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
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