Bible Camp in Ukraine

The first Bible camp ended 4 days ago and the second camp will start 4 days from today.  Words just cannot do justice to the blessings we have experienced while serving here in far east Ukraine.  

This camp is not specifically for orphans.  Children from this village and surrounding villages are invited to come.  Many of these children are impoverished; many live in difficult situations; some are children of local taxi drivers or businessmen. All of them need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and that is why we come. 

The last night of camp we asked the children to tell their Bible study leaders what they believed about Jesus Christ.  Some said he was the Healer.  Some said he was God.  Many said “He is my Deliverer”.  These words were sweet to our ears.  One older girl said the one thing that she remembered most from our Bible studies was the Jesus could calm the storm simply by speaking.  I am thankful to our team who conveyed these precious truths and thankful to In Lumine Media for the Russian translation of the Jesus Storybook Bible.  It was exciting to see kids sitting around in the afternoon reading their Bibles.  Encouraging when, after reading the next to last story in small group, an older girl asked if they could read the last story so they could know what happens next. 

When I first met with our worship leader for camp, I was not sure we were going to work smoothly together.  He conveyed to me that the songs I had chosen for the children to learn were too deep; he thought the children would not understand the meaning of the lyrics.  How precious to watch the children’s faces as they sang “I’m running to your arms, the riches of your love will always be enough, nothing compares to your embrace…..”; but also to see Maxim’s excitement grow daily as he taught them about worship.  Maxim turned out to be one of the strongest leaders at camp and he and I were always on the same page as we lead the children deeper into the word.

I am honored to serve alongside all these believers, both American and Ukrainian.  But I cannot end this blog without mentioning my friend and partner, Taryn Kilpatrick.  Taryn sees a need and with a fierce determination, seeks to meet that need.  She saw that we had food leftover after each meal; so she began taking food to the handicapped, the poor, even the intoxicated.  She serves the Lord with reckless abandon in this and so many ways and I love her.

Please like our facebook page and check out all the pictures if you have not already.  You will be blessed.  Thank you to all who give to make our ministry to the orphaned and poor of Ukraine possible.  Hosting, Bible camp, special needs ministry, bibles; we could do none of this without your prayers and financial support.  God is certainly being glorified through it all.