Ukraine
Challenge
Fourth Two-Week
Summary – July 20 – August 3, 2002
The last two weeks of Ukraine Challenge projects brought the largest number of volunteers headed for a variety of places. Some returned to familiar towns and worked in growing churches. Others accepted the call to work in new areas where American missionaries had never been. All experienced the strong commitment and incredible hospitality of Ukrainian believers.
Tom, Betsy and Kelly McDonald, Troy and Sherry Meachum, Anna Donato, David LaBarre, Anthony Morris and Chris Roux went to Kelmenci in Southwestern Ukraine. Tom’s teams have worked here for several years developing relationships with pastors and mission points in this area. A major focus was a seminar involving pastors and church leaders from the area discussing the new all age Bible study materials available now in the Russian or Ukrainian language. Another undertaking was youth camp held in a rural setting. Despite the rain, cool weather and wet tents, it was a glowing success.
Robert Wallace, Eddie and Frieda Covil, John David and Tanya Coxe, A.B. and Ruth Anne Flanagan, Tom and Laura Hall, Billy and Pat Sellers, Shelley Daniels, Glenda Mauldin and Kellie Evers’ destination was Tetariv. Tetariv is the small town located near the sanatorium where many volunteers worked last year. During the summer of 2001, Pastor Sasha picked up the volunteers and brought them to his church for worship services each Sunday. As the groups became acquainted with him, his vision for reaching this area became apparent. In February, he asked if a team could come to work in village evangelism in several nearby villages alongside a Ukrainian team already in place. The pastors and deacons on this team readily accepted the offer. They also conducted a children’s camp and lead many adult conferences in spiritual growth. This is one of the new places for a team to visit. All the team members pledged to return!
Beth Riddick, Joan Littleton, Julia Long, Suzanne Reece, and Curtis Privette worked one week in Stikolka, near Irpin, and one week in Rezhizhiv, about two hours out of Kiev on the Dniper River. This was the second time for Beth to lead a camp in Stikolka and the children had not forgotten. An exact count is not available but over 200 came everyday. As in other places, wonderful Ukrainian believers who are trying to establish a church in this area in a public club multiplied this small team’s effort. Camp was conducted for the first time in Rezhihiv with about 60 children attending during the week. This new church has very little land around it so recreation was held a short walk away on the sandy beaches of the Dniper River. Yes, swimming was an option for this hot week.