Joe Ragan

Well, it’s official. I have a Ukrainian driver’s license! How cool is that?!?
There are several reasons I had to get one, but I had always wanted one. So, after taking a test, I now have a driver’s license. I guess that gives me the privilege (and right!!!) to drive just like [...]

[Read more →]

Squeals of delight from children are filling my apartment right now. What’s unusual this time is why the children are screaming…girls playing soccer.
In my three years are living in Ukraine, I think this is the very first time I have seen girls playing soccer (the rest of the world calls it football!!).
It [...]

[Read more →]

Anya’s first prayer request when we began meeting earlier this year for their missions trip to Kstan was to pray for her unbelieving parents and other student’s who have unbelieving parents. Her concern was that all of their parents would not understand why they would want to travel to Kstan, nor what they would [...]

[Read more →]

Still recuperating from jet lag…
I’m back in Kyiv after a 4 day whirlwind trip to Kazakhstan. Here is what transpired in those 4 days:
5 a.m. Wednesday- Arrived in Karaganda
Slept for a couple of hours
10 a.m. Breakfast with the Kims
11-3 p.m. Video/ photos around the city
Dinner
6 p.m. Train station to Pavlodar
Thursday at 7:30 a.m. arrived [...]

[Read more →]

Have you ever read the “Where’s Waldo” books? I think I am going to start a Where’s Joe game…
I am sitting in the Moscow airport today. This is one of those alllll day jobs. Fly from Karaganda, arrive in Moscow at 8 a.m. and then fly out at 5 p.m. to Kyiv.
I [...]

[Read more →]

There is a media crew in town and I am very busy. I am leaving for Kstan now and will be there until Sunday a.m.
I will be traveling the next 3 week ends to various churches to share the story of the students going to Kstan. Please pray for these trips.

[Read more →]

when the local advertisements you find in your mail box are advertising electric heaters! There it was in living color!

[Read more →]

It has been almost 2 years since the rise of the Orange Revolution. Many here don’t believe that much has changed. Read how the new Prime Minister has re-imaged himself with the help of Republican strategists.
If you don’t know, the new Prime Minister is Viktor Yanukovich. He is the same man that [...]

[Read more →]

Well, one of my favorite singers now is Chris Tomlin. Check out his site.
I purchased some praise and worship music the last trip to the US and he has several songs that I like. Probably my favorite is “How Great is Our God”. Wow! The arrangement is incredible.
“The splendor of a [...]

[Read more →]

Today was “first bell.” What is that you ask? First bell is the first day of school in Ukraine and in most (if not all) former Soviet Union countries. It is a big tradition in the public schools.
All grades assemble at the school and a first grader along with an 11th grader [...]

[Read more →]