I am blown away by the love freely given here in Ukraine. We are staying in a cozy home in Kolomyia with our contact Tolic, his wife Alla and their adorable 6 year old daughter Nastya. First day here we sat down with Tolic to go over what the month would look like. This being the 5th sit down with our contact I had a pretty good idea how it would go. He would tell us when and what ministry was, rules of the house, probably share his heart for the ministry, and maybe ask all our names. I was wrong. As we sat there with a translator, the first thing he said “tell me your name and something about yourself.” As we sat there for close to 2 hours most of our talk consisted of him asking us questions so he could get to know us. He genuinely cared about getting to know each and every one of us.
A little into the first week here we were informed people from the church were coming over to fellowship. I assumed it must have been for a bible study or something they do weekly/monthly. I was wrong again. As we all gathered around in a large circle on the floor of the attic we worshiped together. Then they asked us each to share with them our testimony. After each of us shared, they asked questions about our family, why we came on the race, and what we want to do after. What?! Who are these people?! They not only want us to help with their ministry (which, by the way, is teaching English in schools around town…I’ll write another blog about that) but they want to build relationships with us as well. Don’t get me wrong, most of the ministries thus far we have built awesome relationships but this month they are really digging in!
As those of you who read my blog about Romania know, I am a woman of relationship. After last month of no relationships God has spoiled me with a crazy amount of relationships this month! Everyone gives so freely, such amazing servant hearts! Wanting to get to know us, people from the church pitching in and making us lunch, opening up their home as an “internet café”, showing us around town, translating, having us over to eat an amazing feast with their family, Alla making us breakfast and dinner daily…always ready when we wake up and at the end of the day when we get home from ministry, “tea? Coffee?” asked several times a day, driving us around or walking us to the bus stop, and so much more. Alla loves blessing us in the smallest of ways that mean so much….like making things separate with no mayonnaise for Lynnsey my teammate who hates mayo or when I get home from a day of ministry and go to grab my clothes off the line to find that she has already folded it and put it by my bed.
I feel so spoiled here! Not in spoiled brat kind of way but in a way where I feel so incredibly blessed. So many here have poured into us, loved us, and spoiled us! God’s love clearly pours through them and into others. It’s so amazing to watch people bless with no expectations of anything in return. It encourages me to be the same. I have been so incredibly touched this month and I desire to bless people as much as I have been blessed this month!
Keep an eye out for more posts soon about ministry life!!
Support update: I need $2010 by July 1st! It’s my last deadline praise God! Please help me reach this by supporting me financially, prayerfully, and/or by passing my information along to a friend! Thank you to all of you who have already been so incredibly supportive! I couldn’t be here without you 🙂
To donate: Click “support me” via my blog Jenniferlanges.theworldrace.org
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Adventures in Missions
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Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
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