Reflections by Ralph and Jan Welch:
It was truly humbling to meet for Sunday services in a foreign country where we do not speak the same language but are all of the same heart. The love that these brethren have for the love and the church is very uplifting.
We really did not know what the day would bring Monday in the village of Ugorniky. But what an amazing day we have visiting the students and their teacher. We visited the English teacher and her students. They had been told we would be visiting and were very excited to talk with us. As we entered each room the students would stand as a show of respect. All very shy but anxious to learn about us and our culture. As the class progressed they would begin to open up to the discussion. In all aspects we were treated exceptionally well. We were hosted to a good lunch in the school cafeteria.
Reflections from Doug Schofield:
Monday was an amazing day. Altogether our teams worked in five different locations; our group visited a school that had previously received several items from our aid missions, including enough desks for an entire classroom. A local church member refinished them, and they looked like new! We also presented a laptop computer to the school, for which they were very appreciative. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by a group of students who gave recitations welcoming us, and they sang for us. They made us feel genuinely welcome. They have invited us to return tomorrow and speak to a couple of classes on the subject of Christian ethics.
We then visited a special needs facility which we have helped support, and were given a detailed tour. We distributed Bibles and magazines there. The staff then surprised us with an amazing luncheon banquet! I have discovered that Ukrainian food is delicious!
From there we inspected an empty building in a location where we are working to establish a new congregation. We plan to return to that locale tomorrow and conduct some Bible studies in an effort to move toward that goal.
Other teams from our group also had a very successful day. We are all excited about the opportunities that tomorrow holds.
Reflections by Mike & Karen Moody:
Today, the real work began. After another wonderful 8 AM breakfast at Churchill, a restaurant named for the great British Prime Minister, we separated into our assigned groups.
Our group, consisting of Adam “Simba” Gifford, Scott, Ainsley and Alex Lockwood, Chris Mulkey, Karen and myself, was accompanied by our interpreters; Natalie, Volodymry and his wife, Julia.
We travelled to the town of Starry-Lesets where we visited several classes to tell them about life in America. It was wonderful!
The children were shy, at first, but then began to open up. They had been learning some English and were proud to say “hello” as we we would greet them. The older kids could ask questions about Hollywood and other interesting topics of our lives. We brought posters that showed different aspects of life in Alabama.
The school provided lunch of borscht soup, mashed potatoes, salmon patties and pickles. With the exception of the salmon, this is a common meal here. It was delicious! After a brief rest back at the hotel, we were ready for the nightly Bible classes that held in Lesets, another town away.
Volodya and Julia had been promoting our arrival and, from what Scott told us, the turnout was great! We had seven adults, 12 teenagers and six younger people.
All classes told the story of Moses. Chris commented that the adults would quickly ask questions that took them off topic but where appreciated because it gave Chris and Scott opportunities to have private studies with them. Chris brought them back on course and the adults were the last group to leave the building. Karen and Ainsley worked with the little kids and, after covering the story of Moses and the Ten Commandments, had the children working on a craft the group had brought. Simba and I thought the teenagers, a tough group to crack, but by the end were making real connections.
This has been a full and rewarding day. We just had our end-of-day meeting and were further encouraged by all the good work that was accomplished by our teams. It’s 10:30 PM, Karen is fast asleep and I’m pretty tired also but we are anxious to get to work in the morning. A special thanks to all those who contributed to help make this trip possible. Your contribution will pay dividends long after we have left Ukraine.
Reflections from Andrew (Gif) Gifford:
I learned a new skill set yesterday morning: how to work with kindergarteners. Not exactly my strong suit but fortunately Ms. Jill was there and she is much better at it than I am. She taught them names of animals in English and my job was to make the sounds that animals make. Clearly, I was everyone’s favorite by the end of the day.
For two weeks we have had a discussion class with the young adult group here. I broke off from the main group last night to continue that and will keep doing that for the rest of the week. It’s a class made up of mostly people who aren’t members of the church but they have a real desire to learn. The setup is we sit down, I ask what they want to discuss, and they start asking questions. Last night we were there for nearly three hours. The Bible is still relevant and can make an impact on everyone!
Reflections by Scott Lockwood:
A beautiful day in Lysets. A group of exuberant if not anxious evangelists going into the public schools for the first time. We broke up into groups and visited about 5 classroom periods. It was challenging to try to engage the children in conversation. They knew English fairly well but were very reserved. Overall the kids here are very respectful and a joy to be around. There is something special about seeing a school that reminds me of Norman Rockwell’s America. The teachers were very thankful and completely accommodating. My treat was seeing Alex and Ainsley engage with the children and tell them about themselves and their own experiences.
A great lunch fixed just for us in a cafeteria in the school was a further reminder of yesteryear. They cooked especially for us in their cafeteria and I was struck how impossible that would be in any school cafeteria in America these days.
Our evening was spent at the Cultural Center of downtown Starry Lysets. Once again, what a treat to teach and preach in a place that once housed the local communist party and their propaganda. Again I was awed by the children who came out into the night by themselves to walk to such a place or take a bus from a nearby town just to sit and talk about the Bible with Americans. They are so special these people.
My main effort for the day culminated in meeting two very special individuals from a local Pentacostal church. One of them was an associate minister. I kept them out of class at the cultural center and we talked a good 50 minutes about the Jerusalem Gospel. I was touched and encouraged by their ready and open minds and their incredible Bible knowledge. I am determined to meet with them again and have been invited to their Wednesday night Bible study at the Pentacostal church. If they allow me to preach, I will attend.
Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to present God’s Word to this area; most for the very first time.
Reflections by Ainsley Lockwood:
We embarked on our first journey to the Lysets school. Walking in we were greeted by some of the school staff who eager to have us start going to the classes right away. As we entered each class I was surprised each student stood and greeted us with a warm welcome to Ukraine. The respect they showed us and their teachers was something you rarely see in the states. I had the honor of sharing a cup of mint tea with the principle of the school who spoke no English but that didn’t hinder her from hosting us with so much love.
VBS class was definitely a sight that I will never forget. Six ten-year-olds came to our kids class and absolutely loved the story of Moses we told. Their knowledge of the bible was unbelievable. To see kids so young come by themselves to learn about the bible was something that brought tears to my eyes.
As I continue on the journey through Ukraine each day just excels beyond my imagination. I cant comprehend how much progress we’ve made just in a short amount of time.
Reflections by Alex Lockwood:
Yesterday was a real eye opening experience as we entered the school of Starry Lysets. It was clear there confusion as to why we were there to help but; as we began to talk with there students in class there appreciation started to come through. Watching the kids practice their English with us was an amazing sight to watch. Being able to see their faces go from strained with concentration to pure elation when they had said something correctly was so worth it. In the evening I got to attend the studies Gif had started with the young ladies. It was so encouraging to me to be a part of teaching the gospel to girls my age that live half way around the globe. I am determined to continue to be the servant that God has called me to be in this effort. Yesterday was the start to a great effort here. I look forward to the rest of the week and the exciting possibilities.
Reflections by Chris Mulkey:
On Monday October 8, I along with Mike & Karen Moody, Simba, Scott, Alex & Ainsley Lockwood wet and visited a school in the town of Lysets. The purpose of the visit was to meet and talked with the school administrators and deliver a gift of a new laptop computer.
During the day following this meeting, we were allowed to go to any and all classrooms and talk with he students. The students are learning English and this give them an opportunity to practice with Americans as well as for us to learn about them and them about us. We invited everyone to the cultural palace in Starry Lysets for evening Bible classes for children and adults.
We had 10 adults in my class and more than a dozen children. I have been more encouraged by the citizens than anywhere or anytime in my life. I’m looking forward to more visits and study.
Reflections by Justin Boyd:
What a great way to kickoff our week in the mission field. My group went to Ugorniky and visited with the school. We were greeted with a warm welcome by the Headmaster and the principals of the Elementary and High School. We presented the school with a laptop computer, and they were so thankful. I was then paired up with an English teacher and went to several of her classes. The students were excited to have a native speaker even if they were a bit shy. It was funny to see how kids are the same no matter where you go in the world. There always seemed to be a at least one class clown who kept things lively. Through the interpreter, we were able to have a great conversation. They were eager to learn more about the US and I was eager to learn more about them. I found it especially interesting that they did not know Tom Brady or Lebron James, but, unsurprisingly, they did know Ronaldo. But, when I mentioned video games, they exploded with excitement.
Later in the day, we hosted some of the parents and kids for a Bible study. I was so encouraged to see many of the same children I had met earlier in the day. We studied the life of Moses together and then had refreshments. The highlight of the day was afterward when I got to chat with the teenagers. I wanted them to teach me some Ukrainian words, and they did not disappoint. I can’t remember them all, but: dobryj den, do pobachenya, and sho ty which means good day, see you later, and what’s up! Building these relationships is what it is all about. Maybe showing the kids that we are just as goofy as anyone else will better help them accept the message we hope to deliver.
