What to say? I am on a train to leave the country and apply for a new visa to replace the one that expires tomorrow. The good news is I am leaving the country on time in order to not get blacklisted (shut out of the country for a year). The bad news is that I do not yet have the documents I will need from the Ukrainian government in order to apply for a new visa.
The Problem
Mr. President (Viktor Yanukovych) decided to disband the Committee of Religious Affairs a couple weeks before we tried to submit our documents. So where do our documents go now? Most people, even lawyers, had no clue. Thankfully, my wonderful girlfriend Lesya started making phone calls, going from one number to another and piecing together clues about how to make the process work now. Someone along the chain of phone calls gave her the personal number of one government official who was able to direct her to the temporarily correct place for our type of documents to be submitted.
As things stand right now, our documents appear to be in the right hands. The biggest problem is that those hands are swamped with work, partially due to the disbanding of the Religious Committee. They say it could take up to 30 days to get approval. We pray it will be much less!
The more immediate problem is that they want one additional document with information regarding the church. Honestly, this shouldn't be a huge problem but every day counts right now. We sincerely hope our youth pastor will have the time to get this document turned in tomorrow. This could be the difference between spending Christmas in Ukraine or in Poland.
What To Pray For (Please!)
Please pray for quick document processing and approval. Please also pray for government employees to be attentive to their jobs and quickly inform us of any additional details or information they decide they will need. We have already lost time because of this. Things are very much at the whim of human nature. Thankfully God is ultimately in control of everybody involved.
Once the documents are done they will be sent to us in Poland. "Us" is me and the other New Life intern, Jenny. We have hostel booked for eight nights and hope that will be enough time to get the documents done and overnighted to Ukraine. If so, we will make it back on Christmas Eve!
What I Will Be Doing In The Meantime
I will try to make the most of this time that is out of my hands. This will be a time for extra talks with God and asking Him to line up all aspects of my life in order with His plan. I will be seeking out that plan and the next step of His vision for me. I can get through some piles of Russian homework. I will do some Skyping with friends from the US. I'll have opportunities to enjoy not-so-everyday things like going to the movie theater because most movies here are shown in English with Polish subtitles. I will take pleasure from a few Mountain Dews and some peanut butter sandwiches (cheap solution to food but a delicacy after eight months in a country that lives without peanut butter). During all of this, I will be missing my amazing Lesya. But I know God uses different times for different purposes and brings the most out of each.
Then
After we get our visas there will still be a lot of work to be done. Under the new visa law (which has been extremely confusing and which trickles down to different government agencies months after going into effect), we get 45 days in the country. Within that window we need to get temporary residency in Ukraine. This means we need to find someone who will let us register at their apartment. The problem is, this means someone accepts that we will have a say in matters such as the sale of the apartment during that time and that this person can become liable for our actions. So more prayer requests may follow soon!
As things become clearer or confirmed in my understanding of God's vision for me, I will post to this blog and let you know what will be coming up. Thank you as always for all different kinds of support. These have been essential and I appreciate the ways they have enabled and guided the circumstances that have helped me grow over the last eight months.
Contact Me
If you want me to give you a call and want to hear personally what has been going on in Ukraine, let me know! I have a Skype account that allows me to call your phone number with no long distance charges. You receive the call from a US phone number. Send me an email at joshuaingram@gmail.com if you would like to find a time that coordinates over our seven to eight hour time difference. I'd like to tell you about my life and hear about what I've missed in yours.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Some Quick Updates
Wednesday Service Online
First, I would like to inform you that the young adult worship team will be leading worship for the Wednesday evening service this week. We will be doing a couple of acoustic sets, which I have not seen done before for the Wednesday or Sunday services. It is great that our team is given the freedom to introduce new styles of worship and, hopefully, communicate that worship is not as much about familiarity with the music as it is about familiarity with God. There will be a live broadcast streaming here at 11:30am EST (10:30am CST).
Me, Preaching!
Secondly, I will most likely be preaching for our young adult service on Saturday the 26th! This will certainly be a first for me. It is also coming sooner than I ever thought I would be ready. But I believe that God has been teaching me a lot of truth about my relationship with Him in the seven months that I have been here, and I am eager for opportunities to share some of this. I also feel that if God asks me to speak and gives me the words, then my presentation and lack of practice are His concern, not mine. Of course, I do need prayer. I may be speaking on one of the judges, but I don't know yet which one we will land on in our series for that particular week. I suspect though that this will be a relevant topic for me as I am growing to understand how decisions to trust and obey God wholeheartedly parallel the triumphs and consequences of Israel's actions. The main thought and experience that comes to mind: following God with one foot in His world and another in our own is a rather inconvenient and disagreeable form of service, but jumping in with little reservation is a joy beyond possibility of obtaining on our natural terms.
ATM Fraud
Lastly, to round out prayer requests... my debit card was duplicated and was used at a couple of ATM machines in Moscow, Russia. Thankfully, I caught it on the second day because this was causing problems as I tried to withdraw funds to pay for my Russian lessons. I called my bank and I think that in the end, things will be sorted out. However, I would still appreciate prayer that the bank agrees to credit the withdrawals and that I am able to find the best way to take care of the paperwork from over here. When I spoke on the phone with them they were not sure they would be able to send the paperwork I need to sign by e-mail, and that could cause a bit of a problem.
First, I would like to inform you that the young adult worship team will be leading worship for the Wednesday evening service this week. We will be doing a couple of acoustic sets, which I have not seen done before for the Wednesday or Sunday services. It is great that our team is given the freedom to introduce new styles of worship and, hopefully, communicate that worship is not as much about familiarity with the music as it is about familiarity with God. There will be a live broadcast streaming here at 11:30am EST (10:30am CST).
Me, Preaching!
Secondly, I will most likely be preaching for our young adult service on Saturday the 26th! This will certainly be a first for me. It is also coming sooner than I ever thought I would be ready. But I believe that God has been teaching me a lot of truth about my relationship with Him in the seven months that I have been here, and I am eager for opportunities to share some of this. I also feel that if God asks me to speak and gives me the words, then my presentation and lack of practice are His concern, not mine. Of course, I do need prayer. I may be speaking on one of the judges, but I don't know yet which one we will land on in our series for that particular week. I suspect though that this will be a relevant topic for me as I am growing to understand how decisions to trust and obey God wholeheartedly parallel the triumphs and consequences of Israel's actions. The main thought and experience that comes to mind: following God with one foot in His world and another in our own is a rather inconvenient and disagreeable form of service, but jumping in with little reservation is a joy beyond possibility of obtaining on our natural terms.
ATM Fraud
Lastly, to round out prayer requests... my debit card was duplicated and was used at a couple of ATM machines in Moscow, Russia. Thankfully, I caught it on the second day because this was causing problems as I tried to withdraw funds to pay for my Russian lessons. I called my bank and I think that in the end, things will be sorted out. However, I would still appreciate prayer that the bank agrees to credit the withdrawals and that I am able to find the best way to take care of the paperwork from over here. When I spoke on the phone with them they were not sure they would be able to send the paperwork I need to sign by e-mail, and that could cause a bit of a problem.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Important Prayer Request
Hi everybody. This will be a shorter post this time, I promise :)
But it’s also one of the most important posts I could ever make. I want to ask you all please, please, please to be praying for my friend Derek. I do not think that he knows Jesus as his own friend yet. But I know that deep inside, he would like to. I also know that once he sees Jesus as a friend and experiences God taking him by the hand, he will never wish to go back to the way things were before. There is no going back once we begin to personally understand who God is and once we become inseparably caught up in His presence in our lives.
So please pray. I want the very best for my friend. I want a relationship with Jesus Christ to be a reality for him. There is no experience I could ever wish more for him. This is the very top of the list! Please pray that God will say, “Hi Derek. Come and follow me. I will fulfill you and give you purpose and hope like no one else. Give your life to me.” And please pray that Derek will be bold and ready to respond.
This is a friend who has supported me more than I can accurately describe, and in various ways. He has supported me in very large aspects and with small details to make my time and my service in Ukraine possible and to add some comforting touches of America for me. And I know he will continue to support me with thoughtful attention.
Derek, I know you’ll read this. Thanks for giving me the “ok” to post this request. I want you to know how valued and supported you really are.
To everyone who has been praying for me: I know you make a difference and I appreciate your efforts and prayers on my behalf. Right now, this friend needs your prayers even more urgently than I do. I am realizing that just as important as being a “doer,” by role as a Christian should be as a spiritual facilitator. I am powerless by myself but I am strong with Christ and other believers standing with me. I am happy to ask you to join me in this way.
Okay, I have to add this photo. Derek had this cake custom-made for my going-away cookout. That's the Ukrainian flag and national colors. I'm telling you, he thinks of the little details!
Okay, I have to add this photo. Derek had this cake custom-made for my going-away cookout. That's the Ukrainian flag and national colors. I'm telling you, he thinks of the little details!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Surrender
My Current Life Lessons
God has been doing a lot of work and spending a lot of time helping to bring me to a place of surrender. Despite its connotations of feebleness and failure, surrender is one of the most empowering realities in the universe! Of more significance than whatever geographical point on the globe I call home, this place of surrender is the place He really wants me to live. This concept does not have a strong presence in popular psychology or self-help/self-esteem manuals. It is a reality that doesn’t make sense. It transcends human understanding.
And that is exactly the reason it is so powerful! It is not rooted in human knowledge or goodness. The sole source is our Father God, our loving and protecting Daddy in heaven. His knowledge and His goodness are the roots of this unexplainable power. The only question that leads me to ask right now is “Why?” Why me, God? Why are your blessings, your light, your watchful and soul-protecting eye, directed towards me? Why do I have such a fierce and crushing consciousness of your liberating love? Why am I smothered by such a dense, beautifully present sense of your peace and goodness? This is an overwhelming influence that I have no desire or need to pull myself free of.
All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired, although not in the hour or in the measure, or the very thing which they ask; yet they will obtain something greater and more glorious than they had dared to ask. (Martin Luther)
God has been using many circumstances in the last month to continue helping me in areas of needed growth. In His wisdom He gives me as many challenges and circumstantial difficulties as I am ready for and willing to learn by. But equally prevalent in His wisdom are the ways He blesses me, reassures me, strengthens me, and calls me into His eternal presence. When I became a Christian, God rescued me from death to life. The process now is about learning to breathe the air of my new life, of this new kingdom.
How This Looks Like For Me
I am going to try to be somewhat brief in mentioning specific circumstances God is using in me right now.
I have been dating a girl for three weeks now. But she is someone who first caught my attention about sixteen months ago! I have remained in contact with her ever since, and she has given me the opportunity to get to know her better and begin to pursue her during the six months I have been here.
At this point, I am pleased to say she has safely passed through the phase of being my best friend to being someone I can mutually have hope of building a life together with. That part is all in God’s hands and one of the challenges is to leave it there. All aspects of this relationship need to be in God’s hands, where He can honor and direct them. This has led to wonderful experiences of dependency and intimacy and at the same time some of my largest lessons and trials of trusting God. But He is the source that turns all things into good (even the very scary and seemingly irrecoverable ones).
Her name is Lesya and she likes to hear that friends and family are behind us no matter what part of the world they are in. She is an amazing blessing and although I try to tell her that often, I am sure I don’t communicate it fully enough! She is more than just a huge help to my life in Ukraine. She is an enormous benefit to my life in all aspects. She is a comforter, encourager, motivator, reminder and teacher. And don’t worry, she speaks amazing English. As Lesya and I seek God’s wisdom and instruction in our relationship, we would like to have your prayers going towards the same end. Thank you!
I have just started leading a Bible study group. I am excited about this and very happy to finally have the process started. The initial preparation and the act of making things happen is usually the hardest step for me. Now that the ball is rolling it will be easier to build its momentum a bit. Our first meeting was on Tuesday of last week, so we are only at the very beginning.
I am using guitar and songwriting as tools to draw people in and find common ground. Basically, we split our time between master classes and Bible study. We are going through a study of Ephesians and I want to help these guys learn how to find and use their abilities for God. A couple of them are very new Christians and it is an honor to help direct their new-found enthusiasm towards lifelong spiritual maturity. Our first meeting was a great encouragement to me because it was the first Bible study I had ever led. Although the group was small, the participation was very inspiring.
Currently the group is all guys who speak English. But that may be changing soon and I will need extra wisdom and practice in how to work casually but effectively through translation. Over all of this project I would really appreciate your prayers as well as any specific insights or pointers that you have for leading a small group. Please feel free, as always, to e-mail me at joshuaingram@gmail.com
Closing Words (Maybe The Most Important Ones)
To everyone reading: thank you again for your care and your prayers and support. I am part of the body of Christ and you are the people God uses to plug me into His picture and plan in exactly the way He wants. We are, all together, the supporting network that pushes each of us personally into meaningful action.
If I may leave you with one expression of challenge, reminder and encouragement, it is this: Surrender. Understand that you are not reliant on your methods or your desires. As much as you may feel dependent on them, they can let you go at any moment and send you into a free fall. But God won’t do that. Even in the appearance of a free fall, where all your treasures are crashing around you and your hands have no ability to catch them or grab onto anything, God is using all circumstances together for the good of those who know and love Him. That “good” is in line with His great plans and purpose for us (Romans 8:28).
Let go. You won’t regret it.
Surrender is the safest place to live. God may redefine “safe” for you but He knows best. After all, He created the universe and reality we live in.
“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
God has been doing a lot of work and spending a lot of time helping to bring me to a place of surrender. Despite its connotations of feebleness and failure, surrender is one of the most empowering realities in the universe! Of more significance than whatever geographical point on the globe I call home, this place of surrender is the place He really wants me to live. This concept does not have a strong presence in popular psychology or self-help/self-esteem manuals. It is a reality that doesn’t make sense. It transcends human understanding.
And that is exactly the reason it is so powerful! It is not rooted in human knowledge or goodness. The sole source is our Father God, our loving and protecting Daddy in heaven. His knowledge and His goodness are the roots of this unexplainable power. The only question that leads me to ask right now is “Why?” Why me, God? Why are your blessings, your light, your watchful and soul-protecting eye, directed towards me? Why do I have such a fierce and crushing consciousness of your liberating love? Why am I smothered by such a dense, beautifully present sense of your peace and goodness? This is an overwhelming influence that I have no desire or need to pull myself free of.
All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired, although not in the hour or in the measure, or the very thing which they ask; yet they will obtain something greater and more glorious than they had dared to ask. (Martin Luther)
God has been using many circumstances in the last month to continue helping me in areas of needed growth. In His wisdom He gives me as many challenges and circumstantial difficulties as I am ready for and willing to learn by. But equally prevalent in His wisdom are the ways He blesses me, reassures me, strengthens me, and calls me into His eternal presence. When I became a Christian, God rescued me from death to life. The process now is about learning to breathe the air of my new life, of this new kingdom.
How This Looks Like For Me
I am going to try to be somewhat brief in mentioning specific circumstances God is using in me right now.
I have been dating a girl for three weeks now. But she is someone who first caught my attention about sixteen months ago! I have remained in contact with her ever since, and she has given me the opportunity to get to know her better and begin to pursue her during the six months I have been here.
At this point, I am pleased to say she has safely passed through the phase of being my best friend to being someone I can mutually have hope of building a life together with. That part is all in God’s hands and one of the challenges is to leave it there. All aspects of this relationship need to be in God’s hands, where He can honor and direct them. This has led to wonderful experiences of dependency and intimacy and at the same time some of my largest lessons and trials of trusting God. But He is the source that turns all things into good (even the very scary and seemingly irrecoverable ones).
Her name is Lesya and she likes to hear that friends and family are behind us no matter what part of the world they are in. She is an amazing blessing and although I try to tell her that often, I am sure I don’t communicate it fully enough! She is more than just a huge help to my life in Ukraine. She is an enormous benefit to my life in all aspects. She is a comforter, encourager, motivator, reminder and teacher. And don’t worry, she speaks amazing English. As Lesya and I seek God’s wisdom and instruction in our relationship, we would like to have your prayers going towards the same end. Thank you!
I have just started leading a Bible study group. I am excited about this and very happy to finally have the process started. The initial preparation and the act of making things happen is usually the hardest step for me. Now that the ball is rolling it will be easier to build its momentum a bit. Our first meeting was on Tuesday of last week, so we are only at the very beginning.
I am using guitar and songwriting as tools to draw people in and find common ground. Basically, we split our time between master classes and Bible study. We are going through a study of Ephesians and I want to help these guys learn how to find and use their abilities for God. A couple of them are very new Christians and it is an honor to help direct their new-found enthusiasm towards lifelong spiritual maturity. Our first meeting was a great encouragement to me because it was the first Bible study I had ever led. Although the group was small, the participation was very inspiring.
Currently the group is all guys who speak English. But that may be changing soon and I will need extra wisdom and practice in how to work casually but effectively through translation. Over all of this project I would really appreciate your prayers as well as any specific insights or pointers that you have for leading a small group. Please feel free, as always, to e-mail me at joshuaingram@gmail.com
Closing Words (Maybe The Most Important Ones)
To everyone reading: thank you again for your care and your prayers and support. I am part of the body of Christ and you are the people God uses to plug me into His picture and plan in exactly the way He wants. We are, all together, the supporting network that pushes each of us personally into meaningful action.
If I may leave you with one expression of challenge, reminder and encouragement, it is this: Surrender. Understand that you are not reliant on your methods or your desires. As much as you may feel dependent on them, they can let you go at any moment and send you into a free fall. But God won’t do that. Even in the appearance of a free fall, where all your treasures are crashing around you and your hands have no ability to catch them or grab onto anything, God is using all circumstances together for the good of those who know and love Him. That “good” is in line with His great plans and purpose for us (Romans 8:28).
Let go. You won’t regret it.
Surrender is the safest place to live. God may redefine “safe” for you but He knows best. After all, He created the universe and reality we live in.
“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Friday, September 30, 2011
Pictures Of Gypsy Camp
The church.
Kids in the church during one of our programs. We attempted to teach the kids some simple concepts about animal life, plant life, and the solar system.
The gypsy children often look older than their age. This one is 13.
There were a lot of them around all the time!
Some were adorable.
Some were adorable and dirty.
Some were bossy and absolutely tireless! And somehow still adorable.
The setting of the village is very picturesque.
Building materials are taken however they can be found. I can't imagine these places in the winter.
Bricks of clay and straw are used to construct the main walls of every house. On the left you can see bricks drying, and on the right you can see the area where the clay is taken from. Without an oven to bake them properly, the bricks are very susceptible to becoming soggy in rainy weather and compromising the entire structure of the house.
Final Summer Camp Recap
Hi friends,
A friend of mine has to stay at work late tonight so he had to cancel our plans to meet this evening. Don’t worry, I’m not short on social life here. Last night I got to introduce my favorite board game (Settlers of Catan--thanks Derek!) to some of my friends. It was a success, I think. My best friend over here almost beat me but the dice played to my favor at the last minute. haha.
Anyway, I’m going to take advantage of some unexpected downtime this evening to tell a little about how the end of summer was. I've been looking back at some journal entries I made during the final camp of the summer and I think it is time to tell about it now.
This camp was to a gypsy village in western Ukraine. We slept on the floors in the two classrooms of the church and got to experience the life of outhouses and bucket showers. I personally tried to avoid showers as much as possible, but with the under-cared for and under-cleaned state of the children, it was probably very wise that I took one or two during the week.
Some of the homes in the village were reasonably safe and comfortable, although a simple carpet is usually the only barrier between feet and the dirt floor. Others were one-room shacks with leaking roofs and perhaps three reasonable sleeping surfaces to rest a family of five through the night. All of the homes are in danger of turning into soggy mush during the rainy season. When the dirt bricks get wet, the majority of the village can just collapse almost simultaneously.
The gypsies are usually hated by their neighbors and, generally speaking, all of Europe. They are uneducated and generally do not contribute positively to society. They are stereotyped as untrustworthy and unscrupulous because, well, many of them have earned this image. They despise farming and try to survive by raising horses and children. Unfortunately, they often raise children for the money involved rather than for the family aspects. The Ukrainian government pays a fairly large sum of money to a family for the birth of their first child, even more for the second, and still more for the third. This money is practically enough for a gypsy family to live on in their meager conditions. Although the children seem to have a healthy respect for adults, this respect is often apparent as a sense of fear rather than of love. Many of the parents spend most of their day watching the television (yes, even the most simple shacks have electricity to run solely this one electronic device).
Our team partnered with the church that already exists in the village. The pastor was very glad to receive us. He has been patiently teaching the villagers for years, attempting to lead by example not only spiritually but also economically. After showing how to plant and farm for a couple of years, he left the process in the gypsies' hands. That year, nothing was planted. The church is just large enough to serve as a school for first and second graders. The older children do not attend school and never learn the Ukrainian language. Our role was simply to bring love to neglected children and spread God's light alongside the existing ministry of the church. Our church in Kiev has also sponsored the digging of artesian wells for the village to provide safe drinking water.
This camp was the most challenging one for me for a few reasons. First, the team was entirely Ukrainian except for myself and the other intern. Secondly, the gypsies speak Hungarian, not Ukrainian. Except for a few adult gypsies who spoke some Ukrainian and helped translate, the Ukrainian team was in exactly the position I am used to being in; not being able to verbally communicate with the people we are working with. For me, that meant I had no hope of speaking to any of the kids because doing so would have required two stages of translation--first from English to Ukrainian, and second from Ukrainian to Hungarian. This was yet another opportunity to learn the value of physical interaction and the impact of simply paying attention to someone. These kids wanted us to swing them around in circles, with their feet coming off the ground, literally for hours.
It was very difficult for me to engage in this camp. There was much less structure to this one than to the previous ones. The benefit is that I had a decent amount of downtime that I could spend thinking and praying and journaling. I spent time with the kids but was not required to be with them all the time. I got to develop and deepen some friendships with Ukrainian team members and this was very valuable, but it is a somewhat draining process at times and reminds me that I am not in the United States any more. At that point in time, I was nearing the end of my fourth month in Ukraine. I guess if I ever hit the "culture shock/what am I doing here?" moment that missionaries tell me about, that was it. But it wasn't very low and I quickly bounced back.
God reminded me that he had sent me to Ukraine. I never doubted that. I learned to understand that this is enough, even if I don't understand the "why?" And that's a question I am still learning the answer to. But even while I do not completely know the answer, there are plenty of ways I can be serving and making an impact while I grow to be the man who is ready to receive more of the answer. The key is that following God's direction does not require us to know the future or the outcome.
We are all in a position to work for God's kingdom through the places and occupations in which he puts us in our own lives. That week at camp helped me grow in understanding what it is to work for His kingdom. I am trying to hear His direction for me and narrow my efforts a little to concentrate more in areas He wants me to work. I would like to share a journal entry I made during that week.
“One question on my mind right now is whether or not it is okay to walk away from a camp feeling, ‘Well, this isn’t really my thing. Maybe once-a-year, or maybe not even that.’ It feels like a guilty thought, but I also know I cannot be all places doing everything. I guess the key is hearing God’s ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for each opportunity. Sometimes ‘doing’ all we can pull off physically is a far shot from what we can do if we are spiritually ready, rested, and in tune with God’s specific desires and plans for our life. God can work through us in any situation, but He does have specific plans for us and they involve being His tools and witnesses in exactly the way He has prepared us.”
If you want some lighter news, I can tell you I have my first date here in Ukraine exactly one week from today! This is a huge blessing and this woman has played a very large role in assisting me and encouraging me during my time in Ukraine. She is a very Godly woman and we have learned many things about each other as we have kept up for over a year since I met her.
A friend of mine has to stay at work late tonight so he had to cancel our plans to meet this evening. Don’t worry, I’m not short on social life here. Last night I got to introduce my favorite board game (Settlers of Catan--thanks Derek!) to some of my friends. It was a success, I think. My best friend over here almost beat me but the dice played to my favor at the last minute. haha.
Anyway, I’m going to take advantage of some unexpected downtime this evening to tell a little about how the end of summer was. I've been looking back at some journal entries I made during the final camp of the summer and I think it is time to tell about it now.
This camp was to a gypsy village in western Ukraine. We slept on the floors in the two classrooms of the church and got to experience the life of outhouses and bucket showers. I personally tried to avoid showers as much as possible, but with the under-cared for and under-cleaned state of the children, it was probably very wise that I took one or two during the week.
Some of the homes in the village were reasonably safe and comfortable, although a simple carpet is usually the only barrier between feet and the dirt floor. Others were one-room shacks with leaking roofs and perhaps three reasonable sleeping surfaces to rest a family of five through the night. All of the homes are in danger of turning into soggy mush during the rainy season. When the dirt bricks get wet, the majority of the village can just collapse almost simultaneously.
The gypsies are usually hated by their neighbors and, generally speaking, all of Europe. They are uneducated and generally do not contribute positively to society. They are stereotyped as untrustworthy and unscrupulous because, well, many of them have earned this image. They despise farming and try to survive by raising horses and children. Unfortunately, they often raise children for the money involved rather than for the family aspects. The Ukrainian government pays a fairly large sum of money to a family for the birth of their first child, even more for the second, and still more for the third. This money is practically enough for a gypsy family to live on in their meager conditions. Although the children seem to have a healthy respect for adults, this respect is often apparent as a sense of fear rather than of love. Many of the parents spend most of their day watching the television (yes, even the most simple shacks have electricity to run solely this one electronic device).
Our team partnered with the church that already exists in the village. The pastor was very glad to receive us. He has been patiently teaching the villagers for years, attempting to lead by example not only spiritually but also economically. After showing how to plant and farm for a couple of years, he left the process in the gypsies' hands. That year, nothing was planted. The church is just large enough to serve as a school for first and second graders. The older children do not attend school and never learn the Ukrainian language. Our role was simply to bring love to neglected children and spread God's light alongside the existing ministry of the church. Our church in Kiev has also sponsored the digging of artesian wells for the village to provide safe drinking water.
This camp was the most challenging one for me for a few reasons. First, the team was entirely Ukrainian except for myself and the other intern. Secondly, the gypsies speak Hungarian, not Ukrainian. Except for a few adult gypsies who spoke some Ukrainian and helped translate, the Ukrainian team was in exactly the position I am used to being in; not being able to verbally communicate with the people we are working with. For me, that meant I had no hope of speaking to any of the kids because doing so would have required two stages of translation--first from English to Ukrainian, and second from Ukrainian to Hungarian. This was yet another opportunity to learn the value of physical interaction and the impact of simply paying attention to someone. These kids wanted us to swing them around in circles, with their feet coming off the ground, literally for hours.
It was very difficult for me to engage in this camp. There was much less structure to this one than to the previous ones. The benefit is that I had a decent amount of downtime that I could spend thinking and praying and journaling. I spent time with the kids but was not required to be with them all the time. I got to develop and deepen some friendships with Ukrainian team members and this was very valuable, but it is a somewhat draining process at times and reminds me that I am not in the United States any more. At that point in time, I was nearing the end of my fourth month in Ukraine. I guess if I ever hit the "culture shock/what am I doing here?" moment that missionaries tell me about, that was it. But it wasn't very low and I quickly bounced back.
God reminded me that he had sent me to Ukraine. I never doubted that. I learned to understand that this is enough, even if I don't understand the "why?" And that's a question I am still learning the answer to. But even while I do not completely know the answer, there are plenty of ways I can be serving and making an impact while I grow to be the man who is ready to receive more of the answer. The key is that following God's direction does not require us to know the future or the outcome.
We are all in a position to work for God's kingdom through the places and occupations in which he puts us in our own lives. That week at camp helped me grow in understanding what it is to work for His kingdom. I am trying to hear His direction for me and narrow my efforts a little to concentrate more in areas He wants me to work. I would like to share a journal entry I made during that week.
“One question on my mind right now is whether or not it is okay to walk away from a camp feeling, ‘Well, this isn’t really my thing. Maybe once-a-year, or maybe not even that.’ It feels like a guilty thought, but I also know I cannot be all places doing everything. I guess the key is hearing God’s ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for each opportunity. Sometimes ‘doing’ all we can pull off physically is a far shot from what we can do if we are spiritually ready, rested, and in tune with God’s specific desires and plans for our life. God can work through us in any situation, but He does have specific plans for us and they involve being His tools and witnesses in exactly the way He has prepared us.”
If you want some lighter news, I can tell you I have my first date here in Ukraine exactly one week from today! This is a huge blessing and this woman has played a very large role in assisting me and encouraging me during my time in Ukraine. She is a very Godly woman and we have learned many things about each other as we have kept up for over a year since I met her.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Worship Team watchable online 11:30AM - 1:30 (EST)
I know this is short notice, but if anyone is curious to check out the young adult worship team I am working with, we will be playing for the church's Wednesday evening service today. It starts at 11:30 EST (12:30 CST) and we will begin with three songs. Then there will be a block of preaching, another song, and a second block of preaching. At the end (I am predicting around 1:00 EST/2:00 CST) the service will finish with another block of worship.
The link is: http://nlc.kiev.ua/105410851083107210811085.html
One of the blocks of preaching will actually be by our American youth pastor, so you would be able to listen and understand if you want to get a feel for it.
That's all I have time for right now. I have to be at the church at 2:00 PM to help the band get ready so I should leave now.
The link is: http://nlc.kiev.ua/105410851083107210811085.html
One of the blocks of preaching will actually be by our American youth pastor, so you would be able to listen and understand if you want to get a feel for it.
That's all I have time for right now. I have to be at the church at 2:00 PM to help the band get ready so I should leave now.
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