Louise Craig sent this note Sunday, June 11:

Having an adventure in Ukraine. We just did our third concert in three nights. 

We started with registration and rehearsals last Monday (June 5) at Bucha, then hit the road Friday morning. It's been run, run, run from the start. 

Today (Sunday) our bus blew the engine. Truly. We are traveling in a convoy of three buses and a couple of minivans. The bus and minivan behind us were sprayed with black oil. The back of our white bus is black. We waited about an hour for two smaller buses to arrive to continue our trip. 

As we waited, we had a real treat. Some of the Ukrainians began singing. As they worked their way through songs unique to Ukraine, we felt a kinship though we didn't understand their words. When we finally arrived in Dnietropetrovsk, we learned that the other bus carrying choir members had a broken door. Replacement buses will be here sometime this evening.

It's all part of the adventure.

It's all worth it as we see audiences respond and friendships bloom among people who barely know a word or two of the other's language. If only the more people could learn we are more alike than we are different.

Sabbath Blessings

Three Ukrainian singers rehearse on the bus - Great sounds from them!!

What a blessed Sabbath this has been for many today, from the singers to concert attendees and many, many more.

On the three-hour bus ride from Poltava to the city of Kharkiv, I had the opportunity to talk with two Ukrainian singers/pastors on this mission to get their take on what exactly they think this mission is all about. What follows are thoughts that they shared with me.

One of the hopes they have from this tour is that it will change the view of the public, that Seventh-day Adventists are not a cult, as has been the perception at times. The other interesting comment is that Ukraine’s current President has been pushing for their country to celebrate the 500th anniversary of The Protestant Reformation.

At church today, the pastor made this comment regarding our music ministry:  "Let's listen to the music to help Ukraine come together." They see these concerts as a way of promoting peace in their country and giving hope to all, but especially those 1.5 million people who have fled from eastern Ukraine where the conflict still wages, to the west side of the country.

We were told there were people at Friday night’s concert who recently fled their homes and that potentially many others may be in attendance at our future concerts this week. Please pray that the Holy Spirit would lead these people to these special concerts.

And just how are people learning about the concerts? Through a variety of means, including posters, Facebook and other social media, flyers handed out by SDA church members as well as their own website which you can find here:  http://hope.org.ua/

The main words on the front page say, in Cyrillic, "Let's pray for peace."

The Ukrainian singers I spoke with this morning said that for many of their guys, this is the first time for many of them to sing in such a large men's choir and they are very thrilled about it!  

They also said that Ukrainians are interested in Americans coming to perform versus just hearing their own people singing.

I also talked with Sergy, the pastor who was held for 20 days in 2014, and he said that after the Friday concert a woman approached him to let him know that she was so happy to hear such beautiful music and that she'd never heard anything like it.

Dima, another Ukrainian singer, told me that some SDA folk brought an alcohol and drug rehab group to the concert and that they were very blessed to attend!! How awesome that God arranged for that to happen?  

As Dima was telling me that story, one of our OAMC members overheard our conversation and how happy and inspired he was to hear this, as he had battled alcohol addiction for many, many years, but now has been sober for several years!!

God knew that the rehab group needed to come to the concert and that in turn our OAMC brother needed to hear how they were blessed by his coming on this long journey. This is mission. It is about more than just the music!

Hotel we stayed in Friday night.

  

Our fabulous sewing crew and all around choir "moms". Winnie, Mary Joe and Jane.

Countryside view on our way to Kharkiv

Concert hall in Kharkiv and where we had church as well today.

The lineup getting ready to go on stage to share in the Divine worship service.

Driving to lunch after church.

Ukrainian flag on the left

Arriving at Kharkiv SDA church for lunch, we were met by this young lady showing off a traditional loaf of bread. The pastor’s wife made this! Amazing!

Pastor of Kharkiv church (left) thanking us for coming to Ukraine. Pastor Alex serves as interpreter.

After the concert this (Sabbath) evening. Vladimir (second from left), hadn't seen his brother (left) in 11 years. Vladimir's brother took the train from Russia to see Vladimir perform today. What a sweet reunion it was to see these brothers reunite!! Others on the right were so grateful we came and sang!

Orthodox Church 

I'll conclude with one last testimony of why we are here. Is it just to tour Ukraine? No! God's mission is slowly, daily unfolding and our job is to be available for the Holy Spirit to work in and through us not only through song, but through one-on-one contacts.

A Ukrainian young man named Artyom was telling me that after our supper at a local restaurant, a young man stopped him on the street and inquired why we were all dressed alike in suits with yellow ties. Artyom answered that we were part of a choir, and then kept walking past the man. About 10 feet away, he felt God impressing him that this was a witnessing opportunity. Artyom went back to the young man to further explain that we are a Christian men's choir at which point the the man expressed interest in learning more. So Artyom gave him a flyer about our final concert in Kiev next Sabbath and that it will be broadcast on Hope Channel. The young man said he will watch it!  Praise the Lord! 

So these are just a few examples of why we are here. For peace and to demonstrate God's love and compassion to the beautiful people of Ukraine!

Keep praying, please, for our mission here.

Friday evening marks first Ukraine concert in Poltava (corrected)

The first concert was held Friday evening. Here's Bert Logan's report sent after the Friday evening concert:

Happy Sabbath from Poltava this evening!! God's grace, peace and mercy to everyone!!  He has been so good to us this week in many ways.

We had our first concert this evening which was very well attended and the venue was at least 90% full.  More on that later in this post. Following are pics from today.

Getting ready to leave hotel in Bucha.

We have three buses to transport everyone:  two (one of which is a double decker bus) for all the singers and a third for the orchestra. After breakfast we pulled out around 8-830 a.m. local time. Definitely was excitement in the air!!

It took at least 1.5 hours just to leave the massive city of Kiev, population 3+ million people. Traffic was heavy this Friday morning.

 Ukrainian singers and wife of one of the singers. We are blessed to have many young men on the tour with us! They bring much needed energy and vitality to us all!

The countryside of this pretty country.

This is Sergy Litovchenko, who is an amazing man and Adventist pastor. He lived in the east of Ukraine, but was forced out due to the war conflict there. God intervened on his behalf and now he lives in the safer region of western Ukraine. 

He was the pastor who was taken from his church during Sabbath services and jailed for 20 days. To read more about his awesome testimony, go to this Adventist News Network story or our previous blog posting. 

  

Arriving for lunch prepared by Poltava SDA church after 5 hour bus drive.

Amazing food and beyond amazing hospitality from our hosts!! 

Poltava concert venue this evening 

Quick tune up prior to the concert 

In concert.  I had one woman come up to me after the concert and enthusiastically hug me for a while. "Bal'shoye spaseeba" she said, over and over, which in Russian, means "Thank you very much!!"  She was so happy and pleased that we were there. Who knows the other individual stories of people's lives touched by God's Spirit this evening? Only Heaven can tell.

Post concert fellowship. A beautiful, cool summer evening. Laughter and joy filled the air.

Lots of picture taking as well. Samuel and Cristi on the left are from Romania. Sadly, Rune Saur (purple shirt) had to sit out our first concert due to a pretty bad sore throat and not feeling well. Sickness has started to occur in others as well. Please pray for healing and good health for all!! 

The elderly woman in the middle is a local who sat on the very first row. 

After the concert

Alex Siderenko (2nd from right) was born in Ukraine, but has lived in the US and Portland area for several years. His wife is to his right.

We leave at 7 a.m. by bus to our next city for Sabbath worship where we will perform a few numbers, and then a full concert at another venue later in the day.

God blessings to you!! 

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Reports of bomb at US Embassy in Kiev, singers all OK

You may have heard news about a bombing at the US Embassy in Kiev. News reports say an explosive device was thrown over the embassy wall and exploded on the lawn. No one was harmed.

Here's a note from Louise Craig:

There was a bombing at the American Embassy in Kiev this morning. 

We are all OK. We are about 45 minutes outside of Kiev. 

We have just had prayer followed by singing Prayer for Ukraine. It has never been sung with more feeling. It is something like the singing of God Bless America after 9-11. Keep praying as we hit the road in the morning. 


News report of explosive device at US Embassy in Ukraine
http://www.syracuse.com/us-news/index.ssf/2017/06/us_embassy_kiev_ukraine_explosion_terrorists.html

Singer shares travel photos

Singer Michael Andrews shares a few of his photos.

Steve Chapman and Michael Andrews, both from Medford, Oregon, are very tired from continued rehearsal in Busha, Kiev, Ukraine.

Beginning of our rehearsal with the Ukrainian singers. It was this morning, June 7, 2017, in Busha, Kiev.

My Romanian brothers Samuel, Michael Andrews, and Calin Christian relaxing in Busha, Kiev, Ukraine.

This is the lovely SDA family that took care of me and showed me the beautiful city of Kiev. I was with them until I met with the arrival of the OAMC team on Sunday. This picture was taken Saturday evening June 3, 2017.

Wednesday is full day rehearsal with nearly full chorus

Bert Logan sent this report on Wednesday, June 7, in the morning, Pacific Time, and at the end of their day in Ukraine. Bert wrote: 

It's been a long day, and we are all happily tired after a full day of rehearsals with most of the Ukrainians arriving as well as a full orchestra!!

This building houses the cafeteria where we've been enjoying quite delicious and very healthy meals. We also have had a couple of rehearsals in this building. There are about 500 students who attend this college when in session.

On campus near the cafeteria entrance.

This Ukrainian keyboard is one of the tools being used to communicate with the Ukrainians; messages are shown on a screen to see. Whatever language is being spoken has to then be translated into two additional languages, so many tongues are being spoken here!

Preparing to start our first rehearsal as one choir minus the orchestra. They came in the afternoon to join the chorus.

Gymnasium where we rehearsed today.

The lunch line.

Borsch, potatoes and other wonderful delectables!

Final rehearsal of the day with full orchestra and chorus. It seems so wonderful that it's all coming together after many years of planning and prayers. There were a lot of smiles all around and grateful hearts to God for allowing this tour to come to fulfillment.

We go to bed tonight humming Battle Hymn of the Republic for His truth IS marching on!!

Seating singers for best the best sound

OAMC singer Paul Dragulin sent this picture and note:

Connie Smith, part of the OAMC music team, does the "choral seating" of the first tenors in order to find the best blend of voices. 

They sing a short vocal exercise, over and over again, in groups of two, three, four, and so on, as she walks in front of them and listens. Chorus members are switched around, individually or in groups, until the most satisfactory arrangement is found. The improvement is noticeable, even drastic at times, even when swapping just two adjacent members. 

It just sounds right when she's done!