Story about the Give and Take.

We moved to Los Angeles in the beginning of November. It turned out that we have a disabled neighbor. His name is Eldritch. He cannot walk alone, but only move around in a wheelchair. He was so glad that the young Ukrainian missionaries arrived and somehow started to buy us food.

Missionary Leadership Workshop for Ukrainians in North Dakota!

We are glad to announce that we are having great time with Ukrainian missionaries coming for Leadership Workshop in Fargo, North Dakota. The 40-day workshop includes following program:

• Understand one’s identity
• Study God’s Word and preach to ignite faith
• Understand Jesus’s heart and build close relationships with God
• Challenge body to strengthen mind through discipline
• Build teamwork
• Discover the roots of America and its greatness
• Participate in inter-cultural exchange and inter-denominational cooperation
• Learn English and Spanish

After completing the Program many young adults are to serve in Ukraine as youth pastors and small group leaders. Big thank you to local church community for their support!

Great Achievements of Ukrainians.

•Scientist Sergei Korolev – made first successful rocket and sent first man to space.

•Inventor Igor Sikorsky – made the first helicopter.

The Power of Community.

In XX century, the main problem of mankind has been the communist ideology. Through materialism communism trampled the concept of love, explaining it as ordinary physiological processes, denying its unique, eternal, unchanging and absolute aspects. Humanity has overcome communism - the Soviet Union collapsed.

A Big Trouble.

UN OCHA says there are 2.5 million people displaced by Russian aggression in Ukraine. That’s more than during the war in Bosnia.

It is sad that many people still fail to recognize the fact that it's a real war in Ukraine. 

Refugees from eastern Ukraine.

Don't forget to click donate button and do whatever you can for the refugee kids in Ukraine. Thank you!

A Plan and a Destiny

I think each of us has faced with a dilemma in life: to plan or just to trust one’s destiny. You've probably noticed that things don't always go according to the plan in daily business. Through my own experience I came to the conclusion that this is an endless cycle - you plan first, which helps a lot, but when it turns into a routine repetition you observe decrease in results. Many people start to give up in that case. The key is the unity with the target. If deviation from the plan and daily self-check strengthens the connection with target, just deny planning.

A Royal Water Ride.

Our group of 6 now blessed to stay with Ray & Ikuyo McCready in their beautiful home in Seattle, WA. Last Sunday we attended Seattle Family Church. Sermon was titled "Give Yourself a Royal Treatment". Preacher Michael Lancey explained our identity as royal children of God, who is the King of Kings. And we have the mission of building God's Kingdom. After the service Michael unexpectedly offered us a ride on his motor boat. 

Ukraine: The Price of Independence

Only seven percent of Ukraine’s territory is occupied but it is industrial and highly populated area. It is not a civil war, Russian aggression started in spring of 2014. Many call it a proxy war, but I would call it a hybrid war. It includes propaganda, information war, oil war, etc. Only now people in Ukraine started to realize what the price of freedom is.

America Through Ukrainian Eyes.

This year, my old desire to visit America came true. The interview for a visa at the embassy was in May of this year. I was surprised that there are no queues, everything right on schedule. Speaking to the American Consul, I felt that the most important thing for Americans, so that people who come to their country, would not have any bad goals in mind, and be honest to others.

Coming to the USA.

My visit to the United States is an unusual experience... Such unexpected God's blessing. I never wanted to go to America, unlike my older brother who thought about it and still dreaming about it. My idea of ​​America was really fantastic, as many American movies fantastic too, so I did not even dream of coming to America. Such was

Global Vision.

My name is Alex. This is my 5th visit to America. For me it's a good training and education. In America I met people from all over the world. This week I met a man form a small island located between Japan and America. It really helped me to understand more about the world. One day I was

Choice Issue.

Today, in the morning I was trying to make a cup of hot tea and stopped for a moment because too many different kinds of tea bags were in front of me. Making a choice is hard, but today I want to talk about how people join the church. Because too many say, "It was my choice". Was it really our choice when we joined the church?

O, Utah!

We've got an incredible experience in the state of Utah. One woman, Judy Miller, hosted us in her house for 2 weeks. Can you imagine it? Four unknown guys were living in the house of 60-year old woman. But this is not all.

The Sunny Sacramento.

It is not the first time I'm giving this presentation but still I was anxious. I tried to understand what kind of message God wants to communicate to precious community of the Sacramento Valley Family Church. Of course I felt confident because I was going to talk not the abstract ideas or invisible things but practical activity and substantial results of my Ukrainian community.

Back to the USA.

As we were going down in elevator my wife suddenly found out she forgot her phone and went back. But when she finally made it outside the taxi with me inside was gone to the airport. She hoped to embrace me tight and kiss before I will go to the USA. This was the beginning of my mission trip to America which this time will last around 3 month.

The Stop in Memphis.

Hi, everybody. In April we moved from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. There new brother Eugene joined our team and we became four. Soon Yuriy went back to Ukraine and Eugene took his place. We made a long jump to Memphis, Tennessee. We joined Sunday service in Abraham family's home church. It was a great meeting, we got to know Japanese brother Takashi and sister Junco. Also I shared about youth ministries in Ukraine. Afterwards we visited great restaurant where I ate oysters for the first time :) Blessings to everybody!

Kiro.

Center: Mr. Abraham. Right: Eugene.

Individualism Vs. Collectivism

Hello, friends! How are you doing?

I am already two weeks in Ukraine. Thanks God, I had safe trip back home. My family and Ukrainian community gave me warm welcoming. My daughters are really happy they can spend time with their daddy.

My wife and youngest daughter. 

Today I want to talk about individualism.

Family Happiness.

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in a cellphone store I met Mrs. Carmen. As we were talking, I asked her about her family. She sincerely said that she is very lucky having her husband. I was really surprised. Usually women do not say like this... And they are married for 18 years.

Good Habit or Daily Hobby.

Hi, brothers and sisters!

Couple days ago I met a wonderful woman. She knew that I am a christian and when she heard  my story, that I came from Ukraine, and I have a big desire to change my country for better, when she heard that I do a lot of education in my country in order to revive the lives of my people, and serve them trying to spread the God's word, she decided to give me a mustard seed.

 

Love or Faith?

Hi, everyone!
Today I want to share my meeting with one great couple, Mr. Tom and Mrs. Mary. They are Christians that seriously and continuously studying the Holy Bible. Mr. Tom has read it in different translations numbers of times... When he recognized me as a Christ follower, he wanted to share his experience of his faithful life.

What Is the Source of Art?

Hello, everybody!!!

Couple days ago I've stopped by one art-gallery. I met a young man there, he was a manager. His father is an artist and he was selling actually his father's artworks. What was interesting in these artworks, it's their source. A source of inspiration.

Good Friday.

Hello, everybody!!!

I want to share with you my experience on the Good Friday.

I was walking the streets of French Quarter in New Orleans. And then I heard a music, somebody was singing songs, and I noticed a crowd of people out there. In the hands of one of them I saw a huge flag saying "JESUS".

The National WWII Museum

Last Sunday, after the service, we visited The National WWII Museum in New Orleans. Reluctant to go in the beginning, I should give this museum a credit and say that I enjoyed it. Although admission fee was a bit pricey. Observing historical events I realized couple things. Especially after watching 4D documentary "Beyond All Boundaries" by Tom Hanks.

Christian's Attitude to Gay Issue

When I visited New Orleans, I met interesting girl Emily. She invited me for a conversation to McDonald's. As I understood later, she is quite active Christian.

Our Ukraine Guests

Since my wife and I have four daughters, we have had many young adults, who were friends of our girls, stay as guests at our home. We also had the unique experience of hosting a French high school senior at our home for 3 months as part of a Rotary program when we lived in upstate New York. It is always wonderful to see and meet vibrant young people who bring new perspectives and energy on life by having them as guests in our home.

Yuriy, Kiro, and Max, however, were the first Ukrainian young adults that we have hosted, and they are incredibly impressive young men. Not only are they multi-lingual and deep in their thoughts, but they are disciplined, respectful, and reverent in their faith. There are many believers in this world, but these three young men are more than just believers; they have responded to a religious calling in their lives to dedicate themselves to God and God’s work, and their faith beams through every part of their being.

Love Is Love?

Yesterday during my missionary work in the French Quarter of New Orleans I've noticed one poster saying "Love is Love". It seems very logical. And I don't mean to hurt the feelings of the people of New Orleans, because truly they are the nicest people ever. But then you see the small picture under that sign: two ladies are holding hands of each other, and so you start to get the real meaning of that MESSAGE.

Some listeners were about to cry...

Just last Sunday I could enjoy the opportunity to give presentation in New Orleans Family Church about what our missionaries really doing in Ukraine. It took me around 1 hour to explain main activities. And well, I didn't expect to receive such a positive and warm feedback. 

Church Marketing.

Today I came across this sign on the building of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in New Orleans area. It reminded me McDonald's signs where they proudly say that Over 1 Billion Served, and made me smile :)

I should be a hero!

Just recently I met one girl. Her name is Jackie. We had an interesting conversation. One thing blew my mind. She told that she don't want to go out of USA because it's a dangerous world out there.

Ask, seek and knock

Hi, guys!

Yesterday God gave me an interesting experience. It was in the Bay St Lois city, Mississippi. I was praying, talking to people on a sidewalk. But then it started getting dark, not so many people around, and I was praying to God that He can show me the way how to do in this situation.

What is first: God or family?

Yuriy. 

I am doing missionary work and I have a family. I met my wise wife Mila in 1999. She is from Moldova. We have three daughters: Eva (5), Polina (3), and Vladislava (6 mon). Many people ask me, "How is it possible: you are here and your family is back in Ukraine??? Your kids need their daddy."

Ukraine struggles on the way to get rid of a 350-year of Russian dependency

In 1648 Ukraine rebelled against Polish oppression seeking to gain independence and to restore the position of the Orthodox Church on its lands. However, newfound autonomy was squeezed between three countries: Poland, the Ottoman Empire (modern Turkey) and Moscow Kingdom. For Ukraine it was extremely hard to continue the struggle for independence in such hard political and economic conditions. So, the leaders of that time decided to ask for help to the Moscow Kingdom. This way it’s turned out that Ukraine was put under the protectorate of the Moscow. To discuss the reasons for such decision it’s not the goal of this article, but we will talk on what came out of it.

Does USA need missionaries?

Kiro.

Today I met great sister Melanie. She is going to participate in the Stonewall Mission in Denmark. They will bring 500 Bibles there and will spread the word of God and His love. I was surprised about statistics she shared with me, that there is just 2% of Christians at that country. Usually Churches send missions to the poor regions. But this one is different. Denmark is actually quite wealthy place. Sometimes people ask me, "Why did you came from Ukraine to USA for a mission trip?" And they are really surprised.

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Training Program Aims & Objectives.

• Understand one’s identity
• Study God’s Word and preach to ignite faith
• Understand Jesus’s heart and build close relationships with God
• Challenge body to strengthen mind through discipline
• Build teamwork
• Discover the roots of America and its greatness
• Participate in inter-cultural exchange and inter-denominational cooperation
• Learn English and Spanish

After completing the Program many young adults serve in Ukraine as youth pastors and small group leaders. Many even more actively spread the Word of God. Thus your contribution today can help the good cause.

On this blog we will post interesting stories and testimonies so you can see how Jesus and Holy Spirit work in America through our Ukrainian missionaries. Follow us!

Phone: 626-236-7912 Yuriy Solomakha, Program coordinator.
E-mail: us2mmbk@gmail.com

Trainees from Ukraine in America.