Ukraine Report

From Patrick Gallagher's Blackberry

James 1.27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
My good friend Patrick Gallagher is a minister for Jesus, trained at Sunset, and for many years the owner of a Transportation company which assists companies with international shipping. He majored in Russian in college and is currently on a short term mission trip to the Ukraine. He sent this message this morning via his Blackberry. I thought you’d like to see it.

Hello Brothers and Sisters, Thank you for your support and prayers for us as we have traveled to Ukraine to teach about Jesus. It has been a very good trip so far and I just wanted to update you about the Lord’s work. There are about 250 children in the camp. A large percentage of the children are from orphanages, and some were described by the camp director as “handicapped.”. By that I think she meant mentally handicapped, but I taught that group today and I could not see it. I also feared that children from orphanages would be a bigger disciplinary problem, but that has not proven to be true. These are great children and they are a blessing to work with. We received Bibles and children’sBibles and Bible story books from Eastern European Missions today and the children were so excited to get them! I hope and pray that they keep their excitement about the Word all of their lives. One thing that really has touched me is the orphans. These are sweet young children and my heart goes out to them. I asked my translator if their parents all died and she said most likely they are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Just before leaving Denver to come here I spent time with a family whose 7 year old son was dying of cancer - and indeed died last Tuesday. What a contrast between those who love their child but lose him and those who simply do not love their child. Life seems so unfair sometimes, doesn’t it? That is why we need to get the message about God out everywhere, because He gives meaning to our lives. God bless you all in your service to Him. Love in Christ,Patrick Gallagher