It’s beginning!

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We started pre-production on our first Christian shortfilm last week, and the details are slowly coming together. Please pray for us that God would guide David as he puts together a team and shoots, edits, and publishes this first film. He’s currently in the process of translating the script into Ukrainian, storyboarding, and working out the logistics of everything. It may take a little while, but we’re going to try to make a version with English subtitles so that you all can see it.

Health Update

Please keep praying for Tanya, Katya’s mom. She is slowly getting better; however, it’s still discouraging to her that she can’t walk immediately after her first surgery. Also, today she was feeling really nauseous. David’s health is doing well. We still haven’t been able to work out going to his doctor since we’ve been here because of taking care of Tanya and grandma, but we’re going to work that out soon.

This whole process of getting both of Tanya’s hips replaced will take about eight months to a year. After her first surgery, there is an expected 3-4th month recovery time before she can have the other leg operated on. That makes it really hard for her, because her other hip and knee are doing really poorly.

Don’t forget – you can help!

We are raising funds right now to help both with Katya’s mom’s surgery and for our shortfilm ministry. If you would like to join in, you can click here to access our church’s giving page. Every donation there will go straight into our account, and it’s tax deductible. For Katya’s mom, we need to raise about $3,600 (that’s what the first operation cost). For the shortfilm ministry, we need some new equipment and a large generator that would cost about $1,000. The generator would then be used for summer camps as well.

We made it to Ukraine! (+ new song!)

We got to Ukraine at about 4:00 in the afternoon yesterday. Our flight was late and full, so we had to gate-check David’s guitar, but otherwise completely uneventful. We had a lot of fun talking with people that were also on their way back to Ukraine, sharing experiences of what America is like for Ukrainians and stuff like that.

Katya’s mom is doing well despite the pain in her hips. We have scheduled her first operation for Monday. Please pray for that! We are only going to replace one hip this time, because we don’t have the money for the second one. That is going to cost 80,000 UAH (which is about $3,200). We also need a little more money for rehab. Please pray for that.

Please also pray for grandma. She’s not doing so well. It’s hard – she cries a lot. She was really happy to see us, but one of the first things that she wanted to do was to go visit the cemetery with us… This is really hard for her.

David has been writing songs since we got to America in February. This is the first one he wrote back in February when it was really hard. It was shortly after Katya’s dad died.

Here are the words:

Soveregn
When troubles come and I can’t see
If I’m really where I’m supposed to be
When clouds seem to hide Your face
And my heart and mind are out of place

Chorus:
Help me to
See You’re really holding me
To know eventually You’ll show
To me, You are
Everything I need

Jesus, help me see
And choose to trust in You

When storms of anxiety
Threaten my security
When what I want and where I am
Don’t line up with my “perfect plan”

[Chorus]

For You are sovereign, sovereign
Above all else, above all others
For You are sovereign, sovereign
Above my heart and my desires

Your thoughts are higher still

Help me to
See You’re still on Your Sovereign Throne
To know, You’re here
And never will leave me alone
To me, You are
Everything I need

Jesus, help me see
And choose to trust in You

P.S. – If anyone would like the chords, they are available upon request. 😀

We have had a great visit to America!

Thank you to everyone that’s made our trip so amazing! We’ve had an awesome time here, and it’s hard to leave… but we also can’t wait to get back to Ukraine! Please be praying for our “road home” as we prepare everything for the flight on Monday. There are a lot of details that are basically “we’ll find out when we get there” with living arrangements and plans for the next year.

There are SO many things that are on our hearts to do, but the first thing we need to focus on is Katya’s mom’s health. Please pray for wisdom, provision, and God’s timing for that. The process is very slow going, and we still need to raise more funds for the actual surgery and rehab afterwards.

Churches we visited this time

We didn’t visit nearly as many churches this time around as we did when we came back in 2014. We instead tried to really dig in at our church in Indianapolis. That allowed us to really feel at home and strengthen our friendships with the people there. We’re really thankful for our church there in Indy – they provide us accountability and support in a lot of ways.

Our time with family in Arizona, Texas and Florida has been priceless. That’s probably the hardest thing to leave behind. We grew a lot closer to David’s family this time around, and we really hope to be able to come back and forth more often to see them.

Well… We take off on Monday! Our bags are bursting full of gifts for friends and family back in Ukraine, and our hearts are full of expectation to see everyone.

“The Song of My Heart”

This song was a harder one to write. It came to me when we visited a church a while ago and we were in the worship service. It’s about my heart for worship songs. This isn’t my favorite song of the bunch, but it’s definitely heartfelt.

Here are the words:

The Song of My Heart
So many songs
With so many words
There’s not a one
That You haven’t heard
To think I could bring something new is absurd
May this be the song of my heart

We sing the words
Phrase after phrase
But I want to bring you a real song of praise
Lord, may this be the song of my heart

Chorus
Jesus, You are good
Jesus, You are good
Jesus, You are good
You are

It’s not about me
Or my melody
If I know the words or if I’m on key
It’s all about You and how You set me free
May this be the song of my heart

We sing the words
Phrase after phrase
But I want to bring you a real song of praise
Lord, may this be the song of my heart

Chorus

Regardless of the melody
Acapella or symphony
If we’re together or it’s just me
Let this be the song of my heart

Chorus

David wrote some new songs…

I wrote this song about a week ago. I’ve written three songs since being here in America, and I’ll be sharing them over the next few weeks. They’re mostly about how God is still good regardless of our circumstances. I wrote this one while we were in Texas visiting family during a night when I couldn’t sleep.

Here are the words:

You’re Still Good
When I can’t feel You
Or see Your face
When I’m discouraged
Or scared that I’ve disgraced
You and Your Name
And feel that I have failed in every way
Help me to sing anyway

Chorus
‘Cause You’re still good
Even in my sorrow
‘Cause You’re still good
Even if I can’t see if I’ll live through tomorrow – oh

You’re still good

Lord, You’re with me
I know You’re here
You never left me
Regardless of the pain and all the tears
I always know

Chorus
That You’re still good
Even in my sorrow
That You’re still good
Even if I can’t see if I’ll live through tomorrow – oh

You’re still good

When Jesus died and took my place
He won for me all the goodness, all the grace
I’d never earn a thousand years on my own

Chorus
So, You’re still good
Even in my sorrow
You’re still good
Even if I can’t see if I’ll live through tomorrow – oh

You’re still good
Even in my sorrow
You’re still good
Even if I can’t see if I’ll live through tomorrow – oh