Hungry For Life - Ukraine, Nikipol Trip Blog (BMC)

Ukraine, Nikipol Trip Blog (BMC)

Bethel Mennonite Church

Sunday, October 7, 2007

It's Time to Go

the last two days were kind of sad days as we've been having our last banquet, service and today, our last supper here in Nikopol.

God has been good to us and we've seen Him working in all of our lives here. We are getting ready to go to Kiev and have a day off before we come back to Canada. What a great experience we had here!! we worked, we laugh, we had tons of fun, we cried, we sang...what a wonderful time! we will see you soon and tell you all about it. As for now, please pray for our trip back to Kiev. Also we are leaving out of Kiev to Canada on Wednesday morning at 6:45 am. Please pray for the a safe flight. God bless you, we will see you soon

love,

Bethel Mennonite Team

Friday, October 5, 2007

Stepping Back in Time

Yesterday was our heritage day! We took the three vans and explored the country side and small towns in which may of us have historical ties. I think it’s safe to say that it was an enriching and enjoyable adventure to finally see the various places that we’ve heard about over the years. Here is one account of how the day touched the heart of one of our team members.

Waiting for us near the famous oak tree in Zaporozhye were my cousin AHans and his wife Katya. How would we be received? What words would we have for them? As they stepped out of their vehicle with tears in their eyes, we knew that no barriers existed and realized just how important this meeting was to them. My father and Hans’ mother were siblings and Hans and I had only met once in Ontario twenty-five years ago but we immediately yakked away in Plaut-Deutsch. Katya, her niece Lydia, and Anne filled the air with gleeful chatter while Mary Martz bridged the three or four languages being used.

We drove to Hans and Katya’s home and spent an hour exchanging news, photos, and gifts. What a blessed time this was! We just felt God’s love and His Spirit in the room. Thank you, Hungry for Life, for helping to make such a reunion possible; Thank you, Bethel, for supporting this team so loyally with your prayers. After parting, the team drove toward Bahurka (Burwalde) and we suddenly found ourselves on “the bridge”. Remember “the bridge of no return?” This bridge had been mentioned so many times by my parents as the route to their intended banishment, that I just had to get out right there and then and re-enact a walk to the freedom side of the Dnieper River. This for me is a dream fulfilled and a promise kept. By mid-afternoon Anne and I walked along the streets of Kronstal (Dolinskoye), my birthplace. With the help of interpreters we talked with everyone we met and by chance met a retired school-teacher who knew of the “Mennonite” landmarks. What had been faint memories and family legend, this man helped turn into reality as he guided us home one place to another.

We ended our tour at the school, built around 1903, and sat side by side in a classroom that may have once been filled by my father and his friends. Anne passed me a note when the teacher wasn’t watching and I drew a heart on the board complete with our initials. As we drove off, I glanced back at the lovely setting and thanked my parents for their love and sacrifice. Thank you, Lord, for the sacrifice of your Son for our sins, for his example of love and action toward those in need.

Frank

Bethel Team Member

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

An Emotional Day

Greetings!!!

This morning we left the guest house at 9:30am to head for a long day of visitations. The first stop was at a mental institution in Marinopol. We handed out fruit to the residents who were

happy to welcome us.

Thereafter we departed for a very poor town called Shishkino. Here we visited a 27 year old bed-ridden man named Pasha. A year and a half ago he was in a car accident which left him paralyzed from chest down. We had the opportunity to encourage him and to tell him about God’s amazing love as he is not currently a Christian. His two sisters who are caring for him are Christians and we have hope that he may become a fellow believer as well.

In the same town we also visited an elderly woman who is taking care of her 42 year old daughter who has Down’s syndrome. The interior condition of their home is very poor as it has not been maintained or cleaned since they have lived there. It was heartbreaking to see someone living within this condition. Within the small community of Shishkino we also delivered some care packages which were greatly appreciated by the residents.

Soon after we had to hurry to be at a Banquet by 1pm in another town called Shewchenkovo. Prior to the banquet we had the opportunity to meet with the local residents and share our testimonies. All of the attendees were not Christian. Approximately 20-30 people were in attendance which is quite significant because the pastor said that he has never been able to reach out to that many people within the community at one time. The pastor expressed his gratefulness for the banquet and hopes to see some of these people attending their Wednesday night Bible study meetings which he invited them to.Our last visit of the day was at an elderly care facility in Chkalovo. The residents expressed their excitement of having us there through song and dance (LOL…wait for the video footage!).

Overall many of us found that today was the most mentally and emotionally taxing. Please pray for Pasha and his salvation. Also please pray for the people of Shewchenko that they would attend the meetings with the pastor and open their hearts and minds to Christ.

Bethel Mennonite Team

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

A lady named Ruth

today was a good day. We had half a day kinda off... some of us went shopping for maps. souvenirs, some went site seeing, then did food and hygiene hampers, sorted clothes for tomorrow, while some of us were visiting relatives.., some found them over the phone and made arrangements to meet .....what a feeling to meet someone that is your first cousin or half cousin! to be able to see their families, their homes what an experience!

In the afternoon one of the ladies we are helping with rent visited the guest house here with her children. Her name is Ruth. To listen to her story is almost like reading something out of a novel. Her husband was falsely accused and convicted of murder. It is so hard for us to even imagine that someone can charge you for murder having no evidence to prove it. Ruth is a young mother, 30yrs old with 3 kids, 5, 3 and 9 month old baby. We visited with her for awhile, found clothes for them, toys for kids, curtains, towels, etc. She has no house to live in as they were missionaries in Russia for the last 4 years. Her husband was taken last May to a maximum security prison in Russia.

A small home will be rented for her for 1 year. Her children are beautiful! please pray for her,
and her kids Sofia, Slavic and Kristian.
Please pray for the husband, his name is Sergei..Pray that God will bring him justice and do a miracle in his life. The prison is about 2 thousand km from Nikopol making it very difficult for Ruth to travel and visit with him. She is also only allowed to speak with him for 40 to 50 minutes per visit.
We will share more when we get home, tomorrow is going to be a long day and I need to get to bed :)

Mary Martz
HFL Staff Leader

A Day at Priazovje Orphanage

Priazovje Orphanage is the only Christian, government registered orphanage we have been able to find that is currently caring for 36 orphans. The Bethel Church team raised funds to replace some of the old windows before the cold of Winter arrives.

what a great time we had!!! We put on a banquet lunch for the orphanage workers, the kids sang for us , showed us their rooms, played soccer, and ran around just having fun.

It was great to sing songs together with them, giving them lot of hugs, loving them. Everyone from the team brought something special from home to give as a gift to the children.

The director and workers were so thankful to receive money to fix windows. We were able to

get 8 windows for the amount of money we raised ..Praise the Lord.

We are having a great time! thanks for your prayers and the encouragement through the comments we received yesterday

we love you all

Bethel Mennonite team

Sunday, September 30, 2007

A banquet held for the village of Lashkarivka

This morning we visited a small Church in the village of Loshkarivka. With the team and the Church congregation it was packed (80+ people) Some of us shared testimonies and sang some songs. The service was about 2 1/2 hours long but it did not feel that way at all. We all had a wonderful lunch together with 5 translators which made it easier to communicate. Following the meal we handed out food and hygiene hampers.

The people were so grateful and repeatedly thanks us. While all of this was going on Frank noticed an elderly lady limping down

the road, she was not a

member of the Church so Frank asked if we could give her a hamper. So Frank, Les and the driver (Andrew) jumped into the van and drove towards the old lady handing her a food & hygiene hamper. She responded by saying "I know this is from God."

We are having a great time, lot's of emotions and laughter.

I asked Henry to share some thoughts of the day

"Of all the trips and holidays I have had, this one has been by far the most fun and touched me the most."

I also asked one of the translators which we have hired to comment on what her thoughts have been so far. She has been clean from drugs for over 1 month and had this as a response.

" I am overwhelmed by the way I have been treated by everyone on this trip. I have never been so loved and cared for as much as I am now in my whole entire life."

Mary Martz

HFL Team Leader

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Our First Banquet

We headed out today and held our first banquet in a small village for about 45 people. I am so proud of the team as everyone shared their testimonies.

The team had a great time of fellowship during the meal. We distributed food hampers, hygeine hampers, and clothing for those attending the banquet. Some of the team had the opportunity to walk the widows to their home, helping them with cary their new gifts.