HOPE4KYIV #005 ---- 2/20/03

#1 · February 20, 2003, 1:20 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on February 20, 2003, 1:20 pm
Posted by: btolliver <btolliver@...>

HOPE 4 KYIV

                       NUMBER FIVE

                      February, 2003

       The In-Pact Prayer Newsletter of

             Bob and Jo Ann Tolliver

           Missionaries to Kiev, Ukraine

Dear Friends, Family, and Intercessors:

Here it is February 20th and we greet you from snowy, wintry Kiev. Generally the weather has been frigid, sometimes down in the single digits and staying there for several weeks. Occasionally it gets up to around freezing and even a bit above for a day. We've had sunshine break through for brief periods every few days, but most days are cloudy, and we also get small amounts of snowfall every few days. While we had as much as twelve inches in the ground when we arrived, most of the time it hasn't been deeper than two to three inches. Today it was actually above freezing a little, but there were still ice fishermen out on the Dnipro River, standing in pools of water on top of the ice.

Our schedule has been busy . . . . hectic is a better word. We're quickly learning the admonition we received earlier that we should be satisfied to get one or two things done in a day. That is literally true. Dealing with public transportation, language barriers, and difficulty in contacting people, everything slows down dramatically.

Since our last letter we have begun language school. Adding that to our continual adjusting to new environment, systems, and methods, and to our increasing ministry role at IBC, it is more than enough. To further add "panic" to our schedule, throw in a series of events where light switches failed, gas leaks were discovered, telephone lines fried, and internet connections failed, and you make for an interesting three weeks.

So, we're ready for a break! And we have one coming up this Saturday when we fly to Cyprus to join about 150 other IMB missionaries for our annual leadership and planning conference. Although the weather prediction is not balmy and tropical by any means, we will have a chance to enjoy a week of Mediterranean weather in the upper 40's and lower 50's with partly cloudy skies.

Our Region:

The Southern Baptist's IMB missionary force exceeds 5,400 missionaries.  Its work is divided into fifteen major regions of the world. Ours, CEE or Central and Eastern Europe, is one of the largest territorially covering twelve time zones and twenty eight countries. On the other hand, it is the newest, having opened up only ten years ago with just one couple. Today there are over 400 of us. A large portion of this region is occupied by Russian speaking people in (I think) about six or seven countries. Those countries are divided into two areas. Our area is called BUS for Belarus, Ukraine and Stans (referring to the three "stan" countries who speak Russian as the primary language). It is these two areas of Russian speaking countries from which we will all come.

Recommended Resources:

In order for you to become better acquainted with our region and with IMB work here, we strongly recommend the following to you . . . . all free.

1. If you do not already get it, please request to be added to the e-mail list of Bob's weekly "Shoulder To Shoulder" letter. He often shares experiences and insights about this culture in his letters. For example, he describes in last Monday's letter the two-level culture and society we find here. It is both fascinating and heart breaking to see the struggles of the people caught in such an environment. Just e-mail us a note and we'll add your name to the list.

2. There are some excellent websites available as well. We've mentioned these before, but let's do it again. www.uazone.net is an excellent source of information and pictures on Ukraine and Kiev. Although we've not checked it out yet, we've been told that www.ukraineinfo.us is also very good. If you want to check out our region's work in general, www.hope4CEE.com is a must. This will also lead you into an exciting "Virtual Prayer Walk" opportunity developed by Shannon Ford where you can actually pray as you "walk" through the pictures and read the descriptions. Another equally good prayer walk developed by Beth MeHaffey can be found at www.peopleteams.org/ukrainians . If you're interested in the area around Dnipropetrovsk, check out Mike Ray's website at www.reachukraine.org.

Why do we encourage you to check these sites out? Because we believe that the more you know the more you'll get the vision. And the stronger your vision, the more you'll pray for us. So, quite honestly, we recommend these resources from selfish motives.

Personally:

Generally we're in good health. Jo Ann has had a battle with sinus infections over the past couple of weeks, but that is pretty much cleared up until today when she started developing a dry cough. Bob has been doing well other than his back giving him quite a bit of trouble. That comes and goes. Our biggest battle has been just the continued weariness from being overwhelmed by the cultural changes and trying to emotionally adapt to learning a new and difficult language, ministering to people who have a very wide spectrum of English skills, trying to learn how the International Church works, and trying to find some personal time.

Another major challenge for the two of us is dehydration. This is a culture that doesn't drink much water because of past contamination, old pipes, sediment, and a lifestyle that thrives on vodka and beer. So, when we westerners come this way, we find it difficult to get good water several times a day. At home we use a filter and also buy four liter bottles. However, at school, church, etc. you do without. You can buy mineral and/or carbonated water in restaurants. As a result, we've both suffered from dry coughs, frequent bouts of weariness, and weakness. We try to "stock up" when home, but then we're (you guessed it) up several times during the night.

The real challenges, though, are still mental and emotional. We can honestly say that we have never faced this level of mental and emotional challenge in all our years of ministry. The veteran missionaries are absolutely right. How nice it would have been during our local church ministries to be able to explain to members like you just some of the things our missionaries endure. It is beyond understanding. We hope our report will spur you on to even greater depths of intercession for the 5,400+ missionaries IMB has on the field.

Ministry:

Of the fourteen students who were on our January team from SBU, at least eight have expressed definite interest in returning. Six of them want to return for extended periods of time. Three have already begun the paper work with IMB to come as Journeymen. If things go as hoped, they will all come to Kiev and work together with us in various ways at IBC.

The work at the church is moving well. Attendance and offerings grow steadily each week. Last Sunday Bob shared some "dreams" possibilities with the leadership, suggesting they talk more at next month's meeting. One individual suggested we schedule another meeting before then because this was all too exciting. We'll share more in the future as things develop.

Other opportunities seem to be in the making as well, especially for Bob to do some teaching at several Bible colleges and seminaries in the area. As things clear out a bit following language school and annual meeting, we will see how that turns out.

Prayer Requests:

1. Bob's Dad has been diagnosed with the return of cancer in the lymphatic area of his neck. He is scheduled to see a specialist in a couple of weeks, after which surgery will be performed. He is in great spirits (we talk with him by phone every week), but it is clearly a cause for concern. Please pray for him. If you'd like to call, his number is 417-777-7996. His address is 121 W. Lillian Lane, Bolivar, MO 65613.

2. We have three days of language school remaining after we return from Cyprus on March 1. Pray that we can use the week in Cyprus to catch up on the flood of information we've been given the past two weeks (did you ever try to drink water from a fire hose?). Pray that we can benefit from the remaining days of instruction. Pray that we can find a tutor with whom to meet weekly thereafter. Pray that we can rapidly become conversational in our language skills.

3. Pray for God's grace and life-changing presence at the annual meeting in Cyprus. Pray, in light of current middle eastern conditions, that everyone will be safe, and that God will use us all to plant seeds of the Gospel while in that country. Pray that vision will be born, and that a sense of inexplicable unity will rise up to create a cohesive unit with a singleness of purpose for the Russian speaking nations.

4. Pray for the career missionaries in Kiev who are learning Russian and in L'viv who are learning Ukrainian. Pray for Mick Stockwell family as they return to Kiev the end of this month, and for the Shannon Ford family as they return in Kiev and then on to L'viv in May. Pray for the Dave MeHaffey and Monty Self families as they leave the field for the States in March.

5. Pray for Kyle, Keri, and Jason as they fill out paper work and go through the process of coming to Kiev as Journeymen to work in student ministries among the 40+ universities in the city, to work with IBC's ESL expanding program, and to work in planting "new generation" churches among the young adults of Kiev.

6. Pray that we will see our ministry unfold more clearly each day. Pray for Jo Ann as she begins teaching ESL in early March. Pray for Bob that he will have a clear direction as to his preaching and teaching ministry at the church. Pray that the people of IBC will release their motivation into action. Pray that the numerous unbelievers who attend IBC regularly will have their spiritual eyes open to understand the joyous truth of the Gospel.

7. Pray over our upcoming schedule as well as daily responsibilities. In addition to our own CEE personnel from the field and from Richmond, we will be blessed by people coming from stateside to minister to us through child care, medical check ups and treatment, preaching, and worship. Dr. Steven Wright from Northwest Baptist Church in Houston will preach, the worship team from that church will be here, Blackshear Place Baptist Church is providing child care, and so forth.

    1) Saturday we leave for the annual meeting in Cyprus. We begin immediately upon arrival with dinner and then the opening session.

    2) Each subsequent day will begin with 7:00 a.m. breakfast followed by a period of worship and then meetings as late as 10:00 p.m.

    3) Tuesday afternoon provides us a short time for optional sight seeing, and Thursday afternoon includes a time for evangelistic outreach.

So, if you were thinking this was a glorified vacation, think again. This is basically an annual business and planning meeting with added features.

    4) Following our return from the annual meeting on March 1st we will resume our pastoral duties at IBC, and will conclude our "crash course" language school on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week. We will welcome Joel Ragains and his wife as the newest missionaries in Kiev, and will begin meeting for serious planning discussions with our supervisory leadership in order to begin developing a specific strategy for IBC. And, we will begin meeting in earnest with the church leaders to begin implementing some of those plans.

In Closing:

We are so grateful to the Lord for you and your part on our "In-Pact" prayer team. We wish we had known years before just how special and precious prayer warriors, encouragers, and supporters really are to missionaries. We would have certainly taught our people differently. Now that we're on the receiving end, we cannot thank you enough. This is an incredible adventure, and even though you aren't here in person, we feel you are a vital part of what God is allowing us to do in serving Him. We would love to hear from you, so if you have time, drop us a note.

In His Bond,

Bob and Jo Ann ---- lifeunlimited@pobox.com ---- grandma11@pobox.com

3-A, L, Tolstogo St

Kiev-4, 01004

Ukraine

Posted by: btolliver <btolliver@...>

HOPE 4 KYIV

NUMBER FIVE

February, 2003

The In-Pact Prayer Newsletter of

Bob and Jo Ann Tolliver

Missionaries to Kiev, Ukraine

Dear Friends, Family, and Intercessors:

Here it is February 20th and we greet you from snowy, wintry Kiev. Generally the weather has been frigid, sometimes down in the single digits and staying there for several weeks. Occasionally it gets up to around freezing and even a bit above for a day. We've had sunshine break through for brief periods every few days, but most days are cloudy, and we also get small amounts of snowfall every few days. While we had as much as twelve inches in the ground when we arrived, most of the time it hasn't been deeper than two to three inches. Today it was actually above freezing a little, but there were still ice fishermen out on the Dnipro River, standing in pools of water on top of the ice.

Our schedule has been busy . . . . hectic is a better word. We're quickly learning the admonition we received earlier that we should be satisfied to get one or two things done in a day. That is literally true. Dealing with public transportation, language barriers, and difficulty in contacting people, everything slows down dramatically.

Since our last letter we have begun language school. Adding that to our continual adjusting to new environment, systems, and methods, and to our increasing ministry role at IBC, it is more than enough. To further add "panic" to our schedule, throw in a series of events where light switches failed, gas leaks were discovered, telephone lines fried, and internet connections failed, and you make for an interesting three weeks.

So, we're ready for a break! And we have one coming up this Saturday when we fly to Cyprus to join about 150 other IMB missionaries for our annual leadership and planning conference. Although the weather prediction is not balmy and tropical by any means, we will have a chance to enjoy a week of Mediterranean weather in the upper 40's and lower 50's with partly cloudy skies.

Our Region:

The Southern Baptist's IMB missionary force exceeds 5,400 missionaries. Its work is divided into fifteen major regions of the world. Ours, CEE or Central and Eastern Europe, is one of the largest territorially covering twelve time zones and twenty eight countries. On the other hand, it is the newest, having opened up only ten years ago with just one couple. Today there are over 400 of us. A large portion of this region is occupied by Russian speaking people in (I think) about six or seven countries. Those countries are divided into two areas. Our area is called BUS for Belarus, Ukraine and Stans (referring to the three "stan" countries who speak Russian as the primary language). It is these two areas of Russian speaking countries from which we will all come.

Recommended Resources:

In order for you to become better acquainted with our region and with IMB work here, we strongly recommend the following to you . . . . all free.

1. If you do not already get it, please request to be added to the e-mail list of Bob's weekly "Shoulder To Shoulder" letter. He often shares experiences and insights about this culture in his letters. For example, he describes in last Monday's letter the two-level culture and society we find here. It is both fascinating and heart breaking to see the struggles of the people caught in such an environment. Just e-mail us a note and we'll add your name to the list.

2. There are some excellent websites available as well. We've mentioned these before, but let's do it again. http://www.uazone.net is an excellent source of information and pictures on Ukraine and Kiev. Although we've not checked it out yet, we've been told that http://www.ukraineinfo.us is also very good. If you want to check out our region's work in general, http://www.hope4CEE.com is a must. This will also lead you into an exciting "Virtual Prayer Walk" opportunity developed by Shannon Ford where you can actually pray as you "walk" through the pictures and read the descriptions. Another equally good prayer walk developed by Beth MeHaffey can be found at http://www.peopleteams.org/ukrainians . If you're interested in the area around Dnipropetrovsk, check out Mike Ray's website at http://www.reachukraine.org.

Why do we encourage you to check these sites out? Because we believe that the more you know the more you'll get the vision. And the stronger your vision, the more you'll pray for us. So, quite honestly, we recommend these resources from selfish motives.

Personally:

Generally we're in good health. Jo Ann has had a battle with sinus infections over the past couple of weeks, but that is pretty much cleared up until today when she started developing a dry cough. Bob has been doing well other than his back giving him quite a bit of trouble. That comes and goes. Our biggest battle has been just the continued weariness from being overwhelmed by the cultural changes and trying to emotionally adapt to learning a new and difficult language, ministering to people who have a very wide spectrum of English skills, trying to learn how the International Church works, and trying to find some personal time.

Another major challenge for the two of us is dehydration. This is a culture that doesn't drink much water because of past contamination, old pipes, sediment, and a lifestyle that thrives on vodka and beer. So, when we westerners come this way, we find it difficult to get good water several times a day. At home we use a filter and also buy four liter bottles. However, at school, church, etc. you do without. You can buy mineral and/or carbonated water in restaurants. As a result, we've both suffered from dry coughs, frequent bouts of weariness, and weakness. We try to "stock up" when home, but then we're (you guessed it) up several times during the night.

The real challenges, though, are still mental and emotional. We can honestly say that we have never faced this level of mental and emotional challenge in all our years of ministry. The veteran missionaries are absolutely right. How nice it would have been during our local church ministries to be able to explain to members like you just some of the things our missionaries endure. It is beyond understanding. We hope our report will spur you on to even greater depths of intercession for the 5,400+ missionaries IMB has on the field.

Ministry:

Of the fourteen students who were on our January team from SBU, at least eight have expressed definite interest in returning. Six of them want to return for extended periods of time. Three have already begun the paper work with IMB to come as Journeymen. If things go as hoped, they will all come to Kiev and work together with us in various ways at IBC.

The work at the church is moving well. Attendance and offerings grow steadily each week. Last Sunday Bob shared some "dreams" possibilities with the leadership, suggesting they talk more at next month's meeting. One individual suggested we schedule another meeting before then because this was all too exciting. We'll share more in the future as things develop.

Other opportunities seem to be in the making as well, especially for Bob to do some teaching at several Bible colleges and seminaries in the area. As things clear out a bit following language school and annual meeting, we will see how that turns out.

Prayer Requests:

1. Bob's Dad has been diagnosed with the return of cancer in the lymphatic area of his neck. He is scheduled to see a specialist in a couple of weeks, after which surgery will be performed. He is in great spirits (we talk with him by phone every week), but it is clearly a cause for concern. Please pray for him. If you'd like to call, his number is 417-777-7996. His address is 121 W. Lillian Lane, Bolivar, MO 65613.

2. We have three days of language school remaining after we return from Cyprus on March 1. Pray that we can use the week in Cyprus to catch up on the flood of information we've been given the past two weeks (did you ever try to drink water from a fire hose?). Pray that we can benefit from the remaining days of instruction. Pray that we can find a tutor with whom to meet weekly thereafter. Pray that we can rapidly become conversational in our language skills.

3. Pray for God's grace and life-changing presence at the annual meeting in Cyprus. Pray, in light of current middle eastern conditions, that everyone will be safe, and that God will use us all to plant seeds of the Gospel while in that country. Pray that vision will be born, and that a sense of inexplicable unity will rise up to create a cohesive unit with a singleness of purpose for the Russian speaking nations.

4. Pray for the career missionaries in Kiev who are learning Russian and in L'viv who are learning Ukrainian. Pray for Mick Stockwell family as they return to Kiev the end of this month, and for the Shannon Ford family as they return in Kiev and then on to L'viv in May. Pray for the Dave MeHaffey and Monty Self families as they leave the field for the States in March.

5. Pray for Kyle, Keri, and Jason as they fill out paper work and go through the process of coming to Kiev as Journeymen to work in student ministries among the 40+ universities in the city, to work with IBC's ESL expanding program, and to work in planting "new generation" churches among the young adults of Kiev.

6. Pray that we will see our ministry unfold more clearly each day. Pray for Jo Ann as she begins teaching ESL in early March. Pray for Bob that he will have a clear direction as to his preaching and teaching ministry at the church. Pray that the people of IBC will release their motivation into action. Pray that the numerous unbelievers who attend IBC regularly will have their spiritual eyes open to understand the joyous truth of the Gospel.

7. Pray over our upcoming schedule as well as daily responsibilities. In addition to our own CEE personnel from the field and from Richmond, we will be blessed by people coming from stateside to minister to us through child care, medical check ups and treatment, preaching, and worship. Dr. Steven Wright from Northwest Baptist Church in Houston will preach, the worship team from that church will be here, Blackshear Place Baptist Church is providing child care, and so forth.

1) Saturday we leave for the annual meeting in Cyprus. We begin immediately upon arrival with dinner and then the opening session.

2) Each subsequent day will begin with 7:00 a.m. breakfast followed by a period of worship and then meetings as late as 10:00 p.m.

3) Tuesday afternoon provides us a short time for optional sight seeing, and Thursday afternoon includes a time for evangelistic outreach.

So, if you were thinking this was a glorified vacation, think again. This is basically an annual business and planning meeting with added features.

4) Following our return from the annual meeting on March 1st we will resume our pastoral duties at IBC, and will conclude our "crash course" language school on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week. We will welcome Joel Ragains and his wife as the newest missionaries in Kiev, and will begin meeting for serious planning discussions with our supervisory leadership in order to begin developing a specific strategy for IBC. And, we will begin meeting in earnest with the church leaders to begin implementing some of those plans.

In Closing:

We are so grateful to the Lord for you and your part on our "In-Pact" prayer team. We wish we had known years before just how special and precious prayer warriors, encouragers, and supporters really are to missionaries. We would have certainly taught our people differently. Now that we're on the receiving end, we cannot thank you enough. This is an incredible adventure, and even though you aren't here in person, we feel you are a vital part of what God is allowing us to do in serving Him. We would love to hear from you, so if you have time, drop us a note.

In His Bond,

Bob and Jo Ann ---- lifeunlimited@pobox.com ---- grandma11@pobox.com

3-A, L, Tolstogo St

Kiev-4, 01004

Ukraine