Greetings
again from Ukraine! This week my teammates and I were able to begin
partnering in ministry with YWAM in running the annual kids and youth
camp. The kids range in age from preschool to upper teens. The camp
has been going on for several years, and we have had the privilege of
helping out with the opening week this year. Each day begins and ends
with games, such as tossing a ball or frisbee, jumping rope, playing
tag, doing crafts, or the daily favorites: dodgeball, UNO, and
playing soccer. Soccer is a very popular sport in Ukraine, and seeing
as how, other than running, it is my favorite sport to play, it was
so much fun to get to join in and play! After about an hour of
playing games, we bring the kids together for a few interactive
activities and a short Bible lesson. For our “opening
presentation,� we did three different interactive songs drawn from
past camp experiences that one of my teammates and I had. There is a
different theme for each week of camp, and this week’s theme was
hope. One of the YWAM staff interns, Jake, taught on Monday and
Friday, but my teammates and I were asked to lead camp Tuesday
through Thursday. My teammates and I took turns throughout the week
directing activities and teaching the lessons, and I had the
privilege of being able to tell the kids about hope in God through
the story of Job on Tuesday. Since we do not speak Ukrainian, we have
had one of the YWAM staff translate for us. However, we have
definitely been learning how to love the kids with the love of Christ
despite being able to only minimally communicate with them verbally.
The biggest way I have found to overcome this barrier is through hugs
and smiles. This was especially evident when going to a local
orphanage a couple of times this week with the YWAM staff. The kids
are all under three years old, and they cannot be adopted, because,
although they have been taken out of home situations with parents
that suffer from such things as alcohol or drug addictions, there is
a rule that, if the parents visit the child even once a year, the
child cannot be adopted. And there’s only about ten workers for forty
kids, so many of the kids don’t get regular individual attention.
Towards the end of our time there on Tuesday, I picked up one of the
little girls, and she latched on to me, not letting go for the next
ten to fifteen minutes that I held her until we left. Though I could
not speak to her in a way that she would verbally understand, I
prayed God’s Spirit and blessing over her. And while I may never see
her again, it was a blessing and privilege to be able to love on her
for those few minutes. One of the little girls in the camp has also
taken to running up to me and nearly tackling me with a hug whenever
she sees me, and her hugs and smile have become a highlight to my
day! It really is amazing the difference that just a small act of
love can make. Many of the kids at the camp come from difficult home
situations, so it’s a blessing and privilege to be able to love them
in the name of Christ and give them a small break from the challenges
they are used to.
Please
continue praying for us during our last week of ministry in Ukraine
and with these kids, that God would simultaneously strengthen the
YWAM staff, my teammates and me and continue to work through all of
us to minister to these kids. At the end of next week, on either July
8th
or 9th,
we will be on our way to Romania for our second month of ministry!
It’s hard to believe that the first month is almost done; there have
been many growing experiences and blessings throughout the weeks we
have spent in Ukraine. I’m definitely excited about what is to come
in Romania!
(P.S. The picture is compliments of one of my very talented and amazing teammates, Logan Kaynes — she is a much better and more frequent photographer than me, so I am borrowing some of her pictures for blogs. We met these two boys just before camp started, and one of them has been there with us this week!)
Therefore,
as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those
who are of the household of faith.
�” Galatians 6:10
