Mission Trip - May 2-12, 2011     (the pictures below were sent in from Tim Bender in Kiev, Ukraine on May 5, 2011)           Letter from Tim Bender:           NOTE: Even though at time of posting on May 6, 2011, some of the dates in letter below have been "post-dated"                 May 2, 2011 -- a new deaf team departed to help with construction. The team members were Greg Johannsen, Phil Beam, Bucky Carver and Peter Smith all from Knoxville, Tennessee, Robert Payne from Arizona, and Tim Bender from Kentucky. They flew from Knoxville, Tennessee to Detroit, Michigan and continued to Paris, France. May 3, 2011 -- they changed planes in Paris and they arrived in Kiev, Ukraine. That night they met with Oleg Stralkovskij and the builders to discuss plans for the days to come. May 4, 2011 -- the team worked all day helping install metal roofing and siding on the new third floor windows. Tim and Oleg went shopping all day with a deaf driver named Vitali to buy construction equipment and supplies, and food for the team. That evening the builders take the train to another location. May 5, 2011 -- the team continued working on the roof and windows. Tim and Oleg met with Ruslan, President of the World Congress of Deaf Baptists and secretary Angela to discuss and make plans for WCDB 2012 the same day. Tim Bender is also Financial Secretary for WCDB. May 6, 2011 -- the team continued with construction work. May 7, 2011 -- they did construction work in the morning and that afternoon did deaf evangelism at the church in Kiev. May 8, 2011 -- they went to deaf Bible study and the hearing worship service. That afternoon they ate lunch at the church and went to a town named Obukhov to meet the deaf. May 9, 2011 -- the team went to a deaf camp in Borispol near the airport. May 10, 2011 -- the builders return and they continued with construction work with the team at the Bible School-Mission Center. May 11, 2011 -- the team had a nice break to do some sightseeing and shopping in Kiev and Boyarka. That evening they had a final farewell meal and time of sharing with Oleg’s family, the students, and the builders, and pack for the trip home. May 12, 2011 -- the team flew from Kiev to Paris, France and then to Atlanta, Georgia and Knoxville, Tennessee. They arrived in Knoxville that night at 10:45 pm deserving a much needed rest.                       Ura, center                             Ura                         Nice roof job in progress                                               Greg Johannsen                         Notice the safety rope from wood beam to the man in red.   "Testing if the safety rope keeps him from falling"                   Greg Johannsen & Robert Payne WCDB President Ruslan Vasilev of Russia                 WCDB (World Congress of Deaf Baptist) officers meeting at the Deaf Bible school in Kiev on May 5                   Team at a deaf married couples conference in Kiev on Saturday May 7   Team with deaf and hearing at a Christian retreat camp in Borispol. Bob Payne preaching                     With deaf and hearing at a Christian retreat camp in Borispol on May 9. Oleg's wife Marina is in orange shirt voicing for hearing. Oleg is interpreting for Bob as needed (both in back, under the tree)   Team had a picnic with deaf church in Obukhov Sunday afternoon May 8. Greg Johannsen preached and Peter Smith gave his testimony                     Phil Beam teaching deaf Sunday school at Revival Baptist Church in Kiev. Oleg interpreting as needed. Bucky Carver is at left.     The last photo Tim Bender took as the team was departing for home on May 12 - the roof is almost finished.                 Oleg and his family, church, and students, send greetings and express much gratitude to all their SBCD brothers in Christ. Oleg appreciates all the prayers, cards, letters, emails, financial support, and volunteers who have come to help. Since the April 2010 he received over $47,000 individuals, churches, state deaf conferences, and other organizations in the US and several other countries. Another $100,000 is needed to complete the construction and purchase equipment, furniture, and other items for the school. There is much more work to be done and there is much you can do. If you would like to know how you can help the deaf Bible school-mission center in Ukraine, contact Tim Bender at TLLSBender@aol.com. You can send donations to Louisville Baptist Deaf Church, P.O. Box 5605, Louisville, KY 40255-5605. Memo: Ukraine Construction. You can send donations to: Louisville Baptist Deaf Church P.O. Box 5605 Louisville, Kentucky 40255-5605 Make checks payable to Louisville Baptist Deaf Church -- write "Ukraine Construction" in the memo.                 Now The Roof Is Finished! - as of June 10, 2011                                         <<< prev   next >>>               Return to Ukraine Aid           Return home