Missions & Outreach

Julie Allman - Free Methodist Missionary in the Ukraine 

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Julie's Missionary Allmanack!
September-October 2009


Dear Friends,
I decided to send this newsletter as a regular email since a few of you can't open attachments, and because I am in a hurry to catch up with you after two months have flown by.  Two months!  Two months (almost) already since I set foot back in Ukraine after two months of being in America...

Burdens that weigh heavily . . .

This week I wrote you twice about Marina, the wife of Kostya who works with my roommate.  She passed away suddenly, but peacefully on Tuesday and we attended her funeral on Thursday.   Funerals take place quickly here, and they are very different from our funerals.   There is no attempt to cover up the fact that someone has died.  The music is sad.  You stand outside for each part of the service (first outside the deceased's apartment building, then at the cemetery, and finally right next to the grave).  The casket is open almost to the very last moment.   You watch the burial, usually just by two guys with shovels, who work quickly and efficiently.   Then all are taken to a generous meal (all Ukrainian meals are generous).  For this funeral, we had to drive about 4-5 hours there and back, so it was a long day.  But it was also a time of deep witness to God's mercy and love, shown through the relationship Kostya and Marina had, and the peace that was evident in Kostya, despite the profound loss.

Another burden this week has been the news that a couple we know is struggling and their struggles are leading toward divorce.  In some ways, this possibility of the death of a marriage is more confusing and almost harder to take than literal death.  The spiritual realities at stake are so significant.  Please pray that both the husband and wife in this situation would seek the Lord's will, listen, and obey -- whatever it takes.  Pray for us as we try to provide counsel and support, and as we may need to make difficult decisions in the future.

Blessings that encourage . . .

Thankfully, I do have some good news to report as well!  But I appreciate your willingness to hear about and pray for the needs too.   A few weeks ago, Floyd & Eva Schwanz from Wenatchee, WA came to visit and share their passion for discipleship in small, relational groups.   The message was very fitting for our ministry here, and we enjoyed their service among us greatly.  It was also an opportunity to minister together at some of our 'usual' outreach locations, as well as a few 'unusual' ones.  

The first picture I've attached shows Floyd and Eva next to Misha and Lena (Misha is the guy, Lena is the girl - I know Ukrainian names can be confusing! :)

Misha and Lena are a young couple in our church who seem to be really growing in their relationship with the Lord and within our community.  Please pray for their continued growth and reliance and trust in God. 

The second picture shows us down on the ground with Katarina (an older woman whose picture I showed you this summer in my power point) from Mochulki.  Mochulki is a village that takes us about an hour to get to from Rivne (I could definitely be wrong on the distance, but just guessing ... to me, all trips to the village take at least an hour... :)     Katarina is showing us pictures of herself and her relatives.   Old, faded, black and white pictures she has just spread out on a tarp on the ground, just two minutes before we have to leave for the bumpy ride home in the ever-increasing darkness of a fall evening.    It is moving how much these visits affect her.    We also visited Zastavya again, and had a meal inside the home (since it is now getting too cold and wet to meet outside) and reconnected with Alla, the mother of four, and Kostya, her brother-in-law, the fisherman.  Please continue to pray for this family and for the transforming grace of Jesus to reach their hearts.

Regular, weekly ministries are making their impact as well.  On Thursday evenings, our group is meeting for 'story night':  each time one person tells a story from the Bible in their own words.  Then we look it up and read it directly from Scripture.  Then we split up into pairs and practice telling it to each other and talk about the implications of the story for our own lives.  Then we gather back together and share what we've noticed or learned.  It's been a great experience to do something so basic, and yet in some ways, so unusual.   Each time, folks learn that this is something they can do - something anyone can do - themselves!   We've found it to be a way to start teaching people to learn and lead themselves.  It is also a good witnessing opportunity for each one, as we typically pray at the end for opportunities to share the Bible story later that week with a person God points out.

Sundays we continue to meet for 'simple' church.  Recently we have been having our meetings downtown in the mission apartment--which is still 'homey' and has a kitchen (useful for tea times!) and yet has a bit more space than any of our homes and is easier for most people to get to.   This Sunday we are meeting earlier, having changed our gathering time from 5pm to 2pm, hopefully making it more convenient for those who'd rather not go home in the dark.   A woman who was our neighbor for years and who has recently lost her husband seems to be interested in coming to our group, and we are praising God for that.  Please pray for Tamara, who has a lot on her plate--with two properties to take care of on her own now.   We have been talking a lot lately about our Sunday meetings, how to get everyone involved, how to learn from the Word, how to fellowship and share and worship . . . Like with any church, there are always choices to make about how best to use our time together, and how to help each member grow.   May God help us all to listen to his promptings through the Spirit and the Word, and train up disciples faithfully.

I continue to study for classes through Biola University.  A big deadline is coming up at the end of this next week, so I appreciate your prayers that I'd find time and energy to get the work done!   I'm finding it a bit challenging to balance the daily needs here in Ukraine with the more abstract, far-away study goals of university courses.   It is a privilege and a blessing though, to be able to do this--so underneath the mild stress, there is sincere gratitude  :-)   Just keep me in your prayers!

Thank you again, so much, for your continued prayer and support.  It is so valuable and so meaningful--the fact that you are bringing me and the ministries and people here before the Father in prayer.   May God bless you abundantly, give you wisdom and strength, and meet all your needs in Christ Jesus.

Julie