Trip Report 8

Featured Photo: We stand at the doors of the new Kindergarten Building that was renovated in Yaremche. The regional television station was there to cover the event.

We are expecting Gif to arrive today! A BIG thanks to all who view and share our reports. Yesterday we were viewed by those in France, Kenya, Australia, Ukraine and the United States!

Our trip has begun in a feverish fashion. We make plans then those plans are modified and then scrapped and new plans are made. The schedule is definitely fluid! This is magnified by the fact that Ukraine is at war and there is really no definites! Several meetings with Administration have been rescheduled because of emergency situations. However, in spite of all of this uncertainty we are cramming each day to overflowing.

Our cooperation with Andrew Ivanovych in Yaremche has been on-going for years. Andrew has proven to be a super help in many situations. It is always a joy to visit with him and enjoy his hospitality. The influx of IDPs to Yaremche has burdened the various social concerns in the community. The population has doubled with the in-coming IDPS. The war and strife in the east continue to drive many westward.

This visit allowed us to present the Alabama State flag to Andrew. Chip had come up with the idea of presenting flags and that action has really made an impact.

The work of the Lord’s Church in this community and surrounding regions has been well received. In appreciation for the years of work, Andrew presented each of us with a medal saying “For patronage and benevolence.” Accompanying the medal was a certificate expressing gratitude to the Lord’s Church for its benevolent actions.

Our day had been well planned and a visit to the school in Mykulychyn was a treat. Every class activity had been primed and ready to give presentations for us. We saw the volleyball team practicing their spikes, the karate class practicing their moves, the computer lab, the renovation of the Kindergarten, the soccer team practicing on the field where, in a previous trip Will Tucker got annihilated by some girls, and other activities. The Regional television was there to cover our visit. Following the school’s presentations, we were treated to a wonderful meal at Andrew’s restaurant.

We saw the school’s chapel. This is a customary sight in the schools here. Every day the school begins with chapel and all students attend. Now this is a PUBLIC school! When we commented on this we were told that the school feels helping train the students’ spiritual person is just as vital as training the physical person!

Much good is being accomplished and today’s events highlight the positive impact that is being made. We saw students sitting in the desks that we had shipped!

Perry

It was great to see Andrew again as we were received a very warm welcome. We discussed the situation in his village of 15,000 which has swollen due to the IDPOs to almost double the population. This explosion of population has put a heavy burden on the community. There is no help from the government. The Church in Ivan-Frankivsk is helping as much as possible. Andrew is so thankful for the assistance offered. Andrew was very gracious by presenting each of us with a medal in appreciation for all that the Church has done for his village. He also gave Ivan a plaque for the church and John and Tanya received medals, watches and two nice paintings of the community. John presented Andrew with the Alabama State coin.

Our next visit was to the High School where Andrew introduced us to Yaroslav the Principal. He was presented with new laptops for a newly renovated classroom. We saw that many of the classrooms have student desks that were shipped in containers and given by the Church to the schools. The elementary students are using the school during the complete renovation of their building which is almost completed. Following a tour of the building the elementary students honored use with Ukraine folk dance. We then went across to the Elementary school for a tour. Following the tour Andrew was present with the Alabama State Flag and signed documents by Governor Kay Ivy and Lieutenant Will Ainsworth. Andrew presented the Flag to Yaroslav to be hung in the school. While we were there we met Peter, who is the spiritual advisor for the schools and the senator. We had a remarkable visit and finish with a lavished lunch at Andrews restaurant.

Chip

I love it when a plan comes together! After yesterday’s trial start we actually made. it to Yaremche today! We arrived around 11am.

We met with Mayor Andrew Ivanovych and shared some tea in his office. He shared several needs his town and the other similar towns in Ukraine needed help with such as infrastructure, handling influx of IDPs from the Eastern Ukraine war zones, and demands on the Healthcare system in handling Soldiers injured and severe combat injuries requiring much needed rehabilitative services. We will be returning to Yaremche to meet with some health-care folks to get a list of needs to see how we can help through our contacts and resources.

The mission team members and local Church leaders received some special individual recognition awards from the Mayor which was an unexpected surprise and a very humbling experience.

We made a special presentation of an Alabama State flag that had been flown over our capital to the Mayor along with certificates of appreciation from our Lt. Governor and Governor. The Mayor then presented the flag to the school principal to be displayed in the school.

After the activities at school we were transported to a local restaurant with the Mayor and several other officials for lunch! Ukraine meals are filling! I had watermelon, borsch soup, a chicken and vegetable salad, rabbit and potatoes, baked sturgeon fish, salmon and cheese sushi and didn’t have room for the duck. I was stuffed!!!

We soon left and returned to Ivano-Frankivsk around 4pm. I’m getting over jet lag but today has worn me out. Sleep will come easy tonight. Thank you, Lord, for a blessed day and may our activities have helped the spread of your seed, the word!!

Until tomorrow your humble servant!!