Good morning, 

I know you haven't gotten an update lately. Sorry about that. Several reasons, mainly because I am in a hotel with no internet for the rooms and the one computer they have is to expensive.  I go to an internet cafe to send messages and as I have to travel by subway or bus to get to meetings, my time is limited to find and use an internet cafe. 

My meetings with Share Jesus International, the organization that invited us to Pentecost 08 this past May, were positive in many ways. There has been much positive feedback to them about our presentations last May, especially on the lawn at the Abbey. They are scaling back their event this year, limiting it to one location in the city, the place most mentioned was the Embankment. Also, they invited us to come join with them but were not able to offer as many times for us to present or as of yet a set place. Obviously, the economy here is going to affect their efforts for 2009 as I am sure it will ours. So, I have expressed to the Board, the troupe and the leadership of Revelation Ministries, that we do not participate this year but plan for being here in 2010.  And since our mission statement is to teach and train others, we can send small teams here in 2009 to begin that teaching process. In fact, God opened the door for that to begin, first by giving us a leader, Pat Arena, and introducing me to a lady here in London who teaches a Christian Theatre group. She has offered us a place to rehearse and wants to help find talent for us to teach He Lives! So I believe God is showing us wisdom and direction here in London for the next year. 

I know God will provide for this ministry and that we should and will, walk in faith. I do walk in faith, but I also listen and pay attention to what God is doing around me and the financial situation around the world is bad and seems destined to only get worse. I do believe we can do greater ministry at times like these and reach out to many hurting people and we will.  If American presidential candidates can raise over $700 MILLION to get elected at times like these, with a message of hope? for a better future, I believe God will provide us enough to be able to share the hope of Christ. Prayer, a faithful God and God's people will see us through these difficult times and allow us to share the message of Jesus Christ with music and drama around the world. 

I spent most of Thursday with David James. David is Pastor of Trinity Methodist Church in Arnos Grove. I met him almost three years ago and we have become fast friends. David was saved at the Billy Graham London Crusade in 1954. He and I laugh, pray, share ministry stories and just enjoy each others company. He is doing a great work in a very difficult area of London, developing new programs and preaching the Word to a very diverse group of people. David asked me to mail him a copy of the DVD of the presentation at the Abbey to show his growing congregation at Christmas. 

This will probably be my last update. I thank you for your prayers and support for this much needed trip to Ukraine and London. I pray that God will give each of you a Happy Thanksgiving Day with your families and friends. And thanks be to God for His mercy and grace. 

To God be all glory, 
Travis
 

Good Thursday morning. 

To all my British/American friends, I am certainly enjoying the cool, SUNNY, days here in London. 

I made it to all my meetings yesterday, with the help of directions from Pat Arena and Peggy Cramer. Will write more later as I am out of internet time. 

God bless, 
Travis

Good morning London, 

The sun was shining again as I left Ukraine. Alexey Bashenov and Anya rode with me to the airport. It was difficult to leave them but comforting to know that things are moving forward for He Lives! to be presented there in the near future. 

God is really blessing me with great weather. I arrived in London to 12 C and the sun shining!  Thank you Lord for a safe flight and great weather. 

There should not be much more interesting to tell you about the trip. But one little funny thing happened that I will share.  Some of you might smile about it. 

The plane was a few minutes late in leaving because one lady was late boarding. She did smile as she walked down the aisle and apologize. After arriving in London and while waiting for my luggage I overheard her talking to someone and she was speaking English, not like the English(with an accent) or like a Texan(clearly). Her luggage, of course, arrived before mine. When I arrived at the station to catch my van ride to the hotel, there she was signing up for the same van.  In a few moments they told us to go to the van. To my surpise,because lots of people were waiting in the same area, we were the only two on this van. She mentioned seeing me on the plane from Kiev and asked me why I was in Ukraine. 

I began to tell her about our work there and mentioned Sunday Adeleja and having presented our show at his anniversary celebration.  She is a member of his church! She became very interested and asked me more and more questions about Revelation Ministries and wanted my business card. Which I did have with me this time... 

When I asked what she was doing in Ukraine, she said she was a diplomat. With the Nigerian Embassy.  And that if I would bring my group to Nigeria she would help us. And that her church in Nigeria is much larger than Sunday Adeleja's church in Ukraine. That when people saw and heard our presentation, not hundreds, not thousands, but tens of thousands of people would come to Christ!  She promised to call me before I leave Saturday and talk more. I asked would it be ok to present in English and she said that English is the language of her country.  We shall wait and see what God has planned. 

Wish I could be with you tomorrow night for Seekers Night. I know it will be great as I read from Mary Rivera all the planning and work that is going into the evening. Will be praying for you. 

To God be the glory,
Travis

I find it difficult to believe that my time here is over. Just as the doors seem to open to more and more ministry, it is time to go. As much as I miss my family and friends and the troupe back home, I will miss these people also. I received a call from the Southern Baptist group here and they would be interested in working with us next spring in some capacity. And we have someone making contact with a Canadian mission that goes into the prisons. 

Probably God knows how to close out my time here so that I am ready to go but in such a way I will always look forward to returning. I wish each of you could be in prayer with my Ukraine family. Eat your heart out Jan Moore....I say that with a smile because she has been a part of such a time. 

These people PRAY. One starts and then another joins in and on and on until it is like one voice raised in prayer to the Lord. Thirty minutes seem like a moment. Then someone will begin singing softly and it is like being in the very presence of the Lord. After that prayer, when they heard I would be leaving tomorrow, they gathered around me and prayed for my trip and for you. They asked that the troupe and team in Florida begin praying for them as they learn the the new music for He Lives!  And they sang several songs from the pageant. Praise the Lord I got to hear it!! 

I am attaching a few pictures of them.  Or most of them, some could not come but called to say goodbye. Please pray about being a part of the training team that I will need to bring here next spring to train them He Lives!. 

During this time a camera crew from the Ukraine Christian Network (CNL) came to interview me and the Ukraine team.  It will be aired soon across Ukraine and they will send a dvd of the interview for us to put on the Ukraine portion of www.revelationministries.com. God is at work in Revelation Ministries all over the world! Pray He will continue to fund our efforts in all areas of ministry. 

Have a great day.  My next email will be from London, if I can find my hotel... 

To God be the glory,
Travis

Good evening from Kiev, 

The past two days have been very busy. Saturday concluded with a concert at the Kiev Philharmonic Hall directed by our very own Alexei Bazhenov.  It was very good, it was just that I need to brush up on my Latin.  See picture 013. 

Today, Sunday, started with 9am church service at New Life Church. Pastor Anatoliy Klushniy and I have been friends for some years and his church services are where most Americans go on Sunday. He and I are to have breakfast Tuesday morning before I leave and discuss our new presentation. He is a man of vision and helping to make things happen in Kiev Christian circles. I am attaching a picture of his worship team, 014. 

I had lunch with Peter Van deSteur. Peter is very much interested in partnering with us but would like to reach out more to the Jewish population in Ukraine and to the lost in Russia. We talked for several hours and will stay in touch by email as we pray about how this could work for both ministries. 

Alexei Bazhenov met me at Central Baptist Church to see a drama presentation that the church had written and produced. More on the presentation later. After that Alexei and I had coffee and said our goodbyes. I only have one more day in Kiev and we might not see each other again. He calls me 'brother' as we have become very close friends. 

Hope all is well with each of you.  To those who know Marguerite Higgs, she wrote to tell me she WON that contest she has been involved in for some weeks. Congratulation to her, she is one talented lady. 

Picture 012 is of central square in Kiev and the yellow building on the hill is October Palace, one of the most beautiful theaters I have ever seen.  I have asked God to allow us to do a pageant there since my first trip to Kiev in 2000.  I am still asking. 

To God be the glory, 
Travis

Hello from Kiev this Friday night, 

I spent most of the day looking for living quarters for the team we intend to bring here next spring to teach and train He Lives!  Sounds like it shouldn't be that difficult but there are so many things to take into consideration. I know Americans don't like to climb stairs and a lot of buildings don't have elevators. A lot of apartments share bathrooms. on and on. And yes the recession is worldwide, but before this recession prices jumped because of oil prices and market conditions and they have only just now started to go down. So I am a little shocked at the quotes I am getting. Maybe by the time we need apartments the price will be reasonable again. 

Today I read Psalm 44 and these verses spoke to me about where the world is today. 
Verse 3--"For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because you favored them." 

Verse 6&7--"For I will not trust in my bow, Nor shall my sword save me, But You have saved us from our enemies, and have put to shame those who hated us." 

If there was ever a time to believe in the power of the Lord and not our own strength, our own abilities, now is that time. With people losing their homes, jobs, retirement and businesses going under all over the world, people need a hope and that hope is Jesus Christ. I feel that now is the time we need to give all our energy to share the hope that is in us, that Jesus is the way the truth and the life and HE will NEVER leave us or forsake us. It is times like these that can lead to revival, not only in our land but all over the world. And we need to not be ashamed of the Gospel or hold it so close like it is only for us, but reach out to a hurting world.  People need the Lord.  Matthew 9:37 talks about how the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Share with someone today what God has done and is doing in your life. Let revival start with me. 

To God be all glory, 
Travis 

Good morning, 

The weather has finally changed here in Kiev.  The past two days are back to normal, cloudy, cold.  But my Ukraine friends are still on fire for the Lord. 

Attached is a picture of some who attended our team meeting. 
From right to left, Alexey Bashenhov(orchestra leader) Anya Bilyo (interpreter) Gregorie and Tanya(adminstration), Lyuda (costumes), and Ilena (Orchestra assistant). Not pictured is Alex Vaschenko(Finance), Natasha Homenka(Creative Team leader) and Ilena(Natasha's assistant). Natasha and Alex have their pictures on the ministry website. 

I spent most of the afternoon with Peter & Ginny Van deSteur, long time missionaries in Russia and Ukraine. Peter has a background in theater and is very interested in how He Lives! could be used for evangelism in Ukraine.  It seems God is providing interest in our work with other ministries.  I am praying God will put us were we will be used best for His Kingdom work. 

Have a great day! 
To God be all glory, 
Travis 

Good morning, 

Actually, it is 5pm in Ukraine but since you guys are slower I put a good morning in place.. 

We had a very postive team meeting last night. Seven team members attended.  We talked about what has or hasn't been happening in Ukraine the past six months. I asked them to share with me where they see us going in the months ahead.  All agreed we need a new challenge to present to the choir. So I showed the video of He Lives! at Westminster Abbey.  They liked it very much but some were hesitant to accept that this is the challenge we need.  After some hours of discussion we agreed to bring the choir together next Monday night and present it to them and see their reaction. 

I did call Jan so she could say hello to the team.  They really enjoyed talking to her.  They do love and appreciate Jan and all of you who have helped to make sharing the gospel with music and drama possible in Ukraine. 

Please pray for God to raise up the leader He wants for the ministry in Ukraine. 

And to the choir in Fort Lauderdale that is meeting tonight for rehearsal, God bless you.

To God be all glory, 
Travis 

Good afternoon, 

To those of you that read the daily updates, I apologize for not writing yesterday.  For some reason, the internet connection in my apartment stopped working about 10 am Tuesday and as of one hour ago it still wasn't fixed. So, I am at my least favorite place in Ukraine, an internet cafe. I would love to clean the screen on this computer so I could see what I am writing but it just kind of smears, so forgive the mistakes. 

Yesterday I met with a missionary I found online, Randy Hildebrand. He and his wife help with church plants in Ukraine.  He had asked me to bring him a dvd from America developed by his church to be used in church planting.  During our visit he asked about our work in Ukraine. As I shared with him and told about our need for new leaders, he suggested I contact the Southern Baptist office here in Kiev. They had befriended him when he needed help and he knew the leaders here in Kiev.  In fact, he gave me the phone numbers and suggested I call them.  I did, and Mick Stockwell, who oversees five countries for the Southern Baptist Mission, including Ukraine, invited me to meet with them for Wednesday morning prayer. He said most all the Southern Baptist leadership for Ukraine and the surrounding areas would be there and I should meet with them. 

I did go and it was a special time. There seems to be a bonding between people when they pray together, but in a setting such as this, in a foreign country, with the same goals and especially needing Gods' divine help, it is really special.  After the prayer time, I was able to answer questions about Revelation Ministries and what our specific needs are at the moment. Mick suggested that our ministry would be a great help to them in their church planting projects in Ukraine and that I should consider networking in such a way. They are looking at our promo, thanks again to Mary Rivera and Bernita and others for making the promo, and we will meet again before I leave.  Don't know where this is all going, but if it is God's will I am sure we will know soon. They invited me to a drama presentation this Sunday afternoon at Central Baptist Church so I can meet with people they know who already do drama who might want to work with us. 

Tonight I am to meet with what is left of the team from our work the past seven years. Certainly I would like them to be a part of any future work in Ukraine, if they so desire.  Each one has a part to play in making things happen, but there is not a central leader to make the difficult decisions. Please pray that God will give me wisdom as we meet and as we discuss what the next few months will hold for this ministry. Anya has asked for prayer also as she has worked for two days translating forms and other papers for tonights meeting. It is not easy to translate from English to Russian and get the same meaning. It is a collaborative effort on both our parts as I need to explain what we are trying to say in some sentences. 

I pray all is well in America. As I watch CNN Europe, people all over the world are dancing in the streets believing than our new president elect is going to solve all our problems and put a "chicken in every cooking pot."  I hope they are right, I like fried chicken. 

To God be all Glory,
Travis

Good morning, 

I know you must be tired of me saying this, but it really is so unusual for Ukraine to have this kind of sunny weather in November. It is normally gray clouds, no sun and with a lots of rain. And I have not seen a cloud!!! Or rain or snow!!  My Ukraine friends are thanking me for bringing this "Florida weather" with me.  Actually we are thanking the Lord together and just enjoying what we know could be gone tomorrow. 

I wanted to go to church yesterday, but I had to change apartments. And it had to be accomplished by noon. The apartment I usually stay in wasn't available until yesterday. As soon as it became available I made the move.  That kept me from attending church but I did have time to read and study my Bible and pray. I prayed for all of you back home and for those involved in Revelation Ministries there and here in Ukraine.  God is blessing this ministry and we need to thank Him daily for all He does for us. 

After the move, we drove to Olya Privalova's.  Sounds easy, but it took more than an hour each way to make the trip.  Olya has been very instrumental in building the choir here in Kiev. Olya would like me to find someone new to do the choir directing. Because she lives so far from the city and she has a young son and also directs a small ensemble called Dominus, she says she can't give as much to it as she would like. You have to know she is a perfectionist and works the choir 4-5 hours each rehearsal. And I mean WORKS and yet they respond to her leading. She will be difficult to replace but I know God will provide.  She wants to sing in our choir when we bring He Lives! to Kiev, so she will still be a part of Revelation Ministries.  I appreciate her wanting to sing with us, she has the most incredible voice and will bring that and her commitment to He Lives! 

As I unpacked my things for the next eight days, I wondered, just for a moment, "How did I get here?"  I am a country boy from Texas.  And I do mean country. We lived WAY OUT. And here I am in Kiev, Ukraine working for the Lord. It is amazing what God can do. And as I read your emails, I know He is doing amazing things in 
your lives, too. 

To Him be all glory, 
Travis 

Good morning, 

It is the start of another beautiful day here in Kiev.  Hope you are having the same in Florida or wherever you are reading this update. And we all say, "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." 

Saturday I spent most of the late morning and early afternoon meeting with Alexei Bashenhov and his youth orchestra. Picture number 020 shows Alexei at work with them. He helper, Martguerita Protasova, usually does most of the day to day training, an Alexei comes on weekends to see what progress has been made. The picture of the three of us standing in front of Transformation Baptist Church is the place they use for training the orchestra. I was amazed at how accomplished they are as musicians as young as they are but of course, Alexei was not happy, thinking they could be much better and he expects they to be by time they are ready to play for He Lives! 

I met with Natasha Homenka from 2-6pm. I don't mention that Anya Bilyo is doing all the translating for these meetings, I just take it for granted that you know that is happening. Without her I wouldn't get much accomplished. Natasha explained what has happened over the last 5 months with the ministry, or maybe I should say, what hasn't happen and why. Let's say that she is excited about introducing He Lives! and understands that it will bring renewed interest to Revelation Ministries Ukraine. Natasha and I talked and planed for bringing the remaining team members up to speed about all this and set a time this week to meet with them. 

Please continue to pray for all the work here in Ukraine. We have a long way to go to bring He Lives! to Ukraine. And we will need to bring a team here in late spring or early summer to teach and train them how to perform the show. Please be praying about that team, that God will provide the team members and for them to have the time and funding to be able come to Ukraine. 

Have a great day of worshipping the Lord and to Him be all glory.
Travis

Good morning, 

We are still having beautiful weather here in Ukraine. Sunny and cool.  Just delightful to walk to meetings, at least those than are close enough to walk too. 

Most of the day was spent with Alexei Bashzenov, who conducted the orchestra and translated the music from English to Russian for the pageant in 2005. I want him to do the same for He Lives! As we listened and watched the dvd he said some of the songs had already been translated into Russian so his job will be much easier that what he did for the pageant. He and several friends who watched the video were excited about the idea of being able to go to other cities and into schools with He Lives! 

Alexei has for almost a year, been at work building a Christian youth orchestra here in Kiev. He asked if it would be possible for them to play the music for He Lives! because they have very few places to expose the youth orchestra to people. It took me several seconds to say "Yes" to this request... They would do so for free and would furnish their own transportation to the productions. It was a very productive meeting. 

Last night, actually the middle of the night for me, 10pm, I met with Pastor Sunday Adeleja.  He is the pastor of God Embassy Church, said to be the largest church in Europe. They have an all night prayer service on Friday nights.  No wonder they have planted churches all over Western and Eastern Europe and have a 25,000 member congregation! It was almost eleven o'clock when our meeting ended and people were still arriving at their church to pray.  Pastor Sunday is interested in our new project and he promised to watch the DVD and pray about how we could partner together in ministry. 

Today I have another meeting with Alexei Bashzenov and with Natasha Homenka, our Ukrainian 'Jan Moore'... 

Thanks for your prayers and support for this trip. 

To God be the glory,
Travis

Good morning, 

It is early here, about 7am. Surprisingly, the sun in shining and it is not that cold! When I come in the winter it is usually cloudy all day and I never see the sun until I get back to Florida so this is a pleasant surprise. 

I had a safe journey over the water.  But in New York as we left the gate the ac shut down on our plane and we sat in the plane for 3 hours as it was being fixed. Not a great way to start the trip but after that we had a smooth ride to Ukraine. Thank God for that. 

My bags were, as usual, the last ones off the plane. It took me 45 minutes to get them and get through customs but I was so thankful they even showed up that I said, "Thank you Lord" as loud as I could in front of the few people left waiting for their bags. That's "Spaseba Bogu" in Russian. 

Today will be spent calling and setting up times to meet with the team members and choir. 
Actually, Anya will do most of the calling since most of them can't understand my small Russian vocabulary. I explained to Alex and Anya my intent to have He Lives translated into Russian and then bring a team over next spring to teach and train them how to perform it and they were excited about this happening.

Have a great day. 

To God be the glory, 
Travis