Camp 1: Wow. Where to start? We literally hopped off the plane after over 12hrs of fly time and jumped on a bus for a bumpy 6 hour ride to the small city of Kivarog for orphan camp. After a quick dinner, we held our first evening program for the kids. Let me just say, it was insane. Chaos on the fly as we basically improved an entire concert that involved Matt Snyder (aka Sniper) running around like a chicken, in a Superman concert. Phrase of the week? “We’ll figure it out.” And we did from day one. But it’s been a great lesson in living in faith.
The first full day continued in insanity. The nurses wouldn’t let us play with the kids, some older kids had to leave for work, it was really hard to communicate and unify with the other team members: everything seemed chaotic. I learned being flexible on a whole new level! God convicted me; how do we become more flexible? By stretching. I thought I was stretched enough, but God wanted to take me to an even deeper level.
I worked with the lovely Maryna from the Ukrainian team, teaching 9 preschool kids the Bible lessons. I couldn’t speak much with them, but we played a ton of tag, made crafts, and colored. Coloring might have been my favorite because I actually know my colors and animals in Russian! I also drew tons of mashinas for the kids. Wesley, your notes refreshed, challenged, and encouraged me each day! Seriously, when I didn’t want to wake up in the morning, I would remember a note from you awaited me, and just the thought was enough to get me out of bed so I could read it! The verse you gave me from Philemon became my mantra- “put the generosity of your faith into action.” I wrote it on my arm as a reminder. The day you challenged me to live in a way that requires faith so convicted me! I prayed all day that I would step out in faith in a way that required God to come through, nothing happened, that day. The next morning, Maryna was sick so Mandy and I had to teach the lesson ourselves, without any preparation, without a translator! I freaked at first; there was no way I could do it on my own. Oh wait, that’s exactly what I prayed for, haha. Mandy suggested we should simply read the Bible story, God’s Word does not return void! Some team members prayed for us and then we got our kids. For the first time that week, the kids actually sat quietly on their mat while we spoke to them, and right when we began reading, Svetlana came by and translated for us. God came through.
In the middle of the week, most of the kids left for a concert with their sponsors, so we hiked to this former coal mine (now a lake) and went for a swim. Check this out!
Insanely refreshing. Davin and I swam across it and had a special moment on the rocks, talking about life and our futures, before swimming all the way back. Dad, I found you some really cool rocks!
Now for the best part, the kids!!!! Goodness, they have blown my expectations out of the water! So loving, gentle, and open! The whole team was shocked and blessed.
My gypsy children, two brothers, David (6) and Daniel (5), were brought to the orphanage only 3 weeks ago. They are brilliant. David used body language so well in order to communicate since he knows I couldn’t understand Russian. He even grabbed my palm and started “reading” it. I hope he’s in my future. He gave me kisses and told me he loves me, lit up my heart!
This is Nikita. The most beautiful boy God ever created. He loved candy and playing tag the most.
Vlad is my gorgeous hazel-eyed, 10 year old. “Give me gum?” He asked all the time. He liked to show off too, jumping off the monkey bars, performing tricks, to impress me and make me nervous about him being too dangerous. He also knew more English words than most of the kids and he loved to practice them. “You chocolate, you giraffe, you football,” he liked to tell me. He has an older brother who studies at a local university but never visits. I asked about his parents; he has no idea who his father is and hasn’t seen his mother for 6 years. I asked, “where is your mother?” And he shrugged, “you are my mother.” Broke my heart. He’s not sure if he wants to be adopted though, because he doesn’t want to leave his brother. On the last day, he gave me a dream catcher he made during craft time.
Oh Ruslan. I don’t really even want to put this into words because it won’t be right. The angel child. Seriously, this charmer stole everyone’s heart. He’s so helpful and kind, to us and to the other kids. He would sing Justin Bebier’s “Baby” song, but change the lyrics to “Abi, Abi, Abi!” SO many hugs and kisses! Best bear hugs ever. The boy doesn’t walk, he struts, ‘cause he knows he’s just too much! I was sitting next to him in the sun watching other kids play soccer. He mimed to me that it was really hot and I agreed. Then he pulled off his shirt, I thought it was just to cool off, but then he put it on my head as a covering. That’s just the kind of kid he is. Hannah talked to him about Jesus and he’s a Christian. Hannah asked him why he’s a Christian and he said because he feels Jesus warm his heart, and when he tells Jesus he’s sorry for wring things he does, he feels weight lift off his chest. The day we left, he kept a brave smile on his face and hugged us many times, telling us he loves us and it was going to be ok. He gave me a rose and then pulled off his tie dye shirt and gave it to me. I can’t even say how amazing that child is, and how much I love him. He hated our leaving; please pray he won’t feel abandoned and that God will comfort him.
But the kids closest to my heart were the Vovka family. Four siblings who are extremely tight-knit. 12 yr old Vova, my ninja fighting, tree climbing buddy, is the oldest. He speaks a little English so between my few Russian words, his English, and charades, we got to know each other pretty well. He helped me carry stuff and with anything else he could. Vova is also my hairstylist and camera man, most of my pictures were taken by him. We connected instantly, maybe because we’re both the oldest of four, two boys and two girls? His siblings are Dan, Nastia, and Dasha. I’ve fallen I love with them all. I love to watch them take care of each other, reminds me of my amazing siblings. I miss y’all so much! They don’t know where their parents are, Dan assumes they’re dead. Their grandparents are dead. They didn’t know why they were at the orphanage, or they just didn’t want to tell me. Dasha and Dan are extremely warm, there’s a brightness to their eyes. Nastia and Vova are a little more cold. They’ve obviously got some major hurts they wouldn’t talk to me about. Vova copes with his emotions by playing the clown. Only once during one of the evening concerts, he laid his head on my shoulder and just held on to me the whole time. The day we left he made faces and goofed off the whole time, but I could see in his eyes that he was sad; he chased the bus for as long as he could. When the girls performed, I was so moved by the pride I saw on Vova’s face as he mouthed the words to the song they danced to. Nastia would hug me and smile, but not with the warmth of the younger two, it’s hard to explain. She’s a very talented dancer/gymnast, her stage presence is fantastic and she has her straddle down! Dasha is adorable on stage, so joyful! Talking with them on the last full day, they told me their greatest dream is to visit America. Why? I asked. To just relax, they said. Vova was very interested when he found out I live near the Atlantic ocean. They want to be adopted by a good Christian family who can protect them and take good care of them. I don’t think they’re saved though because when I asked them what a Christian was, Dan said someone who does not steal or hurt people, a good person. Please pray for them to experience relationship with Jesus! Dan is good at math but Dasha loves to read, girl after my own heart! Their family is the most important thing to them. Vova wants to become rich so he can care for his family and give to the poor. He started smoking when he was nine but quit when he was 11 because it’s bad for you and expensive. I asked if he wanted to smoke now and he said never again. While we were talking, a wedding procession passed by and Vova ran off to collect coins they were throwing. He came back with crackers and sunflower seeds for his siblings. Playing badminton with the four of them is one of my favorite memories. Reminded me of playing with my family back home. I want to send them a badminton set for Christmas when Jenya goes back. Dan has the most vivacious, bright, pure face! They all have gorgeous eyes! And different! Vova’s are green, no wonder we hit it off right away, Nastia’s are a blue-ish green, Dan’s are bright blue, and Dasha’s are chocolate brown. I gave them necklaces with sea shells from Ponce Inlet. Nastia is the only one who wouldn’t come up and hug me on her own, but the morning we left, Vova called to me from their window and brought me to her room because she wanted to thank me; she ran to me and gave me a long hug.
Leaving was gut-wrenching. Not only because I was going to miss them, but because I was leaving them alone in such rough conditions. I marveled how strange it was that I loved these kids so much and yet only a week ago didn’t know they existed. Then I felt God reply that as much as I love them, He loves them more and though I just met them, He’s loved them from the moment of their creation; He made them; Though I left them, they are in the care of God, whose love and power are infinitely beyond mine. Please pray Isaiah 61 for these kids, and that I will be bold and give all I can to continue serving this summer, that I would put the generosity of my faith into action. And that my cold goes away and the swelling in my finger goes down more so I can fit it into the smaller finger cast.
Now I am at the Mission apartments in the Embassy district of Kyiv, my favorite city in the world! We spent the morning at New Life church and then roamed the city. The first team leaves tomorrow morning and the second team comes in two days, then it will be time for camp 2! Please pray for camp two. The conditions are much rougher, as are the kids. We will have fewer translators and a huge age gap between the new incoming American team. Pray for strength and unity! And thank you for the prayers you’ve already given. I truly felt the grace of God get me through during tough times!
More to come.
Needless to say, I am ecstatic about this trip! Please keep our team and Ukraine in your prayers. I am humbled and blessed by all the friends and family members who have rallied around me in order to restore brokenness in Ukraine. Praise God!
