Author: David

February 1st is coming up soon, and we have so much to do before we leave! Please be praying for that process. Another thing that we are concerned about is Katya’s mom’s health. She needs both of her hips replaced, and we’re not really sure where to start. With current prices, it costs about $10,000 including rehabilitation after the operations; however, we think it would be much better for her to go to Poland or Latvia (or some other country) to get a better-quality operation.

There’s a lot of other things that we are going through, deciding, and thinking about as we prepare to leave. We really appreciate the prayers. God’s working!

David and some friends got together to make a video about how Jesus is the BEST GIFT during the Christmas season. Here’s a translation of the audio into English:

The year has gone by so fast! Christmastime is upon us! We want to make this time unforgettable, so that we will remember it fondly for the rest of the year… We finally get to see family that we’ve missed all year and buy gifts that will make your loved ones so happy! We get all dressed up to be the “star” of our parties and make delicious food!

We have a saying, “The way you celebrate the new year will set the tone for the rest of it.” Because of that, it’s so important for people to celebrate in a good atmosphere with good friends. Does this work for you, though? Can the excitement of one night really give you peace and joy for the rest of the year?

This reminds me of what Lina Kostenko said:

“Don’t forget the unforgettable,
as it’s already slipping away!
And don’t disregard that which is valuable…”

This brings us to a question – what are those unforgettable, truly valuable things in life?

What should we remember when we celebrate Christmas and the New Year?

Gifts, holidays, and spending time with friends – this is all great, but does it give us real peace and joy for the rest of the year, or two, or for the rest of our lives?

…or are you looking for something deeper and greater, that will truly satisfy your soul?

God knew this need when He created us! He put a desire in our hearts for something eternal. He made with a hole in our hearts that only He can fill.

In the same way that people give gifts during the holidays, God wants to give the gift of a new beginning in our hearts and souls through His Son, Jesus Christ.

There’s nothing wrong with celebrating! We wish you a great time with friends and family!

However, don’t forget Whom Christmas is named after, with Whom it’s best to begin a new year, and Who can give you a gift that will last forever in your heart! Jesus Christ!

Would you like to receive a gift like that?

Author and Voice: Zhenya Zabudska
Director: David Snead
Music: Jonathan Markey

All music, sound effects, and shots used by permission.

Because of David’s medical situation, we have decided to come back to the U.S. for a furlough so that David can be treated by doctors there. We are planning to be already in the U.S. by February, and everything is happening really fast.

Just in case you’re not up-to-date with what’s happened, David has ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis. Right now, it mainly affects his sciatic nerves and one of his ankles, but parts of his back, hands and feet have also been affected as well. It creates swelling and pain around the joints and tendons.

Here’s a basic timeline of our adventures with it so far:

• Early September
  • David starts to have gradually increasing back pain. At first, we think it’s just a pinched nerve.
  • After a couple of days, the pain is so bad that David cannot walk
  • We start going to the doctor, and begin treatment with pain relievers and steroids
• Mid September
  • The doctors start eliminating the different possibilities of what the diagnosis could be
  • David notices that the pain he has actually gets worse the more he rests
• Late September – The doctors are pretty sure that David has ankylosing spondylitis, but they want a second opinion
• October
  • The diagnosis is confirmed with a second MRI
  • David starts a special “no starch” diet to help control his pain (long story)
  • Things get much better with pain in David’s back, but the pain in his ankle gets much worse
• November – We decide it’s best if we go to America to get treatment
• December – Preparations to leave for America

We’ve been looking hard and long for what exactly David can eat on this new diet. It’s been really hard, and the emotional swings from diet changes and medicinal side effects have made the process even more taxing.

When a new, tasty recipe comes along, it’s a triumph. We wanted to share this triumph with you! It’s a new soup we made up last night. It’s a little similar to Italian wedding soup in some ways (at least, it’s similar to a soup David remembers from America called “Italian wedding soup”).

Starch-free soup

Ingredients:

• 1 boneless chicken breast filet
• Salt
• Fresh, organic or garden spinach (cut into pieces approximately 2in x 2in)
• Fresh chopped parsley
• 2 Eggs
• Chopped onions
• Olive oil (for frying the onions)
• Chopped celery

Cooking:

1. Soak the chicken in warm salt water for 15 minutes (this makes it softer)
2. Lightly sauté the chopped onions in a frying pan in olive oil
3. Boil 2 liters of lightly-salted water
4. Put the chicken in the water and boil until lightly cooked
5. Put in the rest of the vegetables
6. Boil for about 10 minutes
7. Crack the eggs over the soup, allowing the egg white to fall in but keeping the yolk out
8. Boil for another 5-7 minutes
9. Serve!