Sunday started out with a wonderful church service. A local and long term missionary from Canada and his wife gave a simple message of hope and salvation to the standing room only group of about 40 people; a majority were local Ukrainians that they have been ministering to for years. As I had visited there two years ago, it struck me that God is working great things all over the world. His love knows no borders!
After a little lunch we made our way to Burie Ugili; the center for older, long term disabled men (and a few woman). In the pictures here and in the attached link, Burie Ugili is a place that demands every Christian think introspectively on what God really means to them; it demands action!
With some of the toughest (yet greatly improved) conditions, this center houses some of God's truly forgotten. With no legal rights, these people and sent there to spend the rest of their days in solitary away from society and with "their own kind". Spero Group, in partnership with other missions organizations, has invested time and energy there to ensure these men don't stay forgotten.
Armed with a box of bananas (a special treat for them), hugs and a few children's Sunday school songs (in Russian, of course) we set out among them to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
One of the more special times for me was when my travel companion and oldest son hand fed a man with horrific physical deformations a banana. When we recounted the experience, we both agreed that would be where Jesus would have hung out.
After experiencing other unique sites, smells and sounds we congregated back in the pavilion and was led into Sunday school songs (hand motions and all) with these disabled men. Not knowing all of the songs, especially because they were sung in Russian, I was particularly moved by the singing of Jesus Loves Me. When you are able to sing these timeless clasics with the lowest of society, it reminds you of how simple Jesus' message really is - "come to me".
A trip through the kitchen that Spero helped renovate and a few hugs later we said good bye, for now. We will be back!
The final part of the day was spent with the graduating orphans. 15 or so arrived by invitation and we began the process of coaching them in developing a life plan. Seemingly simple items like having a goal and dream, or how to introduce yourself to writing down your testimony were components of our discussion.
The grads were split up and assigned to each of the mission team individuals. I was given Shasha and Kyryl - both shy, gentle young men and orphans. We spent time in our hotel room talking about who they were and what they wanted to be and do. I attempted to guide them to write down their testimony and they really got it. I gave them their assignment to finish their testimony.
Maybe one of the most gratifying parts of the trip to date was as we were sitting as a mission team at the end of the day and talking about our impressions, Vlad (my translator and a childhood friend to Shasha and Kyryl from the orphanage) noted that for the first time, he saw some hope in his "brothers" and friends.
I don't know who's getting more out of this trip, me or them?
When God gives you the opportunity to make a difference and He allows you to actually do it, it doesn't get any better!
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