Blogskies- July 7, 2010
So the last camp left and another has arrived. On their last day here I got up the nerve to ask if I could speak with the girls. I sat down with about 15 expectant little girls and opened my heart. I shared a few things about my life and what it was like when I was their age (typical old person thing to do lol). Then I just started to speak life over them. I felt God leading me to tell them no matter how hard or awful things seemed right now that He loved them so much and they were His little girls. I will probably never know what happened in the lives of these precious little girls, but I’m trusting that God will do just what He said He would and do great things.
I also had the chance to share my testimony with my team- more in depth of course. It was definitely hard pulling out all the skeletons from my past and opening up. After we had all shared you could just feel how much closer we had grown together. It’s really hard for me to trust other people, especially to the degree that I must trust these 5 people. I fight daily the urge to buck the system, to protect myself. But God gently reminds me each day that I must die to myself and live for His glory.
I celebrated my first holiday on the race last weekend- the 4th of July. We went to the lake, ate junk food and drank coke around a camp fire. It was lovely. We talked about home and the US J Then Sunday after church we went and ate pizza and French fries. Of course Ukrainian pizza they use mayo and ketchup for the sauce, so we had to make a special order. For those of you that think this sounds normal- we’ve have a pretty strict diet of borsch soup, rice, canned meat, and bread. I’ve learned to be especially thankful for solid foods.
The past few days there has been a ton of rain here, which turned into flooding in several villages- ours being downstream from most of these. Our creek/river flooded and we lost the bridge that connected the cabins from the kitchen/main camp ground. The guys set to work the next day and over the course of about 9 hours in the heat built a new bridge. It’s hard sometimes to remember that even though we aren’t actually leading people in the sinner’s prayer that this work will effect kids lives over the years to come.
After having recently suffered a rat attack I have moved out of the cabin/dorm to reside in my tent. In the cabin I had assured myself those noises were just the cats, or dogs, or chickens, or even lizards. But when I something that felt like a hand crawled up on my head I was forced to think otherwise. I turned on my light to find a reasonably sized rat traveling across the couch near my bed. The image of his disease filled body, and the feeling of him on my head burned into my mid left me no choice but to set up tent, and dwell in its safety… A sacrifice I’m willing to make to survive doing God’s will.
Our time in Ukraine has been somewhat slow and peaceful (other than the isolated “rat incident”). Without specific tasks for part of the day we are left with time to seek God and read our Bibles. I feel like God is suing this time to draw me closer to Him, and build my strength and faith. In our group I suggested we take an issue or idea that we’ve been struggling with and go to the Word and find out what it says. Our first day was amazing, we talked about who God is, and what the Bible says about His nature in relation to us. He’s challenged me to look at the ideas and views I have, and where they come from. God has been calling me to die to myself, to my desires, to live for Him, and to live for others.
Yesterday one of our translators, Angelina, left. I guess I didn’t realize how much I had come to care for her, and now I miss her friendship. She, and her family were some of the sweetest, kind-hearted people I’ve ever met. I guess the first of many people I’ll love and then let go. God has called me to pour out my heart to all those I come in contact with, and this sometimes feels like my heart is being squeezed. I have to remind myself that God is the one who fills me back up, and His love does not run dry.
On a more random and unrelated note I had the weirdest breakfast I’ve ever eaten this morning. It was first bread and sliced salami- then noodles, cottage cheese, and jam. It was actually pretty good thanks to the jam, made from a real life Ukrainian grandma.
Right now I’m praying that the Holy Spirit moves in a big way in our team. I feel like right now we still have a sort of unsure spirit. I’m asking God to give us a mighty confidence and power so we can declare God’s word, healing, and life to those we come in contact with. Please pray for this, and for the health and happiness of my team. Also pray for our travel as we leave Ukraine and travel by train to Romania. God’s got big things for us to do there!!!
With love from Ukraine
Sarah
