And Life continues to go on

I really need to keep up with my blog more. I really like Facebook, and I spend a lot of time on Facebook (maybe too much). So maybe if you want to keep up with me more you should follow me there. I post Bible verses, jokes, and uplifting posts. I try to encourage people and be a blessing to others. But this year has been a very rough year, and now I feel as if I should be on the receiving end of the encouragement. But who encourages the one who encourages? Who can we go to to receive the encouragement we need? Do you ever feel like Job? Job 1:21  "And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

So what has put me in the slough of depression? Well, remember in my last blog - my husband's father had passed away and my father had passed away, but that we were able to visit our mothers. We returned to Belarus at the end of January and started teaching English again in February. But on April 7th we received news that Jeff's mother had passed away, so we decided he should return for the funeral and help his siblings with taking care of things. A week later, my brother called Jeff to tell him my mother was killed in a car accident. Then Jeff had to make a very hard call to me, and tell me this. He was not here to comfort me, but even from America he was taking care of me. He called some other missionaries here and explained to them what happened before he called me. They came over as soon they could to help me in any way they could. A day later I was on my way to meet my husband in America, and the next day on a flight to El Paso to be with my family.

Never take for granted the time you have with family, cherish and love them while you still have them. When they are gone remember the good times. I thank God everyday for my family, for the fact that both of my parents were saved and are now in Heaven together with their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. But I miss them. Job 19:25  "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:"

So who encourages the one who encourages others? Where do I go when I am depressed, when I feel as if no one loves me? I go to the one who loves me no matter what I do, the one who forgave my sins and saved my soul. I go to his Book, his love letter to his children - The Holy Bible. My favorite Psalm is Psalm 121

Psalm 121:1 - 8 A Song of degrees.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

I thank God for my husband, as we struggle through this new stage in our life - our parents are gone - we hold each other up in prayer. I thank God for the ladies in  a group I am in that are encouraging and some have even gone through the same thing. God always gives us what we need when we need it.

I hope this makes sense, I mean this is called "Helen's Ramblings." Thanks for reading.

Life Goes On

I apologize for not posting very often. I keep forgetting I have a blog. Much has happened since I last posted.

In my last blog I forgot to mention that on January 10, 2014, my husbands father passed away. And my father passed away on December 21, 2014. We are unsure if Jeff's father ever received Christ as his personal Saviour, though there were many opportunities. My father was a Pastor and a missionary to Mexico for many years, and I am sure his Lord said, "Well done, my child, enter into the joy of the Lord."

We now have 6 grandchildren, our daughter Jennifer has 4 children - Anna age 6, Titus age 4, Audra age 2, and Timothy 4 months.

Our son, James has 2 children - Desirae age 2, and Adalyn 10 months. And as you can see by their shirts they are soon to have another. 

We were excited once again to be able to see them all. December 23, 2014 we returned to America for a one month trip to be at our son, Jacob's wedding on January 16, 2015, and to spend some time with both my mother and Jeff's mother.  Jeff's mother lives in Chicago and mine lives in Columbus, New Mexico. So the first week of January I flew to El Paso to see my mom, and Jeff spent a week with his mother.

My mother, Marianna Powell

My father was a veteran so my mother was presented with the flag at his funeral. I was not able to be there as I already had plans to be there the following week.

Now on the real exciting news - THE WEDDING! After a busy time of visits to family members and the flu, the BIG day arrived on January 16. Jacob and Stephanie were married at Fairhaven Baptist Church in Chesterton, Indiana.  They will stay there and attend church. Their future plans are to be missionaries to Belize. Please be in prayer for them as they make preparations.

It was a joyous event attended by all our children and grandchildren.

I forgot to mention that last year we also added a new member to our family here in Belarus, and here he is.  His name is Coal, and he is a long haired dachshund. He is a year old now.

And now you know the reason for the name of my blog - Helen's Ramblings. I do ramble a lot.

Lost My Blog on Furlough

Don't know what I did but I put up a new blog yesterday and lost everything today. Leave it to me. So now I will try and remember what I wrote.

Seeing as how the last blog post was 4 years ago I will summarize what has happened in those 4 years. First of all in May of 2010 we returned to the states for a short furlough. Our son, John, graduated from Pensacola Christian College.

In August of 2010 our daughter, Jennifer, gave birth to our grandson, Titus Basil Corey.

In October our son, John, got married in Colorado Springs, Colorado to Melody Bryce. And would you believe I have no pictures on my computer for that. :P

Then our oldest son, James, who was still in the Army, also got married to Keturah (Kitty) Stevens in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

We returned to the field of Ukraine later in November, leaving our son, Jacob, in the states at Fairhaven Baptist College. We continued to labor with Mark Priem in Odessa until 2012 when God led us to return to Belarus where our journey in the former Soviet Union began. 

Also in June my husband, Jeff and I celebrated our 30th anniversary. We had a national Ukrainian meal, and dressed in the traditional clothing.

In July 2012 we returned to the states to begin the visa process for returning to Belarus. We were able to spend Christmas with our children. It was a wonderful time.

Back Row L to R:  Our oldest son, James Michael; Jeff; our youngest son, Jeffrey Matthew; Jacob Martin; our daughter's husband, Dan Corey; our son John Mark and his wife Melody. Front row L to R: James' wife, Kitty and their daughter, Desirae Hope; me and our grandson, Titus Basil; our daughter, Jennifer Marie and her daughter, Audra Eloise; and our oldest grandchild, Anna Sophia.

We returned to Belarus in July of 2013. We are here teaching English, and through the English courses we are able to get contacts to have a Bible study in our home.

In May of 2014 our son, Jacob graduated from Fairhaven Baptist College. On  June 6,  2014 my husband and I celebrated our 32 anniversary, but also on that day our son got engaged to Stephanie Campos.

We are excited to see what is going to do for us in the future.

Thanks,

Helen Christian

Lost my blog on furlough

Wow, has it really been 4 years since I wrote last? I lost my blog on furlough, and then forgot all about it. A lot has happened in 4 years. Weddings, grandchildren, graduations, new field.

In May of 2010 we returned to America for the graduation of our son, John, from Pensacola Christian College.

In August 2010, our daughter gave birth to our second grandchild, Titus Basil Corey.

In October our son, John, got married in Colorado Springs, Colorado to Melody Bryce. And would you believe I don't have any pictures on my computer for that. :P I will have to find one for the next blog.

In November our son, James (who was still in the Army at that time) decided to make things easy for us and he got married to Keturah (Kitty) Stevens in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

We then returned to Odessa, Ukraine at the end of November. We ministered there with Mark Priem until 2012. I forgot to mention we left our son, Jacob, in the states to attend Fairhaven Baptist College.

In June of 2012 my husband and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. We had a national Ukrainian meal and party. We dressed the part.

In 2012 through various circumstances God led us back to Belarus where our journey to the Former Soviet Union began. We returned to America to begin the visa process. While there we were able to spend time with our children. We celebrated Christmas with them in Wisconsin. It was a real joy to have them all together.

Back row L to R: Our oldest son, James Michael; my husband, Jeff; our youngest son, Jeffrey Matthew; Jacob Martin; our daughter's husband, Daniel Corey; John Mark and his wife Melody.

Front row L to R: Jame's wife, Kitty and our granddaughter, Desirae Hope; me and our grandson, Titus; our daughter, Jennifer Marie and her daughter Audra Eloise; and our oldest grandchild, Anna Sophia. 

Our son Jeffrey finished home school in May of 2013. He has some developmental delays so we had him diagnosed and then went through the legal process to become his legal guardians at the suggestion of the doctor. We needed this documentation for him to be able to return to the field with us since he was 18 and would need his own reason to be on the field of Belarus. 

We returned to Belarus in July of 2013 where we are English teachers. Through these contacts we are able to begin Bible studies in our home.

On June 6, 2014 we celebrated our 32 anniversary and our son, Jacob, got engaged to Stephanie Campos. I forgot to mention he also graduated from Fairhaven Baptist College in May. They are still deciding on a date for the wedding. There plan is to go to Belize and work with another missionary there in establishing a christian school.

And there is a recap of the last 4 years. Whew! We are looking to more exciting times on the field and with our children. Oh, in March James and Kitty had another baby girl. Jennifer is expecting a little boy in September. God is Good! What a joy to serve him!

Love to all,

Helen Christian

These pictures were taken inside the van. As you can see it is full, but not as full as it could be. And sometimes we have to get on these with our groceries. So I think a car will be needed. Will you pray with us for the finances to buy a car, which are sometimes 3 times as expensive as in the states?

The yellow bus is a marshrutka van. This is what we ride on everyday to get where we need to go.

This was the place setting for the banquet in Simferopol.