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Hawes Family Update--April 15, 2008
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--- Learning language online ---
Over the last month Jody and I have both starting augmenting our language learning in an online social network dedicated to language learning. It's kind of like Facebook or MySpace, but for language learning. We both have online friends who are native Russian speakers from Russia, Ukraine or other Russian speaking countries that we interact with online. Most of them are learning English so we help each other. We send messages back and forth, correcting each others attempts at using the new language. It's been a great help to me in learning how to type using the Russian keyboard which will be very valuable as I begin to email and interact online in Russian as part of our ministry. I also talk over the computer with my friend Oleg from another town in Ukraine. This isn't a replacement for traditional face-to-face language learning, but it is a great way to use technology to add to it. Plus it also gives you the opportunity to share your faith and help others. This is called Internet Evangelism and it's a growing field in missions today and it's something you can do right where you are. Take the language learning we are doing for example. If you have a bit of spare time and a desire to help someone learn English, just go online and you'll find tons of people who would be glad for your help. Who knows what God will do from there? The site Jody and I are using is called LiveMocha.com. If you sign-up let us know so we can add you as friends.
http://www.LiveMocha.com
How much impact can the Internet have for the kingdom you might ask? Take a look at the site below (and it's just one of hundreds of other online evangelism projects). What you will see if you watch for a bit is people all over the world accepting Jesus in real-time with a map to see where they live. Now that's cool. Sure Internet Evangelism isn't perfect and there are weaknesses, but for some, the only Jesus they will ever see will be online.
http://www.godrev.com/joy-in-heaven/
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Here are some more things to be praying about:
- Praise God that our registration process went smoothly. We are now legally registered to live in Kiev for another year. Thanks for praying.
- The team from Maryland is finishing up their trip here in Kiev. I was able to spend one day with them last Wednesday. It was great to see all the adults and children who came to the church to learn more about computers. Thanks for your prayers. I'll report more on this later.
- Pray for wisdom as we try to deal with the growing cost of living in Kiev. Since we came here last year food prices have risen by 40%. What, if any, changes do we need to make to be wise stewards with what we have been entrusted? We praise God that our support has remained consistant over the last year and we know He will provide.
Thank you for your prayers,
Andrew Hawes
-- for Jody, Josiah and Elena
Email: GetHooked@Fish4Him.net
Web: http://www.Fish4Him.net
Greater Europe Mission
http://www.gemission.org