Dear faithful prayer partners, financial supporters, encouragers, family and friends,
We had a very good board meeting in Melbourne this past Friday. I appreciate the board members who live in the Atlanta area (where we have had the meeting for over 22 years) coming to our new home in Melbourne. Thanks to Palm Bay Christian Church, one of our main supporting churches, for providing the place for the meeting. Thanks to my staff in Simferopol who appeared at the board meeting courtesy of Skype. We have a two year plan for the Center in Crimea which takes into account the uncertainties of life and the significant ministry that is taking place there. Opportunities for continuing my teaching and preaching ministry in Ukraine and West Europe exceed my availability. The board members left with a sense of excitement about the continuing effectiveness of the TMI mission and vision. Thank you for your part in making this ministry possible.
Speaking of blessings, the Lord has really blessed Andrei since he left Crimea two years ago to look at colleges for a masters in counseling. There have been a lot of changes since then, from the annexation of the land of his birth to the death of his mother; from the change of direction in a career choice to not being sure what he wanted to do (except to speak, write, act, influence many to live for Christ). Though Andrei has the right to live in America or in Crimea, he does not have full rights in either place.
Now he has the opportunity to work and live in the US, starting at near the bottom of the pay scale, but with the real possibility of moving into management positions once he has demonstrated his ability, or seeking another kind of job after he has some savings.
So many of you have been moved by his situation and generously so. Some donors were quite a surprise for me. You have given him the help he needed when his mother was sick and then dying, and now again with his new start on his own – car, phone, rent, gas money, etc. Thanks.
Pray for his adjustment to American expectations in the workplace, building new relationships, and finding his place locally in the service of the Lord.
Speaking of adjustments, I am to have a heart catherization this afternoon (which went well by the way since this is posted following the procedure). Seems I may have taxed my heart at some point and resulted in some ischemia. (800 steps in the mountain side in Crimea?) I have always had low cholesterol and been declared a ‘young man’ at my annual checkup. Two years ago my brother LaVerne’s age had a stent put in his heart (right coronary artery 70% blocked) but has problems once again and may have to have a heart cath again next month. And he eats according to the best recommendations by health professionals and lives a healthy lifestyle. Yep, for years and years you never know what genetics and other things are doing inside you!
LaVerne will have her ankle fused Thursday. This will be quite a procedure. I thought the non-load bearing cast was for six weeks but sounds like it is for 90 days! (I read it can be from 8 to 12 weeks, depending on how well the bones are knitting together.)
Thank you for joining us in praise and prayers,
Georges and LaVerne
December 15, 2015
