After one domestic flight, two
international flights, one night in a hostel, and a 14 hour train ride I am
finally in Lugansk, Ukraine! It has been such a crazy
journey. For this month we will be working with an American contact named
Bruce. He and his family have graciously accepted us into their home for the
month. They are making our transition to the world race life pretty easy on us
with warm water, comfortable beds/couches to sleep on, internet, and great home
cooked food. Bruce and his family have lived here for almost five years after
moving from Tennessee.
The main language here is Russian since Lugansk is only 30 minutes from the
Russian border. Bruce knows both English and Russian which allows him to bring
world race squads in and have us be effective in the ministries he has
developed over the years. I am incredibly excited about the work we will be
doing this month. Monday thru Thursday of each week we are running a softball
camp for teenagers and young adults. Soccer is the dominant sport in Ukraine and
pretty much all kids here are better than us Americans. There is no way we
could put on a soccer clinic and hold their attention for more than 6 minutes.
Introducing them to a new game like softball is effective in holding their
attention which allows for relationships to develop. It is through this that we
can take opportunities to tell them about the relationship that is available
with a God who is madly in love with them. Each night after the softball camps
we will show movies to both the kids and their families to expand on the
relationships that are developed through softball. Also on Fridays we will take
part in eye glass clinics. We will administer eye tests to anyone and everyone
who is interested and fit them for a free pair of glasses. This blows their
mind because nothing is free in Ukraine.
Saturdays are about rest for us and Sundays will be filled with church and
other random ministry opportunities such as hospital visits or events with our
softball friends. This is an outline of what our month will look like. Please
take this information and use it to pray for me and my team more specifically
as we minister to the people of Ukraine.
