An uplifting and challenging experience
SGA Youth Team visit to Ukraine

SGA YOUTH TEAM MINISTRY

Derek and Carole Maxwell with the youth team in Odessa, Ukraine.

Eight young people, with team leaders Derek and Carole Maxwell and their children Julie-Anne and James caught the early flight from Dublin to Odessa, via Prague, arriving in the afternoon. “Leaving home with the temperature at 17ºC and arriving in Odessa, Ukraine at over 40ºC was like stepping into a fan-assisted oven,” Derek said. “Two minibuses were awaiting our arrival and took us to Grace church where we got settled into our accommodation at Grace Shelter. This was us embarking on a two week missionary trip involving children’s day camp, village evangelism, participating in village church services and helping in practical ways. Pastor Igor Bandura had organised a very comprehensive programme which included us seeing all of SGA’s involvement in that area of Ukraine.”

Monday to Saturday of the first week was very busy with a children’s day camp at Grace Church. Children arrived each morning at 9.00am and departed again at 6.00pm. The activities included Bible lessons, craft, group games, outings, sports and evening worship. The eighty children were supplied with two snacks and a lunch. Many of the children were orphans and as a result the whole event was quite an experience for them. “It was lovely to see the youth team winning the affection of these little children and making the camp such a success,” Derek said. “The parents of some of the children expressed their gratitude to the youth team and spoke of how the team had made the camp the best one ever. It was rewarding to hear this.”

Sundays were busy as the team travelled to village churches. They had opportunities to sing, testify and preach. They really enjoyed one of the village settings where the service was held outside under the trees.

The village evangelism was a great experience for all of them. This took place in the northern region of Odessa with Alexey Kosin (who is sponsored under SGA’s leadership support programme) and his team, evangelising unreached villages. People listened attentively as the Gospel was shared and New Testaments were presented and gladly received. The youth team then sang and prayed with each household. The villagers were then invited to a Gospel service at 5.00pm. “It was thrilling to see the people coming along the village street and standing for the one and a half hour service,” Derek said. “These were all unbelievers as there are no Christians in the village.”

Alexey and his team were reaching into a new village each day – from Monday to Friday. The team felt it was a real privilege to share in this time of evangelism.

One evening they visited Vadim and Inna Zakorchenniy who care for eleven children between two and eleven years of age, on the ground floor of the shelter. This couple’s love and dedication melted some of the team to tears. They shared about the backgrounds of these children and how many of them suffer from scars of neglect. Vadim and Inna work with Peter and Lidia Dovbya as house parents in the Grace Shelter. Two years ago it was felt that the orphans would be better split into two families, so Vadim and Inna are now in charge of the younger children. Both couples are supported by SGA under our Children’s Ministry.

Visits were also made to the Black Sea camp site, the farm and the transition House. The camp site, which is owned by Grace church, when completed will accommodate two hundred and fifty people. It will offer great opportunities for camp ministry, retreats and conferences.
The farm is a great help in raising some finance and also providing needed produce and meat for the Shelter children. Many of the orphans work there and learn farming skills. With the driest summer for eighty years, this year, many crops were dying and the fruit trees were struggling to stay alive.

The transition house is located between Odessa and the farm and is to facilitate the young people in the Shelter who are over eighteen years of age. There they will be able to live more independent lives and be prepared for family life.

“The final day arrived and before starting our journey to the airport goodbyes were said to those who had become our friends,” explained Derek. “Tired but feeling spiritually refreshed we boarded the plane for home with a renewed desire to serve the Lord with all our hearts.”

Below are some of the reflections and comments from the youth team members:

“The trip for me was spiritually uplifting and challenging and I count it a privilege to have had the opportunity to have worked at the camp with the boys and girls and also be involved in village evangelism.”

“It has been a challenging trip and very well organised. The Ukraine believers are so enthusiastic and dedicated to God’s work. Vadim and Inna are a Godly couple, their love and care for the orphans really touched my heart”

“It was a blessing and privilege to evangelise with a Ukrainian team to an unreached village. To see the tears and smiles of those who were spoken to, and later who attended the evening meeting was something I will never forget to remember in prayer”

“To see the love and dedication of Vadim and Inna, who run the orphanage, greatly challenged me to live such a life of complete service”

“The trip in a whole was a great experience and blessing. To see God working and the Ukrainian people’s love for Him”

“It was good to go to the village churches to see the difference between church life here and at home”