Travel update

Made it to Kiev, it is 9:30 local time we have to wait until 3:55 for our next flight. See you all soon. -- Ryan

A few more pictures

VBS Bible lesson

 The ladies of First Step: Tatiana, Lida,and Luba

Singing at First Step

Teens and Girls of Hope House

Playing with the Volleyball

Water Wars!!!!!!

Last Day

It is hard to believe we have almost finished our time here.  It will be really nice to see everyone back home again, but it is also hard to leave.  The work crew finished laying cement on the 2nd floor of Hope House 2.  The rest of us had a blast with water games at both the VBS and First Step for our last day.  Then we did some water balloons with the girls at Hope House after we got back, then had another wonderful meal.  After that Kerry had one last job for us men, getting the Cement mixer off of the second floor of Hope House 2 and carrying a pallet of 80 lb. bags of cement to the garage.  From the Noise outside it sounds like some more water games have started with the girls so I will need to go. 

We leave tomorrow morning around 5:15am for the airport.  Your prayers are appreciated.

-- Ryan

Some more Pictures

Karen with the Older Girls at VBS

Musical Chairs at First Step

Games at VBS

VBS kids

Karen with two boys from VBS

Music session at VBS

Water Games on the last Day of VBS

Water Games on Last Day of VBS

Team picture at VBS

Water Games at First Step

Girls of Hope House

There's a hole in my bucket, dear liza

So we are sitting here on day 7 of our trip filling up water balloons for the last day of VBS tomorrow...I can't believe how fast our time here has flown. The girls here at hope house are so much fun to hang out with even though we don't always understand each other:) all the kids at VBS are also a blast to games with. It has been a great week so far and I can't wait for what will happen the rest of the trip --Cori

Time flies

It amazes me how fast the time goes. We have two days left then we start our trip home. VBS and First Step went well today, still feels a little chaotic, but you get used to it as the week goes on.

My typically day starts out at the VBS, I enjoy singing with all the kids. Then I lead recreation with Cori and Brrreeeennnndaaaaan, he is quite the hit with all the young girls, the team has taken up mimicking them, something new for the youth group. A cute story from our first day, we had the young boys and were struggling to find a game to occupy them, when they found a grasshopper and that was able to amuse them the rest of the session (God always provides).

After VBS is done, we load up the vans, a couple people come back to work with Scott laying concrete or doing some other project around hope house. The rest of us go to First Step and run a camp for them. This is a less structured, but shorter camp, we typically do two stations craft or sport. Mark and I have been doing sport with the assistance of some of the teens. We also sing and do a lesson, then have supper around four with the kids.

Then it is back to Hope House, where we clean up, unless Kerry has a job for us. We then have second supper at Hope House, team meeting and devotional / prayer with the team and HH girls, then if there is time we play games. Mark has done a great job getting together Minute to Win it games.

I have to say a trip like this really brings you closer to your team, and you learn a little too much about them. I have a whole new view of Pastor Jeff, and it will take me a while to recover. He told a joke today to the kids at the VBS, which didn't translate well, not that it was that funny in English either. But the confused look on the translators face and Jeff's reaction were priceless.

So much to tell, so little time. We appreciate all of your prayers. -- Ryan

VBS and First Step Pictures

Pastor Jeff gives all of the lessons at VBS, then we give out gifts if they can answer questions.

 

Young boys showing off their art work

Singing at First Step

Crafts at First Step

Singing at VBS

Some kids up front doing motions to the songs at VBS

Younger girls doing crafts at VBS

Younger boys doing crafts at VBS

Older girls doing crafts at VBS

Older boys at VBS showing off their art work

Playing games at First Step

We often play games with them during down time.

Work Crew Pictures

Josh leveling the Cement

James and Brendan working.  Notice the large bags in the background, we have loaded 10 of those with stone and sand twice

Scott setting up boards to help make the floor level

Kerry Supervising

The team is doing an excellent job.  They have done three fifths of the floor and should finish the rest by the end of the week barring any issues.

Tuesdays eve at hope house

Another blessed day at VBS and first steps. The kids have been so responsive. The food has been wonderful and rachel and I had our first experience eating borscht. It is traditional Ukrainian fare and it was good. Still blazing hot but the small outdoor pool has been a blessing. Thank you so much for your prayers they are certainly making a difference here.

Still chuggin

Today was day two of the VBS. Day one went very well as did day two. I was pleasantly surprised at the response to the music station. The kids loved learning English songs and enjoyed the musical games as well. Yesterday, after e VBS, we went to the First Steps Drop in center. My heart broke when I walked in and saw kids younger than my little sister. It was chaotic but the kids enjoyed crafts and games with the team. As some others have blogged, last night we did a devo wi the girls of Hope house. I was blessed by e time of prayer. The girls will have one girl lead in prayer but the others whisper their prayers as well. They prayed with such a genuine spirit. The team is exhausted but still chugging. With a few power naps and the Lord's streng, I think we'll make it. Kaylynn

Today's update monday and tuesday

Blessings from Fontanka. We have all been blessed and at last night devotion time with the hope house girls and the team, we all wrote down a specific blessing and one way God has communicated with us. We fill the basket. I would like to share one of mine. Pastor Jeff in our time with first steps told all the kids there ,to look up to the stars that night and know without a doubt that God loves them. Around midnight some of us did the same and it was a perfectly clear night, absolutely beautiful with thousands of stars. As we prayed for the first steps kids we also affirmed Gods love for us too. ANother first for me....a marshuka ride (the public bus transportation). What fun! Dianne

Some Pictures

 

Some of the Guys working on Hope House Two

 

Marks Birthday Cake, I think he turned 65

 

Playing Minute to Win It with Hope House Girls

  

We went into Odessa with some of the Hope House Girls

 

McDonalds with Hope House Girls

 

Opening program for our first VBS at Lenapashanikca

I don't know how to spell it (:

 Mark teaching older boys music

 

Playing games at First Steps Center

 

Pastor Jeff giving a lesson at First Steps

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday in Ukraine

Today we went to the church Fontonka. Some members of the team did a men's quartet and a few others sang Great I am and I got a chance to play violin. The service was wonderful and the people were very friendly. We spent the rest of the day touring Odessa. We were all excited to eat at a Ukrainian McDonalds! The ride home was amazing! We spent the time singing songs with the Hope House girls. It was really cool because sometimes they would sing a song in Ukrainian that we knew in English so we'd sing along. It was an amazing experience. Kaylynn

All the way to gramma nut...(Brendan's idea for a title)

Well we made it safely, much to the chagrin of several teens who wanted to make a new Lost series, but I suppose it's for the best...we all got a good night sleep last night and have been well fed since then. Today we've been getting to know the hope house girls and we've helped around the grounds. The boys helped over at hope house 2 while the girls worked in the garden and went shopping. We also all made a trip to the black sea. The team, especially the teens, are a tad over tired and therefore a little crazy. The boys are currently playing with an imaginary green ball...yup. In short, we are all safe and yes, ladies and gentlemen, we do in fact have ALL of our luggage. Crazy, I know...thanks for all of the prayers!

Finally here! :)

As some of you may know, this trip was my first plane ride ever. I was a little nervous/excited about this but everything went smoothly and we even got valet parking! :) we arrived late last night and quickly found our rooms and got a good night sleep. our meals have been great and we even got to go to the beach today. We had a lot of fun with the girls of Hope House,splashing and playing frisbee. One of my favorite new friends is the Allison's new dog, Heidi. She's only five months old and as small as a hotdog :) well were about to go practice our song for tomorrow so talk to you all later! -Cori

Hope house

Wow this is my third time to Ukraine but the first time ever blogging. My family will be amazed. We are already being blessed with the beautiful people here to greet and host us. So many things have changed, God is truly at work here. There will be so much to share. Dianne

We made it

Just wanted to let everyone know that we made it safely last night, with all our luggage. God is good! Today we are loading bags of sand or something, which is needed on second floor of hope house two. Organize supplies, maybe work in the garden. Gotta go, Ryan

Kiev

We made it to Kiev, one more flight in about three hours. We have been hanging around the airport for the past four hours. It will be nice to get there. Ryan

Eating at the airport

We made it to TorontoEnjoying a meal while we wait to board the plane

Packing Supplies

Thursday, some of us got together to start packing supplies, just a few more days until we leave.