October 22, 2008 – Karkov,Ukraine
Hello Friends,
I have been in Kharkov, Ukraine for 5 days and I leave tomorrow to go back to Kiev for a 2-day missions conference. The bottom line is God has blessed my socks off here! I am staying with a wonderful family. Both teenagers children speak English very well. The house is big, comfortable and I feel like part of the family. And Pastor Sergie has been a gracious host and guide as well. I’ve been to a youth meeting at church, Sunday service and an evening service at a rehabilitation center for drug addicts and alcoholics. All these meetings had great preaching, worship and prayer. I shared my testimony at all of them. At the rehabilitation center they gave me half an hour to speak, and said I could do an alter call at the end if I wanted. So that’s exactly what I did and 2 men came forward to repent and ask Jesus into their lives. I am thankful that God used my testimony and prayers to touch their hearts and draw these men to Him!
Sunday’s teaching was about how Abraham was made righteous by his faith. It was interesting that I happened to be on that very chapter in Romans in my reading. So I think God meant this message for me. It took a lot of faith for me to make this trip, as many of you know. One week before I left I had no idea where I was staying for the better part of the trip. I didn’t have a host in Kharkov and my ministry had no money for the trip!! But I knew God had called me here and I believed that if I planned the trip He would take care of the details. Well God did just that, giving me money enough to complete the trip and such wonderful hosts and welcome here in Kharkov. There is no doubt that God has blessed me for my faith!
Yesterday we went to a hill overlooking the east side of Kharkov and prayed there over the city and region. Then we visited an orphanage with about 65 children. They were split up into 4 groups and I had about 20 minutes with each group. That was enough time to tell them that God loves them and give them the Gospel message and an invitation to repent and accept Jesus. About 45 of these children accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. What a great day for God’s Kingdom here in Kharkov!
Today we traveled about 2 hours to get to the city of Volchansk which is only 10 miles from the Russian border. Alena, my translator and I met another man named Sergei who is a deacon in a local church and ministers to an orphanage in a village about 40 minutes away. We had an appointment there, but first we bought apples, bananas and candy for the children. This is a very clean and well kept orphanage. The director and staff do a great job with the facilities and the kids. We had all 20 kids in the same room about ages 6 to 16. Again we presented them with the Good News of Jesus Christ. We sang songs and played a couple games with them. Almost all the children accepted Jesus into their hearts.
Sergie, Alena and I ended our day on a hill overlooking Volchansk, a city and region of about 25,000 people. By then I had received three indications that I should pray with authority over the region according to Isaiah 22.22. When I draw money out of the ATM machines here I get it in local currency. When I checked my bank statement on line I found that the 1,200 grivnas I took out yesterday came to $222.22. Today we missed the 9 AM bus from Kharkov to Volchansk. (We were there on time, but the bus actually left a few minutes early.) The next one we got was the 9:22 bus. Then I looked at today’s date. It is October 22. OK, I get the point God! On this hill we prayed that God would open the heavens over Kharkov and Volchansk and close the doors of evil influence such as corruption, idols, addictions and other forces that hinder freedom and prosperity God’s children.
Back in Kharkov this evening, Pastor Sergie asked me if I was happy with my week in Kharkov. I told him I was more than happy!! I am elated that I have received blessing after blessing on this trip and I thank God for this and thank all of you who have pray for the success of this mission!
Keeping my eyes towards Heaven,
Al Scoglio
Hearts for Ukraine