Update from Jerry about trip to the front...

It has been great traveling with Lev and Rolfe!  They love Jesus, care for others and are willing to go the extra mile in all kinds of challenging situations!   Rolfe and I share the teaching/preaching duties and Lev is always translating and working hard to keep us out of trouble, and sometimes it even works!   Rolfe wrote a wonderful piece for the blog, so I will just add an abbreviated account.  I second his gratefulness for your prayer covering and intercession.  The weather here has been great but the day we headed to the front it started to cloud up with a misty drizzle. Our friends at the front were excited about this because neither side can use their drones when it is wet for surveillance.  Some are weaponized but others just send back pictures that they can use to fire their missiles at a particular target, with deadly accuracy!  The past few weeks there have been many casualties on both sides but none that we are aware of the day we were there. I would have never guessed that clouds and a little moisture would be all it took for the perfect covering- a godly answer for those covering us in prayer!  All Glory to God!!  

On Thursday we had a meeting with the General again. (no one wears name tags or any thing that would give away their rank- snipers abound and are particularly interested in officers!) We also met with the Chief Commanding officer of all the troops in the area of most intense fighting- about 20,000 men.  It was a really helpful time for greater understanding and personal encouragement all the way around!  Later that same day we met with the General again and the head of what used to be called the KGB but now is known as the FSU- security control!  He looked very stern and serious but after about a half an hour we started having a good time, talked about families, prayer items and hopes!  He stayed an extra hour while we took pictures and signed several Ukrainian flags as gifts for some of the military leadership!   We have a lot of great stories and pictures that can't be shown for now. But we praise God for His love and blessings over everything He has called us to do!  

Today we passed on a chance to meet with more military leaders and troops in a city a few hours away- even though God seems to be using these times for much good, we were exhausted and needed a Sabbath for rest, study, prayer and preparation for this weekend.  I am speaking at a pastors conference tomorrow (Sat.the 13th) and then Rolfe and I will be speaking at two different church Services on Sunday before we leave for the Capitol, Kiev, and begin our journey home... 

The 2 pictures show:

1. The morning after we left the frontlines - and

2. Trying to save an elderly woman- 1 of 100's of 1,000's of casualties...