Category: Updates

Anyway, you know we’re learning Russian language, right? Well, one of the best techniques for memorizing something is to make it unique, special, so it stands out. And we can be pretty creative. So we decided to share with you one of our more recent creations. We hope you like it.

The Russian word for fish is рыбa (pronounced “ree-ba”). That happens to sound like one of our friends favourite singer’s – Reba. How much more unique and special could you get than if little old Reba turned up on a fish.

Yup, we won’t be forgetting Riba the fish anytime soon, that’s for sure. Neither will you I don’t imagine.

I try to speak to my kids in french. Then I leave the apartment and run into our local Babushka (Grandma). She speaks Russian and Spanish, so with my little bit of Spanish we try to communicate. Then I head over to the boat where we work. English is the language we use to teach in. Finally, if it is Tuesday we go over to our Russian teacher’s house. For two hours we try to learn Russian (and I am reminded how good Ben’s memory is!) and when we can’t understand we speak French to our teacher since it is her second language. Whew! I can’t believe I can even think straight with all of these languages swirling around in my head. Pray for us!

Speaking of prayer requests, please pray for the twin little nephews that are in my sister-in-law’s tummy. One is a little small and it is causing some concern, we need him to keep growing good and healthy. Please join your prayers with ours.

If we haven’t met you, we are a family of four who love Jesus and want to change the world (yeah, the youngest two are a part of this – even if they don’t really realize it yet!). We live and work in Ukraine but no matter where we travel or hang our coats, Winnipeg is where our family calls home. We love to teach people how to study the Word of God for themselves, and we do that through an organisation called YWAM, youth with a mission.

Baseball is a great game! I started playing when I was 8 with a great group of girls and didn’t stop until I was 20. When you get up to bat you are trying to do one thing, get the ball to hit the sweet spot. If the ball hits the bat at just the right place, it will be a great hit, maybe even a home run!
Last weekend as we celebrated thanksgiving I realized that I have hit that sweet spot in life. I have discovered what I love to do and I can do that to help others. I think that really is the sweet spot. Jesus said, ‘Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.’ To use another analogy:
“Sometime in your life, hope that you might see one starved man, the look on his face when the bread finally arrives. Hope that you might have baked it or bought or even kneaded it yourself. For that look on his face, for your meeting his eyes across a piece of bread, you might be willing to lose a lot, or suffer a lot, or die a little, even.” ~Daniel Berrigan Not that life is always perfect. Kneading dough isn’t always easy. But there is nothing quite like realizing your life has made a difference in someone else’s. It really is the sweet spot.

It is .. today is 10.10.10.

It also happens to be Simon’s birthday. There are a few other family birthdays too, Suzanna was a week ago and Dad’s is tomorrow and Madelyn’s later this week. But the real deal is today is thanksgiving.

And we’ve got a lot to be thankful for. You should have seen the lunch Ang prepared. Fried potatoes like my grandma used to make. Chicken done to perfection, juices running everywhere when I carved it up. (Yes, chicken – our oven is a wee bit small, and yes, I carved it up but any sous-chef would call it a butchery).

Really though – two incredible children, with joy in their hearts, dancing in their steps (Jay is still working on it) and smiles on their faces. A warm home (yes, the city turned on the heat). Friendships worth more than gold or platinum (didn’t you know, silver is out, platinum is in). Hope and expectation for the future. Rescue from the guilt of sin.

Wow! What a day! Thank you Jesus! Thank you friends and family! We are truly blessed!