Dear Praying Friends

I want to wish you the most Merry Christmas and God’s blessings in the New Year 2010! Because of your faithful prayers and support, I am able to continue to serve the Ukrainian people here in Odessa.

Thank you so much!
Denise

Harvest Celebration

On Sunday, October 16, I had the opportunity to visit the church in Loubataievka for their Harvest celebration. My friend, Jim Winslow, who was serving in Yuzhney with the Immanuel team, was also able to share in the ministry there. The children recited poems and sang songs and we celebrated together God’s blessings to us.

Please pray for Misha and Angelika, two of the young people in the church, who will be coming to Odessa next year to further their studies. Pray for them to come to know Christ. I pray that God will give me the opportunity to be a part of their lives when they move to the city.

Children in Loubataievka

 

 Loubataievka Harvest Celebration

 

Misha and Angelika

Our church in the Field of Miracles celebrated the Harvest on October 25. The short term team from Immanuel Church in Holland, Michigan spent this special occasion with us. I want to say a special thank you to one of the team members, Jim Winslow, who helped us with preparations for this holiday.

 

Immanuel Team

 

Denise with Jim Winslow

BIBLE STUDIES

My Monday Bible study group successfully completed the study, “Believing God” on Monday, November 16. Our schools had quarantine for three weeks and during that time we decided to have two Bible classes a week so that we could finish our book. We went out to celebrate their perseverance and faithfulness.

On November 23 we started a new study by Priscilla Shirer entitled, “Discerning the Voice of God”. Pray for Natasha, Sveta and Youla to come to know Christ.

 Sveta, Natasha, Denise & Youla

My Wednesday Bible study group continues to study, “Life Principles for Following Christ.” This group of ladies help with our summer short term groups that come to minister at our church plant. We were disappointed when we heard that we would not be having any teams for the summer of 2010. I said that maybe it was time that we did a short term mission trip to provide a camp. Margarita, Lena, Ilina and Ira were excited about the idea and we are now planning to hold a summer camp in the village of Loubataievka at the end of July next year. Pray for us as we make preparations to minister together as a team.

A few years ago I had another group of ladies that studied the Bible with me for two years. I stay in contact with several of these ladies and about a month ago I began to pray about calling two of the ladies to meet with them. I met with Maria the first week in November just to talk. She came to meet with me two more times and then invited me to share with her students who study in her English courses in school 73. She wants me to teach Christian principles to her group every other Saturday.

I held my first class on Saturday, December 5. Maria contacted one of her colleagues, Angelika, who also used to study the Bible with me. Angelika called me and invited me to meet with her group at school 15 every Thursday at 5:00.

Please pray for me to have wisdom and for God to use me in the lives of these students. This is an incredible opportunity to share Christ.

 Maria

Students at School 73

REMODELING PROGRESS

Our kitchen cabinets are in and we are waiting for some electrical wiring in order to hook up our stove. I want to once again thank Bethel Church in Sarasota, Florida for providing the funds for our kitchen.

 

 

Kitchen Pictures

Our entrance to our church is currently under construction. Please pray that it will be completed before the New Year.

 

Entrance Pictures

I want to thank each one of you who provided funds for our remodeling. We still need a sectional sofa, rug, changing table and playpen for our children’s nursery. We also would like to purchase some new tables and chairs for our new dining/multi-purpose room. If you would like to make a contribution, please send it to TEAM and mark it for the “Field of Miracles” project.

Remembering December 5th, 2005

Four years ago on this date our church plant team began to meet in my apartment for services. We prayed and asked God to provide us a place to meet in our target area, Field of Miracles. God did exceedingly more than we could ask or imagine. Praise God that He provided us a church building and that we were able to become a registered church.

We thank the Lord that people are coming to know Christ and growing in their relationship with Him. Our pastor left in October and our church members chose Yurie Aksyutin to lead us until we find a pastor. Pray for Yurie and his wife, Olga, that God will give them strength and wisdom during this interim period. Also, pray with us that God will provide a new pastor.

Pray for Valik, Kolya and Tanya, who have been attending regularly, to come to know Christ.

Yurie Aksyutin

Upcoming New Year and Christmas Celebrations

Sunday, December 27, I will be celebrating the upcoming New Year holiday with the village church, Loubataievka. Thanks to your gifts, I will be able to provide food baskets for the needy families there.

Thursday, December 31, I plan to celebrate the New Year with the children in the Yuzhney orphanage. In Ukraine, Grandfather Frost (aka Santa Claus) comes on New Year’s to bring gifts to the children. We will have games, gifts and lots of good food to bring in the New Year.

Our church will celebrate Ukrainian Christmas on January 6 and 7. We plan to visit our neighbors in the buildings close to our church on Christmas Eve and sing Christmas carols and invite them to our Christmas celebration. Pray that God will work in the lives of those living in the Field of Miracles.

Ministry In The US

Please pray for my short ministry assignment in the States from January 15-March 20, 2010. I will be visiting churches and personal supporters. I would love to see all of you who faithfully pray for me. If you would like to see me when I am in your area, please contact me by e-mail at deniseinodessa@yahoo.com.

Here are my travel plans:
January 15 – Arrive in Atlanta, Georgia
January 16-20 – Marietta, Georgia
January 21-27 – Grand Rapids, Michigan
January 28-31 – Holland, Michigan
February 1-6 – Moody Founder’s Week, Chicago, Illinois
February 7-9 – Wheaton, Illinois
February 10-12 – Richmond, Virginia
February 13-14 – Annandale, Virginia
February 15-21 – Missoula, Montana
February 22-24 – San Diego, California
February 25-28 – Marietta, Georgia
March 1-14 – St. Petersburg & Sarasota, Florida
March 15-20 – Marietta, Georgia

Everyone One Hundred Campaign

Do you get excited when you hear amazing stories about what God is doing at the four corners of the earth?

Here is an opportunity to lock arms with others, join in His work and really make a difference:  For the first 100 days of 2010, TEAM is challenging everyone to join in a campaign called Everyone One Hundred.  From January through early April, you’ll get weekly emails with great information and important prayer requests from around the world.  Your prayers are vital!

Plus, you can join in the effort even further by giving financially, if God puts that on your heart.  There is no obligation, and it’s easy to sign up at www.TEAMeveryone.org

A 100 day challenge…I am going to do it – come join me!

By the way, if you don’t use the Internet, you can also sign up by calling TEAM at 800-343-3144.