I am with team L’Chaim the first part of this month in Lutsk, Ukraine. We have really enjoyed the challenge of learning the language & culture. Because of the way the ministry is set up, this first week is a prayer ministry week, there has been plenty of time to work on creating a culture for the team as well. We have played games, cooked together, worshipped together, & talked non stop. We are girls after all.
I love this part of my job, just getting to know these racers. They are funny, fierce, joyful, persistent, & they become friends quickly. These ladies have blessed me through their service of one another & the people we have met in Lutsk. Monday we helped the YWAM staff here move in to their new offices in town. There was a lot of organizing, dusting, & carrying up stairs. The girls have started to make lunch for a homeless man we pass every day; today they passed out flowers with a note that read “You are Beautiful & God loves you.” to every woman that passed by. To some they gave hugs, others just smiles. We can’t communicate with them, there is a surprising lack of English speakers here, but we do our best to learn Ukrainian. We have met Masha, a teacher here who became a believer a year ago. She has been an absolute God send…she gave us a tour of the city, she translates when needed, and she has become our fast friend.
I have gotten to spend a good bit of time with the ladies as they minister to one another & to those appointments God has for them each day but I also spend my time checking in on the other teams, reading blogs, & praying for the racers. I get to be an intercessor for those God has given me to guide. I get to seek words for them, I get to sit & listen as they pour out their broken hearts, & I get to remind them of the truth when it gets hazy. I LOVE my job.
I have found a little cafe, I don’t know the real name but I call it Stella because of the umbrella’s outside advertising the beer. I spend several hours a day at Stella, drinking real coffee, reading, & praying. I tried their Borscht today since I was there at lunch time. It was really good; you never know what you are going to get so I was glad that it was tasty & I recognized all the ingredients.
Starting next week L’Chaim will work with YWAM to host a sports camp for children in the area. This is one of the local children’s favorite activities, they have been asking for months now when the next camp will be. The ladies are excited about getting to participate in this activity. I am going to meet up with another one of our teams that is stationed just outside of Kiev sometime next week. I will have another 10 hour train ride back to the city of Kiev, then I’m not sure where I will go from there but I will let you know when I figure it out. The teams will minister in their respective locations until the 9th or 10th, then we will all meet up in Bucharest, Romania for an overnight check-in. I am looking forward to hearing about how the first month of ministry went. I can’t wait to see how God has blessed, changed, and challenged each of the racers.
Thank you for your support & helping me be here with these men & women. I am always aware of the prayers lifted up on my behalf & I am blessed by the sacrifices you all make to participate in this ministry alongside me. I have not reached my support goal to date, so if you would like to give you can at my webpage; click on the Support Me link on the top left side of the page. Keep those prayers coming, I can’t do this for them without you all! God bless!
