Hello all from the UKRAINE! Im writing in the midst of our ministry here even though I am not posting them right away! It¡¦s really beautiful here! They have storks here! They have these huge nests high up in trees, it¡¦s awesome. The scenery is really beautiful, the sky is whitish during the day and nighttime is almost always a different color than the previous night with a miraculous sunset ƒº it¡¦s gorgeous. One night there was a lightning storm that was illuminating the sky up! God is so creative! The Ukraine is going to be full of surprises I just know it! 
Upon arrival we got settled into our new home for the month at a place called Jeremiah¡¦s Hope based of the passed from Jeremiah 29:11 ¡For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.¡¨
It¡¦s a Christian camp that allows kids from all different backgrounds to come and learn about how amazing God is. In the midst of the corrupt system of government and social services system this camp is an answered prayer to many children and a gateway into the kingdom. So our teams basic ministry is outreach to the children and surrounding village in the form of a camp counselor. That means lots of cooking, cleaning, skits, sports, crafts, singing, dancing, bible studies and more! It¡¦s also all sand here and we call it the sandbox ƒº
A common question is how do you minister to people who speak a different language. A lot of it is behavior based, just being excited and joyful in the Lord and showing His love to them, singing His praises constantly. Also, translators.
It¡¦s been super fun so far- there are other American teams here right now and it¡¦s awesome to work with other teams. There is a Dutch team here (they are crazy! In a good way though) The camp is filled with Christ loving people ready to witness to others- it¡¦s energizing.
Andre is eight years old and he was here during a camp for the social services children, which through support was free for him (what a blessing) Upon arrival we were told his story as follows-
Andre lives with his mother and is beaten on a regular basis- his mother blames him for the death of his two year old brother who died in a fire that he started on accident. His mother constantly reminds him of this and rebukes him, beats him and does not show appropriate love toward him. After one week at camp, he felt safe enough to tell a counselor Sergi, that he did not start the fire, that a drunk man walked into the barn and started the fire, the boys got scared and decided to run, Andre ran and waited for his brother to come out after him and he never came. The police need to pin it on someone so they do not have an open case and it¡¦s much easier to pin it on him than to find some drunk village man based on the words of an 8 year old. Drunkeness is common in the Ukraine, possibly because a pint of vodka is cheaper than a bottle of water¡K
I¡¦m not saying there haven¡¦t been several stories that have wrecked my heart but for some reason my heart is stuck on him, so pray for him and tell others his story and ask for prayer. God hears our prayer and it would be amazing if Andre¡¦s family was healed, his mother also suffers from some alcoholism so we were told. God turns horrid situations into good and that is what is keeping us going, the past cannot be changed but the future is still ahead! He was an amazing kid, he had his anger issues and behavior problems but that is how he survives day to day; by using these defense mechanisms.
Just another quick story, the children all received bears the last night of camp with a scripture on them and an explanation of the bear. On each one, different buttons were sowed on different parts of the bear to make them all unique, God created us all uniquely but we are also the same core, one family of bears with different attributes. It was a wonderful gift to see the faces light up when they got their stuffed bear. Kids ranging from like 4-14 utterly excited to get it. It filled my heart with joy! 
Many of the kids were leaving this camp to return to situations that are not acceptable, our world is full of suffering, but God is above all and he has conquered the world!
John 16: 33: I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble but take heart for I have overcome the world.¡¨
I miss and love you all! Praying for you! <3
