After the initial leg of our flight was cancelled, we were rerouted – Raleigh to New York to Frankfurt (Germany) to Lviv to Kiev (Ukraine). Then a four hour bus ride to a stop where we endured another hour’s car ride to our final resting place—uh, I mean city of Donetsk. Our arrival was twelve hours later than expected.

The Carpathian Mountains are a Mecca for snow skiers. I and my US colleague, along with our Ukraine comrades (Ruslon, Maxim, and Genna) spent two days there. Though I had planned to ski, (I love to ski) I was so tired from the trip over that I sat in the ski lodge drinking tea, coffee and watching the culture.

While looking for someone to take a picture of me and Maxim (a Food Distribution Manager) at the lodge, a neatly-dressed man offered. After the photo, he gave both of us medallions – telling us he was a Ukrainian Anti-Terrorism Agent. He and other agents were attending a nearby conference.

When our troupe converged at the lodge to head to our cabin, the agents struck-up a conversation that led to a photo shoot outdoors. Our translator, Genna, bridged the language barrier – so well that my sense of humor translated which prompted the chief agent to invite us back in the lodge for Vodka. After my nervous gulp (metaphorically speaking), we obliged. Eight of us sat around a table – relating war stories. The most vocal agent had been honored by the Ukranian President for his special service. He talked so much I had to repeatedly interrupt with “uno momento”, Spanish for “one moment”. Hilarious as it was, it created a moment – after the second bottle of Vodka – for me to share the gospel. They were respectful, but impassive.

Our stories continued. Making a final attempt to leave a lingering message, I delivered a toast (I felt I should; all three agents had toasted for the last hour and a half). I raised my empty shot glass and said through our translator “to the abundant life found only in Jesus Christ” and we all clanged glasses.

Travelling back to Donetsk where we stayed with Ruslon and Luda (husband and wife and their two sons) we devoted our time to meeting people connected with the Kiev Seminary, local churches, and movers and shakers.

On Saturday evening I hosted a dinner at a nice restaurant for about a dozen people. The merry-making came to a halt when Ruslon received a call that their flat (home) had been broken into. My and my US colleague’s laptops were stolen as well as my MP3 player and his cell phone.

The flat was filled with police – dusting for fingerprints, searching for clues and questioning us – until about 1AM. Bear in mind we were to preach the next day – at three churches – both morning and evening.

After a short sleep, we headed out. I preached, sang and played the piano – leading the largest church of almost 500 worshippers in “How Great Thou Art.” They sang heartily!

Dinner that evening at the home of Maxim and Tanya (husband and wife) included caviar – which I tasted. (What people see in fish eggs I do not know.

On Monday morning me, my US colleague and our host family were fingerprinted at the police station – in order for police to differentiate between our prints and the burglars. What fun!

Later that day, the chief investigator visited the flat to again interview me. A serious man who seemed preoccupied with more work than he could handle, I managed to develop some rapport – asking about his family. He had been married only seven months when his wife left him – she, claiming his work was ruining their marriage. (That appeared true from my viewpoint.) I expressed condolences and when a lull in the investigation came, I asked “Did you know that God has a purpose for your life?” He turned straight towards me and gave me direct eye-contact.

Through my translator I shared the gospel. When I asked if he had heard this before, he said “I have never heard such in my life.” (That morning as I stood in the hallway of the shabby police station, I saw a police officer meticulously erasing penciled numbers in a book and used that scene as an illustration.) “Do you remember your police colleague erasing the numbers this morning?” I asked. “Yes” he replied. “Just as he erased those numbers, so God erases our sin, failures and mistakes when we receive Jesus Christ into our hearts.” I said.

The investigator appeared mesmerized. I told him that though someone had stolen my laptop, no one could steal my salvation. Just as I was asking him if he would like to accept Jesus, we were interrupted by another officer. My heart sank.

However, before the meeting ended, I invited Ruslon into the room telling him I had shared Christ. I asked him to stay in touch with the police officer, to have him over for dinner and invite him to church. The investigator seemed deeply moved. (Pray for Alexander who is so close to the Kingdom.)

That evening we rode an hour to a train station for a six hour trip on the midnight express to Kiev. By bus we reached the airport. A flight mistake by the airline got us an upgrade to Business class for the 11 hour transatlantic flight. Wow!!

A two-hour trip through US customs and a short flight from JFK to Raleigh ended the Ukrainian excursion.

But this was only the beginning!