So far October has probably been one of the best months of my life. Things are good, very good. God's given me a peace right now unlike I've ever had before, and it feels great.

I was able to preach at Greenway last Saturday and it went really well. I've been getting some good positive feedback.

We're in the process of writing all new original worship music for Greenway. So I've spent every day this week in the studio writing Music and translating english Lyrics into Russian with Andrey (worship leader) It's been a good but challenging week in the studio. But I believe a lot of really good things will come from it.

It's really difficult for me to believe that it's already been two months here. Everyday is a new beginning, and a new opportunity to serve.

God is Good, good, good.

peace and love!

hello again!

It's been a hectic couple of weeks for me.

The Russian language continues to blow my mind. Everyday i begin to feel more and more comfortable speaking it and understanding it, and everyday I get a little pessimistic when I realize just how much I still don't know.

But with the progress of my Russian, I've been able to make many new friends who don't speak english at all. This before was a very difficult task.

Ukrainian, now thats another story.

I haven't even begun to wrap my fingers around the Ukrainian Language. I knew it was a big step for me when I first began to hear the difference in Ukrainian and Russian. Believe me, it's big.

Where some Ukrainian words are similar with Russian, everything else can be different.

I was at my friends house Yesterday, and her mom knows Russian, but chooses to speak in Ukrainian. And my friend who i was with doesn't speak English. So the conversation went something like this.

Mom would say something to me in Ukrainian.

Friend would translate to me in Russian what her mother said.

I understanding the Russian version much better, answer her mother in Russian.

This, as you can imagine, made for an interesting afternoon. But really this is a common situation for me. God has really blessed me with being able to pick up the Russian language really fast. And for that, I am grateful.

Pray for my Russian to improve at an unrealistic rate. :)

LOVE!

-alex

Long Time, No Post.

Long time, no post....

forgive me.

Things are going great. This week has been a week of expanding boundaries. Spending time with different groups of people who I don't usually spend time with, going out my comfort zone, and taking daring steps.

God has been doing a lot of work in my heart lately. I wouldn't say reconstruction, but more like renovation. Where some things were ugly and old before, their becoming not necessarily beautiful and new, but better, and maybe with a little bit different style.

These are good changes. I've been seeing the difference in me, and I've been seeing the positive impact that these changes are making.

God works in crazy ways. Even when we don't want him to. But it seems to me that in those times that we don't want him to work, his work is most effective.

Can I get an AMEN??

I'm beginning to prepare a sermon that I will be preaching next Saturday.

This will be my first time preaching. Ever.

Pray that God will open my heart to his words and keep me honest and straight forward.

This country is Amazing.

Come.

Love and Peace to you all!

-alex

New Flat!

I moved into my new flat this week, and didn't have internet until Friday, and haven't had time for an update until today!

This week was amazing, With the excitement of moving into a new home, along with spending some much needed quality time with friends.

We've stared a bi-monthly project called (no joke) "HEAVEN FM" yes, like a radio station. It's a worship concert that will take place every two months where our Group from Greenway will play along with a guest group from various different churches. We had our first Heaven FM on Saturday night, and it was extremely well attended and a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to these continuing.

This morning was a little interesting, as I woke up to about 5 gallons of water on my bathroom floor coming from a leaky pipe, and all i had to clean up the mess was two bath towels and a dish towel. My hands are tired from ringing them out repeatedly. Thankfully i was able to have a plumber come and fix it.

Life is great here. Everyday I'm amazed at the simplicity of it all, and as I continue to get sucked into this culture, I'm falling in love with the country more and more.

Still need your prayers. :)

Love and Peace!

-alex

Settling In

After a week and a half of being here, I feel like I've already readapted. 

And after a week of having only what i took with me in my carry on, it's great to have my bags. Nothing was missing, and nothing was damaged. Andrey (pastor) and Pasha(andrey's brother) are so excited to have the new projector which Ada was able to purchase. I'm sitting with Pasha in the studio now helping him figure out how to use it.  

A huge thanks from Greenway to Ada for the Projector. This is a huge blessing. 

I found a great flat yesterday and today I met with the owner and discussed details and payed her. I'll move in on Monday. I'm excited to be able to call this place my own home. I pray that God will bless this home, and bless everyone who enters it's door. (photos to come) 

Everyday i feel like I'm constructing new, and improving old relationships. I met with a guy named Igor last night, and we sat outside my house and spoke until two thirty in the morning. He's not a christian, and he really has no interest in becoming one. (He enjoys the life he's living now and doesn't want to change it.) this is an extremely common case in Ukraine, and a barrier that is very difficult to overcome. None the less, the Kid has a great and open heart, and I think that forward motion can be made with him. 

Pray for Igor. 

Pray for Ukraine. 

Love and Peace to you All!

-alex

Arriving Home

Stepping off of the airplane in Kiev on Monday afternoon, I inhaled deep through my nose. It smelled like body oder poorly covered by cheap cologne with a little hint of potatoes. It was an extremely welcoming scent for me. And I couldn't have been happier as I wandered into passport control only to stand in line for close to two hours and to find that my bags were in fact still in Detroit.... Kind of a bummer, but I was stoked to be on Ukrainian soil again. 

The first few days here have been pretty busy. I'm taking care of a sick Pastor Andrey, as well as meeting with as many friends as I possibly can to catch up on what I missed out on this summer I dove head first into band and worship band practice. AND the search for a flat has begun! I'm currently living at the Mission house where I lived for the majority of  last year. It's been a pretty easy re-adaptation for me. 

I decided to start a list of "How not to look like a tourist while in a foreign country" So I'm going to try do one addition to the list each time I post. 

RULE NUMBER ONE

1. No matter how concerned you are about the contents within your carry-on and or back-pack, Never ever ever EVER strap your BACK-pack to your CHEST. 

I would not recommend this for a few reasons. 

First reason, You look completely ridiculous. Some may even say "idiotic." Also this allows potential thieves to understand that there is something you find valuable in your bag that you don't want them to have. It will immediately mark you as a target for when you let your guard down. And believe me, you'll let it down sometime. 

So Shall it be Written, So Shall it be (not) Done. This tom-fooled attempt at security is a big no-no. I don't care if you have the entire contents of Fort Knox in your bag, If it's strapped to your chest, you're simple making a poorly fashioned request for someone to steal it from you. 

I'm never going to stop asking for your prayers. God is Great. 

Love and Peace to you all!

Thanks!

Thanks for you're interest and for checking out the blog!

I'm packing my bags right now for what seems like the 100th time this year. I've got the system down pretty well by now!

I'm leaving for Ukraine on Sunday August 16th. I plan to be there for the majority of the year. 

I will be serving a church called Greenway Church in a city called Vinnitsia. 

This will be my second year in the working with the church, so I already know the city quite well, and have many close friends. 

I feel that this is where God has called me for the time being. And with the way things have been working out this Summer I have no question that these feelings are true. 

I need your prayers. 

This Blog isn't going to be a daily update, because frankly not everyday is worth hearing about. This is more of a way to keep you all updated on what's happening in my ministry and in my heart over the course of the next ten months. 

Thanks again for checking in. 

Love and Peace to you all!