After two months, my heart was beginning to heal.  Sentences were painting a picture of the accident being something in our past instead of our present.  Pain was moving aside and hope flowed.

Last Wednesday we received word that our friend Maks had passed away.

Illya and Maks were best friends.  They looked the same and were often confused for brothers.  They were passionately Greek Catholic and passionately in pursuit of the fullness of God.

Maks was exceptionally filled with wonder for God's love and grace.  In the coldest days of winter he would wrap his arms around unsuspecting people and say, "Christ is Risen! Do you know that?"

During my time as an intern here, Maks was the most available student leader and the most willing to help me.  He started a yoga club and we began reaching out to all kinds of unconventional people.  Maks' laugh was unique and loud.

Every wound has been ripped open again.  All the hurt came flooding back.  Again our community is reeling.

This small community has buried two faithful members in the last two months.  Both of these men were younger than I.

I find it harder and harder to stand in front of this community and put words to our faith.  I don't need to. Our young people stop each other on the streets to pray for one another.  You see them sitting down and pulling out a Bible verse God has put on their heart to share with someone.  In this tragedy God continues to work.

In the midst of the pain, we see and feel God moving.  We put one foot in front of the other, and we allow God to do the rest.

Please continue to pray for us in the midst of this tragedy.  Pray that we would not waste this time feeling sorry for ourselves, but that God would use this time to teach our hearts to rely on God.