| #1 When are you going back to Ukraine? |
Our flights back to Kyiv, Ukraine are on January 9, 2022.It has been very good to be home in Winnipeg during this past summer and fall. Many memories were made. Angela’s mom passed away near the end of October and we were all able to be with her during her final days. That was such a huge gift. We continue to grieve, and we are thankful to be able to be together with my dad and the rest of our family during this first Christmas without my mom.   |
| #2 What have you been doing these past few months? |
Ben – I have taken the opportunity to this fall to complete one last course in communications for my bachelor’s degree in Biblical studies with the University of the Nations. This course has been offered entirely online and over 70 students from all over the world have been joining together for 4 hours every weekday for classes over Zoom. In addition, we have had small group cohorts twice a week, book reviews and multiple assignments. Between this course and staying up to date with my administrative work for YWAM Kyiv life has definitely been full.   Angela – One of my dreams over the past few years has been to write a book for SBS graduates on how to adjust back into life after graduation. Finding quiet hours to write has been challenging in the midst of work in Kyiv, but during these past three months I have had the opportunity to finish this resource. Currently it is in the final proofing stages and will be available to order on Amazon hopefully before we head back to Kyiv. Also, I have been in contact with our team in Kyiv and have continued to function in a supportive role with our Salesforce software. |
| #3 What happened with the work you do in Kyiv while you’ve been in Canada? |
We have a phenomenal team that has grown over the years. The entire YWAM staff in Kyiv is now at just under 50 and our Biblical studies teaching team is 17 people. Sonya Yakovenko (Local Teaching Team) and Japhin John (SBS Leader) have graciously shared the leadership load of our team during this time. We had initially asked them for just the summer, but when we found out about my mom, they were quick to say yes to continuing the leadership responsibility until the New Year. We could not ask for better leaders!In addition, our entire team has really gone above and beyond. They have taken on many of the teachings that Ben and I would have done in DTS’s and SBS’s both in Ukraine and around Europe. One of our very active ministries (Aqueduct- a twice a week Bible course) is led by Cassie and Garrett Speck and our wonderful team of 17 have picked up so many of the teachings we would have done with them.This doesn’t even mention the people who have covered some of our more administrative/organizational leadership roles in the areas of accounting and media. We are so grateful that we work with such amazing people from all over the world (our teaching team alone comes from 7 different countries). |
