell you how impressed I am with these visionary, focused leaders.It was interesting just to watch them tackle the question of whether and how they include music/worship in discipleship groups where some have absolutely no background in the church, others from Orthodox backgrounds and a few more have a background in Evangelical churches. Some expect singing… others have heard it but never participated… and others had no idea that Jesus followers sing. Small question? Not if your focus is to bring everyone you can to know and follow Jesus. Of course I didn’t understand the dialog, but these leaders, each brought energetic passion to the discussion while being so gracious with each other. I was so gratified to be able to say, I help these folks do ministry here..

John and I had dinner with Vadym in a typical old soviet style resort cafeteria.  It looked like it came right out of a 1960s Soviet film… Have I mentioned that I DO like the food over here.

This evening was the closing service for the DMM training.  Everyone was gathered in a small outdoor auditorium (open walls under a corrugated roof).  There we found Pastor Petr, his wife Kathryn, daughter Sveta and her husband Yura.  I was nearly overcome by joy to hug him to my heart again.  I love this man who has hosted me so many times.  I got to participate in Sveta and Yura’s wedding and it was a huge joy to renew fellowship.  The service included lots of testimonies, singing, congratulations for the 6 who were baptized today in the Azov sea and communion. 

John and I walked along the beach under the starlit night sky to our place in the adjoining resort.  My heart is full as I write and as I eagerly anticipate the chance to get some rest. 

Thanks so much for praying for us.  We’re right next to the border between Russia and Ukraine here (maybe 15 miles away).  Crimea (Russian) is to the West of us.  Azov and Krasnodar (Russian) to the East.  North East is the Donbas region where the conflict has raged.  We’re close to the border, but never have been closer than a 3 hour drive from Donbas.  Crowded with vacationers here.  No one feels unsafe.  But keep praying.  We laughed as we walked through the dark tonight, that if we see guys with Kalashnikovs we’ll know we’ve walked too far.  God’s in charge… we'll be fine.