Week 2

Thursday, we went to see the elderly lady again (we’ve taken to calling her grandma), and sang more songs for her. The guys helped her out with some physical work she needed done in the garden, and the girls talked to her. We also went to prayer, which was very blessed. On the way home from prayer, Vadim, Lena, and Elona met a few locals, and agreed to hang out soon. Friday, we went to Kiev for the day, to see the city and hang out with the youth from the church in Kiev. We walked around, visited many interesting places, and met a few girls from the church youth. We watched the soccer game as well, and had an all around good time.

Saturday was a day of preparation to church. We prepared a program in which every member of the group was somehow involved. At night, some of us went to hang out with the local youth to build closer relationships with them. We sat in the park, played guitar, and sang songs, and two or three different groups came up to us to listen to us, talk to us, and ask us who we are and what we are about. We had a great time, and one of the groups even ended up singing for us. When it was time for us to leave, they did not want to let us go.

On Sunday, we had a great service, filled and very blessed. We had prepared a short skit about how we need to let Christ shine through us without our having to say anything to people; two sermons, and we sang a song for the church as a group. Everyone seemed to love the service, even the two unchristian elderly women that came to visit the service. Sunday night, we held a bonfire at our house, and invited the youth over. We had about 12 guests, and we had a great time sitting around the fire, talking about God, eating, and teaching the new people how to make and eat s’mores. They loved it and said they would come again next time. We all went to bed feeling honored to be able to serve and be a blessing for others. Praise the Lord.

Monday, Danyyil went to Kiev to pick up a trampoline for kid’s camp (read below), and the other guys went to a local ladies house to dig a hole for her, as she is unable to do it herself. The girls were preparing for the camp at home.

Tuesday, we had our main group meeting, the guys did some physical work for some of the ladies, and we went to bible study in the evening. We read and discussed Acts chapter 17 and had a blessed time.

Wednesday, 3 of us (Danyyil, Angie, Elona) went to Kiev to stock up on supplies for the kid’s camp. We spent about six hours there, and bought just about everything needed. The rest of the group stayed home, and prepared for camp there. They designed invitation fliers, went to have them printed, and Lena visited grandma again.

On Thursday, two of the guys went to finishing digging the hole they started on Monday. They came home exhausted but did not complain. The girls were all at home, preparing the program for camp. In the evening, we wnt to prayer at the house where the guys were digging. We took one look at the hole and understood exactly why they came home so exhausted. It was HUGE!! We were very proud of them.

We are planning on holding a kid’s day camp next week. This past week was completely immersed in preparing for it. Sunday is opening night and registration, and the camp itself will be held Monday through Thursday. We want to get to know the kids of Baryshivka a bit, and a day camp is a wonderful chance to do so. We are very grateful to the school director for giving us permission to use the school grounds for such an occasion. We are all incredibly excited for it, and each member is very involved in the planning.  We even have a trampoline, and it is bound to be a hit with all the children. We spent today (Friday) hanging up and passing out fliers. We do not know how many kids to expect, but I have a feeling there will be quite a few. Please pray that everything works out, and that God may open the hearts of the children and their parents to hear and accept His word.

Thanks to everyone who supports us and prays for us. We are so grateful for all of you. Please keep praying, and we will keep you in our prayers.

-Angie

Week 1 Update

It is day 7 here in Baryshivka. We are adapting, some slower, others faster, but surely nonetheless. Personally, I feel as though I'm in a dream of some sort. It is just so unreal, even though I'm adapting quite quickly.
We arrived here on friday the 8th, and spent 3 days and nights as guests in the house of the local pastor. We moved out, and into our "own" house Monday morning. It really is very nice. Running water, hot water, gas stove, inside and outside bathrooms, a big yard, 3 usable bedrooms; pretty much the whole shabang. It is so nice to live in a house we can call our own.
Very quick rundown on our week, as I am in a hurry. I do not have much time today, but it has been a week, and weekly updates are always good.
Friday and Saturday, we were just getting used to the new surroundings, the people, and the time zone. We're actually still working on that =). Sunday, we went to church service. It was very blessed, and an elderly lady repented and gave her life to the Lord. Praise God. Monday morning we moved into our house, and spent the day settling in. We also watched the soccer game out in a restaurant/cafe. It was a very good and interesting experience. Tuesday, we did a bit of visiting. We visited an elderly lady, and went to a Bible study at another lady's.
Wednesday, we did some more visiting. We visited a member of the church, a lady that had recently had surgery on her broken leg, and then an elderly lady who lives alone. We sang a lot, and just talked to al the ladies. They are such sweet women, it's just impossible not to love them. They may be a lot older than me, but they are just so cute.
Today, Thursday, we will do some more visiting, and we will go see the elderly grandmother. She doesn't have much visitors. I am excited.
I will try to have pictures for the next update. Till then, God Bless!
-Angie