"Reflections on Ukraine"
I traveled to Kyiv with 12 others from the Overland Park Church of the Nazarene in Kansas in August 2004. And what a trip it was (pun intended)! Missionaries Bob and Colleen Skinner—along with the missionary team of Cliff and Heike Wright and Roxanne Alexander—ensured that our two-week Work & Witness trip would be chockfull of indelible memories. Along with two work projects, which we completed, our jam-packed experience included church services, prayer meetings, Bible studies, home visits, sightseeing, shopping, a picnic, and several side trips. Joining with our group were six people from a church in Michigan. Our expanded team of 19 was assigned to finish the basement of the Kyiv Ministry Center—painting the walls and sealing the floors. Plus, we would clean up the backyard, remove a dead tree, spread truckloads of dirt, and landscape the area. According to Bob, these were the last two projects needed for the building inspector to sign off on the Center’s completion. By the time we left Kyiv, both projects were done, including the planting of grass seed. The first day of work was interrupted by a semitruck that appeared at the ministry center. Every available pair of hands formed a long chain that moved almost 1,200 boxes from the curb in front, through the Center’s hall, and out to the backyard, where the boxes were stored in an old garage. We actually repeated this task a few days later when two semis arrived with 1½ loads. This time the used clothing, medical equipment, and Crisis Care Kits were stored in basement rooms that had been finished. We learned that these gifts of compassion would be distributed throughout the country. Highlights of my experience are manifold: Visiting the World War II and Chernobyl museums. Observing a wedding in a Russian Orthodox cathedral. Participating in a baptism of four Nazarene women in the Dneiper River. Playing with children in an orphanage. Eating "shashleek" in a park beside a pond. Attending a special thank-you luncheon for Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in Varovichy. Traveling to Mariupol and sensing the pastor’s heart for homeless people. The most memorable part of the trip, without question, was the train ride to Vinnitsa and witnessing firsthand the power of God at work in the lives of those who have been bound by alcohol and drugs. To me, every dollar invested in this trip, plus every dollar ever given to missions, is worth the transformed lives of men and women in Ukraine and to see many of them involved in ministry, serving the Lord who has delivered them. Am I a different person? You betcha! How can anyone go to Ukraine and return the same! The Lord is at work in my life, cleansing me of the materialism and consumerism of our culture. My passion for missions now is even greater than before! I praise God for allowing me to see, again and anew, how He is building His kingdom around the globe. And to think, He allows me to have a tiny part! Wes Eby "Hope for those taught God does not exist"Scottdale, AZ I saw something in the Ukraine that I have seen in none of my other trips for Work & Witness. I saw something much worse than the deprivation of material comforts and health care. I saw something worse than deprivation of personal freedom. This was the loss of the right to believe in God. This loss of belief in God created a loss of hope and a loss of reason for being. For years, the communist government told these dear people that there was no God. Churches were destroyed or put to other uses. The younger generation, without God, became hopeless. They have nowhere to turn for meaning and comfort. Fifty percent of the population is on drugs or alcohol trying to get rid of or become numb to this feeling of hopelessness. This starts at an early age, usually with glue sniffing and then escalates to full blown drug abuse. I saw the results of this abuse on their bodies, but worse on their souls. Their teeth, circulatory systems, limbs showed the terrible effects of the mistreatment of their bodies; but, their souls showed worse effects. They were hopeless, with nowhere to turn, but drugs. I saw that the worse thing that can happen is to be told and made to believe that there is no God. Now that the Ukraine has once more become free and can worship without hindrance, our Church of the Nazarene has created rehabilitation centers. At these homes, young people are once more learning that there is a God and that He cares. They are changing and becoming “clean.” Some are even becoming Pastors. While secular treatments have not lasted, these Christian centers have been the only real change makers in all of the Ukraine. So much so, that the government has began to want to work with them and learn from them.. They are seeing that Christ is the only One that can make a real, lasting change in a person’s heart. This is a concrete change that can be witnessed and can continue to be watched as it remains. We gave physical comfort, but the real, lasting comfort is and will have to continue to be a renewed faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Nowhere have I ever seen the results of such deprivation of the belief in God. It was a real awakening for me. And, a call to continue our efforts to bring God to those who have been deprived. Pam Roberts "Nothing is impossible, ever for a little church like ours"Midland, Michigan. This past month (June 2004) our team of seven went on a Work and Witness trip to the beautiful country of Ukraine. We are from a small church in Michigan of 82 active members. No one is rich monetarily, but we are all rich in faith and trust in God. Three years ago we had a dream to go to Ukraine after hearing Rev. Bob Skinner speak so passionately about his call to missions. So... we cut, split and delivered cords of wood, we compiled and sold 2,000 cookbooks , not to mention selling hundreds of Easter and Christmas flowers to earn enough money to see our dream realized.
Darlene Cyr Ukraine W&W Textimonial The Work and Witness trip that I took to Mariupol, Ukraine in the summer of 2003 was the greatest life changing experience I have ever had. Even though I had an accident just one week before we were to leave, God healed me enough to allow me to have the greatest experience anyone could ever have.
Our team from the John Day and Harney County Nazarene churches in Eastern Oregon spent two weeks helping renovate the sanctuary of an older building in Mariupol. During that time we met many of the local church people as well as being privileged to attend their church services. Even though we couldn¹t understand any of their words we certainly could understand the spirit through which they were worshiping and singing praises to our God and Savior. I have never witnessed such a beautiful spirit as those people had in their worship services. What a blessing to be a part of their lives, even for such a short time. The Lord blessed us abundantly during those two weeks. As we were leaving on the train I saw Yulya, a local church member, with tears in her eyes because she had come to love and appreciate us for our friendship and for all our help and for being obedient to God, and she didn¹t want us to leave. That is also how we felt. My life will never be the same for spending those two weeks in Ukraine. God has changed my life in so many ways since I have come back to the U.S. I now have a much higher regard for our missionaries and the people to whom they serve. My wife and I both have such a strong desire to return to Ukraine whenever we can. The sooner, the better. Thank God I now have a much greater heart for missions because of this wonderful experience. Larry R. Durheim More Ukraine W&W Testimonials
According to Adrian work and witness really can change your life forever!
"If you think you are broke, give it to God. Let Him handle it. Let Him work the miracle." Rich Sladky
 I had a wonderful opportunity to spend about two weeks in Ukraine on a Work and Witness Team. I believe in the Nazarene Mission work around the world, but to go and see God's work first hand and to see how God is changing people's lives has changed my outlook. I have a new appreciation for the work done by missionaries around the world.
I found a new part of God's family; they truly love God with all their hearts, minds and souls. I found a new love for God that I didn't know was out there. Words don't describe the sounds, smells, sights and feeling that you have when you are on some one else's turf. It was amazing to see the hand of God at work in the lives of those people.I went with the idea of helping those poor people of Ukraine; I came home with a great blessing of what they gave me. We all enjoy God blessings our lives, but the best way to receive a blessing is to give your time, talents and more to others. Many times those that have little have much more than we do. The best way to see God move is to open your hand and give God the best you have to give. You will see the moving of God's hand in your life and in the lives of those you give to. God will truly bless your life. Lee Tiller Nazarene Pastor |
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Kyiv . . . Krapivna . . . Mariupol . . . Vinnitsa . . . Celishe . . . Nekiferatsa . . . Varovichy. In these Ukrainian cities and towns and villages I met lots of people—Vova, Sveta, Nina, Vladimir, Sergei, Koya, Masha, Boris, Luba, Vasily, Pasha, Volodia, Luda, Leo, Dima, Roma, Ivan, Maxim, Valentina, Misha, Sergei, Tanya, Alec—and many more. And through these folks, I fell in love with Ukraine. Just the mention of their names brings a lump to my throat.
"Many blessings be with you all. My experience with you all on W and W really has totally changed my life and moving me in directions I never would have believed.