You have heard of the dawn chorus, this is the Makita chorus.

Good evening friends from a scorchingly beautiful Ukraine. If you read our news yesterday you know that we were praying for a new driver / drill to keep going full throttle. WELL... a pleasent suprise meant that today we ended up with 2 excellent new drivers (£20 each) and the use of a new SDS drill. The chorus of every man's drill going full pelt at the same time was a beautiful sound !!! I thought you might like a flavour, so here is a short vid,,, (please press play)

On second thoughts to get the full benefit of Igor's musicianship maybe you need to play it through large sub woofers to appreacitae the real flavour and creamyness of the throaty bass (only joking don't do that --you'll blow the cones).

Emlyn did a great Job chopping several hundred polystyrene tiles "off" so we could start metal work on the ceiling. I confess I did suggest to him that he should use "head and shoulders" given the dandruff propblem he obviously had, but he assured me that he didn't actually have any hair and it really was the disintegrating tiles that made us feel like we were in Santa's grotto. In this next episode you will see a glimpse of Emlyn's artistry (now in his michael angelo phase), and the soothing tones of a John B C playing ( I think??)  his concerto for Makita HR2470WX/2.

 Beautiful I'm sure you agree. However there is something even more beautiful... and that is the way that John D was operating the sweeper system. The more mess Emlyn created the more John was inclined to mix it with concrete dust and scoop it into a beautifully neat pile of mess. I'm sure you will appreciate from the video how talented John is at this... we are hoping to make a short documentary on his technique, which has been honed over many years, and should be passed onto future generations.

Isn't it a beautiful techniqe? Especially when operating the vertical sweep to overcome the extension cable, this is the kind of supreme operation we miss with the less experienced members of the team.
Well that's probably enough sarcasm for one day, but before Igor switches the light out on the basement for this evening, maybe I should give you a refresher course on some basik Ukrainski. The kind of stuff that would get you through a stint on the team.
UKRAINIANSKI                                                                             U.K.SKI---------------------

"SCHNIPS PACEBA"         " Could  I possibly borrow the metal cutting implements please
                                               old  fellow, thank you awfully "
"JOHN ?"                      "Where has John gone ? I think there are several more things we
                                        need him to go and buy from the shopping center."
"CHOOT CHOOT"         "You need to bash the big piece of metal a little bit with that
                                           club hammer mate, otherwise it well aint straight !"
"Chai, coffee, BISKWITS"    "Ok gentlemen you all look well sweaty and in need of a
                                               breather,  so  go  stuff yourself with cake and buscuits and
                                               I promise I won't tell the wife"
"AI AI AI  "                          "oopsa daisy, I think dear young Joe may have had a small
                                                missap with the hammer drill again. Oh hold on  a mo its
                                             ok, he's not bleeding as much as last time and besides Rob
                                             still has some plasters left"

Well I think that covers the basic refresher module, maybe next time we'll manage level 2 if this is too easy for you. Now it really is time for lights out so thank you ladies and gentlemens (plural in ukrainian speek), for all your faithful prayers and support, we appreciate it and God has been so good to us. I will leave you with this symbolic video. "Please sleep like a baby" (Ukranian for ... "we don't have any buscuits left, go to bed please")

Sleep tight....
Love BLOGSKI

SO SORRY WE ARE HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

(we believe the videos may only upload when we arrive back 

in the green and pleasant land)

As Rick Astley put it so well "never gunna give you up!"

Good evening friends. Today has been a full and productive day of work and so, so encouraging despite a number of challenges. There are times in the middle of the day when your progress is "choot choot" (little by little) as the Ukranaians put it. It is on these occiasions when the task is big and the work hard, when I wonder if the teams' spirits will drop. It is then that God teaches me yet another valuable lesson again. This team does not run on the same batteries as the durecell bunny but on power much more lasting. They just will not give this up until we have completed the task God has given us.
Isaiah 40 puts it like this...
Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall;
³¹  but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Big encouragement no 1 : 
The spiritual motivation and energy of men who work to please God not themselves.
I'm sure this team won't mind me saying that the guys who are out in Odessa at the moment are politely put "full of experience". As far as average age goes this is the most senior team we have had to date. Yet... when other men are tidying their sheds, striping the lawn, watching the bowls and sitting on park benches feeding the pigeons, these guys are up ladders, bruising, scratching and bleeding as they put in metal framework and drill holes to make industrial stength walls for young people to punish in a sports hall. I'm so proud to call these guys my mates, they are fired by the same ambition... to do something of worth for Christ and to do all they can to help the next generation to come to know him. If you are cheering them on, they are doing you proud I can assure you.

Big encouragement no2: Today I met with my wonderful friend Igor Bandura. Amidst his many responsibilities as a director of mission and national church leader, he generously gave me a morning of his time, and I was so blessed and grateful. We talked about many things of significance. Amidst it all was the reassurance that God has his hand on our partnership. We come from two very different places... him Chernobyl and me a little village in North Wales, yet our God has seen fit to unite us in partnership, heart and fellowship. We find unity, solidarity and joy in so many things as we talk about what God may do in the future, but by far the most wonderful thing is how good God has been to us already. As his iphone went off for the umpteenth time, I had a moment to reflect on how much I appeciate this faithful brother in Christ. Finding such wonderful friends in life that you can trust with everything is a blessing beyond any price. I have never been so encouraged about what God is doing in Ukraine, I cannot help but pray that he will bless the surrounding nations through the spiritual health and witness of the churches here. I believe God has great plans for Ukraine and it is a privilege to see it unfolding with our own eyes. Please do pray for Igor, his many responsibilities and his lovely family.

Big encouragement no3: Today we managed to complete the metal work and boarding of the main walls in the sports area.

As you can see the lower area has been left for ventilation purposes. With a sense of achievement we were able over our evening meal to accelerate the next stage on this room. We will move on to the ceiling and window areas. In the adjecent room (the one through the window opening) we have started metal work on the walls of what will be the "changeing room."

It was great having Rob and Joe in there with us today. Rob shared with us how it was part of the agreement Rob had with  Joe (when he let him marry his daughter) that he came out to Odessa to do work. I don't know what other deals Rob made with him, but that was a stroke of genius!!! Joe is great to have around. You will see from our "apparatus", that there are a variety of wooden "implements" that help us reach the high ceiling areas. Some of them are more sturdy than others, but in truth we have learned to use an SDS drill whilst standing on one leg when it is perched on something akin to the sinking titanic. Despite this the walls look remarkably straight next to the spirit level (even if you don't squint).

A LITTLE THING WHICH WOULD BE A BIG HELP.
Please pray for what we should do re:tools for the job. Some of you will know that we have purchased a number of drills and electric screwdrivers for the tasks at transition house. The truth is that today they told us they are very tired and would appreciate going for a lie down. Tomorrow we hope to start  purchasing replacements desiring that there is no delay on the job waiting for drills to charge etc.  We would like to accomplish as much here as is possible during our stay. Would you kindly please pray that we can buy at least one new drill for a good price to help us get the jobs done efficiently.

Well that's a long blogski, your eyes will be getting tired.... but thank God (before you leave this page) that he reinvigorates those who work hard for him. What a God we have! He not only provides all we need, and much more besides, but he  so re energises those who walk with him and work hard for him, that they are fresher at the end of the day than the begining, and happier working for him than doing anything else in life. As these guys put their head on the pillow tonight they still have more "get up and go" than any of our drill batteries  even though they have been worked just as hard. They can have full confidence that they have diligently applied 2 Thess 3:13..

"And as for you, brothers and sisters, never (ever, ever, ever) tire of doing what is good."

Speak soon, 

love blogski.

 

Sun, FOOD, Fellowship, FOOD, more Fun and even more FOOD

Good evening friends, it has been a vitage day in every respect here in Odessa. Becuase May 2nd is also a national holiday and families get together, we have had a wonderful day off work with our friends and families from church. Our morning study was on the discipline of intamacy with God. Past generations of Christians talked of "practicing the presence" of God, by spending time with Him in the morning in order to keep God at the forefront of their passion, purpose and joy the rest of the day. As a team we prayed for more of this, and we have not been dissapointed today by God's goodness.

Illinka a bright light on a hill.
6 Years ago my good friend Sasha Domuschi took me to this little rural village outside Odessa where he had  just started converting an old bungalow and was building a little church. Grace church wanted  to love the people there and share Jesus Christ with them. NOW what was originally a big prayer and passion has turned into a glorious reality.

 

Their first intention was to build an orphanage, accross the road from the church (you can see the church in the background)  ,but God had something even more wonderful in mind. The church now teach many children from the area in their school where they have classrooms, Many of the local children come from backgrounds that are hugely helped by the goodness, gentleness and love of God's people. The work of this little place is far reaching as children grow up to develop in other schools, and bring their families to church for presentation services. Many of them come to find the eternal friend that is spoken of, and so many prayers have been asnwered in this special little place. The hearts of friends who work there are wonderfully transparent and loving. The extensive veg patches, chicken coops, greenhouses, all supply beautiful food, fruit and veg. The hand pushed rotorvator continues to work hard, and the military precise rows of onions, raspberries and beetroot are ready to feed a village for another season. The beautiful childrens playpark and free exercise apparatus has soft land rubber matting underneath, and is consistantly populated with people from the village. I cant help thinking we have missed a trick here in the UK and that more churches should build a play park in front of their welcoming front door.
The classrooms are beautifully constructed and presented.

Of course they were empty today, and so our purpose in beingthere wasn't just to hear about the work but spend some time with the children from church as they had a fun day out. The sun was scortching, the sky was blue.

Emlyn brought new fooballs, catch balls, basketballs and volleyballs for the children, and they absolutely loved it. He also brought with him a pump (always prepared) and plenty of patience for those who wanted to play catch and football with him, (the queue was not short). After a couple of games of football, the sun was baking hot and we were reprieved by lunch in the church grounds.... and what a lunch!
BBQ meats, potatoes, beautiful salads, cakes, buscuits, drinks by the gallon. We were struggling with the appealing prospect of sleeping in the shade when we were ushered over the road.. what for we wondered, It transpired that they also had a spread ready for lunch, BBQ meats, poatoes, beautiful salads etc. It took us a few seconds before we realised this had also been prepared for us. Jiohn took one for the team and followed up his 7 sausages with a couple of kebabs. I think they see it as a sport... kind of endurance eating, can we give the gentlemen from England bellies as big as the footballs theu bring, and make sure they return with meat sweats! It was worth getting through for the fellowship and singing that came after. Here is a short clip ...
A vintage day just got better as we have picked up Joe and Rob from the airport, looking remarkably fresh after a trouble free flight.

I will go and enjoy a celebratory cuppa with the reunited team. Just one more photo from today. What do you do if you live in a rural area , have no access to a gym, multigyms are too expensive, yet you still need to work off all the vegatables you grow ? The answer is simple. Get two buckets or plant pots. Join them by a metal bar and fill said buckets with concrete. The result is genius, and a very hench church pastor.

Chat tomorrow, thank you so much for your prayers.
P

Introducing John BC

Good evening friends. (well it is here anyway)
A terrific first day of work, more of that in a moment. Some of you will know John Collinson...

For those who don't... John was a frequent  member of the teams who cames out from North Wales to help at transistion house, until he felt a prompt from God to move out here and self support himself to serve our friends in a "full time" and "full on" capacity. His ministry is so valuable to the folks here. John lives on site and works hard to support everything that goes on, continuing to do the tough stuff, when we all bomb back home after a short trip, pretending we have done something significant.
  It has been really great to catch up with John and reunite him with some things that he misses from home, (mainly yorkshire tea and the full range of cadbury's products). Please remember  John in your prayers, he has done a tremendously servant hearted thing, Not many men of his age would leave their family roots and everything else they had built up, to serve in this way. I believe it is a true act of devotion to Christ which will reap massively in due time, It is so good to see how much he is loved and appreciated here.
For a little while I did wonder why they  referred to him by his royal title / full name ("John Benjamin Collinson") when calling him in for "tea break". However facbook friends will know this is how his name appears, and so that is how the church got to know who he was. He will forever be John Benjamin Collinson in this neck of the woords.

EARLY START (5am uk time) - BE DISCIPLINED

The morning started with our studies in spiritual discipline, reminding ourselves of Gal 6:9, that those who invest in God will always reap a wonderful harvest.   As men we can be disciplined and habbitual about a lot of things (the tidyness of our shed, the stripes on the lawn, the alphabetical order of CD's , the TV routine, etc etc) but... being spiritually disciplined is something we often find very much harder - yet the payoff is so incomparably more worth while, If you're reading this and follow Jesus Christ, we pray that today is a day when you invest by faith, not in what is seen, but that of lasting value and worth in God's economy. Your prayer time is not wasted today, keep at it.

Wonderful progress - BE ENCOURAGED !!!
  After breakfast we had the wonderful proof that God answers prayer right before our eyes. Peter took us arround transition house to show us all the progress that has been made. Considering the -15 temperatures and torrid winter that was experienced, it is remarkable to see 5 bathrooms completed amongst many other things. Many of you helped us fund bathroom suites and units. All of them have gone in and look fantastic.

Floor 3 looks terrific, now tidied of all building materials, it really is looking like a home not a construction site.

Peter told us some wodnerfull examples of God's goodness. For example how they are the only building around whose basement never ever floods becuase of the perculiar geology on which it is built and its height in the water table.  (This is the kind of thing you are pretty glad to find our after you have built a home for needy children there, but God knew it way before he gave them the land)

Onto work in the basement. John, John, Nick and Clive set about finishing ventalation provision and putting OSB board up in the games hall. They went "full throttle" today and made great progress. (more photos next time).

 Emlyn, builder Igor and myself set about putting up walls for the changing room. Progress was maybe a little less impressive on the eye, but we have made a great start and when putting walls in place it is always wise to follow the rule (measure twice, think thrice before executing rather than after). We are placing walls which we hope will there for a long time to come. Emlyn kept us supplied in good sweets,  good humoiur and good safety goggles.

A BIT OF GEOGRAPHY - Try to be interested at the back of the class.
One thing maybe of interest is the materials we are covering up.

 The lower material here is commonly known as "sea rock". Formed over a prologed period of time by shells being crushed and compacted under the sea, and hewn out of large boulders into bricks. This very solid material forms a lot of the basement. The lower material (with the honeycombe like texture is from the Crimea region, the greyer stone is from Odessa region.)

It's maybe too early for you to think about rest but we need it. BE READY FOR TOMORROW.
Tomorrow is a celebration day in Ukraine, they celebrate both 1st and 2nd of May. We have been invited to join with the children on a special excursion to enjoy the weather at Illinka, This is the site of one of the church plants from "grace" church. We will do our best to have fun and enjoy the gorgeous weather, before we welcome ROB and JOE at the airport.
Thank you for those of you who are  praying. A couple of  things we would appreciate you remembering....

• That Joe and Rob would arrive safely
• That tomorrow would be a great day for the children, that we can encourage those who work with them and also the church at Illinka)

I will leave you with a common sight just after work is complete and showers have been enjoyed. The moment of tendreness when all men get out their phones and tell those back home how much they love them. (note the glazed eyes and how they do not respond to a thing i say never mind a photo)

We thank God for you and support so much. Hope you are as encouraged today as we are.
Keep going, whatever you are doing for Him. What is done in faith, is never in vein, and will always reap a harvest.
Chat tomorrow,
P (on behalf of some guys with slightly achey legs and arms, and therefore can only just use fingers to text and eat buscuits)

A WARM WELCOME IN EVERY RESPECT

Hello folks from a beautiful warm evening in Odessa. Thank you for your prayers, we had a great journey. It was a real privilege to see our friends again, who welcomed us as treasured family. We started as we mean to go on...

• An impromptu prayer time thanking God for all his goodness as we entered transition house (in English and Ukrainian, with Sergei, Pieter Lydia, John, Alex and Dima our driver)
• We consumed much Pizza
• We talked English football with Odessa Athletico rising star "DAVIDE" - (Alex's son who plays for the under 9's?)
• We reunited with John Collinson (more tomorrow) 

Wonderful people. awesome God and a joy to be part of such a wordlwide family in Christ.

We are off for some sleep. 5am seems a long time ago, and the little girl behind me on the plane didnt like the idea of me dropping off for a snooze.

Speak tomorrow friends.(PHOTO IS OF THE SNOW CAPPED MOUNTAINS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN UK AND ISTANBUL)

PACKED and READY - Thank you!

Well as John's blog said "not long now", the countdown will be complete and the team will be off to Odessa via Istanbul. There is just one slight snag, you have been soooooooo generous with your lovely gifts to encourage our young friends !

Thank you so much for those who have sent small gifts. Pray that all the small gifts get there safely please, and they are a BIG encouragement. So I don't mean to be rude... but I can't actually fit my pants in the case at this stage, so... PLEASE STOP NOW!!!! No on second thoughts why not keep getting your little gifts ready for next time, I'm sure we will need many more things for the next trip. Thank you again, your fellowship is a priceless treasure, and a huge encouragement to us as a team. The Bible studies are printed, the sermons are ready... work gloves are packed, now what to do with those socks and pants.., any thoughts ?

Not long now

Not long now until we go out again to work on Transition House.

The next team going out on Sunday are preparing and packing ready to fly out for a 2 week visit.

We are looking forward to continuing the work in the basement, renewing old friendships and making new friends.

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