3rd Person Christmas Letter

Michael Airgood has had a very exciting year.

In January, Michael celebrated his birthday with a great meal with friends and a flight the following day to begin a new adventure. He left South Korea for Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where he served as an Individual Volunteer with the United Methodist missionary community there.

Michael worked with the third UM church planted in that country and walked through the ancient palace on his way to work every day. It didn't get over -20 Celsius while he was in country.

In March he left the wonderful people of Mongolia to serve as the intern at Molod do Isusa, a student-led inter-confessional student ministry in L'viv, Ukraine. The missionaries, David and Shannon Goran, were going back to the states for a few months to have their first child and they left Michael in charge of their house and some of their responsibilities at the student center.

During this time Michael had very special visitors. Debbie and Jim Airgood came all the way from lil' ole' Kane, Pennsylvania to L'viv Ukraine for a week long visit. Jim ate Big Macs after sampling the vegetarian fare Michael prepares and Debbie played an incredibly out of tune piano (beautifully) to the utter delight of Michael's students.

Michael re-imagined the English club and has turned it into a fun, hipster outlet for young people to express their opinions on difficult social issues. More than 30 young people show up on a regular basis for the class/discussion group.

Michael has been one of the people shepherding the new United Methodist church plant in L'viv, Ukraine. In March the average attendance was in the single digits. This month we have averaged 25+. The Sunday School could be used as a model for teaching any Christian Education class.

Over the summer Michael attended the Global Young People's Convocation and Legislative Assembly in Berlin, Germany. He had a wonderful time connecting with other young people across the connectional system. Michael read the scripture in Russian one morning at worship and spoke on the floor several times during plenary sessions.

Michael spent a month working with St. Luke's family center in Kyiv. It was a big time of growth in Michael's life. It was very difficult, but extremely rewarding for him.

These last few months Michael has preached almost every week at one venue or another. This surprises no one more than Michael himself. He never saw himself in a preaching capacity. More than 40 students showed up last night to hear him preach at Pilgrims, the Thursday night student worship service. He has gained a reputation for out-of-the-box sermon illustrations. Last night it involved knife throwing.

He rents a small room in a communal apartment in a nice suburb of L'viv. His roommates are all Ukrainians, all vegetarians, and all artists. He loves them dearly and is quite thankful for his new "family."

Michael's son (Vassya cat) is enjoying his vacation time in Siberia (Pennsylvania), but wishes his dad would hurry up and come home.

Michael plans to return to the states on April 8, 2011. He will pursue seminary while (hopefully) serving as a student pastor. He is still in the application process to become a full time GBGM missionary.