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 Cindy Aune–L’Viv, Ukraine: Immediately after our arrival to Ukraine, Debby Bjurman and I traveled to a pastor's conference in Rava Ruska where we led Moms in Prayer seminars for the Ukrainian women in the L'Viv region. With some help from our translator, we shared the Four Steps of Prayer with 26 pastors’ wives at the first seminar. The women were very warm and receptive and many of them stood up to say they were interested in starting a group in their schools! God even sent Anna to help us, who had been praying with Moms in Prayer in Russia, but now works with women's ministries in L'Viv. At two different times during the seminar, Anna emphasized to the women how important the Moms in Prayer ministry is for their country. Afterward, the church blessed us with a wonderful meal including the most incredible cakes and rolls, all baked from scratch.
The next day, we held our second seminar for women who came from churches in the area. Over 20 women came who were enthusiastic and asked a lot of questions. We adjusted a few things that we learned from the previous day, such as giving them the opportunity to stand up when praying since this is customary for them. We pray that God blesses and multiplies the ministry of Moms in Prayer in L'Viv, Ukraine as women catch the vision of praying specifically for their schools and children.
 Darcy Palmer–Poltava, Ukraine: I traveled to Poltava with a group of five people to visit our sister churches and to teach English at several of the colleges. On Saturday of that week, I was given the opportunity to present a Moms in Prayer seminar at the church. Thankfully, it had been advertised through flyers and announced in two church services the previous Sunday. About 40 women attended, most of them grandmothers! This surprised me, but I adjusted my presentation to make it more applicable to them. I was thankful to have brought some Russian Booklets with me.
I began with my testimony, then talked about my involvement with Moms in Prayer over the years. As we started going through the Booklet, two of us performed a skit demonstrating conversational or one accord praying. I also made sure to tell them about the ministry Fact Sheet to illustrate Moms in Prayer connections around the world. After going through the Four Steps of Prayer, I had the ladies divide into smaller groups. I will never forget the experience. As they were praying, some cried. Many of them had taken notes throughout the entire presentation. My favorite question afterward was, "And how do you do all this in one hour?" Many of them told me that their prayers for so long had been full of "water" without much substance, but now they had a new understanding of making prayer more meaningful. One precious lady held our hands and blessed us in Russian. Another woman, who was a teacher, told me she once heard Evelyn Christenson speak and was so glad to hear the next step.
In the days following, there was a lot of excitement about starting groups. Even the college student who was my translator told me that many people her age had unbelieving parents and that she wanted to start a group to pray for them. It was a humbling experience to be God's servant and to give a simple presentation that meant so much to them. Please continue to pray with me for these dear sisters in Christ in Poltava, Ukraine.
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