(Part II)
My dear readers,
Do you remember when I wrote about my experiences in Malaysia? About how spiritually heavy that country was? Well, that feeling surfaced all over again while my team and I were in the Ukraine. There was this one particular street that I could barley manage to walk down due to the uneasy feeling I would get. Emotionally and spiritually, it was a tough month. However, I did learn a lot about serving and loving people unconditionally. YES! I always pray that I may SEE through Jesus’s eyes and I ask for HIS love to move through me, but sometimes we do not really know what that means until we open ourselves up completely.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, my team and I visited a club for street people which was the highlight of my time spent in Odessa, Ukraine. I got to listen to the cries, experience the laughter, and see the potential of every individual that walked through the doors of this club. Usually, my team would first lead a bible study, then played some sort of game with the kids, and finally we would eat an authentic Ukrainian meal with them. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and cannot wait to hear updates on how each one of them are doing.
During the whole month of September, my team and I ministered to street people-the forgotten people of the Ulraine. We got to meet some incredible people who once had a “normal” life; but somehow took a wrong turn. One night, we were able to go out at midnight to pass out food to the homeless, street kiids, and the helpless wanderers. Each time my team would stop to pass out a bag of food, I felt as though Jesus was right there with us; smiling down upon HIS children. It was extremely humbling to be part of this ministry.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, my team and I visited a club for street people which was the highlight of my time spent in Odessa, Ukraine. I got to listen to the cries, experience the laughter, and see the potential of every individual that walked through the doors of this club. Usually, my team would first lead a bible study, then played some sort of game with the kids, and finally we would eat an authentic Ukrainian meal with them. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and cannot wait to hear updates on how each one of them are doing.
Towards the end of the month, my team leader, Sarah, had a vision of us holding a feast for the forgotten people of the Ukraine. Sarah imagined the feast to be like the Great Banquet (In the book of Luke) in which we prepare food for the, “poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame” (Luke 14:21). It was incredible how Jesus put it all together and to see the turnout we had. We fed close to 100 people that night and even had help from the street kids themselves. These kids were so willing to help…which got me thinking. This whole year, I have had chances outside of ministry days to serve; yet I decided otherwise. Then I saw these kids who jumped at the opportunity to serve when they really have nothing to give but their time. I saw Jesus shine brightly in these kids and I was encouraged to serve more; to be less selfish and more selfless. I learned so much from the forgotten people of Odessa which came as a surprise to me. I do not know why this is the case, it just came unexpectedly.
The street people brought joy even through their sorrows, which could be VERY beneficial to the Ukraine. Maybe this country could learn a thing or two from their “least of these.” What do you think?
