L’viv, Ukraine
We returned to Ukraine on the 17th of November for a 3-week, short-term mission that included much more than we anticipated. We were blessed abundantly by the number of new relationships that we established, the reconnecting with old friends, and the many terrific God-incident ministry opportunities, as well as spending time with Liuba and Lyubchyk, our son John's siblings.
YWAM
The first part of the trip we stayed at the YWAM base in Ternopil being picked up at the train station by Yarik and Oksana Yahotin. Before dropping us off, Yarik had Charley recruited to assist him working with drug addicts. Our first morning we joined the staff and base leaders, Lance and Megan Roberts (pictured below), in praise and prayer time, as well as some personal time with them later in the trip. While there, one of the teams returned from the front lines of the war in Eastern Ukraine. They said that they could hear the shooting it was so close and showed pictures of some of the buildings that had been bombed. Our time at the base continued to be seasoned with worship and prayer as we ministered in the greater community.
Rebecca with Luba Papish
Charley with Zhenia Chekushkin and Ivan Papish
Reconnection
While America was enjoying Thanksgiving, we were hosted by long-time friends, Ivan and Luba Papish. Their daughter, Nataliya, was in Rebecca's young women's small group when we were in Ternopil with YWAM in ‘97. She now works with Orphans Hope at CBN in Virginia. At dinner, we were joined by Zhenia Chekushkin as our translator - someone we had been very interested in meeting. A definite God incident. Not only did we have divine intervention for the dinner meeting but he remembered training both Liuba and Luybchyck several years earlier. He is the associate pastor of Calvary Chapel (soon to be Lead Pastor), as well as on staff at the Christian Training Center Success founded by Ivan and Luba. It was at this meal we learned of the ministry, Orphans Future, which we will share more about. Pictured is a typical Ukrainian meal of incredible hospitality and Charley with Ivan and Zhenia - Happy Thanksgiving Ukrainian style!
Christian Training Center
Ivan and Zhenia invited us to tour Christian Training Center Success (pictures below) and we were impressed by the bright, modern facility. But even more impressive were the number of programs provided - over 12 and the number of students reached - over 200 daily and over 3,000/year. The Center, which has been functioning for 12 years, also provides training internationally. (We encourage you to take a look at their website.) During the tour we were invited to come back when the classes were in session. Rebecca had the opportunity to be a guest "native speaker" in two of their ESL classes. Later in the week, Charley was invited to do leadership training for their executive team and staff. Upon return from Lviv, we did some more ESL training with their teens which turned out to be very special as Charley was able to share much of his testimony. Historically, the Center has provided Christian business leadership training and they seem keen to expand that type of programming.
Lviv
Our mission in L'viv was to work again with The Message of Hope Church, providing ESL, English as a Second Language, training for two evenings. We had around 25 participants who had been part of their English Speaking Club. We were able to connect with some of our Ukrainian friends from our time there in September. The church primarily serves displaced Eastern Ukrainians from the war with Russia. Charley was asked to preach Sunday morning bringing a message of love and unity in the body. We were also blessed to spend our first night with one of the young men from Charley's September group. We had a delightful time with Nazar exploring the central city of L'viv.
From left: Rebecca teaching beginning English; Charley preaching at Message of Hope Church; Pavlo, our translater/ Nazar behind Rebecca/ Grisha, Lead Pastor of Message of Hope behind Charley, Anatoliy Associate Pastor/ Dima, students
Back to Ternopil
Upon return to Ternopil, we were welcomed by our friend Yarik (YWAM) and comfortably settled into our new digs at the "Antique Apartment". By renting an apartment, we hoped we might be able to organize a family-type gathering there with Liuba and Lyubchyck which did come together beautifully as only God could have planned it! Liuba was excited for us to meet her best friends so we met at a local restaurant. As it turns out her best friends are the Founder and Project Manager for Orphans' Future, Andriy and Ira. Charley had tried to reach out to Andriy for a meeting but with no success. If God wants you to meet, you will meet! It was like we all knew each other for years. We learned about the powerful impact that this ministry has for the orphans of the Ternopil region. All the staff are orphans and each have had breakthroughs from the hopelessness that most orphans experience. They will soon be moving into their own large resource center and we definitely want to help them. By the end of the evening, it was decided for our next meeting that they would come to our apartment for a fun hang out dinner! Ivan, Ira's fiance, joined us, too. One of our takeaways from the evening was the realization of a fatherhood void. Upon our return, we hope to initiate some training in this area.
From left: Liuba's best friends, staff of Orphan's Future, Ira Vakaliuk, Andriy Nazarenko (founder of Orphan's Future); at Orphan's Future office; Current orphan numbers per region; Friday night family hangout at the apartment.
Birthday Celebrations!
Our hope since September was that we would be able to slowly establish relationships with Liuba and Lyubchyck. Both of their birthdays are in December so we celebrated at a local restaurant along with our special new friends, Yarik and Oksana on December 8th. As it turned out, it was Oksana's birthday as well. God's timing. We needed their translation help and we could celebrate her birth, too! It was a wonderful evening and a foundation from which we will build.
Homeward Bound
On December 9th, like clockwork Yarik and Oksana took us to the Ternopil train station and at midnight our spiritual daughter, Halia picked us up at the Kyiv central train station and deposited us at the airport. We are so blessed to have an amazing family in such a far away land!!!
FINAL THOUGHTS FROM CHARLEY AND REBECCA:
WE ARE INCREDIBLY BLESSED TO EXPERIENCE GOD OVER AND OVER CONNECTING US AND GIVING US FAVOR IN WAYS THAT ONLY HE COULD HAVE DONE AND YOU WHO HAVE BEEN SO FAITHFUL TO SEND AND PRAY FOR US ARE A LARGE PART OF THAT BLESSING.
HE MOVED BECAUSE YOU ASKED AND RESPONDED!
THANK YOU!
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