Insane in the brain, insane in the Ukraine!

Oh the Ukraine. It has been a gooood month! We have been working with a ministry here called Jeremiah Hope. It’s a camp for kids and teens, this is the second year that Jeremiahs Hope has done camps and I have enjoyed getting to pour in here for the three weeks we have had. A couple runs it, Andrew and Jenny and they have two little girls, they are an amazing couple with hearts for the children and young adults of the Ukraine.

Week one: We arrived in the middle of a camp for children from social services; many of them had heartbreaking stories. Since we didn’t get as much time to invest and get to know these kids I felt a bit on the outside looking in, seeing these kids and their situations; many of which appear hopeless was a challenge. There was one boy in particular, Nathaniel he is so adorable, no front teeth, all ears, and about 7 years old; SO sweet! I saw him and all I wanted to do was be his friend. The second day I went to talk to him, I went to give him a hug and he punched my arm and yanked back away from me…and so continues the lesson of Jesus’ persistent love. Over the next days I got to know Nathaniel more, we played in the water fight and sang songs about Jesus with the other kids and counselors. I saw his violence with other children too and from afar I lifted prayers of peace and love. Friday came and we were getting ready to do some skits for the kids and he ran up to me and hugged me, wrapped his little arms around my legs and hugggggggggged me! He sat in my lap and we watched the skits together, it was such a sweet glimpse into the sweetness that the Lord has put in every child, the same sweet innocence that had been taken from so many of these children.  I know that the Lord is redeeming that innocence in Nathaniel. 

Week three: This past week was so fun!!! There were about thirty 15-22year olds for a camp, they are all young men and women who live in a homes together, most of them have graduated from orphanages and been placed in one of these centers to go to trade schools. Andrew asked us to share our stories with the teens in the evening and the second night my turn came and I did not feel ready or excited about sharing, I was a bit tired and didn’t really feel like I had it in me. Well God does stuff when we “don’t have it in us”.  I ended up sharing about my mom and the journey that I have been on since she got sick and since she passed away, as always it was emotional for me but watching their faces as I shared I believe that the Lord was moving.