Enjoying the Sabbath

This past week has been filled with highs and lows and ultimately has drawn us even closer to our dependency on the guidance of our Savior. So this morning we were in desperate need of some fellowship, worship, and rejuvenation in our souls. We decided to go to Hillsong Kiev, which if you are wondering is nowhere near the position google gives you. You need to get on the blue line of the metro then get off at Petrivka, go northwest and Hillsong meets behind the big green Comfy shopping center in a long yellow building. Here is a map if you want to go.

First of all, I was so impressed at how welcoming the church was to us. As soon as we walked in, which was about 15 minutes late, Sergei opened the door for us wearing his red Hillsong shirt with the hillsong heart all written in Russian, which I wanted. He immediately greeted us, Sdraztvootey, I said hello back  and asked if there were any english interpreters. He lit up and said, "Ah yes you speak english, we are so glad you are here follow me and I will get you to your seat." He sat us near the back while the church was worshiping through song, he introduced us to Zura and she interpreted for us the rest of the service. The energy in the room was amazing, after the singing Zhenya Kasevich, the lead pastor got up to share something God laid on his heart, they took up their offering, then encouraged all the children to follow the Cartoon characters (AWESOME!) in the back of the room to their children's service. He preached on Hebrews 11-12, about how we cannot place our trust in "what" but in the "who." He was very passionate, very funny, and very solid. I think God laid that message on his heart knowing that we would be in there desperately needing to be encouraged in our own faith but also our faith in God for this whole adoption. We walked out but wanted to go back and hear more of the worship so we caught the next service, about 30 minutes later, and were extremely blessed to worship with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. All in all, I was so impressed with the way they approached church and left encouraged to see Temple approach each service with the same passion and excitement.


Yesterday we were able to meet up with Rick Morton, a former NOBTS prof and friend, he gave us some much needed encouragement and prayed for us on the sidewalk off the main street running through Kiev, Kreshaticks. Then we went to the Rodina Mat, the Park of Glory and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Holdomor Memorial remembering the millions of people who died due to the famine caused by the Soviets in 1931-32.

Here are some pics from the day. Keep praying only three and a half more days until our 2nd SDA visit.