Our friends and supporters, Dan and Rosanne Thompson, were here to visit and serve with us. To be with us in person for a week, pray with us, and help us in any way we needed. They have ministered for over 30 years in various short-term medical mission trips in many countries around the world. Dan is a medical doctor and Rosanne a Nurse Practitioner, and both have a huge heart for ministering in prayer as well. And while this wasn’t a typical short-term mission trip for them, it was a very important and timely one for all of us.
We gave them one day of “transition” after their long flight, but still took that first day to show them around Bratislava and let them experience our normal routine of grocery shopping, taking public transportation, and seeing how we manage with a very different language and culture. The next day we jumped right into helping with ministry to Ukraine. Trips to Ikea to pick up mattresses, blankets, towels. A Metro (think Costco) run for Dan & Gary for food aid. Same for Joy and Rosanne at Tesco to find personal hygiene and clothing items. All items on the list for our pastor friend Kostya and his group of pastors to distribute to others serving in Lviv.
These items were consolidated at the house (Sreznevskeho) where City Church International meets, and City Church Bratislava (Slovak-language church) has their offices. The aid gathered, from each City Church congregation, was then packed into boxes for delivery to our ACS Presov team, who would take it into Ukraine. Rolling up our sleeves, Dan, Rosanne, Gary and Joy boxed it all up and loaded it into the large City Church van. The next day the four of us made the 5-hour drive east across Slovakia to the city of Presov. We were so glad Dan and Rosanne were able to go with and help. But also to see how beautiful this country is with its gently rolling hills, many villages, towns and cities, castles, and incredible mountains. We stayed overnight in Presov and had breakfast the next morning with Jaro and his wife, Tana. If you recall, Jaro is the one who is driving weekly, the large bus being used to deliver the aid being purchased and collected in Slovakia, and delivered into Ukraine. Jaro is the one that Gary accompanied in March, and will continue to accompany when he needs help.
It was a blessing to spend time with both Jaro and Tana, and to see how passionate they are about doing what they can to help Ukrainians. After breakfast we took the van to where Jaro keeps the bus, and transfered all of the aid we brought along. This trip included a large new generator for a church that is still meeting in Ukraine, picked up on a delightful detour we made to a village on the drive over the day before. All of this … added to the other aid Jaro had purchased or received from other sources - was scheduled to be taken into Lviv two days later.
What a a blessing to have Dan and Rosanne here! We had such a great visit, and were so encouraged by their willingness to come and support us. They ministered to us, helped us in so many ways, and also ministered to everyone they met along the way. God likewise blessed them by connecting them, if only for a moment, with so many of the amazing people we have met here as well. God loves to bless us through the love we show to one another.