Theresa and I just returned from our trip to Ukraine.  It was a great trip.  Pictured here with some great kids in an orphanage that we visited.  We took them toys, books, hats, scarfs that were sent and donated by friends here in the United States.  It was a real blessing to us and the kids.

We also filmed two music videos for our new TV show, “Life’s Highway”.  Ukrainian recording artists Roma Vashchuk and Lena Gorianska did a great job on the videos on the songs they recorded with me on my new album “Fresh Awakening”.

I also did an interview on the Emmanuel radio station their in Kiev, and was on 3 TV stations while there.  I did a “Presentation” concert for Ukrainian singers, musicians, producers, and promoters on Saturday evening.  That was really fun and I enjoyed meeting all these people who have the same passion as I do.

This was my third trip to Ukraine and Theresa’s first trip.  She says she wants to return in the future.  We love the people of Ukraine and appreciate their kindness to us while we were there.  

My good friend, Emmanuel Ndolimana sent me this picture of a Baptizing he conducted on Christmas Day!  He Baptized 16 people that day.  He is standing on the rock to the left with a bible in his hands.  I thought you all would enjoy this picture taken in the beautiful country of Rwanda, Africa.  Emmanuel survived the genecide in 1994 as a fifteen year old boy.  When I was in Rwanda, I asked Emmanuel why he thought God allowed him to survive when 1,000,000 people were killed in 90 days.  He answered without hesitation and said “BECAUSE GOD HAD A PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE.”  Emmanuel was our interpreter when we ministered in the prisons, schools, and orphanages in February, 2008.  He has found his purpose and is truly fulfilling it as he goes about the countries of Burundi and Rwanda preaching in the prisons, schools, and where ever God leads him.  Pray for Emmanuel as he has a hard job with many hinderances awaiting him.  If any of you would like to help Emmanuel financially, email me and I will get your donation to him.  God will bless you for it!

We met a special lady last year in Greenville South Carolina.  Theresa and I were at Harmony Fellowship Church when Diane Personett heard me talk about singing in the prisons, schools and orphanages in Africa and Ukraine.  She came to me after the service and said “I like to sew and is there anything that I can do to help with the orphans you were talking about?”  I thought a minute and said Yes, Why don’t you make us some hats for the kids in the orphanages in Ukraine since they live in such a cold climate.  Three weeks ago she came to see us again and brought us 200 hats, 50 scarfs, and 100 small blankets for babies.  She bought the blankets, but hand made everything else.  Here is a picture of Diane and I taken at the Enoree Baptist Church in Travelers Rest, SC.  Theresa and I will take these items to Ukraine in June of 2009.  We will visit some orphanages and hand deliver these to the children there.  God will surely bless Diane for the hard work she has put into this project.  Thank you Diane!

While in Ukraine, I will also be making two music videos in downtown Kiev.  As you know, Ukrainian recording artists Roma Vashchuck and Lena Gorianska recorded two songs with me on my new CD “Fresh Awakening”.  You can look forward to seeing these videos in late 2009.

At church last Wednesday night, My friend from Ukraine and I are trying to see how far it is from Ohio to Kiev, Ukraine.  It is somewhere around 6,000 miles.  Maybe some of you can tell me how far it actually is.  We are guessing.  Anyway, it is a long way.  I have made this trip two different times to sing there in orphanages and prisons.  Many of you heard Roma play his guitar and sing while here in the states and you will agree that he is a talented guy.  I will miss Roma when they leave tomorrow, but I am thankful for the time we have had together.  I plan to return to Ukraine in 2009.

We have just finished our 3 week tour with the singers from Ukraine.  How many of you have seen us at one of the 9 concerts we did?  Leave a comment and let us hear from you.  We have really enjoyed this time with Roma, Roza, and LeAnna.  They will be returning to Ukraine tomorrow.  Pray for them as they make this journey.  Theresa and I are sad to see them go but they have to return to their work and ministries in Kiev, Ukraine.  LeAnna and Roma made a guest appearance on my upcoming album to be released in Sept. The album is not named at this time, but will feature a new song my sister “Geniece Spencer Ingold” and I wrote.  The song is “When He Comes” and  features LeAnna Gorianska and I singing about our hearing about and finding Jesus as our Savior although our stories are so different. LeAnna can’t speak english but learned this song in english for the album. You will love this song.