So my blog title is a little cheesy, but you’ll understand why I chose it after you read this blog. Our squad 
leaders really had a desire for all of the H-Squad
to be in the Ukraine this month.
At the time God gave them this desire we didn’t really have ministry
solidified for 8 teams. Here’s a
testimony to how God has shown up.
were coming to Kiev, 3 to Luganks, and 1 to Odessa. After 2 full days of travel, including an overnight train,
Team B.L.I.N.G. arrived in Kiev last Wednesday. We had no ministries solidified, but we were working with a
great former World Race guy, Clinton, who had some leads for us. He had found us an apartment to live in
with the Gentle Warriors, but that was it. The ball was in our court to pray and put the word out. On the first day here, the two teams
without housing found a place to live off of Clinton’s leads. Tikvah connected with Teen Challengeand are living and working with them.
Manna found an apartment to live in and have been able to connect with
InterVarsity and I believe some other ministries. The GW’s are helping with some English classes and Bible
Studies and are still looking for some more leads.
share them because I believe it is a great testimony of how the body of Christ
can work when we are first willing to ask and second willing to connect with
those who desire to see
Christ made known and God glorified. On my last blog and my facebook statusI asked if anyone knew people serving in Kiev. Within a day or so I received several leads. THANK YOU! Through that we have been able to connect with a church
plant through Mission To The World.
We went to their English Club the other night and we our planning to go
to their Mafia game night on Saturday with University Students. We have been able to connect with and
encourage some of their American staff, which has likewise been an
encouragement to us. And we met a University student, Dima, who is
eager to practice English and is translating for us! The staff guyfor MTW gave us the number of a woman who heads up Kiev Christian Academy and supposedly
has connections to over 150 different ministries. We also received a number of
a couple that works for Send International and were able to pass that on to
another team. But that’s not
all. Our third day here, through
one of Clinton’s leads, Ash, Shannon, and Kris went to love on and pray with
some children suffering from AIDS.
The women in charge gave them the number of a lady, Michelle, who worked
for a street kids center called, Child Rescue. God knew the heart that exists on B.L.I.N.G. for those kinds
of kids and put us right where we needed to be. We are wall papering, hanging wood slats, loving kids,
playing soccer and hanging out. It
couldn’t be a better fit! God
knows, God knew and He used His people to lead us there.
I want to close with one of my favorite quotes. I was given this quote 8 years ago by a
good friend from 
Kanakuk, but I never knew until yesterday that it was written
by Henri Nouwen. It sums up my
heart and desire for ministry, what we’re doing this month and what we have
been doing all year. “More and
more, the desire grows in me to simply walk around, greet people, enter their
homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, and be known as someone who wants to
live with them. It is a privilege
to have the time and the freedom to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still it is not as simple as it
seems. My own desire to be useful,
to do something significant, or be a part of some impressive project is so
strong that my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and
workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people
around the urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for
social or spiritual progress. But
I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to listen to their
stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and
hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them.” Be present, show up, and love people. That’s it.
