YouthReach International establishes local mentoring communities which equip orphans and at-risk youth for success in life through spiritual development, positive role models and practical life skills.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Black Sea Reflections: What a wild ride! Adventures in Orphan Outreach in Ukraine.
Black Sea Reflections: What a wild ride!: January 2013 is here and almost gone. December and 2012 has passed us by. YouthReach International volunteer teams have completed another su...
What a wild ride!
January 2013 is here and almost gone. December and 2012 has passed us by. YouthReach International volunteer teams have completed another successful year of reaching out to orphans in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Photos from 2012 camps: https://plus.google.com/photos/101363171234003143720/albums/5835203216451629905?authkey=CLKow9f3x6XZPQ
Last summer in Simferopol I was very excited to participate in a summit meeting. Representatives from groups, orgs, agencies, as well as foster parents, and church leaders there to discuss ways we can come together to better serve, orphans, system graduates, trade school students, and street kids in Simferopol, Ukraine. During our mission trip/winter camp in December 2012 we met again. There were many great suggestions on ways to collaborate and network.
One morning during our December trip, I had breakfast with Dima Malashko of Saving Orphans Souls and Crimea Without Orphans. Over omelets, we discussed ways to reach out especially to young men who have aged out of the orphanage system. Most are in trade schools. These trade schools teach menial skills to teens and college-aged adults. The dormitories are often co-ed, unsupervised, and very violent. Drunkenness is common. I hear often of beatings, rape, even murder.
I look forward to meeting with Dima again to see how we can connect various local ministries to fill this gap.
One particular event which stands out in my mind from our December trip was our visit to the Gvardeskii village orphanage. Gvardeskii village lies outside of Simferopol by about 40 minutes drive. It’s a very poor facility. At one time the facility was the focus of our trips. However we lost access due to reorganization, administrative turnover at the facility. In December, we took the opportunity to travel by bus to visit and explore future possibilities.
Along with us was a young man named Igor Kholopov. Igor grew up at Gvardeskii. I am certain he has many dark memories of life there. He had not returned since graduating 2-3 years before. However, because his brothers and sisters in Christ were with him he mustered the courage to go. I was surprised to see his joy at seeing one of his favorite caretakers. We also saw several children we all remembered from years past.
I’ll be returning to Simferopol in June and leading a team that is proving to be the largest team we’ve had in several years. Haley Harrell, Jordyn Harry, Michael Clinger, Casey Catignani, and Claire Pennington will join with our 12-3-1 mentors to host camp in Simferopol.
Our goal is to serve the orphans at Detskyi Dom and Gagarin School for Girls. We hope to visit Gvardeskii again and meet the director. We also hope to plan a side trip to Feodosia to visit Maria (Masha) Yermachenkova, one of our mentors, and the orphanage she now works in as a caretaker.
Please be in in constant prayer over our team. This week, team members are raising the funds for deposits needed to sign up by January 25. The following week we will begin full-fledged funding campaigns and bi-weekly preparations.
Soon I’ll be sending an email with a calendar so that you can volunteer to be in prayer over a specific week as we raise funds, prepare, pack, travel, work, and return home. Keep you eyes open.
God is doing great things in Simferopol. Grab a hold and hang on! It’s a wild ride. We need your prayerful partnership and financial support. Please join with us. Bookmark and share the url link to our team homepage with family and friends.
Our team web page:
http://www.youthreach.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=1051800&lis=0&kntae1051800=26771FC7B98D402F923D7EECEF314F38&team=5352899
Peace and grace,
Joel Butts
Volunteer,/Team Leader
TeamSim - a YouthReach International mission team partner
“What is essential is invisible to the eyes”
Photos from 2012 camps: https://plus.google.com/photos/101363171234003143720/albums/5835203216451629905?authkey=CLKow9f3x6XZPQ
 |
| Marizza (center left) and Nastya (far right) are YouthReach mentors shown here with two of our orphan graduates, Andrei (far left) and Sasha (center right) who attend a local trade school. |
I look forward to meeting with Dima again to see how we can connect various local ministries to fill this gap.
One particular event which stands out in my mind from our December trip was our visit to the Gvardeskii village orphanage. Gvardeskii village lies outside of Simferopol by about 40 minutes drive. It’s a very poor facility. At one time the facility was the focus of our trips. However we lost access due to reorganization, administrative turnover at the facility. In December, we took the opportunity to travel by bus to visit and explore future possibilities.
 |
| Arthur Kazaryan, Igor Kholopov and I. |
I’ll be returning to Simferopol in June and leading a team that is proving to be the largest team we’ve had in several years. Haley Harrell, Jordyn Harry, Michael Clinger, Casey Catignani, and Claire Pennington will join with our 12-3-1 mentors to host camp in Simferopol.
Our goal is to serve the orphans at Detskyi Dom and Gagarin School for Girls. We hope to visit Gvardeskii again and meet the director. We also hope to plan a side trip to Feodosia to visit Maria (Masha) Yermachenkova, one of our mentors, and the orphanage she now works in as a caretaker.
Please be in in constant prayer over our team. This week, team members are raising the funds for deposits needed to sign up by January 25. The following week we will begin full-fledged funding campaigns and bi-weekly preparations.
Soon I’ll be sending an email with a calendar so that you can volunteer to be in prayer over a specific week as we raise funds, prepare, pack, travel, work, and return home. Keep you eyes open.
God is doing great things in Simferopol. Grab a hold and hang on! It’s a wild ride. We need your prayerful partnership and financial support. Please join with us. Bookmark and share the url link to our team homepage with family and friends.
Our team web page:
http://www.youthreach.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=1051800&lis=0&kntae1051800=26771FC7B98D402F923D7EECEF314F38&team=5352899
Peace and grace,
Joel Butts
Volunteer,/Team Leader
TeamSim - a YouthReach International mission team partner
“What is essential is invisible to the eyes”
Monday, January 14, 2013
Kick Off Your Shoes...You're on Holy Ground.
This past Saturday morning I was dead asleep after a restless night. I had a lot of thoughts rolling around my skull that I couldn’t turn off. Linda’s phone rang at a few minutes before 8 a.m. that alone made me mildly grouchy. Ugh, I was FINALLY sleeping so good! And it was a good Saturday to sleep. I was sluggish from the unusually mild weather and rain over the last several days.
It was the guy from the local Firestone store with a report on our van. The end result of the call [an $800+ needed repair] left me more than mildly grumpy. I decided to get up. Sleep had fled with the last of my paycheck.
I made the coffee and shuffled into the den rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Logged into my email and found a message from my good friend Greg Perry and an invite to join him at J&J’s Market and Cafe downtown off Broadway near Lyle. I didn't hesitate to send a response.
So I got dressed and made my way downtown. I love hanging out with Greg. Something good always comes out of the conversation.
I walked in and we shook hands and pulled one another into a brief ‘man-hug” (clasped right hands, left arm around the back, two slaps on the back, and out again). We spent a while just catching up. We sipped coffee and earl grey as we slid down into deeper topics like sliding into my uncle Bob’s old worn leather easy-chair.
Sometimes in life I face big decisions and I really want someone to tell me where and when to step, jump, or climb through a window of opportunity. Greg and I were discussing a possible opportunity that has been in front of me for a while. Indecision often hamstrings me. Doubt frequently blindsides me like a Ray Lewis tackle leaving me stunned and immobilized.
As Greg and I talked he shared with me something I should have considered on my own. Sometimes, That’s where my enemy likes to keep me. So confused and so hesitant that I can’t remember all the things that should be second nature to me.
Greg reminded me of Exodus 3. It’s the story of Moses and the point in his life where God appeared to him in a burning bush. God was trying to convince Moses to go to Egypt and be His man, his voice before Pharaoh and all the Israelites. So I was curious. When I got home I began to read it the account. In fact, I've read it a couple of times since Saturday.
Moses, while tending Jethro’s sheep, sees this light and off he goes to check it out. As he approaches, he sees it’s a bush - and it’s on fire! But yet it’s NOT-on-fire. Curiosity gets the best of him and he moves closer. Suddenly the voice of God says, “Do not come any closer...”
Now I don’t know about you but if I saw a bush-burning-but-NOT-burning, I’d want to check it out. So when an opportunity shows itself I immediately get excited. I move closer to check it out. I get passionate and curious - I've got to find out what this thing is!
I’m so focused that I tune out the voice of God telling me to “STOP! Don’t come any closer!” There’s a reason for this warning.
If I don’t mind that warning I can be consumed...burned by God’s perfect presence without ever seeing his purpose. “Take off your shoes. Don’t take another step. You are on holy ground.”
When opportunity presents itself, I’m so caught up in my own desire that sometimes I don’t stop long enough to take my shoes off and wiggle my toes in the warmth of God’s nearness.
Ever get too close to see something? The older I get I find my arms aren't quite long enough to see well enough. I get caught up in getting so close that I can’t see clearly what God intends for me to see. I can’t see where God intends for me to step next. One part of God’s message to me in this story is this: “Stop! Step back! Wait! Take off your shoes and feel my nearness next to your skin. There’s plenty of time for your next step. Which, by the way, I’ll tell you where and when to take it.”
The other thing that to me is obvious in this well-known story is not just the excuses that Moses makes. That’s probably the aspect if the story most folks focus on. Most of us only recall how frustrated God was with Moses and how lame his excuses were.
What I find intriguing is a fact that Greg brought to my attention. God provided a way around or over every single obstacle Moses had placed in the way of obedience to God’s calling.
Check out God’s promises:
Moses: “But God? I’m a nobody.”
God: “I’ll go with you every step of the way. And when you come back? You’ll worship together with all my people on this mountain.”
Moses: “What if the Israelites ask me who it is that sent me? What’s his name? What will I say?”
God: “Say to the Israelites, ‘Jehovah, Yahweh, I am’, the God of your fathers — the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. Tell them you come in My name.”
Moses: “What if they don’t believe me or listen to me and say, ‘Jehovah did not appear to you! Liar!’?”
God: What’s in your hand? A stick? Throw it on the ground. I’m going to empower you!”
As if all this wasn't enough....
God: “Put your hand in your cloak. Now pull it out.”
Moses: [GASP] “I have leprosy!! What have you done!!?? I should NEVER have listened to you!
God: Put your hand back in your cloak. Pull it out again.
Moses: No WAY!!! There’s no telling what disease you’ll afflict me with next!
God: Just do it!
Moses: It’s...it’s...hey! It’s healed. How di...what did...yeah b-b-but...you...you healed me.
God: Well of course I did. See? You can trust my heart. It’s good. I have great plans for you....I would NEVER harm you.
Moses tries, lamely, one last time...
Moses: But God, I stutter. I-I-I get tongue-tied! I’ll say all the wrong things and I’ll mess it all up!
God: Oh brother!
Moses: What did you say?
God: Hey! Exactly! That’s it! Take your brother, Aaron with you.He’s really quite eloquent you know. I made him, remember? He can do all the talking. NOW! Quit making excuses!
So, God has a plan. He’ll go with me - every step. I should never fear because he’ll always show up and lead me...there and back again.
He reminds me that he sends me in His own name. So, those who have ears to hear...let them hear.
He heals me as I go. I’m not perfect today. I need his healing disparately. I will be perfectly healed one day because he heals me with each step I take if I follow him. The more steps I take as I follow him, the closer I get to perfection.
He expects me to trust his heart. It’s good after all - not like Satan would have me sometimes believe. He would have me believe God can’t be trusted - that I'm better off on my own. But God’s heart IS good and he wants good things for me.
He sends others to help me on my way. So, what am I waiting for?
I’m not equipped to see the future. I can only see right at my feet where he shines his light and where I’ve already been.
Like the scene in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” where Indy’s dad, played by Sean Connery, has been shot by the evil Nazi Colonel Vogel. Indy must make his way past 3 boobie-traps to the Holy Grail and a final challenge of selecting the ‘right’ cup. The third test is a “step of faith” across a seemingly invisible bridge.
So Indy steps out into a chasm fully expecting to plunge to his death hundreds of feet below. Instead, to his amazement, he lands squarely on the bridge. As he makes his way across his confidence grows with each step. Once he safely reaches the far side of the chasm, he turns and tosses sand on the bridge to make the once invisible bridge, visible. Only then is he able to see where he has been. He shakes his head in wonder as he turns to go inside to face the last test.
What I need to remember is this:
(1) Listen to God’s instruction, stop and look on in wonder whenever I’m on the holy ground of his opportunity, and wait for further leading before stepping out in faith.
(2) Don’t make excuses or live in fear of my own perceived inadequacies - after all God made me - It's nice to have a plan but be flexible...God's plan is better.
(3) Look for the essential, which consequently, may be invisible. I should take someone with me, set others free from bondage, and bring them back so we can all celebrate together.
Peace and grace.
It was the guy from the local Firestone store with a report on our van. The end result of the call [an $800+ needed repair] left me more than mildly grumpy. I decided to get up. Sleep had fled with the last of my paycheck.
I made the coffee and shuffled into the den rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. Logged into my email and found a message from my good friend Greg Perry and an invite to join him at J&J’s Market and Cafe downtown off Broadway near Lyle. I didn't hesitate to send a response.
So I got dressed and made my way downtown. I love hanging out with Greg. Something good always comes out of the conversation.
I walked in and we shook hands and pulled one another into a brief ‘man-hug” (clasped right hands, left arm around the back, two slaps on the back, and out again). We spent a while just catching up. We sipped coffee and earl grey as we slid down into deeper topics like sliding into my uncle Bob’s old worn leather easy-chair.
Sometimes in life I face big decisions and I really want someone to tell me where and when to step, jump, or climb through a window of opportunity. Greg and I were discussing a possible opportunity that has been in front of me for a while. Indecision often hamstrings me. Doubt frequently blindsides me like a Ray Lewis tackle leaving me stunned and immobilized.
As Greg and I talked he shared with me something I should have considered on my own. Sometimes, That’s where my enemy likes to keep me. So confused and so hesitant that I can’t remember all the things that should be second nature to me.
Greg reminded me of Exodus 3. It’s the story of Moses and the point in his life where God appeared to him in a burning bush. God was trying to convince Moses to go to Egypt and be His man, his voice before Pharaoh and all the Israelites. So I was curious. When I got home I began to read it the account. In fact, I've read it a couple of times since Saturday.
Moses, while tending Jethro’s sheep, sees this light and off he goes to check it out. As he approaches, he sees it’s a bush - and it’s on fire! But yet it’s NOT-on-fire. Curiosity gets the best of him and he moves closer. Suddenly the voice of God says, “Do not come any closer...”
Now I don’t know about you but if I saw a bush-burning-but-NOT-burning, I’d want to check it out. So when an opportunity shows itself I immediately get excited. I move closer to check it out. I get passionate and curious - I've got to find out what this thing is!
I’m so focused that I tune out the voice of God telling me to “STOP! Don’t come any closer!” There’s a reason for this warning.
If I don’t mind that warning I can be consumed...burned by God’s perfect presence without ever seeing his purpose. “Take off your shoes. Don’t take another step. You are on holy ground.”
When opportunity presents itself, I’m so caught up in my own desire that sometimes I don’t stop long enough to take my shoes off and wiggle my toes in the warmth of God’s nearness.
The other thing that to me is obvious in this well-known story is not just the excuses that Moses makes. That’s probably the aspect if the story most folks focus on. Most of us only recall how frustrated God was with Moses and how lame his excuses were.
What I find intriguing is a fact that Greg brought to my attention. God provided a way around or over every single obstacle Moses had placed in the way of obedience to God’s calling.
Check out God’s promises:
Moses: “But God? I’m a nobody.”
God: “I’ll go with you every step of the way. And when you come back? You’ll worship together with all my people on this mountain.”
Moses: “What if the Israelites ask me who it is that sent me? What’s his name? What will I say?”
God: “Say to the Israelites, ‘Jehovah, Yahweh, I am’, the God of your fathers — the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. Tell them you come in My name.”
Moses: “What if they don’t believe me or listen to me and say, ‘Jehovah did not appear to you! Liar!’?”
God: What’s in your hand? A stick? Throw it on the ground. I’m going to empower you!”
As if all this wasn't enough....
God: “Put your hand in your cloak. Now pull it out.”
Moses: [GASP] “I have leprosy!! What have you done!!?? I should NEVER have listened to you!
God: Put your hand back in your cloak. Pull it out again.
Moses: No WAY!!! There’s no telling what disease you’ll afflict me with next!
God: Just do it!
Moses: It’s...it’s...hey! It’s healed. How di...what did...yeah b-b-but...you...you healed me.
God: Well of course I did. See? You can trust my heart. It’s good. I have great plans for you....I would NEVER harm you.
Moses tries, lamely, one last time...
Moses: But God, I stutter. I-I-I get tongue-tied! I’ll say all the wrong things and I’ll mess it all up!
God: Oh brother!
Moses: What did you say?
God: Hey! Exactly! That’s it! Take your brother, Aaron with you.He’s really quite eloquent you know. I made him, remember? He can do all the talking. NOW! Quit making excuses!
So, God has a plan. He’ll go with me - every step. I should never fear because he’ll always show up and lead me...there and back again.
He reminds me that he sends me in His own name. So, those who have ears to hear...let them hear.
He heals me as I go. I’m not perfect today. I need his healing disparately. I will be perfectly healed one day because he heals me with each step I take if I follow him. The more steps I take as I follow him, the closer I get to perfection.
He expects me to trust his heart. It’s good after all - not like Satan would have me sometimes believe. He would have me believe God can’t be trusted - that I'm better off on my own. But God’s heart IS good and he wants good things for me.
He sends others to help me on my way. So, what am I waiting for?
I’m not equipped to see the future. I can only see right at my feet where he shines his light and where I’ve already been.
Like the scene in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” where Indy’s dad, played by Sean Connery, has been shot by the evil Nazi Colonel Vogel. Indy must make his way past 3 boobie-traps to the Holy Grail and a final challenge of selecting the ‘right’ cup. The third test is a “step of faith” across a seemingly invisible bridge.
So Indy steps out into a chasm fully expecting to plunge to his death hundreds of feet below. Instead, to his amazement, he lands squarely on the bridge. As he makes his way across his confidence grows with each step. Once he safely reaches the far side of the chasm, he turns and tosses sand on the bridge to make the once invisible bridge, visible. Only then is he able to see where he has been. He shakes his head in wonder as he turns to go inside to face the last test.
What I need to remember is this:
(1) Listen to God’s instruction, stop and look on in wonder whenever I’m on the holy ground of his opportunity, and wait for further leading before stepping out in faith.
(2) Don’t make excuses or live in fear of my own perceived inadequacies - after all God made me - It's nice to have a plan but be flexible...God's plan is better.
(3) Look for the essential, which consequently, may be invisible. I should take someone with me, set others free from bondage, and bring them back so we can all celebrate together.
Peace and grace.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)