Friday in Odessa

This morning was another slow starting one! Different people walked and went out for coffee at their own pace. We met at 11 AM to walk to Tanya Baranova's apartment that they are renovating. It was originally a one room apartment with no bathroom or kitchen and in very poor condition. Her husband, Sergey, is laboring each evening after work, to put in a small kitchen, bath, bedroom and loft -- all compact but rooms with a little privacy. Tanya was very proud of her new heavy entrance door that locked! After stopping at the grocery store, we then walked and met Bob and Andrea Burnham and their 4year old daughter, Iris, for lunch. It was great food and good fellowship as we learned more from them about ways to minister to the women at the conference this evening. Soon we were back in a taxi van heading back to the conference. WOW! Another evening of blessing! We started out with the sandwich suppers which the women so appreciated after a long day at work. Then a short time of praise and worship! Then off the women went to two more seminars. Each woman was able to attend all four of the seminars over the course of the conference. At 7:30 PM we all gathered back in the hall for more worship, and Rachel's talk on the Parable of the Talents. This was her best one yet! She really put herself into this talk. Then we had our public thank yous. Each one of their women's team had been wearing pink neck scarves with a rhinestone heart on it. They presented each one of us (including Steve) with a scarf just like theirs! And then we gave Tanya Baranova white roses to celebrate her birthday and to thank her for all of her hard work in planning and organizing the conference. And then more worship!!!! Women did not want the evening to end. As each woman left the conference she was handed a stone -- her "stone of remembrance" as a symbol for her of what God was teaching her, a symbol of her redemption, of her story -- whatever she wanted it to symbolize. Our women were again surrounded by Ukrainian women thanking them and asking questions. What can I say but again -- God did exceedingly more than we could ask or imagine! As we gathered for prayer tonight, and more bowls of cereal or yoghurt, we discussed the boldness of the young women at this church to ask questions as they sought answers to tough questions. Two of the 15 year old girls from the Internot were able to come this evening. It was all so good. We are up very early on Saturday as our bus comes at 6:45 AM to take us to Belgorod D'nestrovsky. Please pray for Stamina and Peace for this team. We are getting weary. Thanks!