A very merry update!!!

Since the last time we blogged, many things have happened…the crunch of leaves has turned into the crunch of snow under our shoes, Christmas carols can now be heard almost everywhere you go, and Egg Nog has made its way into many tummies. A lot of things have been happening for Dave and me as we’ve been preparing for our upcoming trip to Krivoy Rog, Ukraine.

In our last letter we asked for prayer about some specific things that need to happen before we would be able to leave for Ukraine. Well, I am very happy to let you know that God has already provided for many of these particular needs. Thank you so much for your prayers! Because of how things are coming together, we have set a tentative departure date of February 14, 2007.

Within the first week of fund raising, 25% of our financial needs were provided for. As of today we have raised 77% of what we need for the two years. We have been very humbled to see God provide for us.

Not long after our first letter was sent out, we heard about a family who was immigrating to Canada from Morocco. A little over a week ago we moved out of our house so that they could move in. We are very excited to have this new brother and sister of ours (in Christ!) and their children living in our home and using our stuff while we are away. As we prepared our house for its new tenants, we realized that very shortly we would be relying on believers overseas in a very similar way to help us get settled in Ukraine. God is so good as he weaves our lives together with others and simultaneously meets our needs. Dave’s parents have been very kind in opening their home to us, letting us live with them, and drink their egg nog! Dave is in his glory, reliving his childhood Christmas memories!

We had also asked prayer for someone to purchase our car. (Well) That too is already taken care of. The dealership who sold us the car has already voiced their willingness to buy our car back for more than we owe on it. So, as soon as we don’t need it anymore, we will bring it to them! (The manager of the dealership was born and raised in Ukraine, so it seems he is sympathetic to our cause!) I shake my head in light of how God has orchestrated details like this. We are so humbled.

Along with the many individuals who have already partnered with us financially, we have also had many people commit to praying for us regularly. We are praying that we would have at least 24 people who are committed to praying for us regularly and throughout our time in Ukraine. No matter how well our finances come together, without prayer fueling us and the ministry we will be participating in, we will be absolutely ineffective. For, “from [God] and through [God] and to [God] are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36). If you think of it, please pray for us. We continue looking to God to:

-be our strength, joy and foundation as we prepare
-keep us united and strong in our marriage
-give us wisdom in the next two months for how to prepare spiritually, mentally, and physically
-provide for our remaining financial needs, visas, and travel details

I hope you’ve enjoyed our update! Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to just get together and chat. millers.ukraine@yahoo.ca. Thank you and Merry Christmas!