Sun 31 July - Kamenka 13:00 GMT

We finally arrived in Kamenka after a 12 hour journey.  Little sleep last night, and the bumpy ride made sleep nearly unthinkable. But I'm crazy alert while driving into Kamenka.  My mind is flooded with hundreds (maybe more) memories driving toward that gorgeous church on the rise of that beautiful hill.  I love this place.  Even more, I love what God has done since I was last here.  SO many improvements and changes.  The church is gorgeous with its flower gardens, silvery cupola, and shimmery exterior (its plaster made of broken pop bottle glass).

New Ministry Building

But what's this?  I wasn't prepared for the gorgeous ministry building they have erected between the church and the garage. Here's a picture from Sunday.  This place is an amazing transformation.  It used to be the ugly rough brick storage building extra wood was kept during construction, a scary welding transformer and way more spider webs than I care to clean out.  But now it's a beautiful ministry center with small dorms, meeting rooms, kitchen and laundry. It's not only used Sundays but this time of year, ministry interns headquarter here as they train before they deploy to church outreaches or Karabin Camp.  It's gorgeous and so functional.  Good job people!

Larry and Joanie Wiken

We arrived for dinner with the 12 interns (6 Ukrainians, 6 Americans (North Carolina, Texas, Ohio). There we were joined by Larry and Joanie Wiken who will be leading 2 large English camps in Kamenka this week  (Younger kids in the AM. Teens later in the day).  They're going to have fun in Kamenka!

But before dinner, Pastor Petr toured us through the new building and then over to the worship building.  I simply can't explain the emotions that flooded my soul as I walked over tiles I'd helped lay, sat in pews I'd smoothed and sanded and remembered all the bricks I'd helped carry. Tears come, unhindered.  Pastor Petr and I stood and cried together.  As I hugged him to my heart, he whispered in my ear, "Steve Thank you."   

I'm humbled and honored to be again at this place.  It's improved so much!  They've tiled walls, painted nurseries (gorgeous!), improved washrooms.  Good job people!  Thanks for wonderfully serving our great God!

This place holds a dear spot in my heart, but more important are the people I've worked and fellowshipped with and the NEW folks I've not yet met.  A whole new crew of kitchen ladies... some former youth, now young adults bring by their friends to meet us.  This is a new thing in a new day!  It's awesome! 
Sleep came quickly... I was bushed!  Sunday was ahead.

At Tiasmin River...Church Cupola in distance

I slept in till 5:30 or so.  I'm staying at Pastor Petr's former house.  He and his wife Katya live in a sweet apartment over their old garage. That too looks lovely.  By 8 we'd had breakfast and headed to the beach for the baptism.  We baptized 10 today, Pastor and I at the Tiasmin River.  You can see the cupola of the church from there, shining in the sun.  It was so HOT!  The crowd stood on the edge of the shade, but baptizers and baptized were on the beach.  What a joy!  Teens and young adults, mature men and women, two babushkas - one of whom hobbled on canes to the water's edge and was assisted by the young men down to us in the waist deep river.  Baptizing these new believers will be one of my sweetest memories of Ukraine.

Then it was to church for lots of rejoicing, honoring the baptized, praying over them, communion, and Steve's sermon.  I preached on the 5 picture-stories that baptism proclaims.  With translation about 20 minutes (Yes I can when I need to).  At the end of the service, 2 young men came forward to give their lives to the Lord and 4 others said they will be baptized next Summer. THAT'S what it's all about. That's why we make visits and help them build buildings and learn ministry strategy; for people to encounter God and give their lives to follow Jesus.  We come to help these folks reap a good harvest.  We're honored to help, but we're humbled by their love for God, tenacity through hardship and their kindness to us. 

A great fellowship dinner followed out on the lawn.  (I think Swedish Lutherans and Baptists should take some lessons; Not a "hot dish" in view.)  It's now mid afternoon and I'm tired.  But I wanted to write these thoughts while they are fresh in my mind. Thanks for praying for us. This may be my last, but it may be my most profitable visit to Ukraine.  Slava Bohu! (Praise God!)