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Hawes Family Update--May 17, 2008
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--- Having to move sooner than planned ---
Our landlords came by last week to say that we needed to be out of our apartment by June 20th instead of the August 20th date they had told us about before. Their son and new grandchild are coming back to Ukraine from Canada and they need to move back into their apartment. We are happy for them, but we were not planning to have to move so soon. Plus the cost of housing in Kiev is getting more expensive. Here are our options. Either we pay at least 25% more than we are paying now (we are already at our budget limit) for an apartment similar to what we have now, pay the same amount as we are now for something that really won’t meet our needs, or we pay what we are paying now for a nicer place outside the city but also away from all our friends, contacts, and partners. What does God want us to do? Maybe He has another option. Please pray.
--- Nothing like seeing things first hand ---
A week ago I had the opportunity to spend a few days down in Zaporozhye, Ukraine visiting a few of the eLearning Centers (eLCs) we have in the area and meeting with our partners at Zaporozhye Bible College and Seminary (ZBCS). Our meetings with ZBCS went well and we are looking forward to seeing their Distance Learning program blossom as they add more courses this Fall.
Our meetings with the eLCs had their ups and downs. One center we went to had beautiful facilities but the center’s leadership lacked real vision for serving their community or for doing more with their eLC. This seems due in part to a problem that is becoming all the more common here in Ukraine. Many people who serve in the church are feeling the squeeze of the higher cost of living and are needing to focus more of their time and energy on making ends meet, leaving less time for ministry. Over the past year we have lost some key people due to financial reasons. It’s a truth that has caused us to search and pray for how God would have us respond. Especially when we see that some of the eLC’s are doing a great job and having an impact in their community. I’ll try and report more on them in our next newsletter with pictures. Please pray, with us, for the eLCs.
--- Expanding avenues for ministry emerging ---
We have begun exploring the use of Mobile Outreach Centers (MOCs). The MOCs are eight laptops configured to work together that can easily be taken from location to location. We take the MOC to a church and invite people from the community to come learn about using a computer for a week. When the people come each day we have a team from America or from Ukraine lead the class with one team member at each computer giving students personal attention. With each lesson one team member gives a testimony and the Gospel is presented in a way that relates to the days lesson. By the end of the week the students have learned the basics of using the computer and have heard about Jesus and his love for them. In some ways it may not seem like much, but for some this is a valuable skill toward a better job and for others this may be the only Jesus they ever see.
We have also begun to explore how we can network with like minded organizations to make a concerted effort to expand the use of the Internet as an evangelistic and discipleship tool in the Russian speaking world. As more and more people spend more time on the Internet it is proving itself to be a great tool to reach people with the Gospel. Also, as countries like Russia and Belarus become more hostile to evangelistic work in their countries the Internet provides a vital link for the work to continue without borders. Please pray as we search for partners and for how to be most effective in this area.
--- Combined TEFL/eDOT team going to Kharkov ---
Please pray for Jody and a combined TEFL/eDOT team in Kharkov, Ukraine next week. They will be running a computer outreach with one of our new Mobile Outreach Centers and also offering English classes. Jody has been helping coordinate some of the arrangements for the trip and will be helping out with the English classes. Please keep them in your prayers.
Thank you,
Andrew Hawes
-- for Jody, Josiah and Elena
Email: GetHooked@Fish4Him.net
Web: http://www.Fish4Him.net
Greater Europe Mission
http://www.gemission.org