Summer orphan outreach mission opportunity

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!

DECEMBER 2012 FUNDING DEADLINE REMINDER!

The deadline for our December 2012 Trip funding is Nov 1!
Christy and I each need approximately $1000 each. If you are planning to support us financially now is the time to make your donation. Visit our team funding website (link below). and click Christy’s name, my name, or the link to the General Team fund and make your tax-deductible donation today.

Online Donation Link: http://youthreach.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=1039820&lis=1&kntae1039820=698DEF498132439CB5089E2802F6D460&supId=0&team=5252418&cj=Y

Christy Blazer: Eyes to See the Essential

Christy and Anastasia

Each time I prepare to go to Ukraine to minister to orphans in Simferopol first, I seek God’s help. Second, I seek the help of others. My December 2012 teammate Christy Blazer is committed to seeking and saving the lost children who have been abandoned and left to be cared for by the Ukrainian government. She has witnessed first hand in December of 2011 the needs of these children and just how critical our mission is to their emotional and spiritual survival. 

She has eyes to see what is essential, and it's no longer invisible to her eyes.

I say “emotional” because without the life-giving mentoring relationships that she will help to establish and cultivate between orphans and local YouthReach 12-3-1 Mentors, many will lose hope. One-in-seven will take their own life within one year after leaving the orphanage system at age 17.

Christy typically works with the 11-13 year-olds. I say she is committed to their spiritual survival because she knows she works with a group of children who will more than likely decide whether or not there is a Creator by the age of 14. In terms of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, her kids are age-critical.

As Christy’s team leader, I’m committed to helping her achieve her goal so that she can focus on her commitment to living out her faith before these kids. She needs your help to raise the funds needed for the trip in December. The deadline for our funding goal of $3400 is November 1.

Please click the link below and make a secure online donation in Christy’s honor. You can also mail a check to the address below along with a separate note containing Christy’s name.

Peace and Grace,
Joel

Christy’s funding website
or copy and paste this url in the address field of your browser:
http://youthreach.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1039820&lis=0&kntae1039820=89DB1D326C8D407C977D06BDD3F29623&supId=335904595

Mail a check along with a note containing “Christy Blazer” to:
YouthReach International
1911 Grayson Hwy, Suite 8-344, Grayson, GA 30017

“I’m smelling the sweet smell of change in the air!"

Dear folks, friends, and family,
 
To borrowing from one of our most dedicated mentors Nastya,  “I smell change coming!"

Tomorrow is a big day for our YouthReach International orphan outreach ministry in the former Soviet Union. It’s a particularly big day for our team operating in Simferopol. 

Tony Morrow, Rob Browne, and the staff at YRI are preparing to submit grant proposals to acquire the funds we so desperately need to elevate our ministry to the next level. 

Last week, I was asked  by Tony and & Rob to “dream big” and gather ideas for growing our programs in Simferopol. I can’t say a whole lot right now about the details. Just know that we received some excellent feedback from our team mates/mentors on ways to bolster the work going being done with orphans in that city and begin to fill critical gaps in our ministry.

Please be prayerful over the next several weeks regarding this giant step forward. We need wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit. Please be praying that the submissions say the right things, that the right eyes review it, and the right hands stamp the approvals. 

Peace and grace,
Joel


Visit our December mission trip team funding site to help us make a difference in the lives of at-risk orphans in Sinferopol Ukraine. Deadline is Nov. 1. We’re only 25% of our needed funds. Please help us today.

Michael Neill Shares About 12-3-1 Mentoring in Novosibirsk, Russia

I received this originally as an email this morning about Michael Neill of College Park, GA. Mike explains a little bit about his experience as a YouthReach volunteer in Novosibirsk Russia.

Michael Neill live in College Park, GA, and is the President of Michael Neill and Associates, Inc.  He is the author of two books, Creating and Maintaining a Credit Union Sales and Service Culture, and Coaching for Performance. Additionally, Mike is one of the most sought after speakers in the Credit Union Movement. 

Though I had given to specific people for their short term trips with YouthReach International, my first to Novosibirsk, Russia, was in February of 2012. The trip was focused on equipping the volunteer mentors that make up the YouthReach International team in Novosibirsk. I was encouraged by the mentors and their commitment to follow Christ as 1^st generation Christians. This is done in an environment that often exacts a price for following Christ. These believers do not follow Christ “underground.” They follow Christ not only with their words but in their actions. They profess the risen Savior by living their lives transformed by the cross. These mentors sacrifice their time and resources for the children in the orphanage where the immediate results of their efforts are not always evident. However, the call of the message of Timothy to “Pure Religion,” is very real to them. I feel compelled to support this work as I see their commitment to live for Christ.YouthReach has a tremendous vision that is backed by an impressive infrastructure that provides confidence that the resources I share with YouthReach are being used wisely and effectively to impact young people for Christ. Additionally, knowing the Christ-connectedness of the YouthReach leadership ensures that the vision of YouthReach International is led by the Holy Spirit. Everything I have seen and experienced is done excellently, in and by the love of Christ.
Mike Neill is part of the team changing orphan's lives in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.  Do you want to stand with Mike on that team?  If so, consider donating now by clicking here:

TeamSim funding site

General YouthReach Donation

Sasha Goes to Kiev

Sasha (right) and Ira.

Tomorrow, our beloved Sasha ( Marizza Pechen'ko) will be traveling to Kiev to attend a training seminar hosted by One Hope. She departs at 2:30 p.m. Simferopol time (6:30 a.m. our time)

Each Spring, orphans age-out of the orphanage system at age 17 with little or no practical  life skills. This training provides learning modules focused on teaching orphans during their last year at the orphanage. The modules include:

Module 1: Identity (who am I and how can I develop each part of my personality)
Module 2: Social Skills (how to relate to others, manage conflicts and use good manners)
Module 3: Health and Hygiene (nutrition, hygiene, bad habits, first aid)
Module 4: Love and Sex (respect in friendship and girls/boys relationships, the purpose of sexual relationships and their possible consequences)
Module 5: Gift of Marriage (things to consider before you agree to get married, way to express love and deal with disagreements in marriage)
Module 6:  Raising Children (how to create a family, be a positive parent and know child’s needs)
Module 7: Homemaking (food shopping and cooking, taking care of your home and clothing, hospitality)
Module 8: Time and Money Management (what life costs and how to budget; how to manage time)
Module 9: Job Skills (profession orientation, how to find and keep a job, the risk of human trafficking)
Module 10:  Legal Rights (human rights, orphan’s rights, law and the consequences of its breaking).

Our goal in the coming year is to help equip our team of 12-3-1 mentors so that they can, in turn, equip others. Sasha's participation is merely the first of many opportunities we hope and pray God will open for the team. Not only will the rest of our team mentors benefit from this knowledge and training but also orphanage staff, teachers, caretakers and workers will learn how to better prepare kids for real life outside the orphanage system. Sharing could also extend to those mentoring orphans through other organizations working in Simferopol and Donetsk.

We'll will be working diligently to connect our 12-3-1 mentors with other individuals, churches, groups, organizations, professionals, and brothers & sisters in Christ who are also ministering to orphans not only in Ukraine but in other countries as well. This helps to speed and facilitate the proliferation and exchange of knowledge, creating added awareness of the plight of orphans worldwide.

Please be in prayer over Sasha as she travels overnight by train. This can be somewhat dangerous for a girl traveling alone. Although Sasha is very street-wise the potential for harm always exists.

Also be in prayer over Anya Goliakova. She currently is suffering from a serious infection that requires 3 shots of antibiotic each day. She was to have traveled to Kiev with Sasha but is under Doctor's orders to remain at home.

I'm excited about the things God is doing in Simferopol among his people.

Peace and grace.

P.S. Sasha will be working with Vika Vdovichenko (also a YRI TeamSim 12-3-1 Mentor) building a Social Outreach Center in Simferopol ministering to low-income college students, trade school students (mostly orphans), orphanage graduates, and orphans. She must raise support for her monthly salary. Want to no more? Email me if you want to help.