The Latest Happenings

Day in the Park
Up and down, round and round, back and forth- Can you feel the wind on your face and the anxiety in the pit of your stomach? In the background you can hear giggles and screams of laughter. The hustle, the bustle, the excitement surrounds you. It all fades away as the ride begins and you find yourself experiencing your own merry moment. You are swept away by an amusement park ride. For children of all ages going to an amusement park is one of the highlights of summer. For kids with disabilities in Ukraine, it is a dream. On Saturday August 23, it became a dream come true for some of these kids and their families. Aquila families met in the local park. We rode rides, ate ice cream, and had a wonderful time of fellowship. Rides were not wheel chair accessible. Children who cannot walk had to be carried up steps to board the rides. A few children who cannot sit on their own had to be held in the lap of either a parent or a volunteer. There are not words to express the smiles painted on the faces of these children.

The day in the park was also a social statement. Children and people with disabilities are often shunned in this culture. Most people who pass by rudely ignore them or make statements that the family must be cursed or the parents terrible sinners. To be seen in public together strengthens these families. It also helps others in the community to become aware of disabled people and how they are a part of the community.

An Inspirational Story

Titus 3:14 “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.”

As we were returning from one of the villages we passed a man working in a field. Using a sickle he cut the tall grass. This would not have been an unusual sight in Ukraine except that the man was 74, was sitting in a wheel chair, and only had one leg. WoW! We were all amazed by what we saw. “Turn around” Vera said. “What for?” said the driver. “Let’s go meet him and at least give him some bread.” We turned around and drove back. When we pulled off the side of the road near the man he was quite surprised. His name is Vassili and he is 74 years old. When we asked why he was out here working he replied, “I just can’t be alive and not do anything.” Wow! Powerful words from a man working not just because he had to, but because he wanted to. Many people half his age without a physical disability do not work with such fervor. We gave him bread and a Crisis Care Kit. Noticing the old and worn condition of the wheel chair, Vera looked at him and said, “Do you know how to pray? You pray for a new wheel chair and I’ll deliver it.” The men from our team finished cutting the grass for him and we were once again on the road home touched by what we had just experienced.



During the next week Vera made a few phone calls to see if anyone had a wheel chair. She found one. This past weekend we delivered it. Once again we surprised Vassili, this time at his door step. The two wheel chairs sat side by side, old and new, as he came out the door to see his new chair for the first time. His eyes radiated with joy. “I’ll only take this chair to see my neighbor.” He commented as he sat in the padded seat. “No, take it wherever you want to go.” Vassili was thrilled.



It is amazing what God does when we listen to his voice. You see, Vera heard God tell her to stop and we did. Upon delivering the wheel chair we learned that in that same village, there are four other people who need wheel chairs due to lack of legs. Before we learned of this need a truck was already in route to Chernovtsy bringing humanitarian aid. In that truck are four wheel chairs. They will be here next week.

God’s plans are greater than anything we could imagine and he orchestrates them in such a way that we find ourselves in awe of his masterpiece.



A Culture Snapshot: We were waiting for a bus to take us to the bus station early Thursday morning when a Marshutka pulled up. As several people got out at the stop Vera stuck her head in and asked the driver, “Are you going to the bus station?” He replied, “No, I still need to go to my doctor’s appointment.” This is what the girls on my seventh grade volleyball team last year would have called W.W.W. T.M.I. (Way, Way, Way, Too Much Information!) Instead of just saying no, he shared personal information. This is one of the daily reflections of Ukraine’s history of social living.

Crossing Borders
Traveling alone, to another foreign country with another language is a little nerve racking. I had to wake early. Vera took me to the bus station. She spoke to the driver; to be sure he knew I needed to return with them that day. It was not a problem. The driver and his friend would take great care of me, all it cost was a kiss on the cheek from Vera.
My trip to Romania went something like this:
7:10 Leave Chernovtsy
8:35 Leave Ukrainian Border
8:50 Enter Romania

By 10:30 I was at the bus station. I had till 1:00 to look around. I didn’t stray too far but was able to observe everyday life in the market and bazaar. In one of the stores I found an American product that isn’t sold in Ukraine, Mountain Dew. It is the only souvenir I brought back with me. I save it for one of those moments when I just need something American. At 12:45 I was back at the bus station and at 1:00 I was on my way back to Ukraine. Looking out the bus window one could see mountains on every side. The picture perfect view was a reminder that God was taking care of me. Thank everyone for your prayers during this time. I will need to leave again at the end of November as part of the Visa requirement.

Lessons from disaster

One would think that the more villages I visit, damage I see, and victims that I meet the less they would affect me. However, I have found that the opposite is true. The more sights I see and people I come in contact with the more it leaves an impression on my heart.

I find that I am constantly reminded of the words of Job just after he was told of the loss of his animals, servants, and children. The scripture said that he shaved his head, tore his clothes and worshiped saying the words in Job chapter 1 verse 21
Job 1:21
He said,
“I came naked from my mother’s womb,
and I will be naked when I leave.
The LORD gave me what I had,
and the LORD has taken it away.
Praise the name of the LORD!”

The Lord gave and the Lord took. It is a powerful statement but what is more powerful is what follows- “Praise the name of the LORD!”

Walking or driving through the villages, it does not take long before you see a destroyed garden of a collapsed house. You hear stories that break your heart but in the midst of all the sorrow you will find something greater than the sadness. You hear people thankful to be alive. They have nothing but life. They are grateful for the aide that has come. The hope they have for a new life is more powerful than the loss they have suffered. I am truly touched by the people I meet, the ones that are not just sitting in anger or sorrow. They have suffered a great loss which they carry with them but that is not their focus. They are rebuilding their lives. Coming into contact with these people has forced me to reflect on my own life. What is important to me? What would I do in this situation? Could the words of Job come from my mouth? “The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!”

Future in Ukraine

Dear friends I am so thankful to be on this journey and even more thankful that I am not alone. Through your prayers, support, and encouragement you have given me the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to serve with you. The past five months have been an incredible adventure that at some times flashed before me at the speed of light and at others seemed to crawl like a snail. There were moments that I did not want to be where I was and others that I could not imagine any other place I would rather be. The road has not been easy but God has been here. He has worked in my life in ways I could have never dreamed. I have been witness to his power time after time. I have had the opportunity to work with a many people in several ministries. God has opened doors to place me exactly where he wanted me. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Thus far the majority of my ministry has been in Vapnyarka at the children’s center. I have lived and loved seventeen children. Currently I am working in Chernovtsy with children with disabilities and their family. For the duration of my time in Ukraine the current plan is for me to travel back and forth between the two places. In both places I will be working with the children and also be helping with correspondence that needs to be done in English. I am very excited about this opportunity to work in both areas. In Chernovtsy I will also be helping to organize the current programs and help prepare it for growth. One of the new ministries we are in the process of creating is a library with both regular books and audio books. The books will be available to the families we work with and to volunteers to take with them to visit children. Audio books are important because some of the children are bed ridden and blind. Books on tape offer them a new form of entertainment. I will also be teaching some basic English to parents and children who are interested. This will provide an opportunity for me to build relationships with them and offer them the ability to learn something new. Being able to speak a little English is also helpful when teams from the United States come. Please be praying for me as God sorts out exactly what my role here is. Pray for the programs, that they will be organized in the most effective way and that God will provide the funds for the various projects such as the library. Once again, thank you for being a part of this journey. You have been a great blessing to me and to those I work with. May God Bless you and keep you.
Tiffany

Proverbs 16:33 “We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall.”