Pat and Sheila Smith: Eastern Europe / Fall 2023
Our Journey to Hope 4 Ukraine
Our journey to Hope 4 Ukraine -> Poland started 1 year ago in July 2022. We had no plans except to follow our Lord & Savior Jesus' lead by the Holy Spirit. What began as a response to a request from our church has become a response to prayers. Not just our own prayers, but responding to the Holy Spirit prompting us to answer the prayers of the church in other parts of the world. It is our hope and our desire, the Lord will continue the work through us for the edification and building up of the Kingdom of God in Eastern Europe and beyond.
Prayers:
Would you participate in praying for us that we would:
1. Have wisdom, discernment, health and safety with all travel plans.
2. Each church we meet is prepared for our visit and encouraged when we leave.
3. We trust in God's care for us and our family in the states.
4. We may discern God's leading in all activities, and partnerships to establish.
Would you partner with us financially on this missionary journey, that we may focus on the work set before us?
Partner with us:
If you would like to help please visit: VBC.online / Give / missions-Hope For Ukraine Then please email financialservices@vbc.online with the date and amount being designated for Patrick and Sheila Smith.
Dziękuję / Thank you 🌻
Patrick & Sheila Smith: Missionary Schedule To Eastern Europe
August 17 - October 24, 2023
8/20 - 8/27 Kyiv, Ukraine - Pastor Sergiy, Kyiv Nazarene Church - VBS
8/28 - 9/4 Kyiv, Ukraine - New Life Church, Pastor/Elder Anton Kaluzhny - Encouraging/Teaching Antioch Cohort, visiting Refugee shelters
9/4 - 9/24 Kutno, Poland - Pastor Arek & Donna Delik, Kutno Pentecostal Church - Revisit to encourage/teach the church, Help start up local evangelism/outreach, Visiting Refugee Safe House
9/25 - 9/30 Gdansk, Poland - Pastor Piotr Bilecki - Exploring new opportunities, House church planting mission
10/1 - 10/8 Oradea, Romania - Pastor Lajos & Evodia Budai, First Baptist - Visiting VBC Global Mission Partner
10/9 - 10/15 Mukachevo, Ukraine - Pastor Jozsef & Daniela Danko - Visiting VBC Global Mission Partner
10/16 - 10/23 Ukraine - Antioch School/BILD Conference w/ New Life Church Cohort
10/23 - 10/24 Traveling Home
Journal Entry / September 31st 2023
The last month certainly has been busy and so much has happened. We hope you may enjoy the journey with us as you read about the mission of last month.
~ Kyiv, Ukraine ~ We were with Pastor Anton at New Life church visiting with their cohort. Patrick led one of the study nights and met with key men who are being developed as the next generation of leaders. We also visited a Christian summer camp New Life church owns and has now turned into a refugee center. We were able to meet with the people, hear their stories, pray with them and share a message. There is a good possibility of coming back and doing something there. We also visited wounded soldiers in the hospital with friends of ours who are chaplains. They were incredibly grateful that we (that includes the people of Valley Bible Church) would come from so far away to pray with them, and their wives, instead of sending a message that they were being prayed for. This has been the response of each person, Church, and group we have come in contact with. We drove with Pastor Anton from Kyiv to Kutno Poland.
~ Kutno,Poland ~ Kutno Pentecostal Church. Patrick preached two Sundays, met with a key leader to further develop him as a future leader within the church, and also met with Pastor Arek to develop plans to further establish men in his church as leaders. Basketball is still a favorite way to connect with the community and introduce Jesus. For the one week Sheila was there she was able to continue her relationship with Marina; even taking a trip to the next city to learn how to get on a bus and communicate in Polish. Sheila was able to make it to New Jerseys before her mother passed and was able to finish her time with her family before coming back to Poland.
~ Gdańsk, Poland ~ We visited the northern region of Poland. The brother of one of the members of the Pentecostal church in Kutno leads this mission of making disciples, developing leaders, and then networking them into house churches. It is wonderful to see what we have been trained in and also taught over the last 12 years at Valley Bible Church through the study of “The Antioch school of Leadership/Church Planting” being unfolded here in Poland. Each night we were able to be a part of different gatherings. One is a life/small group, a church service in a home, a gathering together to enjoy the fellowship of believers and one was the networking of teachers and leaders who lead different house churches.
We still have another 3 1/2 weeks to go. Hopefully, we will return to see how this journey progresses.
Until we meet again ~ Patrick and Sheila Smith
Journal Entry / August 31st 2023
The first week we were able to help with the Nazarene church in the rural part of Kyiv. It was VBS for the refugee children, as well as the children within the Nazarene church. Both are experiencing the trauma of war. OpSafe International is the organization that created the materials for the camp. We had the awesome privilege and responsibility to do the station called “серце”- which means- the heart. We were able to teach the children (and the adults who were the leaders) how the body responds to stress and trauma, and give them tools to relieve the stress on the heart, body and mind. We shared with them the truth of the power of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus, the Word. By this they can find peace for their hearts, rest for their minds and calmness in their bodies.
It was a joy to see the children by the end of the week able to come hug us, and share their stories with us. Encouraging the pastor, his wife, as well as his leaders is a primary focus we have in our journey. The church is tired, the church feels like giving up, BUT when the brethren come and bring refreshing joy, the first love of Jesus and the mission of the church is revived.
Patrick was able to join the worship team as they sang songs of praise to God on Sunday.
We also were able to visit Pastor Roma. We spent time with his youth group. We played with crocheted handmade Hacky Sacks created by one of the women at the Altamont campus. We also enjoyed a wonderful lunch by one of the members of Pastor Roma’s church. Between Pastor Roma’s garden and the woman’s garden, we walked away with a bag full of fruits and vegetables. We have deepened our friendships with the Nazarene church and now look forward to an ongoing relationship.
The first week our car caught on fire. This week we are working in the city of Kyiv with New Life Church. We experienced the biggest missile attacks since the spring. Just as when our car caught on fire, and the Ukraine people cared for us, so the people of the church cared for us. Both churches cared for us. Ukraine has a fantastic ground-to-air defense system.
We were concerned, but never frightened. I want you to remember the hymn I wrote of from the beginning.
“I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back.”🌻
The two churches we have served with are now partnering together in order to encourage each other in the mission of God. New Life Church uses the Antioch Leadership/Church Planting materials and the first principles Bible studies. It’s wonderful to see churches helping each other❣️
Until we meet again,
Patrick & Sheila
Journal Entry / August 22nd 2023
We arrived in Kraków Poland August 18th. We were able to get a good night’s sleep and meet up with Tim Johnston in the morning to head out to the border. We helped load one of the trucks to provide aid through Slot On The Border.
On our way to Kyiv Ukraine, we had a situation with our car that caused us to have to stay in the town of Rivne. It was amazing to see the people of Ukraine come to our aid on the side of the road. We actually had a mother, father and their daughter (who could translate for us) stay with us all the way until everything was taken care of.
What started out as a bad situation turned into our good as we had connections in the next town that could help us. Also, Sheila was able to reconnect with one of the Ukraine refugees that used to live in Kutno Poland that she kept in contact with. When Надя heard Sheila was in town she walked 10 blocks with a bag of pears that she picked for us. She was so happy to be able to meet up and they were able to have a wonderful time catching up.
Pastor Anton (Kyiv Antioch cohort) came to our rescue, picked us all up and drove us the rest of the four hours to Kyiv.
We have now settled into Pastor Sergiy and Ira’s home to do the VBS and anything else we are able to do. I am reminded of the hymn “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back.”
Not once did we think we should turn around and come home when the car incident happened. It just caused us to be more excited to continue with the journey. I can only imagine what Paul and all the other disciples experienced as they went from town to town doing their part in establishing and growing the kingdom of God.
Until we meet again,
Hope for the Nations
Patrick & Sheila