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Previet!

Zdrastvuytyie!

Greetings from Ukraine, compliments of the Russian language.

I've been procrastinating on this blog for quite a few hours now. I've been trying to form in my mind the accurate words to portray what is going on in my heart right now. I don't think I really have it down yet, but I want to share anyway.

This past week our team had the opportunity to travel and stay in a town about an hour and a half away, called Pervomaisk. We weren't really sure what to expect from the week, we just knew that we would be in a different town from Monday to Friday, and would probably be pretty busy. Other than that, no expectations.

Our ride through the Ukrainian country side was bumpy as usual, dodging the pot holes left over from the harsh winter freeze. Houses began to flash by my eyes. Old, dilapidated, falling apart. Windows were boarded up, walls were torn apart. Lifeless shells.

This is where my heart began to stir.

It felt like a weight was added on top of my heart. Even as I type this, I can feel it creeping back.

House after house passed by my eyes. And God spoke to my heart, revealing to me that many people in this part of Ukraine live like this- like empty shells. Apathy abounds. This part of Ukraine is sort of a land in between. Western Ukrainians don't necessarily like Eastern Ukrainians because they speak Russian. And Russia doesn't really like Ukraine, particularly the Ukrainians that come to Russia speaking Russian in a different way. Eastern Ukraine is passed over. It's people are passed over, empty, stuck in darkness. Trapped in alcoholism, defeat, drugs, fear.

As we drove on, I felt this weight on my heart increase. Literally to the point where I was almost in tears. I have never felt this before for a people group. Yes for situations and circumstances and the injustice that I see others in. But my heart began to ache for these people. Longing for them to see the light and freedom that Christ offers.

I closed my eyes and prayed. And we soon arrived in Pervomaisk, and made our first ministry stop at a rehabilitation center run by the church we worked with all week. It was tucked away in a quiet bit of land behind a cemetery. There were small fields in the back, and a few cottages bordered by dark wooden fences. Dark soil was damp with the drizzling rain, thirsting and preparing itself for new life to grow. Small green buds were beginning to shoot through, creating a vivid contrast in colors, and seemed like a light of hope in this place, promising new life.

That day ended up being one of my favorite days on the World Race so far. We shared our hearts with the men in the rehabilitation center, and some of them shared their stories with us, they sang worship songs in Russian, and we prayed. We ate around a table in the light drizzling spring rain, and had numerous cups of tea and tried to learn some Russian words. We then trucked back to the church and began our week long English camp with kids from age five all the way up to adults.

Our week continued, we helped with two eye glasses clinics, did work around the church, had English club every night, ate an insane amount of sweets and had countless cups of tea. During the week we were also blessed to stay with different families from the church, and experience life in a Ukrainian's home.

Through this week God has continued to stir my heart specifically for this place in Ukraine. For the people here. He has given me a passion to see them experience freedom in Christ and the transforming power of His love.

Only God knows what His total plans are, but I'm excited to see where He leads.

Until then…dasvidaniya!

Our team with one of the young men at the rehab center.