The Greatest Contest on Earth!

The date was September 1, 1999. On November 28, the conestants had to be chosen and to meet for the final selection. On December 1, the contest would begin and had to be concluded by January 1, 2000.The call went out all across the world! Every country had to select their champions. Everyone was invited to participate: young, old, man or woman. The Challenge? They had to select what they thought were the 3 most important books ever written.The countries greatest scholars would determine who the winner in their country would be. The Expense? All must realize that no expense must be spared to fulfill this mission, the completion of this contest. Each contestant must be willing to sacrifice all that they had and all that they are to fulfill this mission. The Reason for the contest? The saving of only one life and the very existence of this one precious soul. Obviously, there was a matter of great urgency about this contest. So within 30 days of the announcement the champions had to be selected. They all met in the capital in the center of the world where all could come. What was considered the greatest minds of all the world were asked to be the judges. They were asked to select 3 people with their three books. They had just 3 days to do it. At the end their was a young man who was 25, a middle age woman who was 41 and an aged man who 74. There were some that feared that this would be an unfair advantage to the young man because he would have greater strength. Some feared that the woman would have the advantage because she would understand life from a woman's point of few and know that her books were best. Finally others felt that the aged man would have the greatest adavantage because of his great wisdom and his experiences in life. However, the contest demanded that they all travel together from beginning to end and more rules would be given them as they proceeded.

The contest began. As many people as could afford to come along were invited. So family and friends, scholars, intillectuals and just interested hangers on traveled with the group. But they had to keep up. They had to pay their own way. They couldn't help the contestants in any way. They couldn't cheer or support by any actions or they would be asked to leave. The only thing they could do was to watch!

Right away the three contestants were amazed that they were asked to work together to figure out where they were going, how they were going to get there and what they should do to save this person that needed them so desperately. They were given 10 days to figure out what country they should travel to. They were told that maybe some of their books should help them to find the way. They traveled to many countries and asking many questions to see if they were on the right track. At the end of the first 10 days, they were told that each of them had to throw away one book. They were told that they were in the right country.

Now they must continue their search and find the city they were to find. They frantically worked together searching for the endanagered person. At the end of the second 10 days, they were told that they were in the right city. Now they were each told to throw away another book, but they could help each other in these choices. Now they must find where the person lived and save this person at all costs. The search became desperate! They worked side by side, hour after hour, day after day.

Finally there was one day left. They had found the right street that the person lived on. Now they had to decide which book to save, to save this person's life, his or her very soul. The book that they chose? The Bible. They had to choose now one person to finally save this lost soul. The three contestants were all exhausted. They finally chose amongst themselves and chose the young man, for he was the only one with enough strength to go on. So on this last day, he began the frantic search from house to house to find the peron that needed to be saved. Finally, he found the 16 year old girl, dieing on her bed. She was given just one hour to live. The young man staggared into her, with the Bible in hand, crying out, "how can I help you?" The girl said that for you to save me, you must answer me but one question, but you must answer me from the Bible so that I can know for sure that my soul will be saved forever. The young man pleaded with her: "Please ask your question!" She looked into his eyes and said, "What must I do to be saved?" The young man fell on his face and burst into tears because he did not know the answer! The one who was controlling the contest, turned to the woman and the old man and asked them to answer the question. They too fell down weeping for they did not know the answer! Then the contestant manager turned to the throng of people for the answer. No one seemed to know. Then the contest manager took off his cloak and his gloves. Everyone gasped! He had holes in His hands and a whole in His side. To everyone that knew the story of the Bible, they realized that this was Jesus Christ who died for the world and had been raised to life, never to die again! Jesus turned to the young woman and said, "For God so loved the world that He sent me into the world save everyone who believes in me." (John 3:16). That you must believe and be baptized to be saved. (Mark 16:16). That when you repent and are baptized into me, your sins will be forgiven and I will give you the Holy Spirit to live in you. (Acts 2:38). Then you will have died to all your sins and have them buried with me as I was buried after my death. I will raise you to walk in new life, just as I was raised from the dead. (Romans 6:1-7). You will live with me for eternity! (John 14:1-6).

Do you have many quesitons about the contest? Where did it start? In your country, in your city! Who were the contestants? Any one in all the world. Where did they go? They went into all the world, seeking the lost. What books did they take? They took all the wisdom and religon of the world with them. Why did they choose the Bible? It was the only answer for all people for all time. Who was the dieing girl? She was you and me, for we are all dieing eternally without Jesus Christ.

Now, some questions for you.
1. Would you know what to do and how to answer the question: "What must I do to be saved?"
2. Would you know where to find the Bible answers for this question and NOT what man has told you they were?
3. Would you be willing to set out on this contest knowing that it could cost you everything that you had, everything that you are so one lost and desperate soul could be saved?
4. If you knew that their were BILLONS of souls in need like this, what would you do? Where would you be willing to go? What time would you give? How much money would you spend? What sacrifices would you make?
5. Jesus Christ made all these sacrifices for you. Will you make them for Him and for the lost?

Journal Updates

4 year old Katya, 2 yr old Artem and older sister Liza - part of the family opening gifts.
Katya and older family brother, Alexy in the back ground.
6 yr. old Eloyna in the back ground, Liza and the twins, Alexey and Andrey with new jackets!
The kids and Momma Inna helping them out! She said that they never had so many New Year's (Ukrainian way of Christmas gifts) before!

2 boxes of Christmas presents were sent to us from "His Kids Too" for the orphan home family that we work with. Here I am with little 2 year old Artem.

Some of this you have seen some of this before if you have read this blog, but this is more detail. I have sent it out as my journal. The last section from Jan.7th should be new to all!

Thursday, December 14, 2006 – January 12, 2007
Thursday morning Ksusha and her mother picked me up at my house at 5:40am to go to the mini-bus to take me to the airport in Borispil, near Kiev. Ivanna came too. Ksusha also came all the way to the airport with me and saw me off. My flight was 2 ½ hours late taking off – an omen of things to come! When we got to NY, JFK airport, the flights to go on were delayed and then canceled. I had to stay the night in NY and got to Janessa’s 24 hours later than expected. I had a God blessed stay with Janessa, BJ and Gavin. Being there for her at this difficult time in her life, seemed to be really good for her. As well as for BJ as well. I know that I was greatly blessed to be able to spend 8 days with them. The last day, the 23rd, we celebrated Christmas together.
Dec.24th
From there on the 24th, I took a 15 hour bus ride to Pierre, SD and spent about 2 days with my sister, Ida and some of lovely family. Of course we spent the 25th, my 2nd Christmas together. It was very gracious of them to allow me to come and spend some time with them. On the 26th, my cousin Paul drove me to Rapid City, SD where I spent the evening with my cousin Randy (Paul’s son) and his wife.
Dec.27th
They took me to the airport the next morning and I flew out to Seattle, WA. This was the first transportation where I had no problems – the only one! About 35 minutes after I arrived there, I met my oldest Butch, Erin and their girls Hannah and Ella at the airport as they flew in from Iowa. We went to their home in Puyallup, WA, where we had 3 full, but wonderful days together. We celebrated Christmas together (my 3rd). We also has a wonderful, laugh filled time with some of Butch and Erin’s Christian friends! That was a really good time!
Dec.31st
Here we spent my 3rd Christmas together and again had a great time! On the 31st, I flew to San Angelo, TX by the way of DFW airport in Dallas. I got to spend an extra 2 ½ hours (magical number!) in this airport than planned. I got to San Angelo at 7:30pm and since it was Sunday and since it was New Year’s Eve, I went with Jenise and Jon to worship – a long one until midnight with a few extra’s like food thrown in! Jon spoke and did a wonderful job. Jenise is now 31 weeks pregnant and doing well. I got to go with her and Jon to see Jenise’s sonogram see the baby boy! It was so cool to see and hear the baby! I spent another 3 full days with them. I am so truly blessed to have wonderful Christian children that love and serve the Lord in such a dedicated way!! I am so proud of Jenise and Jon and their new Christian family together!!! We celebrated Christmas together, (my 4th!) and then left for Ukraine, or so I thought on Jan. 4th!
Jan.4th
I got to Dallas and on to Charlotte, NC just fine and no problems with connections. But the plane we were going to take from there was 2 ½ hours late getting to Charlotte. When we got to NY we sat on the runway for 45 minutes and I missed my plane to Ukraine! So, I got the privilege of staying in the same expensive hotel by the JFK airport again! With many trials and yet blessings, I got the next flight to Ukraine 24 hours later and got into Borispil and then Kremenchuk just fine. I arrived on January 6th to my house at 7pm and was met by 6 of my friends! This was special, because it is Christmas eve for Ukrainians (their Christmas is Jan.7th) and so most were with their families.
Jan.7th

We had a great worship on Sunday morning and then I went shopping to replace my empty house with food and prepare for our Christmas party (yes you are counting right – the 5th) at my house at 4:30! We cooked food, we hung 35 stockings (29 came) and had a wonderful American Christmas on Ukrainian Christmas day. Basically on Monday I rested. Oksana’s Mom has been in England for 2 months, so she and her brother asked me to go to the airport and pick her up – they paid for the gas. We left at 1pm and got back at 9. On Wednesday (2 big boxes for the Orphan’s home family had come while I was gone) we took these things out to them at 9:30 and got back around 1pm. I am still very tired at this point. I spent much of Wednesday and Thursday cleaning my bedroom/office and unpacking. On Thursday at 11am, Max came over and helped to measure and go and order a new bookcase for my house that is VERY badly needed. It will cost me about $120 to have made as I want it. Then we went looking for me a new bed. I have been waking up every morning with excruciating back pain. I have been sleeping on this very soft double mattress of mine for 3 years and it is enough! So we shopped for about 4 hours and finally settled on a bed/divan for a little less than $400. I have now slept on it 2 nights and I believe that it is going to be pretty good. It is much firmer than the other, but I believe it will be better! We had our devotional on Thursday night with 17 people here. I really missed this time together, so it was a real blessing to be sharing this time together. We had 6 people here on Friday night for our fun night. I talked a lot about special my time was with my physical family in the US (who are also my spiritual family – thank God!). But it is really great to be back in Ukraine with Christian family here and with the work that I am doing here. I am so blessed to have this work and these Christians and non-Christians to be working with in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ! I am so thankful that God has given me this very valuable and important work to do!

Christmas Pictures from Jan 7 Ukrainian Christmas!

We in Ukraine were going to celebrate American Christmas on Dec. 25th, but because I was called to the US on the 14th, my friends in Ukraine waited for me to celebrate with them when I got back! So on Sunday afternoon, I hung 35 stockings and did some of my own stuffing of American and Ukrainian candies and started preparing food shortly after morning Church services. At 4:30pm we met to first exchange 1 gift from each other (presents were bought for cost under $2 and names were drawn to see who would go first). Then we ate our Christmas supper. Following that we had our evening worship service at my house. Following that, each person drew 5 names and put 5 small gifts in 5 different stockings. Then we came into the living room and everybody found their stocking and opened them up! (We actually had 29 present for the party.) It was a wonderful evening with a lot of fun! I wish you could have been here to share it with us!

Back in Ukraine!

My daughters Janessa, Jenise and Jenise's husband Jon's, sister Janice
Ella and Gavin: 2 of my Grandchildren
Gavin and Jenise

After traveling for 23 days, missed flights, long delayed flights and wonderful times with family I am back to my beloved Ukraine! I had a truly blessed time with family in 4 different states. It took 8 days of travel all together, but it was worth it. I love my family very, very much and it was hard to leave them again! But now I am HOME with my wonderful Christian family here in Ukraine and I am back to my work that means the world to me as I share the Gospel with people here that need it so badly!