Tuesday Team One

Today TEAM ONE visited two different children's cancer hospitals. One of the team members, Faye, had this story to share:

We met with many children who had been in the hospital for many months on our visit to a Children's Cancer hospital. They were either waiting on treatment or surgery. Many of them did not ahve their parents with them because their parents needed to work. As I looked at each of the children who came to meet with us, the thought ran through my mind: this may be the last stop for some of these chilren and the final opportunity for them to learn about our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Our Sunday School class had taken a collection before the Ukraine trip. I was looking around at the children and the poor conditions of the hospital....no bulbs in the lights, furniture falling apart, paint coming off the walls, cold air cming in from the windows and much more. I decided that this is where I needed to donate the money.

We met Oleg Plaksyn who is leading an effort to teach the children about God. The hospital allows him to have a room in the hospital where he meets with the children. He works with the hospital to help where he can. He also works with 2 other cancer hospitals. Oleg rode with us from the first hospital to the next. He gave a very touching testimony about how he was saved and the work he was doing in the hospital. I offered the money to him after hearing his testimony. As he took the money he had tears in his eyes and told us about a small peayer he had prayed with Victor (the Ukrainian Pastor who was traveling with us) just before we boarded the bus when leaving the hospital. He had prayed about his need for a small donation to assist with some repairs to windows and walls. None of us on the bus knew about the prayer other than Victor. I felt God's presence there and knew HE had provided the money needed trhough us. THE POWER OF PRAYER!

Tuesday Team Two

Team number two visited an orphanage for mentally handicapped and disabled boys. Here are some pictures and a video of our incredible day. As each person brought in an armload of gifts, the boys would clap; they were so excited that we were there. We were so excited to give; some people on our team were able to give money to the director. After talking with her, we found out that she orginally took the director's job with the intention of working there not more than a year, but through a translator, she explained that she fell in love with the kids and has been working there for 17 years! She has done an amazing job creating a stimulating and creative environment for these precious kids!

Again, we did not get to see the kids open the gifts because their kind teachers took them back to their classrooms. However, as the director was showing us around the orphanage, I looked down a long hallway and saw a boy who had stepped out of his classroom. He was at the end of the hallway with the light shining down on him from one huge window and he had a plastic airplane in his hand. What a joy to see him happily zooming his airplane around in circles and enjoying his toys from his shoebox!

Interesting....

....churches and buildings....

...bathrooms, known to our group as the "squatty potty."

...lack of machines. It's manual labor all the way!

Monday

Both teams went to different orphanages today. Here are some pictures of the children in the orphanage that Team One visited. The team was able to see them open the shoe boxes and enjoy the gifts!

Team 2 visited an orphanage 3 hours drive north from Kiev, not far from Chernobyl.

At the first orphanage, we talked briefly with some of the students, but did not get to see them open their gifts. It was especially rewarding to hand out gifts to some teenagers.

We were late arriving at the second orphanage and the director was upset, so he had sent most of the kids to eat lunch. Some students were finished and had congregated in the gym. We had a great time playing with these kids as more and more trickled in. The gym was bright blue and had that "gym odor" magnified about 20 times, but it was a precious time with these children as they freely came up to us for hugs or engaged us in their games. Doug, a missionary in the Ukraine, who has been working with this particular orphanage, had built many strong relationships with these kids. He and his team of Ukrainian students came along with us to lead the kids in music and games. It was great to see how one person's efforts can change an entire community. Ollia, from Doug's team, Jeff and Sharon had to walk in the snow and cold about a mile from the orphanage into town where more shoe boxes were stored. Our team was a little short on shoe boxes. On the way, Ollia, climbed onto a snow bank and one foot completely fell through. A second later, the other foot followed suit and she threw her head back and laughed and laughed while Jeff and Sharon helped her get out. Her reaction to that situation really set the tone for a lively and fun 3 hour bus trip back to Kiev!

Arrived in Ukraine

We arrived at 4:00pm local time at the airport (Saturday) where we were greeted by our hosts at New Life Church. Stepping into the airport was like stepping back in time ~ the biggest difference was the somber expressions on faces. After settling everyone in apartments we ate some pizza and went to bed.

Early Sunday Morning, we met together as one big group to attend church ~ the first service was in Russian. The second service was in Ukrainian. The service was energetic and spirit-filled. The service was a great reminder that God is not limited by geographic location or language! After services, we had a great opportunity to sample the local Ukrainian fare while getting to know our translators....the start of great friendships.

After lunch, we reconvened at New Life Church where we had the opportunity to distribute some shoe boxes to around 500 kids....fun to see their smiles and learned some new Ukrainian phrases. There was a little girl around 3 years old that refused to give up her box to her mother (who wanted to help her look over the contents =)

We all decided to go to the street market and enjoyed looking at the special locally made items and then enjoyed some coffee at a local coffee shop. We took a brisk walk in the snow through the city center of Kiev and a quick ride on the metro to a restaurant.

Looking forward to passing out more shoe boxes to tomorrow.

arrived in Munich

We arrived in Munich, Germany! On our way to Kiev in one hour! Everyone is doing well.

Ukraine Itinerary

Friday, March 12th
~flight departs at 5:25 pm from Charlotte; arrives at 8:05 am in Munich

Saturday, March 13th
~flight departs Munich at 1:05pm; arrives in Kiev 4:10 pm
~1 hour bus ride
~check into apartments around 6pm

Sunday, March 14th
~9:00 am to 12:30 pm church services and worship with New Life Church, our host Church

Monday, March 15th
~Team #1 departs 9am to orphanage for children with mental disorders in the Pryluky region (about 1.5 hours from Kiev). Arrives back to Kiev around 3pm and has possible additional distribution in Kiev orphanage.
~Team #2 deaprts 9am to Chernihiv region (about 3 hours drive from Kiev) and visits two very poor ophanages in villages.
~Both teams reunite at 6pm for dinner in Kiev.

Tuesday, March 16th
~Team #1 leaves at 9am to visit two different Children's Cancer Hospitals
~Team #2 leaves at 9am to travel to an orphanage in Bila Tserkva (2 hour drive from Kiev). ~Both teams arrive back in Kiev and reunite at 6pm

Wednesday, March 17th
~Team #1 leaves at 9am to visit Boarding Shcool for visually impaired children. After lunch, they are visiting a children's neurosurgery hospital.
~Team #2 leaves at 9am for Kiev suburbs to first visit the Vorzel Orphanage for little chilren (0-3 years old), then after lunch to the Vinogradar district to visit the Center for Street Kids and Children from Problem Families.

Thursday, March 18th
~Team #1 leaves at 9:30am to visit a day care center for children with cerebral palsy.
~Team #2 leaves at 8:25am to visit the Center for Children with Cerebral Palsy in the Kharkivsky district of Kiev.
~After lunch, both teams meet at the Museum of World War II where the wife of one of the Pastors at New Life Church will give us a tour.
~4pm sight seeing and shopping opportunities

Friday, March 19th
~Leave Kiev apartments at 4am. Deaprture flight for Munich at 6:50am; Arrive in Munich at 8:20am.
~Leave Munich at 11:20am and arrive in Charlotte at 4:30 pm.

Ukraine 2010.....Gearing Up!

The Ukraine team will be leaving March 12th to share the Gospel with orphans in and around the Kiev area. As we distribute Samaritan Shoe boxes and gifts to these precious children, we will also have the opportunity to share God's most precious Gift to us ~ His Son, Jesus!

Many of you have already helped us prepare by giving warm clothing, blankets, and personal hygiene items for these children. Thank you for your donations! Here are some pictures of our most recent team meeting; we had a packing party that successfully fit all of these items into bags that each of us will be carrying into the Ukraine. We are excited about what God will do in and through us while we are there!