This picture was taken on Thanksgiving Day at our house. This is Frank's mother who will be 101 years old on February 8 holding her newest great-grandson, Lance, aged 4 months. With her and Lance are his big brothers. Brock (middle) is 5 years old, and Garrett is 14.

Immeasurably more

Sometimes Frank & I get discouraged thinking of all the support that we need to raise in the next ten months in order for us to get to Ukraine. It seems like a mountain and we really haven't had a great response to our message of need. People are always congratulating us on being brave and ready to make a big change from India to Ukraine at this stage of our lives, but when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, to where it hits them hardest, their pocketbooks, they back off. (Of course, the current financial markets haven't helped us out at all!)

Yesterday was the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so we didn't have a Home Ministry Assignment and were able to be at home in our own church. That's always a great treat for us. The pastor's message yesterday sorta hit home to these two missionaries. His text was Ephesians 3:20-21. "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church . . . ." Immeasurably more . . . We are completely unable to fathom, much less measure what Jesus is able to do in our lives. The translation The Message says, " . . . far more that you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams . . . ."

Are we doing what God has called us to do? Yes.
Are we in God's will in going to Ukraine? Yes.
Is it God's will for Ukrainian Christians to take leadership in their churches? Yes.
Are we able to help them do that? Yes.
Will this bring glory to God in the Ukrainian church? Yes.
Is God able to bring in our support so we can get there and do our work? Yes.
Do we need more faith in His ability to provide? Yes

Pray with us that immeasurably more financial and prayer support than we could ever imagine will be in hand when it's time for us to go to Ukraine next September.

A New Blog by Chris and Frank

Friends, this is something totally new for us! But . . . we don't want to be old codgers who can't keep up with new trends. Communication has changed so much since we were young missionaries that just keeping up with everything new is a challenge. But we're willing to try.

Today is the day after Thanksgiving. We had a lovely day yesterday with our daughter and her family. Frank's mom was with us too. Laura and I collaborated on the food, and it was pretty good, even if I do say so myself. Turkey, etc. I noticed that in the prayer calender, My Utmost for His Highest, the verse for Thanksgiving Day was I Corinthians 10:31, "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." A great verse for a day when we can count our blessings, and a reminder that we mustn't leave God out of any aspect of our lives.

What did we give thanks for? Our family, our warm home (it's been really cold outside here in Oklahoma, almost as cold as it is in Berdyansk in Ukraine), all the wonderful people who have supported us financially and prayerfully through our long years in India, our missionary friends and colleagues, our home church here in Oklahoma, good health . . . . . . This list could be endless because God has been so good to us.

We especially thank God for the leadership He has given in our lives as we change missionary fields from India to Ukraine. Our financial needs to get to Ukraine seem like a huge mountain, and sometimes we can get discouraged about ever getting there, but we're sure this is His will for us to make this change. Pray for us and ask the Lord to touch people's hearts for the needs of the church in Ukraine.