Lugansk, Ukraine. A beautiful old city
nestled in the hills of Eastern Ukraine, an old relic of what used to
be the Soviet Union, stepping into a modern day culture all its own.
A culture full of Art, History, Education, and Hope.
(A statue in Lugansk in honor and memory of all that died in the Chernobyl Disaster in Ukraine in 1986)
This month my team and I are working
with an English school for University students that want to learn
English. The name of the school we are working with is called
“NewTone”. We have classes everyday from 3 – 9 PM. In the class
we try to encourage conversational English skills, and expand
vocabulary. Also its a great opportunity to get students thinking for
themselves, and forming opinions and there own beliefs. We talk
about, Miracles, Fashion, Creation, God, World Religions, and
Cultures, Everyday Struggles, and Funny stories. We have had a
chance to share our stories from our trip on The World Race, as well
as testimonies of what God has done in our lives! The students seem
to really enjoy our conversations, and like being stretched out side
of there normal realm of thinking.
(Sarah, and I with some of our students at the Philharmonic)
Also, we have been working with the
school to help complete a new curriculum they are working on. We are
doing voice recordings to be played in the class rooms as native
speakers. This involves a little stretching for us as well! We have
to act out our role plays and parts in a studio and record these for
future classes full of students coming through these schools in
Ukraine!
(Recording in the NewTone studio)
We have also been blessed with the
opportunity to have some one on one time with some of the students
outside the classroom. They have taken us on walks and tours of the
city, out to Cafe’s and restaurants, and even to the Philharmonic
Orchestra! We have truly enjoyed all of our time with the students,
staff, and teachers here at NewTone!
(The Lugansk Philharmonic! Performing a Soviet era piece live)
Also, on saturdays here we go to a
local orphanage to play with the kids. The talent some of them have,
blows my mind. I have seen 8 year old boys and girls with amazing
gymnastic skills that would make any olympian look like an amateur!
The kids love to dance, sing, play soccer, frisbee, jump rope, and
show off there amazing gymnastic skills on the bars for us!
(The dismount this kid does from the Bars is AMAZING!)
(Sarah throwing Frisbee with one of the children at the Orphanage)
Next week we will begin a summer camp
program for teens and orphans. There will be a short-term team
arriving from the USA to join up with us in the program that starts
on the 15th of June and will continue through the rest of
our time here in Ukraine until the 23rd of June!
We are all truly blessed to be in Ukraine, and seeing God touch his people there! Thanks for all of your continued prayers, and financial support! I couldn’t be here with out all the support of YOU! My Readers!
Love you all
Ryan
