Prepared

I love to travel, it's just the traveling part I detest.  Considering it takes over 24hrs to get to Ukraine from Florida, and considering we had 12 team members, we made it to Kyiv with little difficulty.  On the first flight, Damaris and I got to sit with a Dr. who was joining the medical crew for the US Olympic wrestling and judo teams in London!

But once we landed in Kyiv, grabbed our luggage, found our Ukrainian team members who came to pick us up and drive us to Kharkov, packed ourselves into Jenya's van, and drove off... I started to panic.  

Wait.

Am I really about to help lead this team through two orphan camps?

ME?

Whose crazy idea was this?!

I don't know how to lead people!  I don't even know how to serve them!  How can I possibly keep track of and supply all their needs?!

Paper Bag, anyone?  Oh wait.  Freaking out in from of the team was probably not the best idea.

Mid-flip out, God stopped me.

Focus on Jesus, and you will serve naturally.

God is so beautifully simple with us, isn't He?  The more I focused on serving the team, the less I focused on Jesus.  Serving the team would be a natural and authentic outpouring of a heart centered on Christ.  If God isn't working in me, I have no resources with which to work out from Him.  This had to be my posture as a leader throughout these camps.

Phil. 1:12-13 “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

Eph. 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

God had already prepared the work for us.  He had equipped us to complete it!  We had no reason to fear or cower, only to joyfully and boldly work out what He had already worked in us.

If a picture's worth a thousand words...

...does that mean by posting a slideshow, I don't have to blog about this past trip?... shootka! (joke). Words WILL come soon- promise! This trip was far different than anything I've previously experienced and writing it down is difficult. But I will tell you all about it as honestly and effectively as I can, soon. For now, check out this slideshow my co-leader, Matt Snyder, made from this trip!

Here we go...

In about 13 hours, I will embark on another Ukraine mission!  Prepared?  ha.  I just finished packing my suitcase 3 min. ago.  and my brain is quite similar to !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pathetic as it may be, missing out on most of the Olympics is a huge sacrifice for me, I'm already wrapped up in them, making it hard to focus on the trip.
Also making it hard to come up with an authentic prayer list.  But boy does this trip need prayer! and I know you all want to cover our needs in prayer, so here we go-

This trip is about God's mission of restoration.  Pray that our team and the Ukrainian team would unite as servants humbly, joyfully, and powerfully bringing God's message to the lost.  These orphans have no hope, but we have hope as a sure and steadfast anchor for our souls- pray that these kids cling to Jesus as their Hope and Savior, that "they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."

Pray Isaiah 61 and 62 over Ukraine!  that the poor will receive the Good News, that the brokenhearted will be bound up, the captives freed, the suffering comforted, the faint-spirited filled with praise, the ancient ruins built up, the cast off orphans acknowledged as offspring the Lord has blessed, the Forsaken renamed Sought Out!

Pray our American and Ukrainian team work as one body, stay spiritually, emotionally, and physically healthy, let go of anything we grasp, serve with supernatural energy and endurance, and ultimately, "pray that the sharing of (our) faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ."

Pray for Yulya.

This will be my third time visiting her.  She committed her life to Christ last summer, but I don't know how to encourage her faith, even with a translator.  I want to see her set free, filled with the joy of the Lord, redeemed, pure, whole.  My heart is so burdened when I think of her, and I honestly feel helpless.  I don't want to show up a third time and just be her American buddy that randomly shows up and listens to music with her.  Pray that God will fill her with all joy and peace, that she would abound in hope, and for her future.  Though I'm pretty certain she has already been abused, more abuse and exploitation are in her future without a miracle.

And pray for me.  I've never lead a team before and I already feel totally inadequate.  Pray that my motives would be pure, my actions genuine.  Pray that God makes me sensitive to the needs of my team and that He would supply me to serve them in every way.  Pray that I am focused and intentional.  Oh, and please pray I make it through the plane rides with no health problems, I tend to have intense stomach pain when I fly, not motion sickness, it's hard to describe, but my doctor couldn't find anything wrong so it's not too serious, don't worry!


I don't know how to properly thank you all for your prayers.  Last summer and in January, I tangibly felt and witnessed God answering your prayers; I felt covered.  You are all dear to me and I'm so thankful for your investment in my life.  Bless you!!

I'm going back!

        

    Okay, I admit.  I’m addicted to Ukraine!  But in all seriousness, God really has knit my heart to this country.  I’m constantly praying for the orphans I’ve met and come to love, and I’m staying in touch with the university students I’ve built friendships with over the 3 times I’ve been in Ukraine.  I have the opportunity to return to Ukraine next month, this time as a team leader of a group from Northland Church, and my little sister, Lizzy, is coming too!  I’m ecstatic. 

          Orphans in Ukraine have little hope for their futures.  There are approximately 105,000 children residing in orphanages, and statistics show that only 1 out of 10 of these orphans becomes a functional member of society. The rest are lost to drugs, crime, prostitution, and suicide.  This makes my heart ache!  God has birthed a passion in me to defend the helpless.  He brings me again and again to Isaiah 61; “the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”

          Through two camps, we will bring Isaiah 61 into action, sharing Bible stories, playing various games and sports, acting out skits, doing crafts, and being a source of love and provision for these kids and students who desperately need to know the love of Jesus.  But so much more is taking place beyond camp.  The organization we partner with, Hope for Orphans, is preparing to build a facility where they can nurture orphans all year round, and a trade school where older orphans can learn skills that will enable them to provide for themselves and have a tangible hope for their futures.  I had the opportunity to see and pray over the property this past January.  God will bring incredible restoration through that place!

          Our team will leave for Ukraine on July 29th, and will return on August 19th.  Please pray for the children we will meet (or reconnect with- we're going back to Vovkovinsiy!), for the Ukrainian team, for our team, and for me- this will be my first time leading a team, ack.  

Pray for justice!  Pray for restoration!  Pray for deliverance!  Pray that God would be glorified!  

Pictures from Winter Camp!

Here are a few pictures from the orphan camp I was a part of in January.

                                                                Me, Colya, and Mandy

                                                                         Me and Masha

                                                                       Our small group

                                                              Handing out the scarves

Winter Camp, 2012

I went to Ukraine with Philemon 1:6 in mind- “And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.”  Our God is generous.  I wanted the kids in Ukraine to see that, to understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.  This was my daily prayer and motivation.

           

On the plane, I read this excerpt from My Utmost for His Highest,

He went out, not knowing where he was going —Hebrews 11:8

     Have you ever “gone out” in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, “What do you expect to do?” You don’t know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to “go out” in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely…Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do— He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you “go out” in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised one iota by anything He does?

            I knew this message was timely and I needed to pay attention, but I still didn’t realize just how much I would need to remember these words later on the trip!

           

The orphanage at Gordinya had the nicest facilities I’ve ever seen for an orphanage.  The buildings were large and clean, the teachers were friendly to the children and to us, and the kids were decently clothed.  However, these kids were emotionally and spiritually starving.  Punching, biting, and slapping were routine in their interactions with each other, so from the first day we focused on being gentle and kind, showing the kids a better way to communicate and interact.  We had small group Bible lessons in the mornings, and my group consisted of 11 10-12yr old boys and girls.  It’s amazing how quickly we fell in love with them!  One of our girls named Nastia had a birthday during camp.  We bought her a cake and sang “Happy Birthday” to her in English.  We were warned about her on the first day because she was especially violent.  Even when she wasn’t angry, she was rough and didn’t know her own strength.  On the day after her birthday however, she sat next to me during lesson, so I put my arm around her.  Instead of wrestling with me like I expected, she simply hung on to me softly and sat still.  While talking to my Ukrainian team member that afternoon, I found out Nastia asked her about Jesus and if He could love her, and after talking a while, Nastia gave her heart to Jesus!

           

I gave my testimony during the evening concert.  Since I grew up in a Christian home, I worried the orphans wouldn’t relate to my story.  I ended up being as honest as I could, sharing Hebrews 6:13-20 with them.  I described my life as a boat at sea.  Without an anchor, my boat was at the mercy of every storm, but with Christ as the anchor of my soul, it doesn’t matter whether the sea is calm or rough.  Jesus, not my circumstances, is the center of my hope and the source of my joy.  My prayer is that the orphans will realize only God satisfies, and though their circumstances may never improve, they can have imperishable hope, joy, and purpose in our glorious Lord.  Please pray with me!

           

Christmas Eve, the American and Ukrainian teams went caroling through the village.  We sang in Russian and English, going from house to house.  Some families came out to hear us sing and give us candy.  It was a precious time.  Christmas day, we gave all the orphans hats and scarves (we had more than enough!) as well as candy and presents.  They were so excited that people they didn’t even know who lived so far away in a different country cared so much about them!  It was hard to leave that afternoon.

           

Once we were back in Kyiv, we went to see the property Hope For Orphans recently purchased.  HFO has incredible plans for this land- a transition program to help older orphans understand what it means to be a healthy family, teach them useful skills to make a living, provide a constant Christian presence, and an example to the younger orphans that they can live healthy, productive lives; a farm and barn where orphans can grow their own food and experience animal therapy; centralized, fully equipped camps where orphans can spend their entire summer and winter breaks; and so much more!  We prayed together for God’s blessing over the land.  I can’t wait to see how God will use it and I hope to be a part!

           

A highlight of the trip for me was going back to Vovkavinci for a day.  We had a camp at Vovkavinci orphanage this summer and I really connected with a 12 year old girl named Yulia who gave her heart to Jesus at camp.  I saw her again!  Since I didn’t have a translator with me, our communication was limited, but I saw light in her eyes and got to hug her and tell her over and over that I love her.  We listened to music together on my ipod and she showed me how her English was improving by trying to read the song titles to me.

           

I did receive some difficult news on this trip.  Remember the Vovka family?  They are the 4 orphan children closest to my heart.  Their orphanage is closing down next year so all the children are being placed in foster homes.  I found out 3 of the Vovkas, Vova, Dan, and Dasha have been placed in a foster home, but Nastia, the oldest girl, refused to go because she desperately wants to be adopted by a member of Hope For Orphans.  I brought Christmas presents for them and had so hoped to see them, so this news devastated me.  I wanted to be angry at God, but didn’t I just tell the orphans God was my anchor?  What do I have left if I don’t cling to Him?  I have to trust His higher thoughts and better plans.  He is good and loves the Vovkas far more than I do.  I don’t know His plans, but I know Him and I can trust in His goodness.  Please pray for their future, that they would be reunited and adopted by a Christian family who loves them.

           

Thank you for partnering with me on this trip!  I love Ukraine and am passionate about the work God is doing there.  Thank you for your support, prayers, encouragement, and for making hats and scarves.  I am humbled by the overwhelming care you have for this ministry.  God bless you!

Update:

Hello friends!
Here's a summary of latest news regarding my travels to Ukraine:
I will be going back to Ukraine for the 3rd time from January 2nd to the 12th!  This will be my first winter trip to Ukraine, and my first time celebrating Ukrainian Christmas in Ukraine! (Jan. 7th)  With a team from Northland Church, I'll serve with Hope For Orphans for a Christmas camp (similar to VBS) at an orphanage in Gordinya (a village near Kyiv).  I'm helping with skits like I did this summer, and we will also have worship, sports, crafts, and Bible lessons for the orphans.  Since it's Christmas, we are also bringing wonderful gifts!  So many friends and family members have joined with me to make and provide hats and scarves for the orphans.  What started out as a simple idea has turned into an amazing venture!  Thank you to everyone who is involved!
     Besides camp, we will also visit property HFO has recently purchased, property that will provide a safe place for orphans to come during their summer and winter breaks, and will house a adaption program for older orphans, teaching them practical skill sets and a hope for their otherwise bleak futures.  I am honored to witness and be a part of the beginnings of a movement that will change so many children's lives! 
     To top it all off, we will also spend an afternoon ministering to widows, and will visit a trade school for children who are too old to stay in an orphanage.

     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!