Today was a rough day. I woke up around 5 AM and was sick. I have never gotten sick in Ukraine before so it was very frustrating not being able to be with the campers because tomorrow is the last day at camp. I was so sick that I had to stay in bed most of the day trying to get better while Oksana and the nurse took special care of me. They are such a blessing and God shines through them constantly. I went outside twice today and both times awesome things happened. First was morning session and I sat outside because it was very hot in the room. During this time Dasha and Marika played with my hair! It was absolutely precious.
Then we went to small group and the sisters Olya and Yulia said they wanted to accept Christ as their Savior. Our leader, Vova, asked them why they need to be saved and they did not know. They said they had never done anything wrong. It was heartbreaking to see them so close to the peace of Christ and yet not get it. Please be praying for them as they continue to learn that we are all sinners in need of a savior and an understanding of their own sin and separation from God.
After small group I went back to bed. Around 10 PM we usually have a team meeting. I woke up and no one was there, so I got dressed and went to find them. The Ukrainians and Americans were worshiping God together as they gathered around candles formed in the shape of a cross. I joined them and was overwhelmed by God's love and grace. Hearing different languages and seeing different races worship the same God is a most powerful experience. We are the body of Christ. Brothers and sisters through our Lord. I wish I could explain how incredibly amazing it is to worship like this!
God is powerful and mighty and worthy to be praised! After this experience there is no way that anyone can deny the love of Christ.
Love you all!
Ashley
P.S. Late afternoon, Kerry and the girls in my room prayed over me that I would get over my sickness and be strong tomorrow and on the trip home. I thank God for our incredible group!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Dasha Melts My Heart
Hey friends!
Yesterday it was raining nonstop. It was also very cold but we got through it! One of my highlights was a little girl named Dasha. She was in my group the first year I came here. Her older brother is Roma and I am sure I posted about him last year. But anyway, she used to hate being away from her mom. Last year she was better but still very closed off. This year however, she is the biggest joy. She is always laughing and having fun with us. She especially loves Tyler. She is always with him and holding his hand. Tyler is so good with her. Tyler and I have been on this 3 year Ukraine journey together and I am so amazed at how much he has grown since the first year. He loves these people and is continually being the hands and feet of Jesus. I am very blessed to have gotten to know him so well. He really is like an older brother to me.
Anyway, back to the point, Dasha melts my heart! Haha! An awesome thing that happened today was completely unexpected. It was raining and we had to get from the session building to the dining hall. I knew that I would not be able to push her so I asked Sanchez to help me. we were pushing Yulia, one of the sisters who has not opened up and never really smiles. So Sanchez decides to go through the grass instead of staying on the path because it is faster. It was so bumpy and Yulia just splits a gut! She could not stop laughing. it wasn't just a small laugh either, it was a belly roll! Haha, I have not seen her so happy all week. It was so awesome to see her finally break down and let us see herself. Anyway, what an awesome day!
Love you and missing your all! Oh, and thank you everyone for the blog comments! You are so encouraging and helping me get through the day!
Love,
Ashley
P.S. Lindsey, I wish that you could see Dasha! She has grown so much. I love you and miss you not being by my side.
Blessed In Giving
Sunday, June 26, was quite an adventure. Haha! The camp was muddy because it rained the night before so there were not many activities. However, during our break time, Taras took us to a World War II bomb shelter. It is about a 15 minute walk from camp through the woods and up a hill. it was so much fun to goof around with the team! Anyway, it was very fun. I adore these Ukrainians and I wish I could stay for much longer. Their hospitality continues to blow my mind!
About and hour after we got back from the shelter, the whole team (plus Taras) left to have dinner at Pastor Peter's house. He is the pastor of the church in "the village" and has a heart for God like none I have ever seen! During prayers he would shout "hallelujah" and "amen", haha it was wonderful. So his house is barely big enough to fit us all in the dining room and the small "library" (I don't know what to call it), but we were served the most delicious dinner ever! Not only that but the food kept on coming. Each time he brought more food we thought "okay that's the end of it" but sure enough there was always more! We were so full that we could barely move.
Pastor Peter then blessed us all and gave us each 4 bars of chocolate, a box of sweets and homemade honey. It was incredible! He kept telling us that he was so blessed to have us in his home. I can't even understand this! His wife spent all week preparing food, they probably spent way more money than they could afford and yet he said that he was the one who was blessed! Wow! God is so awesome!
Love you all!
Ashley
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Reaching Out
Today we went to the Romaniv Boys Orphanage. I blogged about it last year because it impacted me so deeply. It is one of those places that pierces your heart. It was raining today so the boys were inside but it was still awesome to be there. When we walked in the boys had lined up on both sides of the walkway just reaching out to us, so excited. I saw Alosha and Sasha that were in my group last year. It melted my heart to see them light up when I called their names. They looked so happy! I pray that they will continue to be joyful despite the conditions in the orphanage.
After we left the orphanage we to "the village" to pastor Peter's church and had lunch. We had borsh and pork! It was delicious and we were so blessed to be fed so well by our brothers and sisters in Christ. We then went to a house to chop wood. A grandmother, a pregnant mother and 5 children all live in the same one bedroom house. We chopped wood so they could keep warm for a whole year. It was a lot of wood! Haha! They were so thankful for us and it was an amazing experience.
We then went back to camp for dinner and a session. At session my group did a skit about honoring your father and mother. It was absolutely hysterical! It was so incredible to watch my campers get up there and have fun. It made me so proud.
After the session we went to the banya! It is a really really hot sauna with an ice cold pool and you go back and forth. we also hit each other with branches. It sounds unpleasant but it is very relaxing! Haha!
The best part of my day was not an activity though... today I got close to one of our adult leaders, Jamie. I look up to her so much and today we realized that we are thinking very similarly. We have also been through some of the same situations which makes our connection stronger. I am so happy that I have this new relationship and I know that it will continue to grow!
Today was very awesome! Please continue to pray for our team. Pray that God would strengthen us and give us patience.
Love you all!
Ashley
Friday, June 24, 2011
Amazing Day, Amazing Love
Hi friends,
Today was so much fun! We rented a moonbounce slide for the kids and it was awesome seeing them so excited. The kids in wheelchairs couldn't get up on their own so all the boys literally carried them all the way to the top. it was very tiring but they all said it was worth the pain to see them all so happy.
Another great part of today was during small group. One of the leaders in our group is Olya. She is disabled also, but is a leader. So cool! Anyway, she talked about her testimony and how she constantly asked God why He made her disabled. Why would He do this if He loved her? But then she said that she now knows that God made us all just the way He wants us so that through our struggles we can bring Him glory. She told us that God loved us. It was so powerful to hear Olya who can barely speak, tell us that God loves us. Her life is incredible and today it was so clear that she lives to serve the Lord.
Today we celebrated the birthday of Oleg, one of the boys from the Romaniv Orphanage. We have no idea it it was actually his birthday but it was amazing to see him so excited! But it was also heartbreaking because we know that today was probably the first and last time he will ever celebrate his birthday. What a blessing to watch him experience that!
Today was an amazing day for everyone on the team. At our meeting after the campers wend to bed we talked about our highlights of the day. Mary started talking about how one of her campers was being taken care of by a friend, not a parent. She said it is awesome to see a friend love another friend so much that she will take care of her. That made me think about my dear friend Cierra. She has a disease that limits her on a daily basis, and it even kept her from going on this trip. I get the awesome privilege of helping her when she has bad days. Hearing Mary talk about these friends reminded me how deeply I love Cierra. I would sacrifice anything to take care of her.
It is crazy to me that God loves us even more than I love my best friend. I wish I understood completely how much my father in heaven loves me but here in Ukraine, the small glimpses of God's love for me. overwhelms me. Slava Bogu!
Thank you for your prayers. Please pray for the sisters Yulia and Olya on our team who we are trying to get a response from. Today I danced with Yulia and she absolutely loved it. Pray that we would find more moments to show her God's love.
Thank you all!
Ashley
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Babooshka and Selfless Love
Hey everyone,
Today was the first full day of camp! Morning exercises were great, we listened to "I'm a Believer", YMCA and "Yah" by Usher. Haha anyway, there is a new cook this year so the food is much better! It seems like we eat all the time! Sometimes it's hard to eat dinner because we are still full from lunch.
The campers are awesome but sometimes their caretakers are even more incredible. At my lunch table is the oldest babooshka (grandma) at the camp. Last year was her first year at this camp with her granddaughter and I remember her very well because it was the first time in her life that she had ever experienced a shower. Anyway, at meal times she feeds her granddaughter each bite because she cannot move. Babooshka is so sweet to her. It is such a joy to watch her love her granddaughter so much. After she finishes eating her meal then the babooshka eats. She doesn't even touch her food until she is done serving. I can't imagine living like that, so selfless, every day. I think of how our Father in heaven is like the babooshka, feeding us and taking care of us because we can't do it ourselves. I am useless. We are all useless but God loves and cares for us despite our uselessness.
After every meal I take the babooshka's plates to the kitchen and today before I took her cup she pulled me over to her so that I was on my knees beside her and she started talking to me in Ukrainian, taking my hands between hers. I couldn't understand the words she said, but I understand that she was thanking me. She is a humble, thankful servant and I pray that one day I will be like her... Selfless!
The boy, Sirg, who was having trouble, left camp today so keep him in your prayers. I wish I could write about everything that happened today but just don't have the time. Please know that already in the short time here it has been an amazing experience! Please pray for my friend Ali, she is having a hard time coping with being away from home. Please pray for me that God will give me the right words to say, not only to Ali but to everyone here.
Love you all!
Ashley
Today was the first full day of camp! Morning exercises were great, we listened to "I'm a Believer", YMCA and "Yah" by Usher. Haha anyway, there is a new cook this year so the food is much better! It seems like we eat all the time! Sometimes it's hard to eat dinner because we are still full from lunch.
The campers are awesome but sometimes their caretakers are even more incredible. At my lunch table is the oldest babooshka (grandma) at the camp. Last year was her first year at this camp with her granddaughter and I remember her very well because it was the first time in her life that she had ever experienced a shower. Anyway, at meal times she feeds her granddaughter each bite because she cannot move. Babooshka is so sweet to her. It is such a joy to watch her love her granddaughter so much. After she finishes eating her meal then the babooshka eats. She doesn't even touch her food until she is done serving. I can't imagine living like that, so selfless, every day. I think of how our Father in heaven is like the babooshka, feeding us and taking care of us because we can't do it ourselves. I am useless. We are all useless but God loves and cares for us despite our uselessness.
After every meal I take the babooshka's plates to the kitchen and today before I took her cup she pulled me over to her so that I was on my knees beside her and she started talking to me in Ukrainian, taking my hands between hers. I couldn't understand the words she said, but I understand that she was thanking me. She is a humble, thankful servant and I pray that one day I will be like her... Selfless!
The boy, Sirg, who was having trouble, left camp today so keep him in your prayers. I wish I could write about everything that happened today but just don't have the time. Please know that already in the short time here it has been an amazing experience! Please pray for my friend Ali, she is having a hard time coping with being away from home. Please pray for me that God will give me the right words to say, not only to Ali but to everyone here.
Love you all!
Ashley
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
We Arrived!
Hey friends!
24 hours of traveling and we finally made it to camp! We were greeted by the Ukrainian staff and I got to see many old friends that I knew from the last two years here and meet more new people! We had dinner and then had a meeting where we found out what groups we were in. My group leader is Vova and my interpreter is Yulia. Anna and Jamie from the Grace/Indiana team are also in this group with me. Our campers this year are ages 25-29 and they are physically disabled but not mentally. After the meeting we went right to bed and slept easily after almost 24 hours of traveling.
Today, the first morning here, we got up at 8:00 AM (1 AM US time) and had devotions with the staff and then had breakfast. Right away the campers started arriving and I was so happy to see campers I knew from previous years! Upon seeing all the people that I love (campers and Ukrainian staff), I started to cry because I was so overwhelmed with joy and love! I know only a few campers in my group from previous years. They are Tolik, the burn victim that I talked about last year, Maxim who got close to Shannon last year and a man named Viktor. We are having difficulty with one camper because he told his mom he wants to leave. He has a spinal cord injury and is very reluctant to turn from the sin in his life. Please pray that God would soften his heart. I spent much of today pushing around wheel chairs and playing games with some of the children that are not disabled.
It has been a good 1 1/2 days here but it has been hard being away from home. This is the first year that I have been a little homesick but I know that I will see you all (family and friends) very soon. I love you all very much! Sorry that it has taken me longer than usual to post but none of the outlets were working and when they finally were working my phone did not work.
Thank you all for your love, prayers and support to help make my trip here possible.
Love,
Ashley
P.S. Cierra, I know how much you wanted to be here with our group. I wish you were here. I miss you, love you and are taking lots of pictures for you!
24 hours of traveling and we finally made it to camp! We were greeted by the Ukrainian staff and I got to see many old friends that I knew from the last two years here and meet more new people! We had dinner and then had a meeting where we found out what groups we were in. My group leader is Vova and my interpreter is Yulia. Anna and Jamie from the Grace/Indiana team are also in this group with me. Our campers this year are ages 25-29 and they are physically disabled but not mentally. After the meeting we went right to bed and slept easily after almost 24 hours of traveling.
Today, the first morning here, we got up at 8:00 AM (1 AM US time) and had devotions with the staff and then had breakfast. Right away the campers started arriving and I was so happy to see campers I knew from previous years! Upon seeing all the people that I love (campers and Ukrainian staff), I started to cry because I was so overwhelmed with joy and love! I know only a few campers in my group from previous years. They are Tolik, the burn victim that I talked about last year, Maxim who got close to Shannon last year and a man named Viktor. We are having difficulty with one camper because he told his mom he wants to leave. He has a spinal cord injury and is very reluctant to turn from the sin in his life. Please pray that God would soften his heart. I spent much of today pushing around wheel chairs and playing games with some of the children that are not disabled.
It has been a good 1 1/2 days here but it has been hard being away from home. This is the first year that I have been a little homesick but I know that I will see you all (family and friends) very soon. I love you all very much! Sorry that it has taken me longer than usual to post but none of the outlets were working and when they finally were working my phone did not work.
Thank you all for your love, prayers and support to help make my trip here possible.
Love,
Ashley
P.S. Cierra, I know how much you wanted to be here with our group. I wish you were here. I miss you, love you and are taking lots of pictures for you!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Leaving Today!
Hey All!
I am leaving for Ukraine today! I am beyond excited to see all the beautiful Ukrainian faces! But first I have to go through almost 24 hours of traveling! It will be a long trip but sometimes this part is very fun! I would appreciate all of your prayers. God is going to do amazing things on this trip and i am so excited that i get to share it with you all every day on this blog! Thanks again for everything guys! Your support means so much to me!
Love you all! I will post again when we arrive in Ukraine!
-Ashley
I am leaving for Ukraine today! I am beyond excited to see all the beautiful Ukrainian faces! But first I have to go through almost 24 hours of traveling! It will be a long trip but sometimes this part is very fun! I would appreciate all of your prayers. God is going to do amazing things on this trip and i am so excited that i get to share it with you all every day on this blog! Thanks again for everything guys! Your support means so much to me!
Love you all! I will post again when we arrive in Ukraine!
-Ashley
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Ukraine 2011
Hey all! As most of you know I am going back to Ukraine for a third time this summer! My trip is from June 20-July 1. I am really struggling with getting enough money to go this year. So if any of you can help in any way please let me know! I am willing to do small/odd jobs, babysitting, cleaning, anything really! Thanks again!
Also... prayer would be appreciated! (:
-Ashley
Also... prayer would be appreciated! (:
-Ashley
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