Ukraine Mission Trip 2009

by Alan Pope

I left for the Ukraine on the 23rd of June, 2009 and returned on July 12th, 2009. I flew into the city of Lviv in Western Ukraine. Home to over one million people, this seven hundred fifty year old city is the heart and soul of Ukraine culture.

I was taken into the home of Jay and Cameron Hughes and their three daughters. They are missionaries with Josiah Venture. It was in the comfort of their home that I began to recover from the long trip and adjust to a new time zone, eight hours ahead of my own.

The Hughes' have been serving in Ukraine for four years. Josiah Venture's goal is to work together with the local church in developing Christian leadership among the youth of Eastern Europe. One tool used to make contact and generate interest among youth is to offer a fun filled week of camp.

During the next two days I recovered from jet lag and assisted in packing for the trip. We loaded a van and its trailer with tents, cooking, and camping equipment. The third day we drove five hours out into the country, stopping for a picnic along the way. The fourth day was spent setting up and preparing the camp.

On the fifth day our campers arrived, around forty teenage boys and girls. They had come to an English Camp. The church promotes the camp to the community like this: It's a chance to get out of the city, swim, enjoy the fresh air, learn about God, spend time in the country, and practice your English with foreigners who speak it! This is the reason I had come to Ukraine, to be both a camp counselor and English Teacher.

Adult spiritual leadership in the camp came from two sources. There was the Foreign Team, and the Ukraine Team. The Foreign Team was staffed by myself, several girls from Arkansas, three from Dublin, Ireland, and four Josiah Venture Missionaries. We were to provide English Instruction. The Ukraine team consisted of pastors and lay leaders from the local church. This team, being of the same language and culture as the campers, was to take the spiritual lead. Together we ministered to the youth for five days.

A typical day started with the leadership teams meeting at 8:00 am to pray and discuss the day's events. Breakfast was served at 8:30 am. English classes were from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm with a break in the middle. At noon we would eat lunch together. After lunch, volleyball, frisbee, and football were played until 2:00 pm. Free time was given until dinner at 6:00 pm. During this free time most would swim in the lake or hang out with friends. After dinner the evening program began.

Upon arrival, each camper's English speaking ability is evaluated. They are placed in a class accordingly. Of the forty, I could carry on a good conversation with about eight students. So the overall level of our campers was basic. It is easy to see that the deep spiritual truths will be communicated to the youth primarily by the Ukraine team.

We gathered in a large tent for the evening program where a story was read in both English and Ukraine. This was "God's Story", which began with Adam and Eve on the first night, progressing through to Christ's death and resurrection on the last.

After each story segment there was open discussion. Great questions were generated during this time, proving that the students were really listening and taking it in. Smaller groups were then divided into, where further questions about on the story were proposed. The discussions were primarily in Ukraine so I caught bits and pieces as the participants found time to fill me in. I watched and prayed as I saw the spirit at work revealing truth. The evening program would close out with something fun, like a series of skits or a talent show.

I shared a tent with four Ukrainian boys: Oleg, Pasha, Roman, and Serge. Knowing that we would not have a lot of time together the boys were eager to become fast friends with me. I soon realized that my role in this camp was to just love on these young men and be their buddy. In doing so we were creating an atmosphere in the camp where the students felt loved and accepted. Camp became a safe place to disagree with what was being taught, to ask the hard questions, without fear of being rejected.

On the third day of camp each person selected a secret friend. Everybody wrote their name on a piece of paper and placed it in a hat. As the hat was passed around you chose a name. This person was to be lavished with encouraging notes and gifts up until the final day when all identities were disclosed. Wildflowers woven into wreaths, collections of bugs and butterflies, candy, all sent through messengers sworn to secrecy. It was also popular to dedicate a song. Once, I was sent to sing a song and the only thing I could think of was a song by the Beatles. It went over well and after, I was inundated with so many requests I spent the better part of an evening trying to fill them all. My secret friend's name was Daniel.

The goal of the camp was to bring the students a step closer to Christ. Some were one step away, others four or five steps away. Wherever they were, we wanted to draw them in.

Rebellion in the teenagers was evident. Some would stand at the back of the tent during the evening program determined not to participate. Some boldly challenged "God's Story" as being a fairy tale. "We are not saying you must believe this", they were told, "All we are saying is lets discuss it". As the camp progressed I saw much of that rebellious spirit fade. They decided that they were having too much fun.

At the last evening program, as the story of God came to a climax, they were given the opportunity to respond to the gospel. Many gave indication that they had come closer.

The camp ended on a Saturday. The bus took everyone home to the city with an invitation to come to church the next day for a special service where they would sing the camp song and perform the camp dance. The majority of the campers came and brought their families. Several youth events were planned over the next couple of days to capitalize on the momentum.

In one event, various members of the foreign team cooked up a dish native to their country. This evening proved to be very popular as the youth of Ukraine sampled foods from the USA, Poland, South Africa, Ireland, and Germany. These gatherings demonstrated that church life is full of fun, fellowship, worship, and encouragement.

Many of the students were eager to show us around their city, serving as our interpreters and guides. As we walked around the city together I heard from several how a desire to follow Christ was growing stronger in their hearts. I told them all about the wonderful things God has done for me and that he gives us the true desires of our hearts.

Please pray for the Holy Spirit to work on the hearts and lives of the people of the Ukraine that they may come to know the one true God. Also, pray that God would lift up people to join with us in our next mission trip to the Ukraine in the summer of 2010. And, please pray for Josiah Venture Ministry and the lives of those that they touch.