Photos from 2011 Ukraine Mission

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June 2010_Ukraine Orphan Outreach mission

Photos form 2010

Update - 8/23/2011

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, 

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind….

Romans 12:2. 

Dear friends and family,

Joel & Linda Butts

I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well. I am writing for two reasons. First, I want to say “thank you” for supporting me and each member of Team Simferopol prayerfully and financially as we worked through YouthReach International to reach out and minister to orphans and at-risk children in Ukraine this past summer. The team’s performance was outstanding. All of our effort to prepare spiritually, mentally, physically and financially was returned to us in excess. I want to remind you that by supporting us you are blessed and storing up treasure.

Our Ukrainian 12-3-1 Mentors join us in-country. They play a vital role in continuing life-giving relationships with the kids during camp. We became an unstoppable force in reaching children and others for Christ. This became apparent when, sadly, one of our mentors suffered the sudden and tragic loss of her father during camp.

Violetta Alimova’s father suffered a sudden and massive heart attack and died. We sent her home to be with her family. The team and all the kids truly missed her presence. But, it provided an opportunity to minister to her grieving family and show them the love of Christ. You see she is Crimean-Tatar. They are a traditionally Muslim ethnic minority indigenous to Crimea. Despite the loss of Violetta from our team, we remained flexible and accomplished our mission.

Many of the kids at the children’s home blessed us by sharing their stories of how they came to the orphan’s home with their mentors. One girl acknowledged God’s provision by saying, “I am glad to be at this home. I thank God that he provided a safe place for me to live by bringing me here. My parents put me in danger because of the way they lived. Now I am safe.”

Fatyma tells how she had kids gathered around her as she shared Christ's story.

Several children shared with us how their lives were impacted through Bible lessons and our “Guardrails” curriculum. We taught them that through God’s example, we should place barriers in between us and the things that cause us to sin. One child said that through her favorite lesson that she learned she should not compromise her values under peer pressure. She said, “I will put up personal guardrails to prevent bad decisions in my life from now on.” 

One of our kids, Aida, tells about her camp experience.

Second, I want to tell you about an opportunity to help and continue your support.

I’m leading a team back to Simferopol, Ukraine this December for a Winter Camp at the same children’s home. Our team will be representing Donelson Church of Christ and YouthReach International to many of the same children we’ve been blessed to know and love. Please be prayerful as we prepare and raise the needed funding.

Our mission will be to:

•          Sharing and showing the love of Christ and teaching them about the love of God with nearly 50 children at Christmas time.
•           Foster and nurture existing loving and caring mentoring relationships between the team, our 12-3-1 Mentors and the children living at the home
•          Teaching them about the transforming power of the Holy Spirit through Romans 12:2. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind….
•           Providing Christmas gift packages of toys, goodies, and personal items

I’m overjoyed that my wife, Linda, will be going. This will be her first time to visit Ukraine. She’ll be experiencing jet lag and many new cultural differences. She has lots of experience in children’s ministry and education. I can’t wait to see her in action and see how these kids touch her heart. I know she’s going to fall in love with these kids the way I have.

Christy Blazer, a fellow member at Donelson Church of Christ is also joining us this year. She is member at Donelson Church of Christ and an experienced social worker with a heart for children’s ministry.

How you can help: We are investing $275 (min.) of our personal funds toward the cost of our trip. But, we need your help. Each of us must raise $3350 for the cost of the trip. Funds cover travel, room and board. Also, each team member is must raise funds to support our team’s 12-3-1 mentors (included in our trip cost).

Funding Deadlines: $1675 (50%) due September 30; another $1675 (00%) due by October 31 (totaling $3350).

•          To support our trip costs: Make a check payable to YouthReach International. Write the name of the person you wish to support in the memo line. If you would like to give to the team to be divided equally, write “General Team Fund” in the memo line.
•           To support a child at camp: Make this check payable to Donelson Church of Christ. We are asking individuals, families, classes or study groups to support each of our 50 children at winter camp for just $20/child. Your tax-deductible donation will cover art/craft supplies as well as a Christmas gift bag for each child.

Give your check to any team member or mail it to: Joel Butts at 2221 June Drive, Nashville TN, 37214.

Remember your donation is tax-deductible. Our secure funding website for online donations will be available soon.

Peace and Grace,

Joel & Linda Butts

History Makers Update - 8/22/2011 from Tony Morrow - YouthReach International

Hello All!!

We just completed our first full day of the History Makers Journey and it was blessed (it is currently 10:30pm - we start each morning at 7:30am).  This program has the potential of equipping our mentors in ways that can enable a powerful impact upon evangelism within the orphanages were we currently serve.  I am tired, but have been greatly inspired by what has already happened and what can happen over the next 4 days!!!!

Again, thank you for your prayers!!!  God is continuing to answer them consistently and specifically!!!

More to come...

--
Tony Morrow

Director of Ukraine Operations

Youthreach International

(325) 439-0501

tony@youthreach.org

Photos from the History Makers Seminar in Donetsk, Ukraine (August, 2011)

Here are a few images (courtesy of  YouthReach Mentor - Tamara B.) downloaded from Facebook.

Ekaterina K.

Tony Morrow (YouthReach Ukraine Operations Coordinator) and 

Arthur Kazaryan (Ukraine Orphan Outreach Coordinator)

Ruslan Asadov, Russian Operations Manager

Nastya S. (far right) one of our Simferopol Mentors

Anya G. (left) and Alexandra L. (Sasha) (right)

Tamara B. (Donetsk Area Mentor)

www.youthreach.org

http://www.history-makers.org/

An Update form Tony Morrow @ History Makers Seminar 8/20/11

Arthur and his van. 

Hello All!!

Yesterday and today have been days mixed with rest and trying to help Arthur Kazaryan complete a multitude of tasks in relation to the History Makers Seminar set to start tomorrow evening.  Arthur is the wonderful individual who manages our entire operation within the country.  He is the one who is responsible for taking care of ALL details while we are in the country.  Please pray for his health and energy as well.  The Van he is supposed to use to taxi approximately 30 different individuals from a couple of different countries and different regions in Ukraine broke down today and he is running around crazy trying to get it fixed.  As in many countries, mechanics do not work late Saturdays or Sundays :(  Please pray for a quick fixing of the van and for Arthur's ability to orchestrate the travel of many from train, bus, and airports to our seminar site in Donetsk.

Thanks!!!

Tony

--
Tony Morrow

Director of Ukraine Operations

Youthreach International

(325) 439-0501

tony@youthreach.org

YouthReach International emergency fund raising appeal.

Over the past 18 years, YouthReach International (formerly World Wide Youth Camps) may have touched your life

through a mission trip; introduced you to your son, daughter, or spouse;inspired you towards a missional life; taught you to be a better leader; awakened your Spirit towards the needs of others; or drew you closer to the Lord. You've been a good friend to us and we want to express our sincere thanks, while seeking your much needed support.

http://www.youthreach.org/site/c.coIILTOsGjF/b.7702901/k.8CFE/Emergency_Appeal.htm

Team Update: 8/19 - History Makers Conference and Funding Kick-off.

This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life. 1 John 5:12 MSG

Nastya S. and Nastya - June 2011

This week is special for many of those whom I partner with in orphan ministry in Ukraine.

Tony Morrow, Ukraine Team Coordinator at YouthReach International, departed a few days ago bound for Donetsk, Ukraine and the History-Makers Conference. He arrived in Kiev and after a few hours layover, he boarded the last leg to Donetsk.

Our Ukraine Field Coordinator, Arthur Kazaryan, left the Youthreach International Donetsk office to meet Tony at the airport and they drove to the conference site.

Anya Goliakova, one of our team mentors, was invited to attend the History Makers conference and lead worship. Anya recently returned from a year-long work-study with another team mentor, Vika Vdovychenko, in the US. Nastya Skovorodnykova works as a librarian assistant at Commonwealth International University in Simferopol. She also serves as an orphan mentor on the team. Anya and Nastya departed Simferopol this morning and are making their way to Donetsk. Sasha Lifintseva (Mentor), a university student, is making her way from Kakhovka, in the Kherson Oblast or region.

They will meet up with other believers from the surrounding regions to study, worship, and learn about ways to accelerate the sharing of the good news.

History Makers works with and trains emerging leaders in order to impact the kingdom both today and tomoorrow. They believe in investing in rising Christian leaders aged 20-35. Their core values include: intimacy with God, passion for the harvest, visionary leadership, culturally relevant evangelism, multiplication of leadership, family priority, stewardship, and integrity.

http://www.history-makers.org/#/vision/4520823635

Keep them all in your prayers this week as they:

• Travel
• Experience intimacy and encouragement
• Learn about the essence of testimony and life in the Son.

Team news and additional prayer needs:
Linda, Christy and I are planning to meet this week to kick off our very aggressive funding effort. We'll be putting up 10% of the travel costs out of our own pockets and raising about $2800 for the rest. We'll be asking for:

• Financial support to cover our costs. Aggressive Deadlines: 50%-Sept 30 and 100%-Oct 31%.
• $15 camp sponsorships for each child (x50 kids). Christmas gifts and craft materials for each child. Deadline Oct 31
• Mentor sponsorships at $450 each (x3). Deadline Oct 31

Facing Giants: Fatma's faith

The post below comes from one of our mentors, Fatma. It has been posted here with her permission. Please take a few moments to read her message. It is simply, Fatma's expression of anxiety and a call for prayer, faithfulness, and boldness. This is an opportunity for her to step out in faith, to be a leader, a change-agent, and a champion for cultural understanding and acceptance within her family. Read on....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"My dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ,

The time has come when I need your prayers more than ever before. The times of trial in my faith have come.

On the 22st July I arrived to Kiev to apply for a visa to go to a Youth Conference in Germany. They granted me a visa and I stayed in Kiev for a week. We departed on the 29th and arrived to Germany safely. We were warmly welcomed by the most precious brothers and sisters you can ever imagine. The conference was held in Olpe, around 400 km away from Stuttgart.

While in Germany I received a text message from my younger sister saying, "Be prepared to talk with dad about your religion". (For those who don't know, my parents still are not aware I'm a Christian. Also my dad didn't know I was abroad). I was scared by this message to death. We were at the morning prayer when I received the message, so we started praying immediately. 

Right after that I asked the church (250 saints) to pray with me. Praise the Lord I was out of the country at that moment. It turned out that my sister had a fight with my dad over Ramadan (the month of fasting in Islam). Being angry, he started searching out her room. He found the Gospel in crimean tatar. I gave him this book months ago. When he saw it, he said he would talk to me too.

Later when I was in the train headed to Crimea my sister called me and said, "Don't even dare to tell him the truth. He won't be listening...". 

Then my dad called me and was suspiciously kind and soft. Sounds like he wants me to come home to  [confront] me there. Some people say it is unwise to go there alone. Maybe. But I feel compelled to go and confess Jesus as my Lord in front of the people I fear the most.

Jesus promised that then He will confess me before the Heavenly Father if I confess Him before people. 

I am encouraged by the following passages: Matthew 10:19-20, 32-33,37-39, Acts 21:7-13, 1 Peter 2: 6, 19, 21, 3: 14-17, 4:12-14, 5:6-9, Rom. 8:18, 35-39, 14:7-8, 1 Cor.1:25-27, 2:4-5 etc.

I realize that he may not hear and listen to me. Moreover he may [angry or] turn violent. In this case I consider a plan for an escape. But I also realize that I worship the God of the universe, Who can protect me if need be. But I'm scared and I need your prayers.

May the Lord bless us with His love.

The Lord is amazing.

Fatma"

"It is God himself who made us what we are and given us new lives in Christ Jesus and long ages ago he planned that we should sopend these lives helping others." ~Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

 ·  · Sh

Weekly Update

This week Linda and I are getting started with planing our next trip to Ukraine. We're considering borrowing curriculum from our church's summer camp curriculum - Transformers. It's based on the verse from Romans 12:2 


"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."


We're having  A few folks over  at our house tomorrow evening (Monday, 8/8) to talk about the lessons and talk to some folks interested in going. 


Soon we'll also begin our funding efforts. I know the conditions in the economy are presenting challenges for everyone. It's very difficult to decide how to use the funds you have set aside for giving. If you have given to this outreach ministry in the past, bless you and thank you. If you can help us this time, bless you and thank you for helping. If you are tapped out? It's OK, you're blessed and released. But, please bless us with your prayers.


Meanwhile, We have to get going on passports. Linda has to submit for one and I need mine replaced. Hopefully, we can get them back before to long so when the time comes to purchase airline tickets we'll have what we need.


Our team mentors are gearing up as well. A few of our mentors are attending the History-Makers conference in Donetsk later this month (http://www.history-makers.org). History Makers works with emerging Christian leaders in order to impact the kingdom both for today and  tomorrow by investing in their training. Nastya S. and Sasha L. are participating in the conference. Anya G. is also going and participating as a member of the worship team. Our team coordinator, Arthur Kazaryan, is also going as a presenter. Please keep all of them in your prayers.


That's all for now.


Peace and Grace,
Joel

How God Multiplies What We Bring

Shared this on FB already last week but it's cool to watch God work...So, I'm trying to help a friend. The other day, I come into a small bill of a certain denomination. I'm thinking it'll come in handy. This morning in church I'm looking at said small bill as the contribution plate is coming around. Thinking my friend could really use it but and at the same time feeling compelled to drop it in the plate. The latter won out and I thought, "Well, I'll have to come up with that much more. Before leaving church to come home couple of friends hand me the sum total of half of what my friend needs; more than 4x what I dropped in the plate. Then checking my messages upon arriving home, this was my verse-of-the-day: Psalm 112:5 NIV. Not to brag on my generosity, I'm just knocked out how God multiplies such a small amount. He can do much with so little. He doesn't ask us to bring much....just bring what we have.