Prestoncrest Missions

Sending the Light to Ukraine
Newsletter
December, 2007  

Atchisons in Ukraine Website

Please Check Out Our Web Site and Blog

The intent of this monthly newsletter is to inform you, our friends, family and supporters
of the major things going on at the Transitional Living Center. On our blog, we have
more personal stories about our individual activities, dealings with the kids, and things
that touch our heart a little more closely. To learn more about the goings on in our little
corner of Ukraine, please check out our web site often at
www.atchisonsinukraine.com.

Our Contact Info

Email:
Lance latchison@gmail.com
Debra debatchison@gmail.com

Internet Phone (A Dallas number, that calls our computer in Ukraine)
469.454.2166

Shipping Address (packages)
Kievsky Lane #4
Mariupol-2
Donetsk Oblast
Ukraine
87502

Mailing Address (letters)
P.O. Box 2101
Mariupol - 2
Donetsk Oblast
Ukraine
87502

More Technical Issues

We are once again experiencing technical issues with
out web site. This time, however, it is our fault.
Deb’s modem cable was accidentally stepped on and
pulled out of her computer. Therefore, we are not
able to update the web site until we get to a wireless
connection. More than likely, it will be the middle of
December before we can get somewhere with a wireless
connection or get the modem fixed.

TLC Kid Spotlight

Nina Agarkova
Nickname: Ninichska
Age: 18
Studying: Plastering
Birthday: July 23
Future Plans: Attend university and study accounting.

Two TLC Teens Get Baptized

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:38

Vanya Becomes a Christian

Vanya had been thinking about becoming a Christian for two years. He had been wanting to do this for quite some time and felt the time was right. Before making this decision, he spoke with Sasha, the preacher at the local church. We are so proud of his decision to become a Christian and begin his walk with the Lord.

Natasha, A New Sister in Christ

Natasha had been thinking about becoming a Christian for about two months. She knows this is a very serious decision. She wants to live with Jesus Christ in a Christian family because she knows this makes her better. Praise God for her decision!

Thanksgiving Dinner

We May Get Dressed Up Occasionally, But We’re Still One Crazy Family

We celebrated our first major holiday as a married couple! How many people can say that they celebrated their first married holiday with their 11 children? We invited many folks to gather with us and celebrate the many gifts and blessings God has given us this past year. We had almost 50 people in attendance, including our large family, Lance’s Mom (known to the kids at Babushka.), Aunt Jerri, Friends, Betty Gildon and Dee Parker, several of the previous kids and graduates from the TLC, friends of our children, co-workers and guests from church. We cooked all day to share with our Ukrainian friends the traditional Thanksgiving foods. It was great to go around the room and hear about the many blessings that each person had to be thankful for. We were so thankful to be able to share this first holiday as husband and wife with such a wonderful group of friends and family. Once we get where we can update the web site, we will have several photos from this great evening online to share with you. It isn’t right to talk about Thanksgiving and not mention how thankful we are for each of you and your support so we can do the work which God has called us here to do. Thank you so much for your love, support, emails, calls and words of encouragement and support. You have richly blessed our lives!

A Much Welcomed & Needed Visit From Family & Friends

There are many things about home that we often miss and family and friends are what we miss the most. We were recently blessed with Diane Atchison (Lance’s Mom), Jerri Davis (Lance’s Aunt), Betty Gildon and Dee Parker (both longtime friends of the Atchisons) for about a week. We were so excited to see them as were the kids. We often share stories of our families from back home and pictures. So, the kids were looking forward to their visit as well. Before Aunt Jerri could barely get her coat off, we had her in the kitchen helping with a pancake problem. Betty was immediately known as “Crazy Betty” and gave many reasons for the kids calling her that including eating cat food that the kids had convinced her was “very tasty”. Of course, they were eating it as well. We promise we feed them three meals a day! It was requested of Dee that she make one of her famous cakes, which thankfully she did…with real icing! Diane was called Babushka (Grand-ma) and spoiled the kids as most grandmothers tend to do. For the two of us, we were just relieved that family and friends were here and could see what we do and go through here in Mariupol.

These four ladies came to us with card decks in hand. They love to play “Hand & Foot” when they are together. So, they taught us how to play and hopefully some day soon we can teach the kids. We did play “Mexican Train” - a domino game we were given as a wedding present, and taught a few of the kids how to play it. As is customary, we had Friday Family Fun Night while the ladies were here. They jumped right in and played with us all. We played a Ukrainian game called “Panas”. We have played it many times, but I don’t think any of the previous times comes close to the fun we had this night. In the game one person is blindfolded and calls out two numbers of people in the circle. Those two people switch places without being caught by the blindfolded person. It became quite comical as Babushka made several attempts to catch the kids. I can’t wait until we have web access so that we can upload the videos we took. Babushka has warned us that the videos need not appear on the web site, so you know they are going to be good. I’m so thankful that the kids we have now and the ones we will adopt in the future have a Grandmother (and friends) that are not afraid to get down on the floor and act silly with them. What a true blessing.

“Sew” Beautiful!

Each and everyone of our kids were given a quilt that the ladies hand-made. They were so shocked when the ladies walked out with 11 huge bags for them, even though they didn’t know what was in them. One by one they got to open their bags and find their quilt. They were so excited to find out what theirs looked like. They could hardly wait as they were anticipating what theirs would be. It is amazing to me that all the quilts really matched the personalities of the kids. The more outgoing kids got the bright colored quilts, the calm, patient ones got the calmer tones. After they opened their quilts, they were told that much love, hard work and long hours went into the making of each one. And, while they were being made, each child was thought about and prayed over! “Sew” amazing! Thank you ladies for such a wonderful blessing to each of our kids. They love their quilts and would probably wrap up in them to go to school if we would let them! Thank you for doing without a lot of different clothes on your cruise, so the kids could have their quilts. We know it was a lot to pack 11 quilts, but the smiles on their faces and the bright new colors on their beds makes it all worth it, in our opinion. We love you!