OUR MOST RECENT ADVENTURE?

 Some of you may have seen this on Facebook.  Two weeks ago today Jeff fell and had a 2/3rds tear of his Achilles' tendon.  The doctors in Ukraine said he needed surgery within a week to maintain his mobility.  Now as expats 20 years in a foreign country we've come to understand that sometimes doctors are anxious to operate on us for financial gain.  We weren't convinced and we wanted another opinion.  The above picture is the cast we left Ukraine in. We added the duct tape with a wooden block on the heal so he could actually walk in it.  He was on 2 crutches.

Some years ago we had a very good experience with a surgery in England on Jeff.  So off to England to see a ankle specialist.  The long and short of what was quite an ordeal is that Jeff is walking in a boot for 8 weeks, no surgery.  Thank you to you who already are praying for him.  Please continue as he must be very careful not to fully tear this tendon or it WILL be surgery.  The above shows his new boot in the London Underground (the extent of our tourism).  Please also pray for the resolution of two blood clots in the same leg.  They didn't catch that in Ukraine. We are grateful for God's provision and your prayers.

CAR ACCIDENT IN UKRAINE

For those of you who didn't see this on Facebook.....August 26th Jeff had an accident one block from home where he was hit by another driver running a red light.  In the U.S. this would be a no-brainer as to fault, but this is not the U.S.  Jeff was sited as not yielding to oncoming traffic (we think there was a pay-off from the other driver, common here).  Jeff was not hurt other than minor bruising and we praise God that it was only a mini-van and not a semi-truck as so often travel that road.  The following was written by Jeff during one of his morning devotional times just a couple days ago:

Devotional Thoughts from my SOAP devotional this morning, based on the following verse:

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,  that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,  who are Israelites. (Romans 9:1-4)

The unfairness of being struck at an intersection by a driver who was running a red light, only afterward to hold in my hands a citation from the militia, which found me at fault for the accident, causes me to see Pauls words in verse 1 in a special light.  His subject matter, the salvation of his fellow Jews, was different (and glorious at that!), but whereas before I was enamored with his subject, today, because of these recent events, I am enamored with his passion for truth.  I think it is a special, blessed occasion, a moment of true grace, when someone can speak the truth and his concience bears witness in the Holy Spirit of God.  Today, I have this grace.  I am glad that amidst all the lies surrounding the accident that I can say, "I was partially at fault for failure to anticipate a car running a red light at the intersection."  All the while I know that the greater guilt rests on the violator.  I am also speaking the truth, and I am not lying, and my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I would pay for this accident and accept guilt ten times over if only it would lead to the violator, Andrey Aleksandrovich Yakimovich, receiving the mercy of God, and coming to repentance, being born again in God's Holy Spirit.  Therefore, on September 11, 2012 I go to court with peace in my heart, not worrying about the outcome, and leaving all in God's holy and righteous hands.


I write out my morning devotions (using the S.O.A.P. method), and shared it with Coleen. I didn't intend for it to wind up so public on Facebook. Thank you all for your prayers, for which I am all the more sure that the Father's will will be done on Earth as it is in heaven.

Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer = SOAP, in case someone doesn't know this method. You select a passage and ask the Lord to lay one or more verses on your heart. Then in your journal (or computer) you write the verses (S), your thoughts (O), what you will do in obedience (A), then write out your prayer (P). I share this with church planters and with every person who seriously wants to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I saw Veronica last week at the rehab hospital where she's been getting therapy after laying in a bed all summer long. Unfortunately, for lack of funds, that has come to a halt. She broke her elbow and severed her spine last May 1st. The elbow is healed and the spine is slowly healing. Many doctors stated she would probably never walk again. I have attached a photo that was taken by me at the rehab hospital last week. She can now get herself in and out of a wheel chair and wheel herself around. That is so much better than all summer in bed. While we were there, as you see in the picture, the therapist had her standing. She has not yet taken a step and and is a long way from that. If you look closely at the photo you will see she is hardly standing on her own volition, but is propped by ropes and slings to hold her in place. Nonetheless, she is standing and for that we now have renewed hope. No doubt the prayers of many have been heard by a loving God. Please share this picture with others and continue to pray.

Jeff is in the background on this shot talking to Veronica's grandmother who is her primary care giver since her mother works.




This is the young therapist who was working with Veronica for the last month until this past week.



Please also be in prayer for Veronica's mother. She is not a believer and is so distraught over the situation and without hope that she told Veronica "it would have been better if she had died." We were shocked to hear her tell us the same thing one day when we drove her home from the city. That is when we later understood she said the same to her daughter, to her face. So sad, but fortunately she is being cared for by her grandmother who is a believer.

UPDATE ON VERONICA

Twelve year old Veronica (who fell 3 stories on May 1 severing her spine) has been accepted by the spine treatment center in Kiev and she went through her first day of therapy today. This is a great blessing, but we have heard the treatment will last several months and be expensive. We are trusting God for everything! Thank you all for praying for her! She wasn't her usual cheery self yesterday when we visited.



In this photo she was visited last week by Cindy Williams of Antioch Baptist Church in Conway, Arkansas. Cindy was here with her husband Dan to participate in an English camp in Crimea (south Ukraine on the Black Sea). Veronica has been making scrapbooks of pretty pictures and the cards and postcards she has received since her accident. She's sharing it here with Cindy. Thank you to those of you who have sent cards, stickers and craft goodies. What a blessing that has been for her.

UPDATE ON VERONICA

On May 1st 12 year old Veronica fell from a third story height severing her spine and breaking her elbow. It could have been much worse, but she landed on a person below. After a long surgery and over a month in the hospital she has finally been released. Sadly, there is still no feeling in her legs and she is still flat on her back in the bed. At least now she is near friends and church members who can visit and minister to her. There are plans for her to go to a special clinic in eastern Ukraine next month. Please continue to pray for this young girl and I would be so grateful for the joy it gives her if you would send a post card from your state or country.
Address:
Veronica c/o C. Franks
8a Pushkinska
Bucha, Kyiv ob. 08293
UKRAINE

Children in Car Accident

More prayers answered. Our thanks for money sent from some of you for the children who were in the Kiev car accident in the fall of last year. I know this will be a great blessing and relief to pay off debt of doctor bills incurred for the long rehabilitation of two of the three children.

Kiev Accident - September 2008

On September 19th, 2008 a church excursion of 11 years old children went into Kyiv. Three of those children where hit by a car (the same driver). One, Vica was not badly hurt and released after an overnight stay for observation. Pasha had a badly broken leg and is now also fine. Andre, the worst hurt had brain injury and was in a coma for some time. We are pleased to share with you that Andre returned to church two weeks ago for the first time. He continues to need your prayers as he still experiences short term memory loss which could have devastating effects on his education, but we are glad he is with us. We praise God for those of you who have contributed to the medical expenses of these children. This will go through the church here and be a great encouragement to the families that most need it.

October 19th, Accident Update

On October 19th three children on a church excursion to Kiev were hit by a car and hospitalized. Today I saw Vika, the least hurt of the three and asked her how she was doing. She said she was fine. Vika was one of my best English students when she was little. In addition, though I didn't see him, Sasha's sister told me he was in church for the first time today and doing well. Andre, who has been of most concern is doing much better, but still having memory issues for which we would ask that you continue to pray. We serve a mighty God and we know this has all been in his hands. He has the power and the right timing to heal.

Accident Update

On October 19th a group of Sunday school students went with their teacher to the big city of Kiev for an excursion. Three of the children (11 year old range) were hit by a car while crossing a busy street, but not in a pedestrian crossing zone. Vica was bruised on her head resulting in a concussion and released after several days of observation. Sasha had a compound fracture to the leg and is in a cast from the waist down. Andre was in a coma and not expected to live. Vanya, the young man who took the children was, needless to say, devastated.

Today as the pastor prayed he thanked God that Andre has finally regained consciousness. This is the first we've heard since we were away this week. I spoke to Sasha's mother this morning who said he is home now and got up on crutches for the first time since the accident. Though I didn't get to speak to him, I was glad to see that Vanya was in church today. Please continue to pray for healing in all involved, including Vanya who was so troubled by this.

Accident Update

There is basically no changes to report from last Sunday. The doctors did not expect Andre to live, yet this is the third Sunday or two weeks since the accident date and he is still with us by your prayers. He is restrained as he continues to thrash about, but there is not consciousness and no recognition of family members. The blood clot in his brain needs to dissolve before he can come to consciousness.

Sasha is still in the hospital with a cast from the waist down. He is mending and in good spirits.

Please continue to pray for Vanya, the young man who took the children on this excursion. He is still grieving the event and very upset from it all.

Dangers of Kiev Update

There were three children from our church hit by a taxi driver last Sunday the 19th in the captiol city of Kiev (Kyiv, new spelling adopted by the country)while out on an excursion. Vica, the least hurt was held for observation for a almost a week and released on Friday or Saturday. Sasha is still in the hospital and will be immobilized for some time with two compound breaks. Praise the Lord he is healing. Andre is still in a coma, but he is starting to move his arms, legs and eyelids. He has a blood clot in his brain that has to pass before he can come to consciousness. He has been thrashing so he's tied down, but he is being fed by his mother. Pray for Andre's older brother Sergai who is accusing the church of wrongdoing and is very upset. We are grateful for your prayers for all these families that have been hurt by this tragedy. If you would like to contribute to hospital bills for the two boys please send contributions to Baptist Missionary Assn., P.O. Box 30910, Little Rock, Arkansas 72260. Make a note on your check to specify either Andre, Sasha, or just Auto Accident so we will get it to the right place.