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