Mission Trips – Valerie's Voice

Ukraine

In 2004, 2005, and 2008 I was in the Ukraine on three separate mission trips. Each time we went to Cherkasy, a city south of the capital, Kiev. We conducted English Language Camps at the House of Gospel church.

My host family was a lovely couple that opened their home to my friend, Kay, and I. More host families from their church took in the other members on our team. But each year, Kay and I stayed together with this same family. Our home stays were about 7-8 days…enough time to build relationships.

Valerie, Maria, Kay, 2023, in Minnesota, USA.

This couple and their son, who was living at home at the time, were gracious and loving and took good care of us. The English Language Camps were held at their church. The camps were promoted for kids ages 15-20. We used Bible stories as our resource. There were eight group leaders. We each had interpreters with our small groups of 8-10 kids. The kids were excited to practice their English language skills on native speakers. Many kids attended (~90) and many kids had never been to church. It was rewarding.

The table decorations for the pot luck reception at Emmaus Church: Sunflowers, Ukraine’s national flower.

After our first trip in 2004, our church started supporting our host family’s daughter and her husband, who are missionaries in Odesa, a city in the southern part of the Ukraine. Every few years the missionaries, Caleb and Christina, come to our church to give an update and thank Emmaus for our support. This year they brought along Christina’s parents, our hosts from those trips many years ago.

It was such a privilege and joy to have them stay in our home. I never thought I’d see them in Minnesota! It was great to visit with them and get an update on the current situation in Ukraine, and to just bond with them and strengthen our relationship. We had a delightful time together.

Sometimes I’m amazed when I think about having friends and family that I know and love in other places in this world. For me, those places include Norway, Ukraine, Mozambique and Japan. What an honor and blessing.

Sweet Music

As we hear the horrible news of the continuing Russian invasion of Ukraine, my thoughts go out to the people I met there on three separate trips in 2004, 2005, and 2008. The main purpose of the trips were to facilitate small groups of young students in an English Language Camp. Our days were busy and tiring, but fun. We also had free time to explore the area, and socialize with adults, after the camp day ended in the afternoon.

The set up for a lovely meal together in
Cherkasy, Ukraine.

One of my fondest memories is a gathering at one of the leader’s home. There were many Ukranians present to be with our team of eight Americans. We shared a picnic-style meal together, outdoors. As the sun was setting and we were sitting around visiting, one of the Ukrainians got out his guitar and we started to sing hymns. We were singing and harmonizing the same lyrics in two different languages. I remember tearing up and thinking what a beautiful sound we were making, blending our voices together and creating sweet music. It was an emotional experience, which today elicits a peaceful and serene memory of my time with the many wonderful folks I met in the Ukraine; a beautiful and peaceful people.

My heart breaks when I think of all the destruction of lives that is ongoing. I pray for an end to the violence in Ukraine and that peace can be restored.

Sasha

The young man in the photo is Sasha. I have been praying for him since the invasion of Ukraine from Russia, and Ukraine’s decree that all 18-60 year-old men “cannot leave the country, but be prepared to fight.” That would include Sasha…he’d be in his 30’s now.

I met Sasha in 2004 when I was in the Ukraine on a mission trip, helping with an English Language Camp in Cherkassey, south of Kiev. He was 14 or 15 years old and one of the students in my group. He was a wonderful young man, and we made a special connection. Sasha gave me the pink elephant (pictured above) at the celebration for the completion of the language camp at the end of that week. Over the years, I admit, I did lose touch with him, but he has been on my mind these days, and worked himself back into my heart as I pray for his safety during this conflict.

I’m praying, too, for a miracle, and for peace to come quickly to the Ukraine. And for all the wonderful people I met there.

(My grandchildren now play with this cute elephant which I wrote about in a previous post. )

A Cute Pink Elephant

When my grandson came upstairs the other day he was carrying a pink elephant he found in our bassinet filled with stuffed animals. It made me smile. This pink stuffed elephant always makes me smile. It holds very fond memories of a special young man who lived in Cherkasy, Ukraine. His name was Sasha.

I went on three mission trips to the city of Cherkasy, Ukraine and I met Sasha on the first one in 2004 (and again in 2005). I, and four others, went with a couple that had been taking mission trips to the Ukraine since 1991– sometimes as medical missionaries (he is a doctor, she is a nurse). On this trip, in 2004, they were organizing an English Language Camp, using Bible stories for curriculum.

The English Language Camp was well attended with middle and high school age students. The kids were eager to learn English from a native speaker. We spent the week in large group activities: learning songs, hearing testimonies and playing games, while spending time in small groups on English lessons. There were seven leaders, and we each had our own small group of students, and our own interpreter. Sasha was in my small group.

At the end of the week we had a celebration before traveling back to America. It was a festive event, but emotional too. We had all grown attached to our students, and to our host families (we had been placed in homes of church families and grew attached to them also).

Prior to the celebration we had packed our suitcases because we were going to leave early the next morning. At the end of the evening, when it was time to say good bye, Sasha came up to me and handed me this cute pink stuffed elephant as a going away present. It was such a sweet gesture. He was a precious young man, and we had made a special connection.

Since my suitcases were packed and there was no more room in my bags, I somehow tied the pink elephant to my carry-on…I really wanted to bring it home with me. So there it was, a cute pink elephant hanging from my bag as I walked through airports, and rode on airplanes, all the way home.

This cute pink elephant found its way into my home, and now it has found a way into my grandson’s arms and I am happy.