Today is the Sabbath and the day is taken up with Church services in Khust and Rokosova. As usual it is an intense day of visiting and worship.

Morning services were at the Mission Nazareth in Khust starting at 10:00. Traffic has increased so much in Khust that there was no place to park next to the mission as before. Also, the city market is right up against the doors of the mission.

Walking up the steps to the mission which had formerly been a synagogue I saw Vasyl Mondich, the pastor. We hugged. He had not been Khust on my two previous visits so I had not seen him or talked to him since 1999, but we had worked since 1992 when we first visited the Sabbath-keepers of Transcarpathia. Our friendship was immediately rekindled. He asked me to sit next to him as he was about to start services which began with prayers and singing and continued with messages, prayer and more singing for the next three hours.

I was pleased to see a development in the structure of the sermons which are more focused and make a point to remember. The first message by deacon Ivan Matishenets was about what does it mean "Hallowed by Your Name." It fit well with my message which that I had given previously for Pentecost about the law being written in our hearts. Katheine Rowland and Beverly Kubik sang four songs throughout the service.

Another message was given by a retired school director who spoke to students about making the best of their summer vacation time.

Near the end of the service I was asked to ask blessing on the children and youth. It is part of most Sabbath services for a minister to ask a special blessing and protection from God for the youth of the Church. The service came to end after two and three-quarter hours. At the end of the service various children came up to recite spiritual poems and scriptural readings. The service is a wonderful family experience where all facets of the church are included.

We went to lunch at Ivan Yurishko's home and then on to Rokosova for the afternoon service. We went through much the same in the afternoon. The church building had been renovated and two large air conditioners were installed. I had been here for the very first church service in 1992.

After services we went to the home of Ivan and Anya Pavliy, long-time friends who had emigrated to the United States and lived in Portland, Oregon for two years and seven months. They missed the familiarity of home and the grandchildren and came back 15 months ago. We caught up on old times and simply had a great meal and time to talk.

Following this social occasion we stopped at the home of pastor Vasyl Roman and his wife Anya. Three families who had migrated from Tajikistan in 1997 to Kherson, Ukraine were visiting. One of the guests spoke of the civil war involving Tajiks, Iranians, Persians and Uzbeks. It made life impossible for Christians and they left for Ukraine.

Finally, we came back to the Golubaya Shayan and collapsed into a deep sleep.