Winter Trip 2015
As I started for my trip back to Ukraine for my mission trip with Mercy Projects, I was filled with joy and excitement. As always I am very grateful to God for giving me the chance to serve on his behalf. I was asked to give a sermon and I said yes but then I felt kind of nervous. But I also know that God will be with me and he gives me the words of what to say. A special thank you goes to all of the wonderful people that prayed for me and for all of the financial help that I got to get to Ukraine. So I was traveling I felt like God was telling me don’t worry I am with you and just be faithful to me and I will guide you through it all. As I arrived in Kyiv, my ride was waiting and I went to my hotel and got ready for the next day which I would be going to camp with the staff, counselors, and translators. It was really nice to see some familiar faces and to meet you, people, as well too. As always the Ukrainian staff is always so nice and kind to me. I helped out putting all that is needed for the camp. It felt good to be at camp early. I first lunch I was asked by Yana to pray for our meal and that was really nice. Then, Mike and Jim arrived late in the evening.
The kids arrived today and we did a flash mob type of style and froze when the kids got off the bus. They were so amazed to see us and I even see some kids that remembered me from last year. I see a lot them that I remembered and I also met some new kids. After getting them settled in we had our first meal with them. We then were put into teams and I was put with Max and Kate. It is crazy but I and Max have a similar background but that is how God works. We had a good time during candle time getting to know one another and that is really wonderful. Our first full day was filled with a lot of fun and games. These kids are really amazing and it is a great honor to know and teach them. It is so wonderful to know that we Americans bring them so much joy and for me just seeing them smile and laugh fills my heart with complete joy and happiness. They really enjoyed playing games with us and are always asking me to play. Mike gave a great message.
This day was really fun because we had games planned all day and it even snowed so that was really wonderful. Running around like a kid is really great. Some of the kids even said was very cool and I like me. I am started to get close to some of them and I hope I can be a great impact on them. Our candle time is really amazing and fun. These kids express what they are feeling. But like most kids, they just want to have fun and we are always asked to join them. Another day of great fun at the camp, it is so amazing on how the counselors and translators do such a wonderful job with preparing everything. We had some awesome games and worship, Mike gave a great message. Our candle time was great and the kids are starting to open up. Hearing some of their stories just breaks my heart and makes me feel lucky and blessed to have the family and parents I have.
Today was another great day and feeling the blessings of the Lord. Today I helped out with the games. My counselors Max and Kate are amazing and it shows how they really love these kids so much. My translator, Ihor, is really great and it does an awesome job. We played a great today where we had to tape up and try to tag the kids in the snow. It snowed a little while I was here. It was really awesome to see and God showed me how loving and caring he is. Just simple little gifts like these just touch my heart. In the chapel service, I gave a message. As I started to preach, I thank the kids for being so kind and loving to me and I expressed to them that I love them and I am always praying for them. Then, I gave my message and I also shared on how God worked in my life and how he changed me so much. As I was speaking I felt very nervous but God helped me through it. I shared each milestone I have had in the last 7 years. Then, I asked all of the counselors to please come to the front and then I asked all the kids if they wanted prayer. I was amazed at how God moved in a great way, almost instantly they started coming forward to groups. Seeing the kids being broken by the Lord was quite something because I did not expect what was happening. I was just in awe of what was happening and it was great to see the Lord move. I started to pray with some kids, asking God to heal them and give them the strength to seek him. I can say honestly that I was in awe of all that was happening. A lot of kids came up to me hug me and said thank you, to be honest, I was so choked up and just said you are welcome. God always finds ways to use me even in Ukraine. We are truly seeing what God is doing here in this camp. One young lady, Miraslava, in the camp needed new boots; because the one she had the bottoms had come off. Some of the counselors tried to glue them but it would not stick together and hold. Well, in the evening Yana, explaining to everyone at the camp what had happened the director presented her with a new pair of boots. This young was so thrilled and happy just to receive a new pair of boots. Her smile was so bright and shining, it was clearly of a sign of God’s love for this young lady. Stories like these just make my heart jump with joy and happiness. Also, one young man, Sasha, accepted Christ and then we all laid hands on him and prayed for him. Keep this young man in your prayers that he will continue to pursue God.
Today Max, preach and he gave an awesome message. Hearing his testimony broke me in many ways. To hear how his childhood was very heartbreaking. But God uses many of us counselors to draw the kids and God works in our camp again. Hearing some of the kids weep brought tears of joy and sadness. To hear what they go through was so hard to hear but to know that the Lord will help them and guide them. Another day of wonderful games and just playing games with kids was amazing. I felt like a kid and was dancing with the kids and just having a wonderful time. It was our last night being with the kids. Then, something really amazing happened Max proposed to Kate in front of all us and that was so beautiful and everyone was just in awe. What a way to end the camp. So much joy and happiness I witnessed on this trip. We ended our night with a wonderful gift from everyone and having a meal together. As we met for our final candle night, all the kids ask me not to forget about them and they told them I will never forget about them and that I would be praying for them. But then I told them I ask all of my kids and counselors in my group number three, to write down their name, where they live, and their prayer requests and then we all took a group photo. All they agreed and wrote down for me and I was quite delighted, God always finds a way to show me that he is always working.
Well, today was our last day and we just reflected on all that happened and we thank one another. Without the Ukrainians hard work all year long this camp would not happen. We have seen off the kids and I just expressed them to keep seeking the Lord and that I will be praying for them. Then, we went Ivankiv, Ukraine to attend a beautiful concert, got see some wonderful people that are from Eastern Ukraine and some soldiers. It was a great afternoon and I was able to meet Jeff Thompson. As we all departed we said our goodbyes and I told them I see them next year.
After camp gave us a chance to get to know one another. One of the counselors Tima, helped me and Jim get settled in in our apartments. He made sure I found my apartment and even took right to my place and made sure I was okay. My translator Ihor always does a great job in helping me out as we tour Kyiv. I spent the day hanging out with some of the counselors as we walk around Kyiv and seeing a lot of places. Then, my zipper to my coat ripped. Max’s fiancé Kate sewed my coat zipper in a store and I was very, very grateful. We spent the next few days hanging out with Zhenya and Jim. It was really great to just to get to know one another. Jim and I hosted Yana, her husband, Oksana, and Zhenya over for dinner. Jim did the cooking and I hosted my apartment. I and Jim shared our testimony in detail about how God saves us. It gave the counselors a chance to hear how God has been so faithful to us. We had a great time just sharing with one another and fellowshipping. On my final night, I went to a coffee house ministry that Max is part of. While we were at camp Max had asked me to speak and I said yes. At first, I was really nervous but I just settled down. I just spoke about my life and how God has saved me from all of my bad ways. Everyone thanked me and I said I am here to help in any way that I can. Everyone at the Coffee House was really amazing and kind to me, they kept thanking me for coming and for the love I have for Ukraine. It has been really wonderful too bad the trip had to end but there is always next year. After we were about to leave I said my goodbyes to Max and Kate, which I will dearly. I feel like I have known them all of my life and not just a few weeks. But then Max and Kate surprised me and said we would like you to come to our wedding and I said yes, I will come. What a way to end the trip to Ukraine. Thank you to everyone who helped me get to Kyiv and to serve and for all the prayers. All of you played a special role in my trip.
Ukraine Travel 