In Eastern Europe, amidst the concrete wasteland and defeatist mentality of the former Soviet Union, I found the comfort and hope of home. The month our team was "adopted" into the MacDonald family, and with that, received the abundance of blessings that come with adoption. We were welcomed by Bruce, Pia, and their 5 children and immediately became a part of their everyday life.
Team Meizon with Bruce and Pia MacDonald and their children. In front- Michael, Tobias, Karianne, Mercy, and Timothy in the back.
The MacDonalds have called Ukraine home since 2004 when they left Chattanooga, TN and answered the call to mission to the hopelessness of Eastern Europe. Bruce and Pia are parents to twelve children, five of whom are still at home. They have spent the past eight years living as Ukrainians, teaching their children what it means to love and serve all of God’s people. Year-round Bruce, in collaboration with optometrists and local churches, hosts free eye clinics providing glasses and sharing the gospel with thousands. He often drives up to three hours to hold clinics in remote villages of the Oblask (province). Last year Bruce distributed 3,000 pairs of eyeglasses.
Several times a week 3-4 people from our team would accompany Bruce to the eye clinics. Piling in the family van, we would travel for two hours to a village where, greeted by men and women of the church, we would spend the day playing worship songs, sharing our testimonies, and talking with the patients waiting for their eye exams. Most of the patients were over 40, many of them elderly women- known in Ukraine as “babushki”. These women served us bottomless cups of tea and cookies. We would pray over their cataracts, sickness, and broken limbs and see healing. Some would eagerly ask us to share stories of America and our families. And usually one of us girls was asked to marry someone’s brother, son, grandson…etc. They would embrace us, grasp our hands in theirs, and joyfully ask us to take pictures with them.
Hugh shares his testimony with the people waiting to get their eyes checked.
Jill shows some of her family photos to a couple waiting at the clinic.
These beautiful babushki wanted a photo with me after I took so many of them!
Everywhere we went people greeted us with smiles, asking us, “do you love Ukraine more than America?” because to them Ukraine, even with its corruption and lack of individual opportunity still evokes patriotism through its beautiful landscape and traditions of hospitality.
during our days at the clinics, we usually ate lunch with the pastor and the church staff. It was always delicious and accompanied by tea and coffee.
At every turn I was met with warmth, grace, and a cup of tea. The children of Ukraine met us with smiles and chatter, always offering us gifts and sweets. Serving the people of Ukraine was made easy by the thankfulness and love they offered us in return. And the MacDonalds made a respite for our team to enjoy during the middle of the Race.
Pia always has bold words of wisdom to share with us, as well as lighthearted stories of family and past race teams they've hosted.
Bruce loves to sing hymns and experiement with Jill, learning new songs to sing with us at churches.
Toby and Karianne always gave Wes a run for his money at monopoly.
Life with the MacDonalds was like coming home. The authenticity with which we were grafted into this family made my mind certain we had lived there for years; the dynamic was like breathing. With the laughter of little children, smell of cookies baking, puzzles scattered on tables, four cats, two dogs, family dinners, long theological conversations, and ice cream, I felt understood. I was at peace, and fully renewed.
In Luke, after Jesus has prepared his disciples, “giving them power and authority over all the demons, and the power to heal diseases….” He sent them out to proclaim the Good News, telling them, “ ‘Take nothing for the road…whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.’ So they went out traveling from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.”
-Luke 9:1; 3-6
Ukraine will be with me for the rest of the Race. This peace and rest will follow me to Africa and beyond. The MacDonalds, the children, the babushki…
…I will carry them with me in the dust on my feet.
To see more photos from my World Race, visit my photo blog at seerobinfly.tumblr.com
I still need $2,900 by July 1st to reach my last fundraising deadline and continue my race!
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