New Years and Christmas In Ukraine

EEO's annual winter camp came to a freezing end with young people begging us to come back next year.

PUSCHA VADITZA, UKRAINE - An Eastern European Outreach mission team from the UK, Canada and America served at a winter camp to help make it a special Christmas for 92 needy children during the frigid first week of January outside Kiev.

Click here to see Zach's weather report.

The team worked alongside a dedicated group of Ukrainian counsellors and provided a packed programme including games, sports, master classes, drama, themed parties, chapel times and Bible discussion groups.  They also put on a special service during the Orthodox Christmas celebration on January 7^th, and as the children returned to their bedrooms that evening found the team had left Christmas presents on their beds.

"The kids come from different backgrounds.  Most of them are from orphanages and poor families. Many of them are able to come each year, have a lot of fun and receive love from the counsellors," explained Kiev-based EEO camp coordinator Yulia Mazhova, originally from the Czech Republic.

"Our winter camp is shorter than our summer camp but a special feature is Christmas time. Missionaries come from foreign countries and serve the kids and take part in our Orthodox Christmas holiday. For our Ukrainian team and for me personally to see the impact it has on the kids is a great joy," Yulia said.

"It's a very beautiful time.  I love this camp because I see the kids' lives change. During our Christmas service, we had a special drama performed by a number of young people who used to be children in the EEO child sponsorship program. A number of our translators also used to be children in our program and attend camps like these. The Lord has changed their lives and now they are serving Him."

Stan Smith a pastor from Manchester, England spoke twice during the chapel times and said he experienced a number of fun and spiritual highlights during the camp.

"There have been some great fun moments including playing volleyball at one o'clock in the morning against the Ukrainian counsellors.  We've also had great fun times with the kids.

"Sensing the heart of God's love for the children has been a very spiritual experience for me which I've found during the chapel times. The Lord is showing me just how much He really loves these children. It is amazing and I am privileged to be here."

Stan will be leading a summer camp team from the UK in July this year and he's encouraging people to experience a trip like this for themselves: "My advice to someone considering coming on a mission trip like this, is if you can be a friend to a young person, then you are qualified to come. If you can play games, if you can just sit and chat, just come you'll be amazed at how blessed you will be. The young people just desire friendship and love.  It will change your life to come here."

The 92 young people were from 11-17 years of age, and together with counsellors, team members, and translators were split into six groups. The groups would meet each day for a Bible study. Team member Michael Thiessen from Canada said this was his favorite time of the day: "They gave us a topic and some verses to relate to each day.  But our Bible studies turned into testimonies.  First I shared my personal testimony with the kids and even after that they feel like they know you.  All of a sudden they're completely comfortable with you.

"On the second day one of the Ukrainian counsellors shared his testimony.  It's a very deep story of God's love and it touched a 13-year-old boy in our group.   He was so moved by the Ukrainian counsellor's story that in front of all the 14 girls and 3 other boys he started to cry.  I can't imagine what it's like for a 13-year-old to cry in front of 14 girls.  So afterwards the Ukrainian counsellor had a long conversation with him about God."

For Zach Bell from Murrieta, California, the EEO mission team coordinator, this was his third camp experience: "The highlights have been getting to know the kids and what interests them and then being able to be a part of that.  One boy who's an artist asked if he could draw a portrait of me.  So I had to sit still for 20 minutes and we didn't talk a lot, but it was great that he could use his gifts and bless me in that way.  Then there are to other times where I was extremely tired but was able to play chess or table tennis and really connect with the boys.

"It's a good jump start on your faith.  It pulls you out of your situation at home.  It allows you to see the church with a global perspective.  Even though I've been on a number of trips my worldview has been expanded realising that this thing called the church is much bigger than me.  It's also a great opportunity to step out and be allowed to use the gifts God has given you to be able to bless these kids in return."

For Lauryn Ortlieb from New Hampshire this was her first Ukrainian camp experience: "The kids come here and learn a lot about their purpose in life and you realise how lucky you can be.  They learn a lot about God and what their gifts can be.  It was very challenging for me to step out of my comfort zone to come here.  But when you get here you see how blessed you are to have the life that you have."