The Sullivan Family
Missionaries to Ukraine

December 2003

Merry Christmas,

We wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!  Sure hope this finds you all doing well and enjoying the holiday season! 

We are all doing well - we are experiencing a very mild winter so far and are not sure if we will even have a white Christmas this year or not.  We are all hoping and praying for it - it just makes the holidays seem much more festive with snow everywhere! 

The kids are out of school now and won't go back until January 8th - they get out for both the Christian celebration of Christmas (25th) and the Orthodox (Ukrainian) Christmas, which is celebrated on January 7th.  We usually celebrate our normal, family Christmas on the 25th and then celebrate with our Ukrainian friends on the 7th - it makes for a long holiday season, but it is always a lot of fun.  Since Christmas is our favorite holiday, we don't mind.

Since it has been a while since we have written, we will give you a quick update on what has been happening for the last couple of months.  The biggest news is that we have been evicted from our house (again!).  We are getting so good at that!! :)  It seems that our current landlord has incurred some tax liabilities over the last nine years, and is being forced to sell off his properties to cover his tax burden.  This includes the house we are living in, so now we must find another place to live and move out by spring - three years earlier than anticipated.  It is a very common practice for landlords to evict their tenants at a moments notice, contracts carry very little weight here, so our dream is to be able to purchase our own home, to provide some stability for our family.  Of course, this would also save a very large amount of rent money over the long haul.  We are praying for wisdom and discernment about this - it is almost impossible to finance a home overseas, from the States, with no collateral and getting a loan here is not possible.  Please pray with us about this situation, we truly needs God’s wisdom and guidance.

Many of you prayed for, and some gave generously, when you heard of the need for a new well at the Shovkun’s home.  Our pastor, Sergei, and his family now have hot and cold running water in their house (also our church building) for the first time in almost two years!!!  He is also able to provide water for his aunt’s house next door.  With the remaining funds we were able to purchase a new furnace for our Youth Pastor, Kostya, and his family.  They were also evicted from their home recently and were forced to move into an old Soviet farm house belonging to their in-laws, which had no heat.  Thank you so very much for your prayers and gifts for this situation!

Our Wednesday night discipleship group is growing and learning eagerly.  Every week questions are answered, beliefs clarified and convictions strengthened.  The results of systematic Bible study are becoming evident as the small congregation in Gatnoe brings forth fruit.  One of the men that studies with us on Wednesday nights, goes and teaches these same principles in another village on Sunday afternoons.  Other members give weekly testimony of how God is working in their neighbor’s hearts as they share the gospel with them.  This is the first time many of our folks here have ever participated in intense Bible study and their enjoyment of the process is evident.  Continue to pray for God’s leadership in the area of facilities.  Our Sunday services are overflowing and we know of others who have a desire to come, but it is just too crowded for them.  We desperately need a building and are trusting God for His provision. 

Our language schooling has been on hold for the last two months - our language teacher is expecting her first child and the doctors are telling her to take it easy and rest, so she is unable to travel to meet us for classes.  We are in the process of looking for a new teacher, but it will be difficult to set anything up until after the holidays.  We hate that we are losing precious time in learning the language, but it just can't be helped.  Pray that all of this works out soon.

We want to thank you all for your love, prayers and support for us this past year.  You have been a great blessing and encouragement to us and have strengthened us for continued service.  We wish you a blessed Christmas and promising New Year.  We love you all and miss you dearly.  May God bless you for your care for us and those we minister to.

In Christ,
Shawn, Amy, Cody and Kayla Sullivan