February 2015
The Last Morning
28 February 2015 @ 08:26
Wow! The last morning of our last day here in Ukraine. What an incredible and blessed time it has been. Although we left PA one day late due to weather causing us to miss a few planned stops, and my back changed plans for about three days, it has been so obvious that God had a plan.
I have experienced Ukraine's healthcare and my back is feeling great. In doing so I had the opportunity to share what God has been doing on this journey. It was humbling to be able to answer a neurologist's question of how you keep on going in the midst of crisis and tragedy by sharing how God has picked me up, time and time again, and allowed me to go on; not by my strength but by His. As my back was adjusted by my Ukraine 'chiropractor' it was wonderful to learn how God has been guiding his journey. I may come back here for future treatments.
Together we have seen the smiles of the children and tears of the adults who were so touched that we would travel here at this time of conflict in Ukraine. We have encouraged and we have been encouraged. We have taught and we have been taught. We have sung and danced and we have listened and watched dance. I can't wait to share more photos and videos when we get home.
Our time with Archie and Ruslan has been, simply, a time of family. The work that God is doing through them and this home is so incredible. From the moment we arrived and one of their girls, Olya, would not stop hugging me I knew that, even after a four year absence, it was as if we had never been apart, although Ruslan never let me forget it. I pray that God will continue to bless their work here.
This team has been wonderful! The spirit that Mike and Karen O'Toole brought to our group was surely missed during the last five days of this visit. You were able to encourage many with your faith journey and you kept us laughing. Betsy and Dickon Kleinsasser brought their enthusiasm, games and crafts to the children of Ukraine. I know the children will be awaiting your return.
Well now we begin the first leg of our journey back to the U.S. Of to Kiev with stops to see friends in Vinnitsya and Bila Tserkva. I'll try to fill in all the gaps when I get home. Continued prayers for our team and the people of Ukraine. May God bring peace to this beautiful nation.
I have experienced Ukraine's healthcare and my back is feeling great. In doing so I had the opportunity to share what God has been doing on this journey. It was humbling to be able to answer a neurologist's question of how you keep on going in the midst of crisis and tragedy by sharing how God has picked me up, time and time again, and allowed me to go on; not by my strength but by His. As my back was adjusted by my Ukraine 'chiropractor' it was wonderful to learn how God has been guiding his journey. I may come back here for future treatments.
Together we have seen the smiles of the children and tears of the adults who were so touched that we would travel here at this time of conflict in Ukraine. We have encouraged and we have been encouraged. We have taught and we have been taught. We have sung and danced and we have listened and watched dance. I can't wait to share more photos and videos when we get home.
Our time with Archie and Ruslan has been, simply, a time of family. The work that God is doing through them and this home is so incredible. From the moment we arrived and one of their girls, Olya, would not stop hugging me I knew that, even after a four year absence, it was as if we had never been apart, although Ruslan never let me forget it. I pray that God will continue to bless their work here.
This team has been wonderful! The spirit that Mike and Karen O'Toole brought to our group was surely missed during the last five days of this visit. You were able to encourage many with your faith journey and you kept us laughing. Betsy and Dickon Kleinsasser brought their enthusiasm, games and crafts to the children of Ukraine. I know the children will be awaiting your return.
Well now we begin the first leg of our journey back to the U.S. Of to Kiev with stops to see friends in Vinnitsya and Bila Tserkva. I'll try to fill in all the gaps when I get home. Continued prayers for our team and the people of Ukraine. May God bring peace to this beautiful nation.
Ukraine Update 4
26 February 2015 @ 21:40
Greetings from Ukraine! I'm not even sure where to start this update. Our day started with great breakfast at home followed by a visit to a cerebral palsy center here in Mohyliv Podilsky. There was music, magic and paper crafts with the children and staff.
We returned home for lunch and then traveled to a neighboring village to visit the orphanage there. As I looked into the eyes of these children and saw an unconditional love and the smiles on their faces, I knew that I was truly in the presence of God. When I think of the lives these children know I am heartbroken and find myself asking why humankind allows this to continue. Outdoor facilities, lack of supplies, no money for heat and you find joy in that place. What a testament to those who work there.
And, with that said," there are the teachers and support staff in the orphanage and you can't help but be humbled. Though their salaries are small and worth about half of what they were two months ago, they provide their own supplies for their classrooms and donate to a fund to help with renovations. They then work on weekends doing the renovations on their own time. One of the staff members thanked us for being there during this difficult time in Ukraine and wanted to make sure that Americans understood that Ukrainians don't want to fight. They simply want to live as Ukrainians. I told her that we understood that and you could see the tears in her eyes.
We still have two days in this beautiful country and I ask you to continue to pray for our team, our hosts, the Tkachuk's and their beautiful children, and Ukraine. May Ukraine come to know a lasting peace. Good night.
P. S. My back is doing great!
We returned home for lunch and then traveled to a neighboring village to visit the orphanage there. As I looked into the eyes of these children and saw an unconditional love and the smiles on their faces, I knew that I was truly in the presence of God. When I think of the lives these children know I am heartbroken and find myself asking why humankind allows this to continue. Outdoor facilities, lack of supplies, no money for heat and you find joy in that place. What a testament to those who work there.
And, with that said," there are the teachers and support staff in the orphanage and you can't help but be humbled. Though their salaries are small and worth about half of what they were two months ago, they provide their own supplies for their classrooms and donate to a fund to help with renovations. They then work on weekends doing the renovations on their own time. One of the staff members thanked us for being there during this difficult time in Ukraine and wanted to make sure that Americans understood that Ukrainians don't want to fight. They simply want to live as Ukrainians. I told her that we understood that and you could see the tears in her eyes.
We still have two days in this beautiful country and I ask you to continue to pray for our team, our hosts, the Tkachuk's and their beautiful children, and Ukraine. May Ukraine come to know a lasting peace. Good night.
P. S. My back is doing great!
Ukraine Update 3
26 February 2015 @ 07:21
Update from Ukraine. Our day on Tuesday ended with a visit to an English class for adults who were so encouraged by the fact that we would travel to Ukraine at a time when the economy is so bad and there is fighting in the east. Great time of sharing.
We returned home for dinner with the Tkachuk family and then Betsy kept the kids occupied for the rest of the evening with wire crafts. Hard to imagine how the people of Ukraine survive as the exchange rate has changed twice since we've been here, today hitting 31 Ukrainian gryvna for one of our dollars.
Yesterday our schedule changed quite a bit because my back went out pretty severely. I didn't get much sleep the night before because of it so Ruslan took me to a Chiropractor in Mohyliv Podilsky who was great. He didn't want any payment because he felt that was his ministry to me. We blessed him anyway. He told me to come back on Friday for another treatment so I will be comfortable for the flight home on Sunday. We had the opportunity to have lunch with a local neurologist who wanted to know about what I do in hospitals and then we attended a concert that a few of our kids participated in. In the evening we picked up pizza and soda and provided dinner for a family of twelve. After we ate we shared song, magic and string games.
We are really missing our two teams members who had to return early but, all in all, this has been an incredible journey. Please continue to pray for our team and for the people of Ukraine and that the fighting in the east might come to an end.
We returned home for dinner with the Tkachuk family and then Betsy kept the kids occupied for the rest of the evening with wire crafts. Hard to imagine how the people of Ukraine survive as the exchange rate has changed twice since we've been here, today hitting 31 Ukrainian gryvna for one of our dollars.
Yesterday our schedule changed quite a bit because my back went out pretty severely. I didn't get much sleep the night before because of it so Ruslan took me to a Chiropractor in Mohyliv Podilsky who was great. He didn't want any payment because he felt that was his ministry to me. We blessed him anyway. He told me to come back on Friday for another treatment so I will be comfortable for the flight home on Sunday. We had the opportunity to have lunch with a local neurologist who wanted to know about what I do in hospitals and then we attended a concert that a few of our kids participated in. In the evening we picked up pizza and soda and provided dinner for a family of twelve. After we ate we shared song, magic and string games.
We are really missing our two teams members who had to return early but, all in all, this has been an incredible journey. Please continue to pray for our team and for the people of Ukraine and that the fighting in the east might come to an end.
More From Ukraine
24 February 2015 @ 18:19
What an incredible start to our day. We first were asked to meet with the Mayor of the village of Nemiya. He showed us the supplies that the village is collecting to supply the troops fighting along the eastern border. The government does not have the funds to provide uniforms, food and necessities for those on the front lines, so it is provided by the local communities taking up collections. All this at a time when the economy keeps getting worse and the people themselves can barely survive.
From there the mayor walked with us to a local school where I was able to share using music and magic. I am so moved that music can so lift hearts in difficult times and several of the teachers thanked us for encouragement and hope. They have even asked if we could provide a one or two week camp for the children. So many open doors. One of the projects that the students are currently doing is making camouflage nets for the troops. Hard to imagine that the world stands and watches as things like this are occurring.
A wonderful lunch at home and then traveling to a local kindergarten. I am so amazed and humbled that God would use me in such a way. Continuing to pray for peace in Ukraine.
From there the mayor walked with us to a local school where I was able to share using music and magic. I am so moved that music can so lift hearts in difficult times and several of the teachers thanked us for encouragement and hope. They have even asked if we could provide a one or two week camp for the children. So many open doors. One of the projects that the students are currently doing is making camouflage nets for the troops. Hard to imagine that the world stands and watches as things like this are occurring.
A wonderful lunch at home and then traveling to a local kindergarten. I am so amazed and humbled that God would use me in such a way. Continuing to pray for peace in Ukraine.
Note From Ukraine
23 February 2015 @ 20:46
What an incredible day here in Ukraine! After dropping the children from the Tkachuk home off at their school, we traveled to another school where our team met with an English class. We spoke, sang and then the kids asked us questions. What a blessing that the children were so encouraged by our visit at a time when all in Ukraine have such heavy hearts due to the war in the east.
Afterward we spent time with an incredible gentleman who lived in the Jewish ghetto here in this village during World War II. We visited the local synagogue, their meal outreach and a memorial and Museum. Very moving.
We enjoyed lunch at our home and then traveled to a distant village where we ministered to a single mother with nine children; one of them her own and eight who were orphans that she has taken in to care for. She is a refugee from the war in the east and has settled in a home without a well. She carries water in buckets from a distant well to supply all her family's needs. $1500 is needed to provide a well so fundraising has officially begun.
We left there and traveled to a Ruslan's childhood home, where his mom treated us to an incredible homegrown, home cooked meal. It was wonderful to also see his grandmother again and to have the opportunity to pray for her as she deals with health problems.
Then it was back to our home where Michael and Karen had to pack and depart for Kiev for an early morning flight. We will surely miss our two team members during the remainder of our visit. We sent them off after tea and cakes and hugs from all of the children.
I am sorry that I have not posted more during our time here in Ukraine but I want you to know that each moment has been filled with blessings. Time to turn in now for the night to rest for tomorrow's journey. Please keep Ukraine in your prayers. It is so difficult for the people here as economy continues to fall. Pray for Peace!
Afterward we spent time with an incredible gentleman who lived in the Jewish ghetto here in this village during World War II. We visited the local synagogue, their meal outreach and a memorial and Museum. Very moving.
We enjoyed lunch at our home and then traveled to a distant village where we ministered to a single mother with nine children; one of them her own and eight who were orphans that she has taken in to care for. She is a refugee from the war in the east and has settled in a home without a well. She carries water in buckets from a distant well to supply all her family's needs. $1500 is needed to provide a well so fundraising has officially begun.
We left there and traveled to a Ruslan's childhood home, where his mom treated us to an incredible homegrown, home cooked meal. It was wonderful to also see his grandmother again and to have the opportunity to pray for her as she deals with health problems.
Then it was back to our home where Michael and Karen had to pack and depart for Kiev for an early morning flight. We will surely miss our two team members during the remainder of our visit. We sent them off after tea and cakes and hugs from all of the children.
I am sorry that I have not posted more during our time here in Ukraine but I want you to know that each moment has been filled with blessings. Time to turn in now for the night to rest for tomorrow's journey. Please keep Ukraine in your prayers. It is so difficult for the people here as economy continues to fall. Pray for Peace!