What God did for our family in year 2006!

Hello our dear friends, sisters and brothers in Christ,

This year is coming to its end. This ia our complete 1 year of our living in Mariupol city. Totally since our arrival to Mariupol city in 2005 we live here 1, 5 year. I decided to summarise what God did in our lives for the passing year 2006. I hope it will be a good testimony and encouragement for our family in the future and everyone who will read our family blog.

We believe that God is faithful and great. He gives even more than we ask Him. He loves and cares about us every day. He is the main resource and supplier for our family. I am so thankful that he found me and my wife in this world, accepted into His God's family and joined us together.
Let's roll!
1. January 11, 2006 our second daughter Sarah was born. Lena was operated again, but with God's help everything went well. She feels good and healthy now. Sarah's doing well too.







2. Through Lena's parents and our friends God provided for FREE: new furniture for children room, new sofa, clothing and different home appliences such TV set, music center, microwave oven, blender, electric squeezer and meat grinder and many other stuff .

3. Lena's parents sponsored repair of the basement of the house and the yard.

4. Lena's friend and sister in Christ presented 1500 grn gratis as help to pay credit for refrigerator.

5. God provided general health for our family members. God healed Lena's hands, Sarah's allergy became less.


6. I started to study at distant European school "Yeshko" for Logistics Manager.
7. We were visited in the Summer by many guests:


For Easter holidays came Lena Salamatina and her friend Saron - missionaries from OM mission in Rivne.



In June Roma's father lived with us several days.

In July we were happy to meet Maya from House of Hope. She lived with us almost a month.







We were happy that she had opportunity to go to seashore. It was first time in her life when she saw sea. And the most important thing was that she had fellowship with Christian youth from our church. She could meet and talk to the youth with the same background as she was (from the orphanage).


8. We were able to give housing for Lena's nephew Roma. He lived with us from April 2006 till the end of August 2006. In fact his parents do not live together. His mama lives and works in Ireland trying to earn money for a flat in Ukraine. His father lives and works in Moskow. This year Roma's mom wanted to take Roma to Ireland for permanent living . That's why she asked us to accept Roma to our family while all necessary documents have been preparing. Because Roma's father had to go to Italy for 3 months. But unfortunately she was refused at the Ambassy. Therefore Roma had to come back to live with his father again. During the period he was living with us we noticed that he enjoyed visiting Sunday schools and having relationship with youth from the church. We even organized for Roma a trip to the Christian camp for 10 days.



There he accepted Jesus Christ into his heart. It was first experience in his life. But now we worry about him because he lives with his father -unbeliever in Moskow. We need to support him in prayers very much. May God send Christians into his life and provide a healthy church for him.


Besides many other people visited us: people from the local church, pastor and his family, Roma's uncle and mom from Ireland, Lena's friend from Sweden and other people.


At the last week of December 2006 we had a missionary from Indonesia. His name is Endri Sulaksono. Now he serves for Rivne OM mission. He came to Mariupol together with Lena Salamatina (Rakultseva) and her husband Misha Rakultsev to celebrate Christmas and New Year. He spent at our house 2 nights. We had a nice time with him.
It was busy time. But God gave us strength, patience and provision. Praise Him!

9. We visited Rivne with the whole family and my sister's wedding there.

10. We met some our friends in Rivne. We planned to meet many of you. But we were limited with time and resources. We are thankful to our friends, missionaries from USA -Greg and Brenda who shared their appartment when we were in Rivne. Thanks to Ron and Joane who prepared everything for us, for a nice dinner. And we are thankfull to all people who were hospitable to us during our stay in Rivne. May God bless you richly.

11. God gave us a good church and we are glad that pastor and church members are happy to accept us as full church members.
12. I spend much more time with my wife and my children. I still continue to enjoy this process. When I can minester to my own family. It's a wonderful time.


This is year was exiting and busy for us. Frankly speaking there were difficult times too.
But we trust our Heavenly Father and we know that He wants only good for us. With His help we are strong enough to overcome difficulties. By the way we want to than you for your prayers for our family too. We need them very much.

We pray and expect greater thing next year! Our life is too short to live it in vain. Therefore also support us in your prayers in order we could spend each day of our lives with wisdom and for God's Glory!







Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!



Yours in Christ,

Sergey, Lena, Ruth and Sarah

(Hedgehog's family)

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Hello our dear friends,


Please accept our warm wishes on Thanksgiving day from Hedgehog's family (Sergey, Lena, Ruth and Sarah). We are thankful to God that He sent you once into our life. God bless you all!


He is worthy of Thanks and Worship everyday by every His creature!




My wife's birthday!

















At the beginning of November we celebrated birthday of my dear wife Lena. It was Monday. I was at work. But she was the best! Lena prepared so many different delicious dishes.




The following people came to congratulate her:


Lena's mom & her stepfather.

Lena's brother & wife with their children

Mother of Lena's best friend, who live in Sweden now.

Mother and sister of our friend from the church Misha Rakultsev.



We had a good time together!






Hello our dear friends!






Here are some pictures of Ruth at the Autumn holiday, that was held at the kindergarten she goes to. Ruth was a squirrel.






Summer news from Hedgehog family!

  • Hello our dear friends and fellow Christians,

    Since this Monday I have 2 weeks of vacations. Therefore first of all I decided to update information about our family. Last time we wrote to you in May 2006. Time is running so quickly. We looked back and saw that already last month of summer had come. This summer was quite busy for us. Now we feel a bit tired and exhausted. We want to thank all of you who remember our family in your prayers. It’s very important for us.

    So what happened in our family until now:

    Roma, Lena’s nephew continues to live with us. He’s a boy of eleven years old.

    9 July an orphan girl, called Maya came to visit us. She used to live with us in the family house “House of hope” in Rivne. She is eighteen years old. Actually after graduating of the first year of the college, she stayed alone and did not know where to spend the summer time. So we invited her to live one month with our family in Mariupol. She was very happy.

    Also in July came to visit us Roma’s uncle from Ireland. He’s Ukrainian, but already 7 years lives and works in Ireland. He spend with us couple of days.
    In July we sent Roma to Christian camp, held near Kiev. He spent 7 days in the camp. He accepted Jesus there. Praise the Lord! We are happy for him.

    19 of July I celebrated my 29th birthday.

    At the end of July group of Americans (16 persons) came to Mariupol to main Babtist church. Their purpose was to teach Ukrainians conversational English using Christian materials (songs, topics etc). It was a good way of evangelism. I personally visited several lessons. It was a good experience for me as a teacher and Christian. In the team there were several professional English teachers. Some info you about them you can find on the web www.michaelgottinternational.com.

    4,5,6 of August in Mariupol was held annual International Festival of Jesus Christ. It was another way of street evangelism. 3 nights there were 4 hours programs with singing, dancing, testimonies and beautiful fireworks for Jesus Christ. The place of the festival was located in the city park on the hill near the sea with amazing view. It was cool and encouraging.

    9th of August we are going to my native city Rivne for my sister’s wedding. And there we will spend my holiday. We are staying there 7 days. We are looking forward to see our friends and my mom and my relatives. Thanks God and our friends who kindly shared their apartment during our stay in Rivne. So again the days before the trip will be very busy. We will leave Roma at one Christian family (deacon’s family) during our trip to Rivne.
    Maya will go with us to Rivne. She was very happy being here. She found new Christian friends. She watched and took part in Christian life of Mariupol. She visited all events held in our church, including festival of Jesus Christ. She spent almost everyday at the sea. She never saw see at her life. Praise the Lord! We are happy for her.

    That’s shortly about us.

    Our prayer requests:
    Clear goal for our family. Now feel that God again prepared a special plan for us. Something moving us to go to the foreign country or countries as missionaries. We did not receive a clear answer yet from God. But we applied to one of such projects. And if it’s God’s will we may leave Ukraine in 12 or 16 months since now. Everyday we prepare ourselves for such a ministry. A lot of work and many different purchases need to be done before that. Please, support us in your prayers.
    For safe trip to Rivne and back and having a good rest there.
    Please pray for patience and physical and spiritual strength for our family.
    Please, pray for Maya. May she always stays close to God and God’s protection in her life
    Please, pray for Roma for his development of relationship with God and his future life.
    His parents do not leave together. This autumn it will be decided with whom he is going to leave (with his mama or papa).


    Thanks a lot for your help and support. May our Lord reward you by providing all your needs everyday of your life. He is strong enough to help you and faithful to His promises.


    Love in Christ,

    Sergey, Lena, Ruth and Sarah



Our daughters are growing..........





















Hello everyone,


Here are our two daughters that God gave us: Ruth (4 years) and Sarah (6 months).

Please, pray for them in order one day they could give their lives to Jesus!


Love in Christ,

Sergey & Lena

My precious wife and the best friend!




I just want to thank Lord for my wife Olenka!

She is my blessing! She is my faithful friend!


I love you!


Your faithful husband, Sergey

Mariupol web site!

Dear friends,

Here is a very good and up- to- date web site about Mariupol city: www. 0629.com.ua


It will be very useful for all visitors of Mariupol city.


God bless you all!

Sergey, Lena, Ruth and Sarah


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Hedgehog family_May update!

Hello dear friends,

We did not hear from you quite long. We wonder how all of you are doing now? You may leave your comments on our blog www.hedgehogfamily.blogspot.com or write to us e-mail. We are always happy to hear from you. We remember you during our family prayer time.
What about us?
At present our family consists of 5 members:
Me, Sergey
My wife, Lena
My daughter, Ruth
My daughter Sarah
Lena’s nephew – Roma.

I am working at the private enterprise “Eurocolor” (www.eurocolor.dn.ua) as Logistics Manager.
My wife stays home and cares for our 2 daughters Ruth and Sarah and her nephew Roman.
In May, 6 Ruth celebrated her 4th Birthday. She attends kindergarten, Ukrainian group. But living here, in Russian speaking environment she speaks mostly Russian. I speak to her Ukrainian. She understands me very good.
In May 11, Sarah was 4 month. She is developing and changing day by day. She is so funny.
Her first 2 teeth on the lower jaw are ready to come out. Sarah sucks her fingers very often. This week she started to catch her leg and sucks fingers on it.
Roma, he is 11. He goes to school. This week is the last in this study year. He lives with us since April 1 2006. His parents went to different countries to earn money and left him here in Ukraine, in Kiev. So his mother who lives and work in Ireland asked us to take him to our family by the end this summer and watch after him. His mother wants to take him to the Ireland to live with her. Shortly speaking his family is broken. Only God can help him and his parents. Please, support us in prayer for this family. Today his mother is operated in Ireland. She’s got a woman’s disease. His mothers name is Yulia and father’s is Taras.

The weather here is sunny and becoming hot. So soon we may start going to the sea.
Last Saturday we organized English festival together with our new American friends, baptists.
They came to Mariupol last summer to start a church here in Mariupol. They chose to do this through organizing English club. Twice a week Glen and Eve organize free English study lessons and on Sunday evening they have English Bible study time. I help Glen when he needs my help. We visit each other from time to time by our families.
Actually I see people like to visit our family and like being with us. Praise God! Even this Saturday we expecting Lena’s friend from Rivne. This is her second visit to us this spring. In the summer we expecting some more guests from Rivne.
So our life is full and active. We get early and go to bed late. It’s not easy, but pleasant to live for God and praise Him. Our life is too short. And we have to live it carefully and fully.

That’s it for now. It’s again 1 a.m. Morning is going to be busy today.


Our prayer needs:

To improve and strengthen relationship with my wife and my daughters. The matter is that we agreed with my wife to devote year 2006 to our personal family. By the way 26 of May is our 5th anniversary of our wedding.
  • We had more opportunity to tell local people about Christ. I want my colleagues to give their lives to Christ.
  • To finish repair our house and make order in our garden.
  • For finances to come to Rivne for my sister wedding in August 12 with all my family.
  • God’s clear purpose for our family. We feel like being missionaries in another culture with different language. We are just waiting for God’s clear call for this.

    God bless you and provide you with everything you need. He is able….even more than able. He is faithful and loving father.


    Faithfully yours,

    Sergey and Lena
  • Pictures of my girls!




    Hi dear friends!

    I want to share with you some pictures of Ruth and Sarah!


    God bless you!

    Sergey-hedgehog

    Ціни на продукти в Маріуполі

    Привіт!

    Сьогодні в нас знову дуже тепло і сонячно.

    Вирішив написати базарні ціни на продукти в Маріуполі.

    Хліб - 1,40-1,70грн./буханку
    Молоко - 2,35грн. саме дешеве 2,5%
    Вермішель - 3 грн./1кг
    Цукор- 4,40грн./1 кг
    Олія рафінована - 6грн./1 літр
    Редиска- 2,50грн./1 кг.
    Капуста свіжа -5,50грн./кг
    Огірки - 7,50грн./1 кг.
    Картопля стара - 2,30-3,00грн/1кг
    Картопля молода - 15,00 грн./1 кг.
    Лимони - 6-7грн./кг
    Банани -5.80-6,50грн/кг
    Яблука - 5,00-6,00грн./кг
    Свіжа риба - 5,00-6,00грн./кг

    Ось поки все, що міг швидко згадати. У як у вас? Що і по чому в Рівному?
    Пишіть!

    Сергій та Оленка







    Привіт від сімї Примачків-їжачків

    Шлемо вітання всім, хто нас памятає!

    Дякувати Богу у нас загалом все добре. Вже нарешті до нас прийшла справжня весна. Вже 3 дні сонячно і температура вище 20 градусів. Вже з нетерпінням чекаємо часу, коли знову можна буде покупатися в Азовському морі.
    Нас вже встигли відвідати гості з Рівного цієї весни. Це Оленкіна подруга- Лена Саламатіна разом з її новою подругою з США - Серен (Saron). Вони були в нас на Пасху.

    Через декілька днів після них приїхав тато Роми з Москви. Рома-це Оленкін племінник, який живе знову в нас з квітня 2006р. і буде жити до кінця цього літа.
    6 травня ми відсвяткували день народження нашої старшої дочки Рут. Їй виповнилоя вже 4 роки. А 11 травня 2006 року нашій меншій дочці Сарі було вже 4 місяці.

    Сьогодні Оленка водила Сару в лікарню для чергового огляду та щоб зробити прививку.

    Чим ми займаємося:

    1. Оленка в основному доглядає за маленькою Сарою та за нашим новим помешканням. В квітні місяці вона розпочала свій бізнес в компанії " Amway". Хотілося б, щоб вона мала успіх в цій сфері. Сам товар цієї компанієї навіть мені дуже сподобався і дійсно він є унікальним. Детально можна ознайомитися про це на сайті www.amway.ua
    2. Рут ми напротязі тижня водимо в садочок.
    3. Рома ходить в місцеву школу.
    4. Я так і продовжую працювати на приватній фірмі "Євроколор" менеджером по логістиці.
    Відверто кажучи я задоволений своєю роботою. Сам офіс знаходиться за 20 хв. хотьби пішки від нашого дому. Детальніше про роботу нашої фірми можна почитати на сайті www.eurocolor.dn.ua

    Ось поки що коротко все про нас. Ми будемо дуже раді почути від вас усіх. Ми вас любимо і памятаємо.

    Сергій, Оленка, Рут і Сара

    Наші контакти:
    Дом. 0629 374507
    Моб Оленки: 0677481312
    Мій Моб.: 0975681965

    12 May 2006

    Hello Everyone!

    This is our first try to create our own family blog. I think it is a nice resource.

    Love in Christ,

    Sergey

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