It's exciting (and scary and frustrating and wonderful) to live in a new culture. Learning to understand Ukraine and its people is like digging through layers of earth. It's a slow process, but shovelful by shovelful, I move deeper into the core. And at each layer, I discover new insights.

First, there are surface things. Everything from turning on the light to getting to work is different. A new missionary's time and energy is expended just realizing how to do the normal, mundane things of life in a whole new way. But the longer I live here, I learn not only how to adapt to the differences, but I begin to learn WHY it's different, the logic or history behind it.

The I work in a little deeper, observing, not just things, but people. (These insights are especially opened up to me the more I learn their language.) How do they treat each other? What is important to them? How do the talk to each other? What are their relationships like? How do they view their work and roles in society and in the church? How do they express emotion? As I dig, I unearth gems of insight about these people. One such revelation came to me as I was looking at statues, of all things!

This aspect of Ukrainians became clear to me one day when I was visiting some monuments in Kiev. The statues were dark and massive-tall, enormous, stone figures of people. Cold, hard, huge. And as I stopped to really look at these edifices, I was shocked. The stone faces of these statues were carefully designed to be full of emotion: passion, agony, determination, sadness, longing, courage. Suddenly, a diamond was unearthed: they're like the statues! On the surface, they seem hard and emotionless. Like stones. But just underneath they're full of intense passion: love, anger, happiness, fear.

This has helped me see more clearly how Ukrainians express their emotions to one another- what they consider appropriate and inappropriate; I could appreciate their depth of feeling; I could understand them better. I'm eager to keep digging.

-Anne Ward

Reflections of the 2003 Field Conference

From Ohio... "I surely counted it a special blessing to be asked to speak at the Fourth Annual TITUS Field Conference. It was my first trip to Romania. The conference was held in the mountains north of Bucharest, and I thought it was one of the most beautiful spots on the earth. What another life changing event it was for me.

Although the beauty of the country was marvelous, the spiritual beauty of the believers we fellowshipped with was even more marvelous. The blessings I received from them far out surpassed everything I was attempting to bring to them. I found in them a Christian sincerity and humbleness that was truly refreshing to my soul.

I will not soon forget the experience in which the Lord allowed me to share. May His name be praised! Closing the conference by all of us holding hands in a circle outside singing How Great Thou Are in Russian, Romanian, and English was a highlight. It reminded me of Revelations 5:9 that says that in heaven we will worship God, 'Out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.' It has certainly changed me and I know it will help me to be a better shepherd to my flock in Ohio."

-Rod Winyard

From Moldova... "On behalf of all of us from Moldova, we appreciate our brothers and sisters in America who provided this conference for us. We do not have other unusual opportunities like this to get together for such precious fellowship with only believers for several days. Being able to go to the conference is an earthly reward for us that is in addition to the heavenly one."

-Nickolai Tkach

"What a fun time we had in the mountains of Romania! It was a rustic setting with plenty of God's nature at our doorstep. Although it was a 13-hour drive on a no a/c bus, the trip was well worth it. Our 12 Moldavian national couples (pastors and wives) enjoyed some quality time together without having to care for their young children. The wives were happy they had one week free from cooking, canning, and gardening. This special time alone for the couples was most important as the pastors are very busy and spend little time at home. We returned thoroughly exhausted, but with vitality and energy! Does this make sense? 'A merry heart does good like medicine.'"

-Loreen Ittermann

"I came to know the Lord Jesus two and one half years ago and I am very happy. I wish to thank God for this conference and those who tired themselves to come here. May the Lord reward them. I desire that I, my husband, and my children serve God and follow Him with all our hearts, and souls, and minds. I thank God for His love and grace which He pours everyday on His children. I loved the fellowship with he brothers even though we don't speak the same language. I am sure that in heaven we will speak one language and will be one people of God. May God bless all of you. I thank God an TITUS Mission Board for bringing us together in one family of God."

-Nina Bordea

This is my first time at TITUS International Conference. For me this is a privilege to be here. I wish to bring thanks to God for those who provided this opportunity for me and I pray the good God to reward those who make it possible. I thank God for His Word which I've heard here. THis is a time in my life when I needed to make a decision and the message was exactly what I needed to help me decide."

-Ion Bordea