FROM CHIP MCEWEN:
Well as usual up and at them early and breakfast to start day at Churchill at 8 am. One thing about a mission trip you must be ready to be flexible. I was told what I would be doing today last night and it had changed overnight and 3 times before breakfast. I was honored to.go with John K to meet what is a state official kind of like our Lt. Gov for our state, Serhiy Basarab. We exchanged gifts and had a very nice meeting to discuss our efforts to assist his people. He is very appreciative of what we have been doing and.looks to our mutual efforts to help people in the future. We discussed the invasion of the Russians in the Ukraine and the many innocent Ukrainians killed and i will be contacting my DC representatives in our Congress and our President to support military aid to assist in protecting themselves from Russian aggression. There was a national holiday on Monday and one aspect of it was honoring veterans who have fought and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country’s freedom loving people. Lets all.pray for God to help bring peace to this land and these people.
I along with an interpreter and a member of the I/F congregation traveled 40 km to Yaremche to visit a children’s orphanage, a primary care health facility, and land next to a hospital which has been given to build a church building on (there is a condemned building there now).
At the children’s home we dropped off a large batch of personal items. Toilet paper, clothes, washing powder, cleaning supplies, and sponges to help keep their bathroom, living areas and clothes clean. We had purchased the items in Ivano-Frankivsk before heading here. This is a resort area, as they call it, in an area of mountains about 2,000 ft elevation. The fall colors are changing as the temps drop.
The health facility had received some exam tables, lights, hanging IV stands, walkers, crutches, and other items from us in prior container shipments. Two things they really asked for assistance to get was an ultrasound unit for exams and the Doctor asked for an EKG machine. (If anyone wants to help us find these diagnostic machines to help them please let me know!)
As we got back in Ivano-Frankivsk we stopped at a grocery store and bought some food for a young man who was disabled and had brain damage from a gang beating several years ago and his grandma is his primary caregiver. He can speak English and actually told my interpreter to stop interpreting because I could understand him without interpretation. It was funny to see.
We left and made it to the church building with just a few minutes before our final night meeting. It went well and I have a tear in my eye as we plan to leave tomorrow AM for our journey home to Montgomery. We have a morning train to Kiev to catch, spend the night, and catch our plane home to the good old USA Saturday afternoon local time
I’m looking forward to worshiping with my Dalraida family Sunday AM. To my Sylacauga church supporters, thank you for allowing me this opportunity to represent you in carrying out a mission trip to spread the seed of the word to the Ukrainian people as your representative!!
FROM ELIZABETH REVELS:
On Thursday Maggie, Oxana, and I went to Ugorniky and got to visit the kindergarten. Mariana, the head teacher, met us and we had a nice talk with her. The kids had prepared a show from the holiday they had Monday. The kids were dressed in traditional Ukrainian clothes and did an amazing job! After the show we met with the children on the playground and worked on color words in English. We played “red light, green light” and did a color hunt. After playtime we went back inside and watched a video about the school. We had a wonderful visit with Mariana.
We went across the street to the primary school for lunch and had amazing food. After lunch we went to the 9th grade and did a music class. The kids had prepared questions for us about music, we listened to music, played games and Gif played the guitar and sang.
After our time at the school, we went back to Ivano-Frankivsk and worked on packing and our last Bible lesson. Maggie, Christina, and I went back to Ugorniky that night and taught the kids about Moses parting the Red Sea. We had the priest come from the neighboring village. He seemed to have a great time and had his wife and children attended all of our classes. We had great talks with them after the lesson and seemed to make great connections with them.
That night we had a great dinner and dessert at Churchill’s before spending time with our wonderful interpreters.
