07.30.09
Day 2 at the Camp Ministry (and what a great day it was!!)
We had such a great day yesterday and went to bed very late, after meeting and sharing our thoughts on our first day. Everyone is so excited about what God is doing here! We are takinig lots of pictures and hope to post some on the blog this week.
We headed to the camp again early this morning and were greeted by the sight of the children waitinng for us, happy smiles on their faces. Our translators continue to be so helpful, anticipating needs and jumping in where needed. And all the folks on this team are awesome….everyone is so encouraging to one another, and so loving to the orphans and special needs children we are working with! Already many of the children are bonding with the people on our team, wanting to be stay with them, be held and hugged by them. These orphans seldom get individual attention and crave our affection (which we are glad to give!!). The sight of them tugs at our heartstrings – they do not have any clothes or possessions of their own, wearing whatever is given to them, often mismatched summer and winter clothes. They run up & wrap their arms around you and it just melts your heart!!
At this camp, we have found several of the children that were at the Intake Facility we worked at last year. and while it is wonderful to see them again, it is bittersweet, because we know that they have now moved into the orphanage system, with no family to care of them. There are many other stories like that…..yesterday while the children were playing with bubbles, one boy sat apart from the rest, eyes red with tears. Through an interpreter, I learned that Egor’s father had died a week ago, and with an alcoholic mother who was unable to take care of him, he and his brother were now being placed in the orphanage system. After offering skittles candy and pictures of my own children, I was able to coax a smile from him! Seeing him there this morning in front of the camp, waiting for me, makes me wish I could scoop him up and take him home with me!
We did special drama sessions today, one for the younger children and one for the older. We talked about having Jesus in our hearts and were encouraged by the number of children who have been exposed to the Bible. We see God’s fingerprints all over these children’s lives…..from the “Jesus” they write on the journals we helped them make, to the “God loves you” they write on the concrete with the chalk we brought for them. Today, we finished our journal project, enjoyed wonderful sports games, and led the children in Ukrainian worship songs (yes, we are learning ukrainain songs!). We had to say our goodbyes early because of visitors to the orphanage from Sweden, so we went back to the same restaurant from yesterday, where we enjoyed a local delicacy of stuffed whole fish. We were supposed to have one fish for 4 people and ended up with 4 for 4 people, language translation issues!. (and these fish were quite large!!). Allen had a little talk with the fish head once it was detached (photo will be posted soon)
We then headed to an orphanage in the village of Klevan where we met with the Director. He gave us a tour of the facility where up to 95 special needs children, ages 7-18, live together with staff to care for them. The range of issues varies, from children who cannot care of themselves and have Down’s Syndrome, to those that are called “mentally delayed.” The children live at this orphanage and learn vocations. The main vocation for girls is sewing and gardening, while for boys it is carpentry and shoe repair. If anyone out there has any carpentry tools they want to get rid of, we can arrange to get them to this orphanage. (this was one of his greatest needs, as well as playground equipment). They teach these special needs children vocations in order that they might provide for themselves. They are always teaching the children about being self-sufficient, and you can see it in everything from the garden that the children create every year, from seeds they harvest the previous fall, to the back-up heat pump they built (and later needed when Russia cut off the oil supply).
On the grounds, there is also a school for these children and we are able to tour it and see the special desks and books made just for them. We saw the classrooms and listened as the director described how his dedicated teachers address the needs of these special children. They also have a Psychologist, a Speech Therapist, and 2 Doctors on staff. It is apparent how much they care about these special needs children.
In the evening the team participated in the event at the Pahinets center (see other Blog entry)
Allen and I have enjoyed talking to you through this blog….in the next couple of days, you will get to read posts from some of our other team members, including our youth! Thank you all for your comments to our team! We are passing your kind words on to them. Please continue to keep us in your prayers – we are experiencing some trouble sleeping and sickness . Pray for God’s protection over our us
Well, it is almost 1am here in Rivne – time to rest up for another wonderful day at the camp! Good night to all our precious friends and family across the big pond! 
-Amy & Allen
Thursday, July 30th, from the youth
Today we went to Pahinets Early Intervention Center to have a parent meeting and a party for the children with disabilities. We saw about 12-15 children and I didn’t really know what was going on at first. I was feeling tired and worn out from working at two other places today and wasn’t sure what to expect because I’ve never been to Pahinets before. As we were taking the kids to their classroom, I saw a little girl with Down syndrome who the team members had been having trouble moving. My friend tried to pick her up and the girl was struggling. I was standing watching and and she suddenly just put her arms out to me. Then we went into the other room and started playing with the kids. It was a different experience from the other facilities in the way that we played with them, but it was really fun and interesting. The kids have a lot of personality. I was trying to manage that same little girl, Inna, but she didn’t want me to put her down. Whenever I did for a minute, she would head to the other room and try to sneak some snacks. Eventually, she went to another team member too, and we spent most of the time making her laugh. We would smile and laugh and she would laugh right along with us. Later on, people asked me how I was able to connect with her, and the truth is, she held up her arms and I picked her up.
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VBS Reflections on Day 1
Dobraden from Rovno . . . Good morning from Rivne! Today is Thursday, July, 30, and the pigeons on the rooftop next to our hotel seem to be enjoying this beginning of this beautiful day. Sitting next to this open window is refreshing, as the outside air is far cooler than the hotel room temperature. Just be careful not to get too close to this sixth-floor window, since there are no screens!
We’ve had an amazing start to our journey and everyone has been safe and healthy. The food we’ve sampled has ranged from Chicken Kiev (or “Chick in Kiev” as listed in the menu in our restaurant in Kiev) to borscht—both green and red—to pizza and McDonalds. We’ve also figured out the difference between “still water” and water with gas—both the super carbonated and the medium carbonated versions. There is ice cream galore, and with the highly favorable exchange rate, we’ve been able to get such treats for less than $1 US. Going to the market has been a fun experience, and we have gotten cartons of delicious juices (peach seems to be a favorite) for about 50 cents each.
Yesterday (Wednesday, 7/29) felt like a lifetime of experiences wrapped up in 24 hours, with a full range of emotions for many of us. We loaded up on the bus and arrived at the children’s home (orphanage for children aged 3-7) around 9 AM. We divided into three stations for serving during our two hours there: Bible story/singing, crafts, and recreation. The youth did a fantastic job of presenting the story of creation, while involving the children by giving them an opportunity to wear a hat with a felt appliqué of the items of creation. The stuffed animal hats were an especially big hit. The crafts were animal masks that the children loved wearing, along with the hats the craft team provided, and the children couldn’t get enough of the youth at the recreation station, chasing, laughing, playing, and relishing the attention. From the smiles on the faces of the team, it was hard to tell who enjoyed it more!
After lunch and a quick trip to the bazaar, we headed to the intake facility, the temporary transition home for children who may soon be placed in orphanages. Thanks to our wonderful interpreters, many on the team were able to talk one-on-one with children there after our time of games and a story. There were a number of teenagers in that group, and it was easy to feel a bit intimidated by some of them, especially some of the boys who looked so tough and aloof. Yet as we talked with them and played soccer and other sports, we soon discovered that they seemed genuinely pleased to have us there. The girls had a blast painting their nails, and almost all off the children selected items from our prize bag (aka suitcase), which included jumbo plastic sunglasses, armbands and a variety of other goodies.
From there, we headed back to the hotel and off to dinner, followed by an outing to the market and internet café. We closed the first day in Rivne on the front steps of our hotel sharing our impressions and highlights of the first day here. In just a few minutes, we will head back for a similar routine, with the added blessing of a party in store for tonight with the pahinets, children with special needs. The natural tiredness is catching up with many of us, and we’re trying not to think about the fact that it’s only 2:30 AM at home. Despite that, we also feel energized by the children and are eager to start our day with them. More to follow soon!
-Katherine
From the youth:
Yesterday I led the creation story with Kyle and Kendall. The kids were amazing and were so eager to listen and participate. We started out with a few songs. One consisted or us dancing in circles with our eyes closed, tongues out, and behinds in the air. Of course, none or the children danced, but they sure had a great time watching us. They loved the story about how God created the world and how he loves each of us so much, and they loved the animal hats. It was just so rewarding to spend time with these amazing kids. They are such a blessing. Bye!
-Jackie
Yesterday at the Intake Center, we went to play outside after our lesson and craft time, and it was so wonderful to see all the kids playing. I noticed a tiny, little girl named Katia standing alone. As I went over there with a translator to talk to her, I found out that she does not talk very much. Vera explained to me that even though she may not say it, she may enjoy just being with someone. So, I ended up sitting on the swings with her for a long time. I just held her and rocked back and forth. We just sat together and didn’t talk, or she didn’t talk to me. We just watched the kids play, and I could feel her getting more comfortable in my lap. I definitely think that she began to realize that I loved her and the Lord was sending His love to her through me. I just think it’s so special because I could see the Lord using me in such a powerful way. I don’t think she had just been held for a long time before, and it was so special to me to be able to show someone that I love them and God loves them, and there is someone out there who cares. Then, she went in for lunch. She came back out with a peach and led me all the toys we had out there. We ended up playing with the rocket balloons, and she began talking with me and trying to communicate with me. She was happy to be there and have the toys. It was a clear sign that God was sending some love and care to that little girl. I feel honored to have that special connection with someone and feel thankful the Lord used me in that way.
-Rives
07.29.09
Day 1 at VBS
This trip’s VBS program is being led by the Youth groups from Fork Union Baptist Church and New Hope Church (Lorton, VA). Here is a blog entry from one of the youth:
Today our youth group went to the VBS at the Children’s Home and Intake Facility and had a great day. I played at the recreation station with all the kids. We jumped rope, played ball, soccer, and jumped rope. We played with chalk and colored. All the kids loved this. They all loved swinging and playing in the sand. Playing with them felt special because I used to live there and was adopted from a boarding school three years ago. My sister was in the Children’s Home, and I was at the Intake Facility that we went to in the afternoon today. I feel like I have a purpose here. God didn’t just tell me to go on a mission trip to just come. I think that He might have a plan for me that there is something special that He wants me to do here that I’m beginning to figure out. When we play with the kids, that’s when God speaks to me… through kids. When I play with them, it was like every kid had a different need and they were all different. I felt something that I could do for them that I could make them feel better. This was God speaking to me. Now that I feel I’m connecting with the children and figuring them out and knowing their names, I can get started on the next step…. I can’t wait until tomorrow!
- Vera
Day 1 at Camp
The Fluvanna-New Hope team had a great first day today at the Klevan camp. Klevan is a small town to the NW of Rivne (about a 30 minute drive). The drive to the camp was beautiful as many of the crops are at a stage where the vegetable gardens are beautiful. We passed a beautiful blue domed church that is surrounded by the graves of Germans from WWII. (Rivne was a HQ city for Hitler during WWII).
We arrived at the camp and discovered that with the exception of two buildings the grass and weeds were over growing the dilapidated buildings. It was a real post Soviet era site. It didn’t diminish the enthusiasm of the team or the kids. As we rounded the corner the kids looked at the bus and wondered who was arriving this time (last week they had a group from Denmark) There were numbers “Sabackas” (Ukrainian for dog) that greeted us (including 4 small puppies).
As we surveyed the 84 faces of the kids lined up to meet us it became clear that there would be no time for petting puppies! The kids were in need of love and attention. The ages of the children are 3-17! Of the 84 there are about 20 who have special needs with just a few who are in need of constant attention due to their condition.
We completed introductions and greetings and then went to work with crafts and sports. The craft team was able to explain to the younger children how to construct a journal. They were quite a hit. Two groups of older kids played Kick Ball and Frisbee Futbol dodging the many piles of cow leftovers!!! (I always get a kick of filling out the USDA form at Dulles airport and answering the question about having been on a farm or near livestock. The agent asking the question gets an ear full about the precious children we work with). After a snack time the music and drama team took over for all 84 kids. The kids heard the message from the bible and got to sing several Ukrainian kids church camp songs. Of course as always the candy at the end went over very big!
Taras and Nadia (both of whom will be featured in subsequent reports) really helped with the translation.
The team ate lunch at a roadside resort near the camp. The food was very Ukrainian and very good. Thanks to Nadia she talked them into giving us a 10% discount. All of the team wanted to utilize the spa but alas there was no time!!! (the same type spa where part of the procedure is to hit you with the leaves of a certain tree being sold on the road from Kyiv to Rivne).
The team had a great pizza dinner by the river and then walked to the store to purchase breakfast (tomorrow will be an early day due to an early departure from the camp). We thank you all for your prayers as so far everyone is healthy and there have been no issues with either air or land travel!
-Allen
07.28.09
Good Morning from Kiev!!
[this post delayed due to internet problems]
We arrived here safely yesterday with no lost luggage, were even able to bring some special equipment for the children onto the plane with no extra charges! Praise God! We had a delicious dinner at the Excalibur beside the hotel, then had meetings with our wonderful translators who are as excited as we are for what lies ahead….
It’s early in the morning here – we will leave in about an hour for Rivne, with a quick stop for lunch. Please pray for safe travel. Tonight in Rivne, we will meet with the rest of our translators and prepare all the supplies for tomorrow. Internet is veerrryyy slow here in Kiev, look for more detailed updates once we get to Rivne. Thank you all so much for the prayers and comments, I am passing them along to the team. Judy – we miss you, thanks for your kind comment.
Love,
Amy
07.27.09
Late night update
I talked to Karen tonight (2am in Kyiv) and they had a good night. Hopefully she goes back to sleep! The phone is out of minutes and I suspect now has a dead battery. We did have a chance to talk about everything and hopefully she will get some rest before they start the long trip to Rivne.
The team found a place to eat and was able to meet with their interpreters. We worked through a small issue with baggage (nine rows of the bus were filled with all of the bags our 33 volunteers carried to Ukraine) and they should be ready to head toward Rivne at 09:00 tomorrow (2am our time). With lunch and a couple of stops for interesting bathroom breaks, the trip should take about 6-7 hours. By the time we get up on Wednesday morning they should be about half way through with their first day of VBS.
Communication from the team should pick up as they move into the hotel in Rivne. The hotel has free wifi and there is an internet café across the street, so look for blog entries here as the week goes on. Eventually they will find the charger I sent with the phone and a place to buy more minutes.
Thank you for your prayers and support,
Jason
Safely in Kyiv
We just received word that everyone has arrived in Kyiv/Kiev – and all the bags/boxes/strollers – everything! – made it too!
07.24.09
2 Days ’til Lift-off!!
Hello Everyone!!
In just 2 days, the second USNOF group will fly out of Washington, DC, arriving in Kiev on Monday. We read about the adventures of the first group, praying for them as they encountered several trials. Now it is our turn to go, and we will need your prayers too! This will be my 4th trip and each trip has provided new opportunities to see God at work, using USNOF to change lives for the better.
We are going to be trying several new things on this trip…..Part of our group (the VBS team) will be working at the Children’s Orphanage and the Intake Facility, same as the last team, but their outreach will be a bit different because the VBS will be led by the youth on the team!! Karen Feathers and Chris Hough will be overseeing this great group and we are so excited to have so many youth going with us!
The rest of our group (Church Partnership Team) will be led by myself, Allen Hull & Steve Feden, and will be involved with a church in Rivne, working at a camp in Klevan, and connecting with several new orphanages. We are very excited to see God expanding the influence of USNOF throughout Ukraine!
Please stay tuned to this blog for updates, and pray for us for God’s guidance and protection…“The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him and I am helped” (Psalm 28:7).
The USNOF adventure continues!!
With His love and mine,
-Amy
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07.09.09
The Vision Unfolds…
Tomorrow the rest of the volunteers will return from Ukraine and their extended side trips on the way home. I kept thinking of the early years of USNOF as this team was overseas. There was a vision we all shared…”we” being the parents of the children with special needs, directors of orphanages, and many volunteers from the US. The vision we shared was that children of Ukraine with special needs would one day have value and opportunity in their own country. The belief and hope we shared was that parents would feel they could keep their children at home, provide for them, and have therapy and educational services with trained professionals available to help their children. After several years and several trips to Ukraine, the hope we’ve all had is slowly and surely becoming a reality. Relationships built on trust are developing among officials, directors, and team members. Partnerships are being strengthened with new commitments and programs being developed between the Ukrainian-American Birth Defects Program and USNOF. Educators are receiving training. More classes are being planned. Orphanage directors are feeling support for all of their special children and the care of their facilities as we attempt to reach out to the children who need to know they are loved. All I can say is that I am in awe of a God who knew at the beginning of the call there would be the teams of people with the skills, talents, and heart to invest in the special children of Ukraine. I am thankful for the willingness of volunteers to give and to go. I am thankful for the fighting spirit of the teachers, parents, administrators of orphanages, the OMNI centers, and the director of the Pahinets Early Intervention Center in Rivne, Ukraine, who won’t take “no” for an answer and who won’t give up. The exciting part is that what has happened these last years is only a small part of what is to come. The vision God has for Ukraine, a vision that is even bigger than what we can imagine, continues to unfold….
I want to be there to see it…
Karen Feathers
Founding Director of USNOF
www.usnof.org
