Joel Butts is seeking volunteers for a summer orphan outreach mission team through Youthreach International. The team (TeamSim) has been partnering with Donelson CofC and ministering to orphans in Ukraine since 2006. If you are interested in a two-week short-term mission in early June focused at sharing the love of Christ with orphans and at-risk children please contact Joel by leaving a comment below. For more information on YouthReach International's ministry visit www.youthreach.org.
YouthReach International, TeamSim Dec 2012 Mission update
Greetings everyone,We had a fantastic Winter Camp in Simferopol, Ukraine beginning Dec 8 and ending on Dec 16. Our team worked in 2 orphan facilities during that time. The team was made up of (me), Christy Blazer, Arthur Kazaryan, Nastya Skovorodnykova, Sasha "Pechen'ko" Lifentseva, Masha Yermachenkova, Violetta Alimova, and Elya Sharipova.
We shared with approx. 100 kids lessons loosely based on the John Elderedge book “Epic”. If you haven’t ever read it check it out. It’s a great little read.
“Life, for most of us, feels like a movie we’ve arrived to forty minutes late. We find ourselves in the middle of a story begun before the dawn of time that is sometimes a confusing mixture of wonderful and awful at the same time and we haven’t a clue how to make sense of it all. We need to know the rest of the story so we don’t lose heart. It’s a story of adventure, of risk and loss, heroism . . . and betrayal. A story where good is warring against evil, danger lurks around every corner, and glorious deeds wait to be done. Think of all those stories you’ve ever loved—there’s a reason they stirred your heart. They’ve been trying to tell you about the true Epic ever since you were young. There is a larger story And you have a crucial role to play." (Epic)
Typical days were spent arduously marching up the hill to Detskyi Dom (Children’s Home) for lunch, back down the hill to catch the bus across town to Gagarin School for Girls where we spent 2 hours. Back on the bus and across town to the Hotel, up the hill to DD then 2.5 hours spent there each evening followed by dinner. Needless to say falling exhausted into the bed each night.
So often we don’t see the results of our effort. I wanted to share below what happened a few days after the camp...actually while Christy and I were flying home...
From Lead Mentor Nastya Skovorodnykova:
“Today there was a concert at DD devoted to the St.Nicholas Day (Dec. 19). So there were different guests who brought lots of presents. Our Vice Mayor was also there. So he said to the children:
VM: “Kids, who is the main person of [St. Nicholas Day]?
Kids: “Santa Claus!!!” (Or Grandpa Frost)
VM: “And who is the greatest person in our city?”
Kids:” BOG!!” (GOD!!!)
And this is how I realized our efforts are not in vain! Go TeamSim! Go!!!” ~ Nastya
According to Nastya, the adults in the room were stunned, mouths hanging open.
Thank you for sending us - All 8 of us. Without your gifts and prayer God would not receive the praise of these children.
Peace and grace,
Joel
P.S. YouthReach International TeamSim June mission is underway. Want to experience this kind of blessing in your life. Email me at prophet1961@bellsouth.net. Go! BE!
