Yesterday was my friend Alekseyi’s birthday. It as all set up for him to meet me for lunch with the surprise of three other friends; the pastor of the American church that hosts the new Ukrainian church and the missions consultant and his wife. I got there first and got our table. The missions consultant and his wife came next and the pastor of the host church. After 20 minutes of waiting for the birthday boy, I called him.
He was finishing up helping a new family from Ukraine. He started to apologize suggesting maybe we could meet for coffee, but I told him to come now. He finally arrived with his wife Ruslana- 45 minutes late. We were happy to wait for him to bless and surprise him.
After I talked with him on the phone, the first time, and shared what was happening with the others, we laughed about the situation of trying to arrange a surprise for a man who seems to never slow down. 🙂
As we were eating lunch, I thought about what Alekseyi and Ruslana have been through the past few years. Fled war torn Ukraine to go to an unknown future, came to America to an unknown future, and now starting a new church. It makes me think of Abraham when God first called him in Genesis 12:1
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”
God told Abraham to get going and that God would show him along the way. That has certainly been true for my friend Alekseyi and his family.
Happy Birthday Alekseyi.
Thank you for reading. God Bless.
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