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.