Life in Kyiv

Its been fun to just be family together these past few days. Yesterday we took all 4 children to the beach and met up with so me of their friends from church. We have figured out that a morning at the beach makes for good naps, so we are praying for nice weather this week, so we can try that routine again.

Well this morning rolled around and our plan didn't work too well. It was cloudy and overcast... Zucchini is in season, so Tristan, Mandy and I worked together to make our Grandma's famous Zucchini Bread recipe, to which Britain replied, "I want to help make bikini bread!"

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Week 1 Kompas Park Praise Report

Thank you all for your prayers for my first week of service with the kids at Kompas Park. God really did show up and do great things! There was so much to experience and so many memories made which I don't have room to communicate here, but i will share some highlights.

One of the best parts of the week for me was Wednesday, when we offered the children a chance to pray the prayer, and accept Jesus into their heart. In small group devotions on Monday and Tuesday we laid the groundwork, and discussed the importance of hiding God's word in your heart. We talked about how the Bible is so much better than any other book. In my group there were 2 girls and 3 boys. 2 of the boys made the decision to ask Jesus into their heart!!! Their names are Sergey and Andrew. Both of them consciously and independently made the choice. I would really appreciate it, though, if you joined me in keeping them in your prayers. The both need to make some changes in their behavior and language choices, especially Andrew. Please pray that they would really understand the significant changes that they need to make in their lifestyle, and that they would realize how important their decision is. Also pray for all the children in the camp who accepted Christ, that they would share with their families so God's word spreads throughout the village. I have been praying for so long for these children, and it was so amazing how God answered my prayers above and beyond!!

That was a huge praise for me, and now a little bit about our routine and my involvement:

Kompas Park has seen much change over the past year. Through donations they have built an addition, and also purchased several new amenities for the river.

The day started with a meeting between the Ukrainian leaders and the British/American helping team. We would have devotions and prayer together, and discuss the day ahead. Breakfast followed. We greeted the kids and had a general assembly with the kids, involving singing, drama, and an introduction of the days theme. Then we broke off into 5 age group teams where we had our devotions. There were 2 Ukrainian leaders in each team and usually 2 "foreigners" as well. Two of the Ukrainians then led the sports and excercizes. Let me just say that Ukrainians are very resourceful! I am constantly amazed at how they take the little they have and make it into an interactive activity. I was in charge of one of the 4 craft stations. My designated craft was to make small plaster molds and paint them with the children. It seems so amazing that a simple craft like this that takes 20 minutes in America was stretched into an hour event because the children are so interested. They are so grateful for such small things as crafts, and their attention span is forever. After crafts the children rotated in their teams through different stations: river, sports, music, and drama. The general theme of the camp was travel, and your spiritual journey. Each team was a different country; Japan, U.S.A, England, or Ukraine. After another assembly and snack the kids were supposed to leave at 4. Then the leader team would meet and prepare for the. next day. Because the camp was for children from the local village, they would usually reappear after dinner and play games with us.

Over all this camp was a great success. Many people showed up and met Jesus! Thank you all for praying, we are grateful for the great turnout, for the fun and fellowship we had, for safety, but most of all that children were saved. Please continue to pray for God to strengthen these children in their relationship with HIM!

First Days at Camp

Mandy here updating for Diana...

Diana and a team arriving from England made their connection at the airport on Saturday and the 3 hour drive to Cherkassy. They overnighted at Alpha House (the ministry facility that Hope Now operates out of) and then continued on to camp on Sunday. She and a British girl are rooming together in a new small dorm that Hope Now has constructed since her visit last summer. Apparently, Diana was most grateful that she has...um...shall we say "sufficent plumbing facilities" and is not rooming where she did last year with traditional squatty-potties.:-)

She has been assigned to the art & craft station which groups of kids rotate to every day. Aside from paper-mache being a tremendously messy endeavor with 6 year-olds, she said they are having fun!

She asked for family and faithful prayer supporters to be lifting up the following requests:
-Safety on the lake. There are lots of water activities and equipment have have been donated to the ministry for the kids. While this is a highlight of camp experience for many kids, it is a continuous caution concern!

-Today (Wednesday) they will be presenting the gospel and offering an invitation for these children to come to Christ. Pray for clarity in cross-cultural communication and tender hearts for these precious little ones!

-Diana's health...she has contracted a virus and is feeling pretty crummy, although she doesn't complain at all. Pray she will heal quickly and not over-do it. Also, contune to pray for strength for her shoulder as she play's volleyball, totes around luggage and hugs and lifts these these little ones.

Headed to Camp

Im leaving this afternoon for Kompas Park, a campsite where different groups of orphans and disabled children are brought each week of the summer. Please pray for my week here that God will use me to be a servant for him. Pray for unity with the ukrainian, british and american staff. Pray also for the kids hearts, that they would be soft and open to hearing the gospel. We are trusting God for a great harvest, and giving him all the glory. THank you for keeping me in your prayers!

Prayer Requests

Just wanted to key you in on some issues we would appreciate prayer on. Thank you for joining us and keeping us in your prayers.

- Please pray me as I head out to camp next week. Pray for the children, that God will soften their hearts and prepare them to receive the good news of the gospel. I am trusting that God is going to show up and do great things, and we will give HIM all the glory!

- Pray for Mandy's pregnancy! She is still feeling pretty yucky, pray that this too, shall pass!! And also pray that all the other little munchkins here will learn to be big helpers

- The team Katherine is leading next week have had some issues with their translators and bus driver. The driver they were counting on is now not able to be there, and to drive a 16 passenger van in Ukraine you have to obtain a special liscense, which not many people have. Translators have also dropped out. So please pray for Katherine to find appropriate people

- It is very hot here!!! 95 degrees and no air conditioning!

Sister Time

It has been so sweet to be able to have sister time with Mandy and Katherine, although we do miss Josie and Mama very much!! The other day when we finally got the kids down for their nap we were able to just take a break and have a little party. We made iced tea and lemonade and had sweets.

Mandy also got tickets to go see the ballet Romeo and Juliet at the Kyiv Operahouse. It was a part of Abi's birthday present, so she got to come with the big girls too. The Operahouse is exquisite, just like you see in all the movies. This was my first time to go, and i was very impressed. We got to go out and have coffee afterward too. Its been so fun to get to have girl time!

Our Days

Our days have been full and fun. We've held hands and departed on many excursions. In Kyiv there are small playgrounds practically every couple blocks (communist style metal playgrounds with several layers chipped of paint). The kids favorite thing on the playground is when you make a tunnel with your hands over ths slide, and they slide under it. Constantly I hear "Aunt Di, look at this" as one of the children proudly demonstrates a new trick or skill that they have mastered!

The children have also enjoyed outings to the beach the past two mornings. We load up the stroller with diapers, snacks and toys and hold the hands of the other 3 children and troop down to the river. I dont know how in the world Mandy does it by herself!! The "beach" is on the shore of the Dnipre River which runs down from Chernoble and through the city of Kyiv. We spread out our blankets and keep counting heads, one, two, three, four to make sure everyone is ok. Even little Isabelle is fearless of the water! Tristan and Abi love to dig and build in the sand, and the other day when we asked them what they were building, they replied "we are building the America!"

The children are enjoying all their fun suprises from their family and friends in America. They love to read the book that Aunt Marvel sent them. Abi and Britain look so adorable in the smocked nightgowns that their Grandmoni made for them.

Day 2

Our day was FULL OF KIDS!!! Katherine and I are babysitting 3 of Mandy and Chad's children. Mandy and Chad had to leave the country (as they do every 6 months) to re-register their car. They "simply" have to drive across the border, but the lines can last for miles and up to 12 hours, so they took baby Isabelle because if you have an infant in the car, they move you to the front of the line. They are headed to Poland, and we are with the children until Tuesday. We enjoyed a lot of indoor play time today, as the weather outside was a bit gloomy. The kids toted around some of our lighter suitcases early this morning, and carried around their "passports" (blue greeting cards from Grandenny which the kids obviously think resembles an American passport).

Some of you may remember Kostya, Olya and baby Daniel, the Ukrainian family who lived at my house for several months this winter. Baby Daniel was born with clubbed feet, and underwent treatment in Atlanta. They took the metro and bus and came all the way across town (one and a half hour trip!) to have dinner with us. We enjoyed catching up with them, and of course, we couldn't believe how much Daniel grew!!! He has curly hair, two new teeth, and is crawling and learning to walk.

We are well adjusted to the 7 hour difference of time. Thank you all for continuing to pray!!

Arrived!

We are here!!! My sister Katherine and I were flying on buddy passes and were very grateful that God opened up spaces on the flights for us. We made the first flight to LaGuardia airport in NYC, where we got our luggage in a cab and rode to JFK ariport. Once there, we had a 9 hour layover until the flight to Kyiv. On the flight to Kyiv we got to fly in business class because of the buddy passes, which was an added blessing. This was a new experience for me, and it was very nice. Both Katherine and I were able to sleep for a while on the plane, so we are just about over the 7-hour difference jetlag. Taking it easy this morning and playing with the kids. I will try to send pictures soon. Thank you for continuing to pray. We give God all the glory for our safe travel, and His provision for us to be here.

Packing For The Journey

Humbled and grateful for the way the Lord has provided, I am preparing to embark on a five week mission trip to Ukraine. There, I will be working with disabled children, orphans, and teens at a facility called Kompas Park in Cherkassy (out in the countryside). My sister, her husband and four children live in Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine, and I will also be helping them. I would appreciate your prayers for me as I prepare to leave, that everything would be in order here, and that the Lord would be preparing for a great harvest. Pray that He is already softening the hearts of the children and preparing them to hear His word. Pray also for safety, and that I would know my place and be able to serve wholeheartedly. We've got quite an assortment of items to fill our suitcase, from gifts, to crafts for camp, to flags, to peanut butter and marshmallows (American rarities), to paper products for my friends wedding, and also a few clothes in there somewhere! I will be flying out with my sister Katherine on June 8th and we will return July 14th. I appreciate having prayer warriors at home and I will try to keep you all updated! Thank you and God Bless!