Pryvit (hello in Ukrainian)!
We have been in Uzhgorod for over a week now, so I wanted to fill you in on what our ministry looks like this month. We, as well as Team Aletheia, are staying at Nehemiah International's campus. Their team is working at the kids' camp here at Nehemiah, while our team is involved in various ministry activities each day.
View of Uzhgorod from Nehemiah International
Here's what we've done so far:
- Prayer walked – We did this around Nehemiah's campus on the first day of kids' camp, and around our neighborhood, especially the hotel nearby where human trafficking is suspected.
- Cleaned – We became pros at this in Ireland last month. We've done some upkeep at Nehemiah and at one of Pastor Vasily's churches.
- Bible camp for gypsy kids in town – We met an amazing gypsy woman there who shared her testimony with us as well as stories of healing that God has worked through her since she became a Christian 1 year ago.
- Visited and prayed over a woman with cancer – A separate blog is coming on this one!
- Tore down walls in the basement of Pastor Vasily's church in town – Megan and Sarah particularly enjoyed this destructive activity. 🙂
- Spoke at a youth service at one of Pastor Vasily's churches – This was my first experience speaking through a translator. A bit tricky but gives you more time to think.
- Spoke at a graduation service at a gypsy camp – A separate blog is coming on this one too! It was my favorite thing we've done so far.
- Visited and prayed over a bedridden disabled woman – Her parents and brother all passed away 3 years ago and she has no family now. Please pray for this precious lady – her name is Adriana.
- Took care of abandoned babies in the hospital – Katie, Danielle, and Kaysie have been the ones doing this so far.
Tearing down walls at Pastor Vasily's church with Danny and Peter
Other fun things we've done:
- Sightseeing in Kiev and the town of Uzhgorod
- Experienced Transcarpathian cuisine – potato pancakes here are DELISH
- Jumped off cliffs at the rock quarry
- Had a Ukrainian dinner made by Pastor Vasily's wife at their house in the village of Kamenitsa
- Visited the chocolate cafe 4 days in a row for treats like chocolate-covered fruit and hot chocolate (which is literally liquified chocolate in a cup)
- Had a huge gathering with new Ukrainian and American friends at Clinton's house for Taco Night and games
- Visited 2 different Ukrainian churches, where services last for hours and worship is amazing
Sightseeing in Kiev
Dinner at Pastory Vasily's house in Kamenitsa
Random experiences:
- Paid to use a public restroom for the first time – make sure not to flush the toilet paper
- Got the biggest itchiest bites from the tiniest mosquitos ever
- Ate the best tomatoes of all time – American tomatoes will never cut it now
- Sweated more than I ever have in my life for the first week and then had to wear a sweatshirt the very next week
- Walked a mile (partially uphill) with all 80 pounds of my gear while singing Justin Bieber songs and Jesus Loves Me
- Got called an "ear-splitting flock of sparrows" on the bus by a Ukrainian babushka – guess they don't appreciate loud Americans here
- Became semi-fluent in Ukrainian (meaning I can say a total of about 5 things) through lots of practice with my "sista" Alla
Ukraine has been amazing so far, and we still have 2 weeks to go here. God's going to do major things! Please keep us in your prayers!
