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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)