Naomi
Many tears were shed this last week by flood victims who shared their stories of heart break and devastation. Men, women, and children – the flood affected everyone. Many were left with little, others with nothing. Tear filled eyes, heartbreak, and hopeless faces were a common sight as we distributed humanitarian aid last week. Of all the faces we saw there is one that will be burned in my memory for a long time to come. Barefoot, little chubby cheeks, and not even three feet tall, Naomi ran in circles. She pointed at birds. Her eyes open wide as they flew away. And off she goes again. Her squeaking shoes always told you where she was. Everyone else, including Naomi’s mother was digging through boxes of shoes and piles of clothes. Naomi’s father watched her as she ran around to be sure she didn’t go anywhere she shouldn’t. In his arms, was newly born Nastia and a bag containing bread and sugar in the other. The home in which Naomi’s family lived had received terrible damage. Taking shelter with friends they had cleaned their newly remodeled home of anything they could salvage. The dreams this young couple held for life in their new home had been washed away. As for Naomi- The world around her had fallen apart and she was none the wiser. She had no fears of where she would sleep or what she would eat. She knew her parents would take care of her. In Naomi’s eyes she had everything she needed. With great joy, she ran about playing and taking pleasure in everything she saw.
This made me think of my own life. When floods come into my life, why don’t I trust God to take care of me? He got me through the flood didn’t he? When something happens that turns my world upside down, enjoying life is the last thing I do. I become so busy trying to rebuild what I had or trying to build something new that I forget to be thankful for what I do have.
Mark 10:15 “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Like a little child- to have faith that God, my father, will take care of my needs, to look at the world around me with eyes wide open, to be amazed at the beauty that surrounds me, to stop busying myself long enough to spend time in the presence of God, to let Him hold me, to comfort me- this is what it is to be a child.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Flood Relief
Chernovtsy, an international city of 250,000 people nestled in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains and less than an hour drive to Ukraine’s Romanian and Moldovan Borders. Walking down the stone streets of the city or the dirt roads of the surrounding villages any of a multitude of languages can be heard; Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian, Polish, and occasionally English. The Chernovtsy University draws students from all over Ukraine and the surrounding countries. The Austrian, Romanian, Polish, and Russian influences can be observed in the city’s brilliant architecture. In September Chernovtsy will celebrate its 600 year jubilee. It is promised to be a birthday party that will never be forgotten. Plans are being made for a variety of entertainment from singing and dancing, to fireworks, and displays of national and local heritage. As the celebration draws closer and preparations are being finalized, Chernovtsy’s citizens should find themselves in escalating excitement. It is a time they will be able to commemorate their rich past and hope for the future.
However the last three weeks have not brought abounding joy and merriment but devastation. July 26th, 27th, and 28th storms poured water, almost constantly, on western Ukraine bringing with it the worst flooding in over 100 years. Water cut through the soil on the mountains creating rivers and landslides. Due to the lumber industry there were fewer trees to drink the water falling on the mountains. The boundaries between land and water no longer existed. River banks could no longer contain the flow of water. It flowed over banks, over bridges, and over roads. In the city of Chernovtsy, citizens were trapped in their homes. Gas, water, and electricity were shut off for a period of 3 days. The Pruit River that runs along the city’s border over flowed, placing the city’s largest market place under its rushing waves. Booths and merchandise were drowned. Roof tops could be seen peeking out a few feet above the mighty flood. Millions of dollars of merchandise was ruined, leaving owners in mounds of debt and unsellable goods. Chernovtsy’s way of life was disturbed. But Chernovtsy received a minimal amount of the devastation brought by the flooding.
As the city of Chernovtsy begins to clean up and recover their way of life there are thousands of people in over 200 villages whose primary concern is not recovery but survival. The rains brought loss, destruction, and death. Flood waters claimed gardens, home, and lives. For most people it was not a matter of days or hours but minutes that they found their lives turned upside down and their plans for the future shattered.
August 18th, 19th, and 20th Aquila Foundation, a local Ukrainian Baptist Church, and The Kiev 1st Church of the Nazarene partnered to distribute bread, food packages, clothes, and crisis care kits to flood victims in villages surrounding Chernovtsy. The sights they saw and the stories they heard were tragic.
Women were pulling apart dilapidated houses to salvage any wood that could be used to rebuild their lives. Men were sorting through piles of rubbish. Covered in sweat and dirt, they worked to save and clean anything that was not destroyed. Mattresses hung over fences to dry out. In remote areas water reached heights of 8, 9, and even10 feet. Few animals survived the high tides. Horses and dogs swam to safety but most people lost chickens and cattle, primary sources of food for their families. Gardens that were once full of vegetation were washed away, leaving victims with very little food to survive the winter. Roofs sat on piles of collapsed beams and floor boards. Under the rubble, one could see toys, clothes, and furniture trapped- remnants of life, of family, of better times. For most they did not lose their possessions or even their homes but their way of life.
As people recover from the shock, that comes with suddenly losing everything people are beginning to pick up the pieces of their shattered and broken lives and try to piece them back together. It is an overwhelming task. Where do you begin? Where do you find strength? Where do you find hope? Where do you find help? Your neighbors and friends are all suffering similar losses. Together you struggle to survive. Some victims will be able to stay with friends and family outside of the flood zone for a short time, but then what. Eventually they will have to return to the haunting place where they once lived. Rebuilding is a difficult task but not the most urgent. August comes to an end in a few short weeks. September will come, ushering in fall. It will not be long after that winter will arrive. Even if victims are able to rebuild their homes enough to shelter their family for the winter, they may not be able to feed them. For many, the charity of strangers is their only hope. The Orthodox Church has brought some aide, but only to their own. So, who will help the rest, the believers and unbelievers, the poor, the down trodden, the broken hearted? Who? Will it be you? Will it be me? Will it be the body of Christ? -Not the Baptist, not the Nazarenes, or the Orthodox but the body?
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 paints us a picture of the body of Christ, “The human body has many parts but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jew, some are Gentiles, some are slaves and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.”
As Christians we are part of this body. God has given each of us different gifts and recourses. When we come together to function as one body, each giving what we are able we can make a difference in the world around us.
2 Corinthians 1:4 tells us, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”
1 John 4:12 says, “No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us and his love is brought to full expression in us.”
The flood is a time of sorrow and devastation for many but it is also an opportunity for the body of Christ to stand and function as one- as hands and feet distributing aid and comfort, as the mouth and heart of those who pray for the families affected, as those who are willing to give time to put together Crisis Care Kits and collect clothes to replenish supplies, and as those who are willing and able to give financially to help pay for bread, clean drinking water, and gas to distribute it to areas in need. How is God calling you to contribute to the flood victims of Western Ukraine?
If you are interested in contributing financially, donating clothing, putting together Crisis Care Kits, or volunteering your time to come and distribute aide please follow the instructions below accordingly. Thank you for your time. God Bless.
To Contribute Financially:
You can make a tax deductible donation by making checks payable to “General Treasury Services, Church of the Nazarene” In the memo line include “Ukraine- Chernovtsy-Flood Relief-Vira” Checks can be sent to:
General Treasury Services
Church of the Nazarene
6401 The Paseo
Kansas City MO, 64131
If you are interested in putting together Crisis Care Kits please follow the instructions located at this website http://www.ncm.org/pdf/cck_instructions.pdf You will also need to include an inventory list inside each Banana Box of kits this sheet can be found at http://www.ncm.org/pdf/cck_inventory_sheet.pdf
If you are interested in coming to help to distribute aide or help renovate collapsed houses in October or November before the cold winter please contact Vira Kushnir
+380372575652-(H)
+380677089221-(cell)
+380503519093-(cell)
bee1302@gmail.com
However the last three weeks have not brought abounding joy and merriment but devastation. July 26th, 27th, and 28th storms poured water, almost constantly, on western Ukraine bringing with it the worst flooding in over 100 years. Water cut through the soil on the mountains creating rivers and landslides. Due to the lumber industry there were fewer trees to drink the water falling on the mountains. The boundaries between land and water no longer existed. River banks could no longer contain the flow of water. It flowed over banks, over bridges, and over roads. In the city of Chernovtsy, citizens were trapped in their homes. Gas, water, and electricity were shut off for a period of 3 days. The Pruit River that runs along the city’s border over flowed, placing the city’s largest market place under its rushing waves. Booths and merchandise were drowned. Roof tops could be seen peeking out a few feet above the mighty flood. Millions of dollars of merchandise was ruined, leaving owners in mounds of debt and unsellable goods. Chernovtsy’s way of life was disturbed. But Chernovtsy received a minimal amount of the devastation brought by the flooding.
As the city of Chernovtsy begins to clean up and recover their way of life there are thousands of people in over 200 villages whose primary concern is not recovery but survival. The rains brought loss, destruction, and death. Flood waters claimed gardens, home, and lives. For most people it was not a matter of days or hours but minutes that they found their lives turned upside down and their plans for the future shattered.
August 18th, 19th, and 20th Aquila Foundation, a local Ukrainian Baptist Church, and The Kiev 1st Church of the Nazarene partnered to distribute bread, food packages, clothes, and crisis care kits to flood victims in villages surrounding Chernovtsy. The sights they saw and the stories they heard were tragic.
Women were pulling apart dilapidated houses to salvage any wood that could be used to rebuild their lives. Men were sorting through piles of rubbish. Covered in sweat and dirt, they worked to save and clean anything that was not destroyed. Mattresses hung over fences to dry out. In remote areas water reached heights of 8, 9, and even10 feet. Few animals survived the high tides. Horses and dogs swam to safety but most people lost chickens and cattle, primary sources of food for their families. Gardens that were once full of vegetation were washed away, leaving victims with very little food to survive the winter. Roofs sat on piles of collapsed beams and floor boards. Under the rubble, one could see toys, clothes, and furniture trapped- remnants of life, of family, of better times. For most they did not lose their possessions or even their homes but their way of life.
As people recover from the shock, that comes with suddenly losing everything people are beginning to pick up the pieces of their shattered and broken lives and try to piece them back together. It is an overwhelming task. Where do you begin? Where do you find strength? Where do you find hope? Where do you find help? Your neighbors and friends are all suffering similar losses. Together you struggle to survive. Some victims will be able to stay with friends and family outside of the flood zone for a short time, but then what. Eventually they will have to return to the haunting place where they once lived. Rebuilding is a difficult task but not the most urgent. August comes to an end in a few short weeks. September will come, ushering in fall. It will not be long after that winter will arrive. Even if victims are able to rebuild their homes enough to shelter their family for the winter, they may not be able to feed them. For many, the charity of strangers is their only hope. The Orthodox Church has brought some aide, but only to their own. So, who will help the rest, the believers and unbelievers, the poor, the down trodden, the broken hearted? Who? Will it be you? Will it be me? Will it be the body of Christ? -Not the Baptist, not the Nazarenes, or the Orthodox but the body?
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 paints us a picture of the body of Christ, “The human body has many parts but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jew, some are Gentiles, some are slaves and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.”
As Christians we are part of this body. God has given each of us different gifts and recourses. When we come together to function as one body, each giving what we are able we can make a difference in the world around us.
2 Corinthians 1:4 tells us, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”
1 John 4:12 says, “No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us and his love is brought to full expression in us.”
The flood is a time of sorrow and devastation for many but it is also an opportunity for the body of Christ to stand and function as one- as hands and feet distributing aid and comfort, as the mouth and heart of those who pray for the families affected, as those who are willing to give time to put together Crisis Care Kits and collect clothes to replenish supplies, and as those who are willing and able to give financially to help pay for bread, clean drinking water, and gas to distribute it to areas in need. How is God calling you to contribute to the flood victims of Western Ukraine?
If you are interested in contributing financially, donating clothing, putting together Crisis Care Kits, or volunteering your time to come and distribute aide please follow the instructions below accordingly. Thank you for your time. God Bless.
To Contribute Financially:
You can make a tax deductible donation by making checks payable to “General Treasury Services, Church of the Nazarene” In the memo line include “Ukraine- Chernovtsy-Flood Relief-Vira” Checks can be sent to:
General Treasury Services
Church of the Nazarene
6401 The Paseo
Kansas City MO, 64131
If you are interested in putting together Crisis Care Kits please follow the instructions located at this website http://www.ncm.org/pdf/cck_instructions.pdf You will also need to include an inventory list inside each Banana Box of kits this sheet can be found at http://www.ncm.org/pdf/cck_inventory_sheet.pdf
If you are interested in coming to help to distribute aide or help renovate collapsed houses in October or November before the cold winter please contact Vira Kushnir
+380372575652-(H)
+380677089221-(cell)
+380503519093-(cell)
bee1302@gmail.com
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Chernovtsy
Home Sweet Chernovtsy
It has been a little over a week since I have returned to Chernovtsy. I have begun to settle into my new surroundings. While here, I am living in an apartment that also serves as the office, storage, and distribution center for Aquila Foundation. No worries, I am not living here alone. I have traded my mouse in Vapnyarka for a kitten, named Zoosie. We are learning to live with each other. My neighbors are elderly women who think it is there job to make sure I am doing what I am supposed to. When I took my trash out the other day, one was sitting outside her door. She stopped me to look in my bag. Shuffling through kitty litter and moldy bread she soon discovered I had nothing to offer and gave me directions to the dumpster. Only in Ukraine could I have experienced the Trash Police.
I have discovered another interesting cultural difference. In the United States we use North, South, East, and West to give directions. Because most people drive themselves it is important that they be somewhat directionally aware of where they are going. For example, I know that if from my house I go South on I-71 I will soon arrive in Cincinnati but if I go North I will end up at the outlet malls in Jefferson. If I don’t know which way I am going I could end up in the wrong place. North, South, East, and West are not used as often here in the Ukraine. This is partly due to the fact that the majority of people use public transportation. They do not care which direction they go as long as they get to their destination. They do have a way of identifying where they are that we do not use in the United States. Instead of North, South, East, or West they use Lenin. There is a statue or bust of Lenin in every city, town, or village square. From Lenin you can find your way anyway in the community.
It is still uncertain as to how long I will be serving here in Chernovtsy. God has blessed me with work organizing and developing ministries for the local community. Thus far much of my time has been spent working with the flood relief efforts. Please pray that God will guide my steps as I continue to serve in Ukraine. Pray for the Aquila Foundation as they serve their community. I will also be traveling to Romania for the last weekend of August in order to fulfill the Ukrainian Visa requirement of leaving the country every 90 day. Please pray that God will be with me as I travel and for the ministry of the church in Romania. I hope to have news and updated photos of the flood relief efforts posted soon. Thank you for your continuous prayers, support, and encouragement.
God Bless, Tiffany
It has been a little over a week since I have returned to Chernovtsy. I have begun to settle into my new surroundings. While here, I am living in an apartment that also serves as the office, storage, and distribution center for Aquila Foundation. No worries, I am not living here alone. I have traded my mouse in Vapnyarka for a kitten, named Zoosie. We are learning to live with each other. My neighbors are elderly women who think it is there job to make sure I am doing what I am supposed to. When I took my trash out the other day, one was sitting outside her door. She stopped me to look in my bag. Shuffling through kitty litter and moldy bread she soon discovered I had nothing to offer and gave me directions to the dumpster. Only in Ukraine could I have experienced the Trash Police.
I have discovered another interesting cultural difference. In the United States we use North, South, East, and West to give directions. Because most people drive themselves it is important that they be somewhat directionally aware of where they are going. For example, I know that if from my house I go South on I-71 I will soon arrive in Cincinnati but if I go North I will end up at the outlet malls in Jefferson. If I don’t know which way I am going I could end up in the wrong place. North, South, East, and West are not used as often here in the Ukraine. This is partly due to the fact that the majority of people use public transportation. They do not care which direction they go as long as they get to their destination. They do have a way of identifying where they are that we do not use in the United States. Instead of North, South, East, or West they use Lenin. There is a statue or bust of Lenin in every city, town, or village square. From Lenin you can find your way anyway in the community.
It is still uncertain as to how long I will be serving here in Chernovtsy. God has blessed me with work organizing and developing ministries for the local community. Thus far much of my time has been spent working with the flood relief efforts. Please pray that God will guide my steps as I continue to serve in Ukraine. Pray for the Aquila Foundation as they serve their community. I will also be traveling to Romania for the last weekend of August in order to fulfill the Ukrainian Visa requirement of leaving the country every 90 day. Please pray that God will be with me as I travel and for the ministry of the church in Romania. I hope to have news and updated photos of the flood relief efforts posted soon. Thank you for your continuous prayers, support, and encouragement.
God Bless, Tiffany
Sunday, August 10, 2008
NYC Eurasia
Ephesians 2:18-20
“For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”
Being a Foreigner
For the past five months I have been living as a foreigner in the Ukraine. I have observed cultural customs, learned new ways of doing things, and have been studying a new language. This past week I found myself in a world within a world; where people from different countries, cultures, and languages came together under one God. It was a common ground. Everyone was a foreigner and no one was. August 2nd through August 7th marked the dates of the Eurasia Regional NYC. The Eurasia Region consists of a numerous countries from six different fields, including “Commonwealth of Independent States”,” East Mediterranean”, “Northern Europe”, “South Asia”, “South East Europe”, and the “West Mediterranean”.
The Kingdom of God
What is the kingdom of God like? This past week, I and about 300 others from Eurasia and the U.S. were challenged with this question. We explored several parables and scripture verses to discover the answer. The Kingdom of God is often thought of something in the future, when the king returns and we are all living in heaven together. However, when we take a closer look we see that the Kingdom of God, God’s reign, began at creation when he established the world. It exists today where God is transforming lives. God’s Kingdom is where He reigns in the hearts of men. Some day Jesus will return and His Kingdom will be united in heaven where we will live under His reign forever.
Romans 14:17-19 “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude you will please God and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”
Skits, videos, and speakers illustrated what it means to be part of this Kingdom. We were challenged to take our light and spread it in the darkness that plagues our world. Throughout the week many illustrations of the Kingdom of Heaven were shared, but I think the most beautiful was the reality of the world we were living in for that one week. A prayer in Hungarian, a song sung in Armenian, sermons preached in English, worship lead in Russian, Bible passages read in Arabic. On a brisk walk through campus one could hear people speaking in Dutch, German, or Ukrainian. We were the Kingdom of God… A plethora of colors, cultures, and tongues but only one body, one mission, under the authority of one King. It was a beautiful portrait of what is yet to come in heaven and a challenge to live and work for the Kingdom today.
“For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”
Being a Foreigner
For the past five months I have been living as a foreigner in the Ukraine. I have observed cultural customs, learned new ways of doing things, and have been studying a new language. This past week I found myself in a world within a world; where people from different countries, cultures, and languages came together under one God. It was a common ground. Everyone was a foreigner and no one was. August 2nd through August 7th marked the dates of the Eurasia Regional NYC. The Eurasia Region consists of a numerous countries from six different fields, including “Commonwealth of Independent States”,” East Mediterranean”, “Northern Europe”, “South Asia”, “South East Europe”, and the “West Mediterranean”.
The Kingdom of God
What is the kingdom of God like? This past week, I and about 300 others from Eurasia and the U.S. were challenged with this question. We explored several parables and scripture verses to discover the answer. The Kingdom of God is often thought of something in the future, when the king returns and we are all living in heaven together. However, when we take a closer look we see that the Kingdom of God, God’s reign, began at creation when he established the world. It exists today where God is transforming lives. God’s Kingdom is where He reigns in the hearts of men. Some day Jesus will return and His Kingdom will be united in heaven where we will live under His reign forever.
Romans 14:17-19 “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude you will please God and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”
Skits, videos, and speakers illustrated what it means to be part of this Kingdom. We were challenged to take our light and spread it in the darkness that plagues our world. Throughout the week many illustrations of the Kingdom of Heaven were shared, but I think the most beautiful was the reality of the world we were living in for that one week. A prayer in Hungarian, a song sung in Armenian, sermons preached in English, worship lead in Russian, Bible passages read in Arabic. On a brisk walk through campus one could hear people speaking in Dutch, German, or Ukrainian. We were the Kingdom of God… A plethora of colors, cultures, and tongues but only one body, one mission, under the authority of one King. It was a beautiful portrait of what is yet to come in heaven and a challenge to live and work for the Kingdom today.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Disturbed
Mokolov
The most disturbing place I have ever been in my life was in an orphanage for disabled boys in the village of Mokolov. When I walked through the gates I already knew that I would see horrific sights of neglected children. In my mind I thought I was ready to see what I was about to see. It wasn’t long until I realized this wasn’t true. It was one thing to know that this place existed and even to know of the tragedy that lay behind the wall but to see it, to smell it, to touch it was to experience it. The boys lived like animals. Children were wondering around. Some of them were drugged to keep them quiet. One of the older boys was in charge of the others. As a farmer herding his animals, he kept them in contained areas. Some of the children would sit for hours after using the restroom in their pants before someone would bother to change their clothes. Caretakers stood around, in their clean white coats. The boys were dirty. Some of them were drooling. Some had disfigured heads. Others had twisted bodies. Everywhere you looked you would see one of them holding their knees to their chest, rocking back and forth. The smells were atrocious. It was difficult for me to wrap my mind around this world. I sat beside a blind boy, unable to move, unable to stand up. What I saw disturbed me.
I watched in amazement as Saskia approached the boys without hesitation. Many of them she knew by name and they all knew her. It was a beautiful thing. It was Jesus in the flesh touching the least of these. I am thankful to God for this disturbing experience and the inspirational testimony of my friend.
The most disturbing place I have ever been in my life was in an orphanage for disabled boys in the village of Mokolov. When I walked through the gates I already knew that I would see horrific sights of neglected children. In my mind I thought I was ready to see what I was about to see. It wasn’t long until I realized this wasn’t true. It was one thing to know that this place existed and even to know of the tragedy that lay behind the wall but to see it, to smell it, to touch it was to experience it. The boys lived like animals. Children were wondering around. Some of them were drugged to keep them quiet. One of the older boys was in charge of the others. As a farmer herding his animals, he kept them in contained areas. Some of the children would sit for hours after using the restroom in their pants before someone would bother to change their clothes. Caretakers stood around, in their clean white coats. The boys were dirty. Some of them were drooling. Some had disfigured heads. Others had twisted bodies. Everywhere you looked you would see one of them holding their knees to their chest, rocking back and forth. The smells were atrocious. It was difficult for me to wrap my mind around this world. I sat beside a blind boy, unable to move, unable to stand up. What I saw disturbed me.
I watched in amazement as Saskia approached the boys without hesitation. Many of them she knew by name and they all knew her. It was a beautiful thing. It was Jesus in the flesh touching the least of these. I am thankful to God for this disturbing experience and the inspirational testimony of my friend.
Flooding of Western Ukraine
Flooding
My week at camp at short but very eventful. The first three days of camp it rained non-stopped. It poured through the night. Rivers rose. As water flowed over the banks the worst flood in forty years became a threat to many in Western Ukraine. In the city of Cherneftsi the gas, electric, and water was turned off for a few days. Out from the city, at the camp we the electricity flickered off and on throughout the day and night. By the time camp was over the rain had stopped and the waters had started receding, leaving disaster in its place. It has been reported that 30 are dead including 6 children, due to the waters. Approximately 30,000 people were evacuated. It is estimated that 38,000 homes and 55,000 hectares of agricultural land were flooded. This has a destructive impact on the western part of the country. In the cities, millions of dollars were lost because of the flooding of homes, markets, and bazaars. In the villages the devastation is multiplied. Many have lost not only their homes but the gardens and farm lands that supply them with food for the entire winter have been destroyed. Please pray for people of Ukraine as they suffer this great loss. Pray for their government to make wise decisions concerning the clean up stages and the rebuilding of communities. Pray for the aid being distributed from several sources including the Nazarene Church through the Aquilla foundation. God Bless you and Thank you for your prayers. I will be returning to Chernefsi in a few days and will hopefully be able to update you on the situation by the end of the week.
My week at camp at short but very eventful. The first three days of camp it rained non-stopped. It poured through the night. Rivers rose. As water flowed over the banks the worst flood in forty years became a threat to many in Western Ukraine. In the city of Cherneftsi the gas, electric, and water was turned off for a few days. Out from the city, at the camp we the electricity flickered off and on throughout the day and night. By the time camp was over the rain had stopped and the waters had started receding, leaving disaster in its place. It has been reported that 30 are dead including 6 children, due to the waters. Approximately 30,000 people were evacuated. It is estimated that 38,000 homes and 55,000 hectares of agricultural land were flooded. This has a destructive impact on the western part of the country. In the cities, millions of dollars were lost because of the flooding of homes, markets, and bazaars. In the villages the devastation is multiplied. Many have lost not only their homes but the gardens and farm lands that supply them with food for the entire winter have been destroyed. Please pray for people of Ukraine as they suffer this great loss. Pray for their government to make wise decisions concerning the clean up stages and the rebuilding of communities. Pray for the aid being distributed from several sources including the Nazarene Church through the Aquilla foundation. God Bless you and Thank you for your prayers. I will be returning to Chernefsi in a few days and will hopefully be able to update you on the situation by the end of the week.
Getting Involved in Chernefsi
Chernefsi
As I rode the train from Vinnitsa to Chernefsi, it began to rain. The sky darkened, the air became cold. The gentle rocking of the train put me to sleep and then with a jostle I would awake as we made stops during the night. Loud noises from children in the cabin next to me opening and closing doors and pumping into the wall caused me to wake with a start. Finally I arrived.
The sky was still gray and the air cool. Everything was wet. I waited in the station for Vera to come and pick me up. I would be here until the end of August, except for the next week, when I would be in Kiev at a Eurasia youth conference.
I was taken to a Ukrainian home, where I would stay a couple of nights, one before the camp for handicapped children and one afterwards. I was nervous about this because of my previous experience, with a Ukrainian family who yelled at each other at all hours of the day or night. When we arrived, it was Saskia, a girl from Holland who opened the door, not a Ukrainian. Saskia has been working with Verra and the club for children with disabilities for over 5 years now. This trip she was only staying two weeks. In March she will be moving to Chernefsi for a year. Saskia helped me get settled in. As we were drinking tea in the kitchen people began to wake up. People coming and going, laughing and having a good time. I was not sure who they were or if they lived in this home but they were all happy people. I later found out that the home had once belonged to a large family (10kids I think). Six years ago all but the three oldest moved to the United States. Two siblings were visiting for the first time since they had moved. One of the sisters, who had stayed in Ukraine, was married with one son, 3 years old. They all lived here in this apartment. A boy from their church and Saskia were also living there. It was a full house, but a house filled with love. Throughout the day and evening, the door bell rang often- people stopping by to hang out. It was a fun place to be.
Shortly after getting settled in, Saskia and I met Verra at her apartment(The one that I had stayed at a month ago with the American girls and Vica). When I had last been here there were several banana boxes. Since then, they had multiplied. Saskia’s church had collected all sorts of clothes and toys and shipped them to Chernefsi. Verra will distribute them to the families she works with. Because of the multitude of clothes, many were given to a government store where the families Verra works with and other poor people in the community can come once a week and shop for free. It is a new program. People from the community can fill out an application. According to their needs they are able to take clothes. At the same facility as the free store, is where Verra will begin her club meetings in the fall. In the past the club was held at the local Young Life Club. The time has come for Verra’s organization, Aquilla Foundation and Young Life to go separate ways. They will have one last camp together. Please pray for the families involved because they will need to choose which club they will go to. Please pray that they would be able to make the best choice to help their family. Pray that it would be a peaceful separation and that it would be for the glory of God. Each will continue to offer a club, which allows more people in the community to be reached.
Several boxes of clothes were also donated to Victims of Chernobyl Relief Organization. This organization was started by the survivors of Chernobyl. Since the disaster that took place, the majority of survivors have received little or no help from the government. They remain on waiting lists. Many people have suffered physical ailments. As you can imagine, it is difficult for these people, who lost everything to move on with their lives. It was touching to hear the founder of the organization tell her story about how her own family was evacuated. People did not realize the danger they were in. Those who were relocated had to leave everything behind. The lady showed us pictures of when her and her son traveled back not too long ago. They entered their own apartment. All the furniture was gone. They found a few toys and school pictures that were left. Even now, as she recalled these events, her eyes swelled with tears. Many people died. Whole troops of soldiers were sent to clean up the rubble right after the catastrophe. None survived. Some people developed diseases and others disabilities due to the radiation they were exposed to. New ailments are still being discovered in victims, years after. It is a truly tragic event in the history of the world. It is very much remembered by those who effected by it. Every year on the date of the explosion, people meet in honor of those who were lost. There is a monument here in Chernefsi, erected in memory of those lost and affected by the event.
Camp
The first large ministry opportunity I was a part of here, in Chernefsi, was the camp for children with disabilities. This was a joint effort between Aquilla Foundation and Young Life. In Ukraine and other former Soviet Countries there is little for people with disabilities. Even in the larger cities you will see few if any accommodations such as wheel chair ramps or easy access to public transportation to help people get around. The majority of children with disabilities, who are capable of learning, are not educated. Many could have jobs but are not given an opportunity to do so. If a baby is born with a disability it is common and even encouraged to send it to an orphanage. There are orphanages specifically for children with disabilities. Given little attention or help, children grow from bad to worse. In addition, mental and emotional trauma is multiplied in the lives of these children. It is a life without love, without someone to care for them, without someone to hold them.
With great courage and at great cost there are a few parents who decide to raise their children themselves. Choosing to raise a child with a disability in this culture is a lonely journey of trials and difficulties. Caring for a disabled child is a full time job. Many of the children come from single parent homes or have at least one alcoholic parent. It is one of the goals of the Aquilla foundation to build relationships with these families. By providing clubs, summer camp, special events, and Bible study a network is created to help people to connect to each other. Through these connections and relationships people not only connect with each other but are given the opportunity to connect with God.
For most children Summer Camp is a yearly summer ritual. For children with disabilities it is a dream. On July 24th this dream became a reality for about forty disabled children and their families. As children and parents arrived on the afternoon of the 24th they were greeted by big smiles, candy, and mineral water.
After being shown to their rooms each child was partnered with a counselor who would be their buddy for the week. Because the counselors are able to help with the students, the week offers much needed rest for the parents.
Every day the kids stayed busy. Breakfast, songs, Bible lesson, lunch, craft, quest, dinner, club meeting, snack, family groups, and finally bed… these are all items squeezed into the schedule every day. Children and parents were divided into family groups. Two family groups were combined to create a team. I was part of the “Newvio” group or “New”. We teamed up with the “Chickensie” group to become the “Newvio Chickensie” team. (For those of you who are wondering, they got their name from the English word Chicken. Since there was more than one person on their team they decided it should be plural. In the Russian language you do not add an “s” to the end of a word to make it plural but the “ie” sound.
Miscommunication
As a team the Newvio Chickensies competed in a variety of tasks or challenges. One of our first tasks was to create a family album. We had to take pictures and create a story to go with it. As simple as this task may sound it was one of the most confusing due to some miscommunications.
A Wedding! That is the best way to start a family album, right? Well, it was. And as commanded I was the bride and the groom was David, one of the boys from the American team that joined us for the week. The mothers hustled and bustled around to find me a beautiful bouquet of weeds. They arranged David and I side by side. We were ready for the picture… so we thought. But you cannot have a decent wedding without the dress. There was a dress, that was brought for the purpose of dressing up, however one of the other teams had it. We had to wait. This was fine. A few minutes later Sasha, one of the team leaders was waving us in side for the photo. We were taking the wedding picture inside. When I came in side and excited mother started telling me to “lesheat” or lay down. Hmmmmm? Lay down for my wedding picture. I repeated her questioningly. “Yes, Yes, Lay down!” Okay, I sat on the couch and leaned back keeping my shoed feet on the ground. Suddenly, I found my legs in the hand of the ecstatic mother. She placed my feet on the couch and spread my legs apart. As I looked up at the other American, I began to apologize because I had no idea what was going on, when PLOP! There was a baby between my legs. Apparently we weren’t getting married, we were HAVING A BABY! They wrapped a towel around the baby and laid him down. They placed David beside me. The baby sat up. They laid him back down. He sat back up. He wasn’t happy this time. Ready, 1,2,3 Snap! Picture perfect!
Now that we had, had our baby, we did the next logical thing we got married. The family album followed us and our child as he grew older, went to school, beat somebody up, got punished for beating someone up, got a job, bought a car, and finally we were elderly.
Being an American
After living in Ukraine for about five months my understanding of the culture has grown. I am not here to change the culture. That is not why I am here. I choose to come into another culture which means I must be cautious of my actions and attitudes. While working at camp a team of Americans joined us from California. To my disappointment, I found it rather embarrassing to be associated with them. I won’t go into all the details but I write this with the hope that if you are reading this as an American traveling outside of your own culture you would check your passport at the door. As part of the family of God, may you serve with a cheerful attitude. Whether you be passing through a country, staying for a couple weeks, a year, or several years it is important to remember that you are there not as a U.S. citizen but a citizen of God’s kingdom. If you can research the culture you are visiting ahead of time. Be prepared to share what God is doing in your life. Don’t hesitate to love, to touch, to smile. I am not saying you cannot miss home or like your way of doing things but don’t complain about another cultures way of doing things. Do not demand things for your personal comfort. And do not argue with nationals or those who live in the culture about whether or not you should have to respect cultural customs, such as sitting on cement or standing in the rain, while you are in the country.
Going Separate Ways
This camp was an important event for the organizational leadership because it marks the ending of the partnership between Aquilla and Young Life. Each organization will offer a club. The families involved must choose one to attend. This will allow more families in the community to be helped. There will still be larger events for all of the students and families to attend. Deciding which club to attend is a difficult decision for many of the families. Please pray for the families to make the best decision for them and not to be swayed by others opinions. Pray that this would be a peaceful separation. Pray for all involved. Pray for both clubs as they prepare to begin this fall. Ask God to provide the recourses, finance, and strength for the leaders to continue their work.
As I rode the train from Vinnitsa to Chernefsi, it began to rain. The sky darkened, the air became cold. The gentle rocking of the train put me to sleep and then with a jostle I would awake as we made stops during the night. Loud noises from children in the cabin next to me opening and closing doors and pumping into the wall caused me to wake with a start. Finally I arrived.
The sky was still gray and the air cool. Everything was wet. I waited in the station for Vera to come and pick me up. I would be here until the end of August, except for the next week, when I would be in Kiev at a Eurasia youth conference.
I was taken to a Ukrainian home, where I would stay a couple of nights, one before the camp for handicapped children and one afterwards. I was nervous about this because of my previous experience, with a Ukrainian family who yelled at each other at all hours of the day or night. When we arrived, it was Saskia, a girl from Holland who opened the door, not a Ukrainian. Saskia has been working with Verra and the club for children with disabilities for over 5 years now. This trip she was only staying two weeks. In March she will be moving to Chernefsi for a year. Saskia helped me get settled in. As we were drinking tea in the kitchen people began to wake up. People coming and going, laughing and having a good time. I was not sure who they were or if they lived in this home but they were all happy people. I later found out that the home had once belonged to a large family (10kids I think). Six years ago all but the three oldest moved to the United States. Two siblings were visiting for the first time since they had moved. One of the sisters, who had stayed in Ukraine, was married with one son, 3 years old. They all lived here in this apartment. A boy from their church and Saskia were also living there. It was a full house, but a house filled with love. Throughout the day and evening, the door bell rang often- people stopping by to hang out. It was a fun place to be.
Shortly after getting settled in, Saskia and I met Verra at her apartment(The one that I had stayed at a month ago with the American girls and Vica). When I had last been here there were several banana boxes. Since then, they had multiplied. Saskia’s church had collected all sorts of clothes and toys and shipped them to Chernefsi. Verra will distribute them to the families she works with. Because of the multitude of clothes, many were given to a government store where the families Verra works with and other poor people in the community can come once a week and shop for free. It is a new program. People from the community can fill out an application. According to their needs they are able to take clothes. At the same facility as the free store, is where Verra will begin her club meetings in the fall. In the past the club was held at the local Young Life Club. The time has come for Verra’s organization, Aquilla Foundation and Young Life to go separate ways. They will have one last camp together. Please pray for the families involved because they will need to choose which club they will go to. Please pray that they would be able to make the best choice to help their family. Pray that it would be a peaceful separation and that it would be for the glory of God. Each will continue to offer a club, which allows more people in the community to be reached.
Several boxes of clothes were also donated to Victims of Chernobyl Relief Organization. This organization was started by the survivors of Chernobyl. Since the disaster that took place, the majority of survivors have received little or no help from the government. They remain on waiting lists. Many people have suffered physical ailments. As you can imagine, it is difficult for these people, who lost everything to move on with their lives. It was touching to hear the founder of the organization tell her story about how her own family was evacuated. People did not realize the danger they were in. Those who were relocated had to leave everything behind. The lady showed us pictures of when her and her son traveled back not too long ago. They entered their own apartment. All the furniture was gone. They found a few toys and school pictures that were left. Even now, as she recalled these events, her eyes swelled with tears. Many people died. Whole troops of soldiers were sent to clean up the rubble right after the catastrophe. None survived. Some people developed diseases and others disabilities due to the radiation they were exposed to. New ailments are still being discovered in victims, years after. It is a truly tragic event in the history of the world. It is very much remembered by those who effected by it. Every year on the date of the explosion, people meet in honor of those who were lost. There is a monument here in Chernefsi, erected in memory of those lost and affected by the event.
Camp
The first large ministry opportunity I was a part of here, in Chernefsi, was the camp for children with disabilities. This was a joint effort between Aquilla Foundation and Young Life. In Ukraine and other former Soviet Countries there is little for people with disabilities. Even in the larger cities you will see few if any accommodations such as wheel chair ramps or easy access to public transportation to help people get around. The majority of children with disabilities, who are capable of learning, are not educated. Many could have jobs but are not given an opportunity to do so. If a baby is born with a disability it is common and even encouraged to send it to an orphanage. There are orphanages specifically for children with disabilities. Given little attention or help, children grow from bad to worse. In addition, mental and emotional trauma is multiplied in the lives of these children. It is a life without love, without someone to care for them, without someone to hold them.
With great courage and at great cost there are a few parents who decide to raise their children themselves. Choosing to raise a child with a disability in this culture is a lonely journey of trials and difficulties. Caring for a disabled child is a full time job. Many of the children come from single parent homes or have at least one alcoholic parent. It is one of the goals of the Aquilla foundation to build relationships with these families. By providing clubs, summer camp, special events, and Bible study a network is created to help people to connect to each other. Through these connections and relationships people not only connect with each other but are given the opportunity to connect with God.
For most children Summer Camp is a yearly summer ritual. For children with disabilities it is a dream. On July 24th this dream became a reality for about forty disabled children and their families. As children and parents arrived on the afternoon of the 24th they were greeted by big smiles, candy, and mineral water.
After being shown to their rooms each child was partnered with a counselor who would be their buddy for the week. Because the counselors are able to help with the students, the week offers much needed rest for the parents.
Every day the kids stayed busy. Breakfast, songs, Bible lesson, lunch, craft, quest, dinner, club meeting, snack, family groups, and finally bed… these are all items squeezed into the schedule every day. Children and parents were divided into family groups. Two family groups were combined to create a team. I was part of the “Newvio” group or “New”. We teamed up with the “Chickensie” group to become the “Newvio Chickensie” team. (For those of you who are wondering, they got their name from the English word Chicken. Since there was more than one person on their team they decided it should be plural. In the Russian language you do not add an “s” to the end of a word to make it plural but the “ie” sound.
Miscommunication
As a team the Newvio Chickensies competed in a variety of tasks or challenges. One of our first tasks was to create a family album. We had to take pictures and create a story to go with it. As simple as this task may sound it was one of the most confusing due to some miscommunications.
A Wedding! That is the best way to start a family album, right? Well, it was. And as commanded I was the bride and the groom was David, one of the boys from the American team that joined us for the week. The mothers hustled and bustled around to find me a beautiful bouquet of weeds. They arranged David and I side by side. We were ready for the picture… so we thought. But you cannot have a decent wedding without the dress. There was a dress, that was brought for the purpose of dressing up, however one of the other teams had it. We had to wait. This was fine. A few minutes later Sasha, one of the team leaders was waving us in side for the photo. We were taking the wedding picture inside. When I came in side and excited mother started telling me to “lesheat” or lay down. Hmmmmm? Lay down for my wedding picture. I repeated her questioningly. “Yes, Yes, Lay down!” Okay, I sat on the couch and leaned back keeping my shoed feet on the ground. Suddenly, I found my legs in the hand of the ecstatic mother. She placed my feet on the couch and spread my legs apart. As I looked up at the other American, I began to apologize because I had no idea what was going on, when PLOP! There was a baby between my legs. Apparently we weren’t getting married, we were HAVING A BABY! They wrapped a towel around the baby and laid him down. They placed David beside me. The baby sat up. They laid him back down. He sat back up. He wasn’t happy this time. Ready, 1,2,3 Snap! Picture perfect!
Now that we had, had our baby, we did the next logical thing we got married. The family album followed us and our child as he grew older, went to school, beat somebody up, got punished for beating someone up, got a job, bought a car, and finally we were elderly.
Being an American
After living in Ukraine for about five months my understanding of the culture has grown. I am not here to change the culture. That is not why I am here. I choose to come into another culture which means I must be cautious of my actions and attitudes. While working at camp a team of Americans joined us from California. To my disappointment, I found it rather embarrassing to be associated with them. I won’t go into all the details but I write this with the hope that if you are reading this as an American traveling outside of your own culture you would check your passport at the door. As part of the family of God, may you serve with a cheerful attitude. Whether you be passing through a country, staying for a couple weeks, a year, or several years it is important to remember that you are there not as a U.S. citizen but a citizen of God’s kingdom. If you can research the culture you are visiting ahead of time. Be prepared to share what God is doing in your life. Don’t hesitate to love, to touch, to smile. I am not saying you cannot miss home or like your way of doing things but don’t complain about another cultures way of doing things. Do not demand things for your personal comfort. And do not argue with nationals or those who live in the culture about whether or not you should have to respect cultural customs, such as sitting on cement or standing in the rain, while you are in the country.
Going Separate Ways
This camp was an important event for the organizational leadership because it marks the ending of the partnership between Aquilla and Young Life. Each organization will offer a club. The families involved must choose one to attend. This will allow more families in the community to be helped. There will still be larger events for all of the students and families to attend. Deciding which club to attend is a difficult decision for many of the families. Please pray for the families to make the best decision for them and not to be swayed by others opinions. Pray that this would be a peaceful separation. Pray for all involved. Pray for both clubs as they prepare to begin this fall. Ask God to provide the recourses, finance, and strength for the leaders to continue their work.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Passing Through
Vapnyarka
After our adventure in Goridkeefka, I returned home to Vapnyarka, but not for long. Soon after arriving we were able to visit the new children’s home and see the progress being made. Thank you for your prayers and support of this new project. When it is completed, it will house several more children who are currently living on the streets. After saying goodbye to my friends, and spending a little time with the kids before they headed off for camp, I found myself alone. It was time to pack. The room I live in at the children’s center is being transformed into a boys room, since a couple of them are on mattresses on the floor and Tolik will be moving home next semester for his social work internship. I will be living at the home of one of the care takers. Please pray that this living situation will work out. Pray for the family I will be staying with and the kids as they spend time at camp. I moved in and stayed one night with the family. I believe this will be a blessing because they have a 19yr. old daughter who seems friendly. I shall find out when I return in September. For now, God is taking me back to Chernefsi, to work with handi-capped children. As a missionary volunteer I will be helping wherever I am needed. Please pray for me as God takes me down new paths. There is much work to be done in Chernefsi. Please pray for the children and families effected by disabilities. Please pray for Vera as she reorganizes the foundation. May God’s hand be on everything we do.
After our adventure in Goridkeefka, I returned home to Vapnyarka, but not for long. Soon after arriving we were able to visit the new children’s home and see the progress being made. Thank you for your prayers and support of this new project. When it is completed, it will house several more children who are currently living on the streets. After saying goodbye to my friends, and spending a little time with the kids before they headed off for camp, I found myself alone. It was time to pack. The room I live in at the children’s center is being transformed into a boys room, since a couple of them are on mattresses on the floor and Tolik will be moving home next semester for his social work internship. I will be living at the home of one of the care takers. Please pray that this living situation will work out. Pray for the family I will be staying with and the kids as they spend time at camp. I moved in and stayed one night with the family. I believe this will be a blessing because they have a 19yr. old daughter who seems friendly. I shall find out when I return in September. For now, God is taking me back to Chernefsi, to work with handi-capped children. As a missionary volunteer I will be helping wherever I am needed. Please pray for me as God takes me down new paths. There is much work to be done in Chernefsi. Please pray for the children and families effected by disabilities. Please pray for Vera as she reorganizes the foundation. May God’s hand be on everything we do.
Goridkeefka
Goridkeefka
Goridkeefka is a small town about 40 minutes by car from Vapnyarka. There is no train or bus to Goridkeefka. So we took a train to Vapnyarka. And they drove us in the church bus to Goridkeefka. This is the same church bus that a few months ago I was riding in- the one with folding chairs instead of seats, that tend to collapse when you go over rail road tracks. However, this time there were no seats other than the three that were attached to the back of the driver’s bench seat. There was a seat for everyone, including the driver and our host, the pastor from Goridkeefka, Oleg. Our luggage and the mattresses we would sleep on filled the space where the chairs had once been.
When we arrived at the church we unloaded our things into a room in the church. The church is located on the second floor of a two story building. Below us we believe was an apartment. Occasionally, we saw someone watching us through the window but we never saw anyone coming or going. Half of the building was completely abandoned. Through the glassless windows you could see the remains of what was once what we believe was a kindergarten. No running water meant no showers and making frequent group walks to the outhouse. While waiting in line, we found that the outhouse was one of the most beautiful views of Ukrainian countryside. For our meals we walked to Oleg’s apartment.
Living in Goridkeefka was an adventure. However our biggest challenge was creating and executing our own vacation Bible school program. It was a three day program. About 10-15 kids joined us each day. Every day we taught a Bible lesson, acting it out, creating things out of balloons or using puppets. Using tools we had learned in Zapporoshia, we were able to teach the kids songs and make things out of paper using origami. The beautiful weather allowed us to have tons of fun outside with games. Kids were encouraged to answer questions, recite Bible verses, and bring friends by being rewarded with candy and prizes.
It was a blessing to me to see the kids get involved. Some of the kids who came had never been to church before. During the three days we used three stories to share God with the kids. The first lesson we taught was about creation. We told the story from Genesis of how God created the world. We talked about how God had also created us. Every person was created in the image of God. He loves each and every one of his children. We followed this lesson by continuing the story of Adam and Eve. The second day, we told about how Adam and Eve chose to sin. We discussed how this separates us from God but He loved us so much that He sent His son to die so that we could have fellowship with him. Oleg, took it from there and explained what it means to have a relationship with God and what it means to choose to become a Christian. He then gave a time for those who had not yet, but wanted to, to pray and ask Jesus into their hearts. Because we didn’t want to leave the kids at this point, we used the puppets on the third day to tell the story of Paul and King Agrippa. This story was used to illustrate two points. First, just like Paul, a relationship with God transforms our lives. Second it is important that we share what God has done in our lives with others, so that they too have the opportunity to know God.
Our few days in Goridkeefka were a beautiful time. We were able to, as the body of Christ, come along side our brother Oleg and help him to reach out in his community. Thank you so much for your prayers during out time there. Please continue to pray for Oleg and the children we worked with. Pray for the church in Goridkeefka and for the church around the world.
The Ride Home- A Whole New Experience…
We loaded up the church van once more, this time all five of us girls sat in the back. Apparently it takes three men, not just the one driving, to help carry our bags to the car and load up the mattresses. Oleg did not return with us. Oleg had volunteered to take responsibility for us if we were to be pulled over by the police on the way from Vapnyarka to Goridkeefka. (This was new, news to us. I guess it was risky.) With no one to take responsibility for us, we took the back road, a.k.a. “The Fields”. No air conditioners meant the windows were down. The one of the back doors doesn’t close all the way so it acted as a vent to circulate the air and the dust. Sitting on a mattress allowed us to move every which way as we swerved down the road. Nothing can really describe this ride. By the time we got back to Vapnyarka we were so dusty it looked as though we had rolled in a soft ball field. This shall be a ride that I shall never forget.
Goridkeefka is a small town about 40 minutes by car from Vapnyarka. There is no train or bus to Goridkeefka. So we took a train to Vapnyarka. And they drove us in the church bus to Goridkeefka. This is the same church bus that a few months ago I was riding in- the one with folding chairs instead of seats, that tend to collapse when you go over rail road tracks. However, this time there were no seats other than the three that were attached to the back of the driver’s bench seat. There was a seat for everyone, including the driver and our host, the pastor from Goridkeefka, Oleg. Our luggage and the mattresses we would sleep on filled the space where the chairs had once been.
When we arrived at the church we unloaded our things into a room in the church. The church is located on the second floor of a two story building. Below us we believe was an apartment. Occasionally, we saw someone watching us through the window but we never saw anyone coming or going. Half of the building was completely abandoned. Through the glassless windows you could see the remains of what was once what we believe was a kindergarten. No running water meant no showers and making frequent group walks to the outhouse. While waiting in line, we found that the outhouse was one of the most beautiful views of Ukrainian countryside. For our meals we walked to Oleg’s apartment.
Living in Goridkeefka was an adventure. However our biggest challenge was creating and executing our own vacation Bible school program. It was a three day program. About 10-15 kids joined us each day. Every day we taught a Bible lesson, acting it out, creating things out of balloons or using puppets. Using tools we had learned in Zapporoshia, we were able to teach the kids songs and make things out of paper using origami. The beautiful weather allowed us to have tons of fun outside with games. Kids were encouraged to answer questions, recite Bible verses, and bring friends by being rewarded with candy and prizes.
It was a blessing to me to see the kids get involved. Some of the kids who came had never been to church before. During the three days we used three stories to share God with the kids. The first lesson we taught was about creation. We told the story from Genesis of how God created the world. We talked about how God had also created us. Every person was created in the image of God. He loves each and every one of his children. We followed this lesson by continuing the story of Adam and Eve. The second day, we told about how Adam and Eve chose to sin. We discussed how this separates us from God but He loved us so much that He sent His son to die so that we could have fellowship with him. Oleg, took it from there and explained what it means to have a relationship with God and what it means to choose to become a Christian. He then gave a time for those who had not yet, but wanted to, to pray and ask Jesus into their hearts. Because we didn’t want to leave the kids at this point, we used the puppets on the third day to tell the story of Paul and King Agrippa. This story was used to illustrate two points. First, just like Paul, a relationship with God transforms our lives. Second it is important that we share what God has done in our lives with others, so that they too have the opportunity to know God.
Our few days in Goridkeefka were a beautiful time. We were able to, as the body of Christ, come along side our brother Oleg and help him to reach out in his community. Thank you so much for your prayers during out time there. Please continue to pray for Oleg and the children we worked with. Pray for the church in Goridkeefka and for the church around the world.
The Ride Home- A Whole New Experience…
We loaded up the church van once more, this time all five of us girls sat in the back. Apparently it takes three men, not just the one driving, to help carry our bags to the car and load up the mattresses. Oleg did not return with us. Oleg had volunteered to take responsibility for us if we were to be pulled over by the police on the way from Vapnyarka to Goridkeefka. (This was new, news to us. I guess it was risky.) With no one to take responsibility for us, we took the back road, a.k.a. “The Fields”. No air conditioners meant the windows were down. The one of the back doors doesn’t close all the way so it acted as a vent to circulate the air and the dust. Sitting on a mattress allowed us to move every which way as we swerved down the road. Nothing can really describe this ride. By the time we got back to Vapnyarka we were so dusty it looked as though we had rolled in a soft ball field. This shall be a ride that I shall never forget.
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