chris forgot....

MARY! after not being able to go on our first trip God has opened the doors for her and is giving her another chance :)

God works in crazy ways and I'm so glad he did! It was looking like it was going to be a very difficult task to get me to Ukraine with all the airline details. But God totally worked everything out! Mary and Jeanne will be flying to Ukraine with me in January :)

Our God is SO good!

When are you coming back?

As time has gone on, it's been so cool to see how those on our team have stepped up in different areas of ministry. Jeanine is going to Thailand next summer, and Josie...well she's going BACK to the Ukraine for four months to help out with Micah and Christy. So happy to see how the calling continues.

How about the rest of the team? Well, Che and Deanna got married. Abbi and Taylor still busy as ever with Youth. Michael went off to Bible College, and Aaron and I are down in Maricopa.

So...this blog will continue. Occasionally. With input. I'm hoping we'll get this started earlier for our planned trip in Winter 2011! So...stay tuned sportsfans!

"Settling Back In"

I love short-term missions. However, there is a sort of downside to it. The return home. Don't get me wrong, I love my family, I love my church, I love Arizona and wouldn't want to really live anywhere else...except for Colorado. ;-) What I mean is the return home to the routine...the comfortable...the daily grind.

When you are in the field, sharing the Gospel, serving at a church, living on an island with a hundred crazy Ukrainian, Australian, and New Zealand people, you feel more alive than usual. Why? Because your entire focus is at what is in front of you. Your whole being is in "servant mode" and you are absorbing cultural and societal differences.

When you get home, there is a brief period when you almost despise the things that are here. I call it reverse-culture shock. Believe it or not, it's a good thing.We need these reminders of just how non-important some of the routine is in our lives. We need to see the bigger picture of what God is doing in peoples lives around the world. That way, we can be changed here. And that's what I want to encourage you with today. God has you HERE, wherever that is.. For some of you reading this and following our blog adventures, that's in Arizona. For some, that's in your city or state where you are sitting reading this. Be of good cheer..God has a plan for you RIGHT HERE...RIGHT NOW. If you feel that God is moving you to do long-term missions, then start praying and get ready to go. In the meantime, get your sights upon Jesus, walk with Him in the place you are currently at and praise Him for His marvelous grace and mercy.

One last thing from me right now...I can't wait to go back. The relationships I've built with Pastor Wayne and Olya, Danny and Lise, Yura and Oksana, Alonya, Anna, Magdala, Petya, Nazar, Sasha (the many), Lyena, Katya, Dan, Priscilla, Jono, John, Ruth-Ann, Tanya, Natasha, Max, Vova, and all the others... what a privilege to know and fellowship with these awesome people. It's what heaven is going to be about...relationships with Christ-followers as we WORSHIP together, SERVE together, and even EAT together. (Borscht is of course the official soup of Heaven...every Ukrainain knows this)

Until we meet again...here, there, or in the air... Grace and Peace!

Ukraine-For the Win!

My brain is freaking out at how cool the Ukraine is. I've learned so much in only the first week. So many things have happened that have totally changed my perspective on life. This trip has taught me to look at all the differences and accept and embrace them rather than shy away from others who are definitely more outgoing and accepting than I am. I love this place, and if the Lord leads me, I am seriously praying and considering being a missionary. I feel God has been leading me to the mission field for quite some time, but until I get confirmation, I'm just gonna chillax in the states for a while.

I also want to thank Christy and Micah for putting up with four crazy girls in the house along with their own kids. Hope we haven't been imposing on you that much.

I miss my mommy alot. I didn't think being away from her for only two weeks would be so darn hard! I haven't been on facebook either so if she reads this, she'll know I wasn't hit by a car or eaten by rabid giraffes or anything (though with my luck, that would probably happen).

- Abbi Swenson

Well, well, well.. Ukraine has been quite the amazing experience so far. It's pretty phenomenal to see to radically different cultures blend together as one. The team is also just the perfect mixture of people and it is very apparent that God has brought us all here together for our common goal. 

The time that I have spent here will never be forgotten and the memories made will last a lifetime. My time I have been here has had some crazy experiences that include: crazy bus rides, pushing vans to get them running, Kiev subways, jumping (and being pushed) off of a bridge into a gorgeous lake, marvelous worship nights, apple fights and making "cherry blood."

Along with all the good times God has also been teaching me a lot. Between my quiet times and Micah's teachings I have seriously been brought to reality. The world is huge but Christians all have this unexplainable bond just through Jesus Christ.

What a cultural experience this has been. The people, the food, and the weather; all nothing that I'm used to but everything has been extravagant and even beyond that. I've tried some crazy dishes (including vegemite) and met some fun people (they know how to have a good time here in Ukraine) and the weather has been nothing short of perfection. God has really shown me a lot about myself and will continue to do so throughout this trip. 

much love from Ukraine,  ya'll!

Taylor Moore :)

Beginning of a mindset

So here I am,

Half-way around the world, it's past eleven thirty on Sunday morning and in Phoenix, the day is just starting.

I have had some of the best experiences of my life so far here in

Kagarlyk, Ukraine. This week has been filled with music, laughs (a little too many), great conversation, worship that has been out of this world, interesting foods (i've got some stories for you when i get back), and a making of a completely different mindset. Last night was probably one of my favorites, we went swimming with the youth group in a lake near the church, and there was just something about it that made it all come together. Jumping off a pretty shaky looking bridge into mucky water, and later introducing s'mores to the teens, and the lesson that Micah taught, really brought everything back into perspective.

It's so different here that it's mind-boggling to think that i am here and doing what God has called me to do. In actuality, we haven't abnormal amounts of work, or been tossed into the city to fend for ourselves. We've been painting, clearing trash and rocks, running around with the Claycamp kids, and having some pretty beastly apple fights with the pastor's sons.

But what is amazing, is how beautiful it is here. The people, the mannerisms, and the weather for that matter. I've seen more rain this week than i've seen in Phoenix this year so far. 

All in all, it's just crazy to still accept, how far not only i have come, but everyone on this team.

From crazy airport situations, tremendous language barriers, and a certain situation with a tato and his lost lady, we've made it this far.

Tomorrow we leave for the camp, the main part of the dish hasn't even arrived yet.

I pray that it help not only myself to grow and be encouraged, but most importantly, the kids that we will be coming alongside of.

So in a summary,

here is the not to say that i'm still alive, i made it here safe, God is working

and i love and miss you all.

always

jeannine...

Comfort Zone??? It's overrated!

Dobre dain (good day) everyone. It's already Sunday morning here in the Ukraine, WOW how time flies when you're having fun! Yesterday we started off at the market which is like the swapmeet back at home. There were so many things to look at including live baby chicks and ducks that you can purchase (hmmm...I wonder if they are for pets or food??). After we bargained for some really cool souvenirs and clothing, it was church clean up day. Half of the team pulled the weeds and cleaned up the yard (being a fair skinned li'l Irish in-door girl didn't stop me from joining in on the the fun...) while the other half painted the back entrance. It was a hot day but with all the team work we were able to get it done in less than 3 hours. What a difference it made!

Last night was youth group so Christy and I prepared a spaghetti dinner to share with the church peeps before we headed off to the lake down the street for what we thought would be worship and bible study around the camp fire. Well, the locals decided that it was time for some water fun and started jumping in off the bridge (who needs bathing suits...) and our kids quickly followed their lead. Back flips, dives, and belly flops led to a great time of fellowship. This was certainly a new adventure for me also because instead of just taking pics and watching everyone, I was persuaded to jump in even though I was wearing jeans. While soaking wet and somewhat cold we all worshiped by the campfire, made s'mores, and listened to Micah teach on what it means to be a new creation in Christ. It was a great reminder of how much we have been forgiven by the blood of our Precious Lord and Savior. God has great plans for all of His children and we need to be careful to not let sin divert us from His leading.

This mission trip has been a great time for me of reflecting on what God has is doing in my own life. I know that He has called me to full time missions and I am excited to see what doors He will open for me to serve in that capacity. In addition to Christy and Micah, there are other missionaries serving here from New Zealand, Australia, and other parts of the US. I have been so blessed to spend time getting to know their testimonies and witnessing how God has changed their lives. These missionaries have left the comforts of there homes and devoted their lives to building a church in a foreign land and the church is growing...How awesome is that???

It has been a great privilege for me to come along side of Christy to help her with her everyday duties of managing a household while Micah helps build a church. Doing basic things like helping prepare meals, watching her children to give here some free time, going for an early morning run in the park, and just taking some time for "girl talk" has allowed me to get to know her better which has blessed me. There are many facets of missionary life and being able to hear how God called them here and see what He is doing through their obedience to come has truly touched my heart. I am thankful for this opportunity and look forward to camp 120 tomorrow on the island as we "rough it" while God continues to take me even further out of my comfort zone.... - Deanna Warren