Day 5: Presentation Day

After two streaming hot days, we were blessed with rain and clouds! Although we were hit with heavy rain, it did not dampen anyone’s spirits. Everyone was out and about getting wet, slipping and sliding around. 

The “Growing Up” camp came to an end today, and the children had an opportunity to present what they have learned during the first half of the week. They have been practicing servant-hood by making gifts for the HoM staff and they couldn’t wait to show their creativity to everyone. Each gift was hand delivered to the staff and included candy treats, a personalized message, and bible verses to encourage them with. 

The younger group of children then showed off their MadeDo Project, which was a GIANT CASTLE! They constructed and decorated it yesterday with teamwork and creativity, and they were so proud of what they created. They were ALL able to fit inside with room to wiggle!

The three pairs of older children then presented their three projects. Slavka and Peter made a “Useless Box”, which as the name suggested, doesn’t do anything except for when you turn it on, it turns itself off. Vasya and Misha made a vortex marble run, with Timothy and Martin making a rollercoaster marble run. These were not easy projects, but all three groups stepped up and created structures they could be proud of. 

We start our first day of staff retreat tomorrow! Please pray as Crystal and Calvin facilitate discussion with the HoM staff. 

Day 3 + 4: Visitations and Food Delivery

On the third day, we visited the Mercy Farm to pick up snacks and food packages. We traveled in a van that contained me [Daniel P.], two mission team members and a social worker. After that we went to visit some of the families to deliver the food and snacks. Some of the houses we went to are mostly damp and lacking ventilation. Seeing it for the first time gave me a higher perspective on things. It made me understand more of the struggles in life that I have not even thought about when I was living in Canada. As we deliver to the families I could see the joy that came out of the families. This joy that I see brings much thoughts and feelings to my mind. I was glad that I have decided to go to this trip otherwise I would not be able to see and understand poverty and struggles.

The next day, we went to the Mercy Farm again to pick up some hot meals and bread. We got to have a look around the farm while we were waiting for the food. There were huge bakeries and kitchens that are used to prepare the food. Also there were huge greenhouses that contained rows and rows of plants. After picking up the food we headed off to some of the Roma Communities surrounding Uzhhorod. Like the last day, these communities gave me more insight. I saw that there was a serious lack of resources with high amounts of people living very cramped to each other. However, when we visited the communities, the people there were glad to see us and I could see the thankfulness they had when they were taking their meals. We visited two communities and seeing them made me understand more about the seriousness of the troubles and how God needs more people to go and help those who are in need no matter how big or small or how much they have.

Day 3 + 4: Growing Up Camp

The scorching heat and piercing Sun was definitely a massive challenge for the team early this week. On Monday it felt like 34 degrees (actual 32c), and on Tuesday it was 35c which felt like 37. The high temperature certainly drained a bit of our energy, but luckily we held our Week 1 "Growing Up" camp inside the warehouse area where we used to hold our VBS camp during the early years of our trips.

The "Growing Up" camp was held for the children here at the centre, and we had around 26 kids plus a few teen helpers. The three-day camp was themed around servanthood and had games and bible stories in the morning as well as crafts that they made for the staff here at HOM. In the afternoon, the younger group worked on a MakeDo project, and the older kids build different Solarbotic (STEM) projects.

The kids loved the projects, and we had a great time building them! It is awesome to see how proud they are at their accomplishment! We hope each of these kids will continue to grow in their confidence and know the potential they have in making a change in the world.

Tomorrow we will be presenting their gifts and their projects to the staff and parents! We can’t wait!

Quick Recap: Day 1 - Saturday VBS Prep session

On the first day at HOM, we had a leadership training/prep session with the teen leaders of the VBS camp (Week 2). We had a team building game and then off we went in prepping our station leaders and group leaders! It was a hot day, and all of us were desperately adjusting to the time change as well as to the climate.

It was awesome to see all the teens and kids again! There are quite a few new kids at the centre and we are all excited to get to know them in the coming week!

Day 2: Sabbath Day

Today was truly a day of rest. We went to a Ukrainian church today. Even though we did not understand most of what the sermon was about, we still felt God’s presence as we were singing and seeing great faith in the congregation. We did however, ask the speaker’s wife to explain an analogy that the speaker used. It was a money analogy and it was about motivation based on the people’s heart.

After that we got to spend lots of time with the kids and rested. First, we rested which then gave use the energy to spend lots of time and effort into playing with the kids. It was very fun. We were playing card games, did some trampoline and played some football (soccer).

Some things we invite you to pray for is to continue to have the energy to bring joy to the kids and that with our actions we will be able to show more of God’s love. Also for the to be a bit more bearable because the weather recently has been a bit intense. Lastly, we would like to invite you all to pray for this week as we are going to lead a discipleship class with the kids as well as a staff retreat that we will be hosting.

Travelling Day: We’ll get there when God wants us to be there.

“We’ll get there when God wants us to be there.”

This was my humorous response to the events that transpired at the airport this morning.

As our team made our way to the Edelweiss airline kiosk to check in our bags, we were told our tickets was cancelled. Yes, cancelled.

Yes, we had checked in already.

Yes, we even have our tickets printed with seat numbers on it, but no, we can not board this plane.

You can imagine our wide-eyed responses. This has never happened before, even the white-hatted YYC airport host who roam the airport helping travellers, was utterly perplexed at our situation. We didn’t know who to blame (most likely the booking website), but we had no time to dwell on the culprit and quickly went to Air Canada as a solution offered by the check-in personnel. Our new flight itinerary was going to be two hours later with a completely new layover location: London.

At this point of the story, our team would like to apologize to all those who came to pray for us at the airport, as we know this situation has undoubtedly caused a much higher parking bill. We were planning to pray at 2, but by the time we were done, it was 3-3:30. Instead of huddling at the chapel, we spent a moment in a corner by the airline kiosk and prayed for peace and God’s hand in this unexpected situation.

Little did we know, this was indeed a blessing in disguise.

As it turned out, the flight we were supposed to go on was delayed by more than an hour. We would not have made the connecting flight from Zurich to Budapest. We would have landed 10 min after our next flight has left. And even though our seatings were spread out due to the last minute rebooking, Daniel C. made a last-minute request at the gate, and we were all sitting together again!

In the end, after 25 hours, we arrived safely at HOM. Looking back, we are thankful for God's intervention and interruptions into our plan. He knew what we needed, and He made sure we got to where we needed to go in the way He wants us to take. Now we look forward to many more in the coming two weeks!

Now about the weather.... [Very Hot]

Packing Night!

Thank you everyone for coming to our packing night! Even though there is only four of us going, we bring along the hearts and prayers of the whole church; The team is our whole church and we couldn’t have done it without all of you! Thank you!

Tomorrow (Aug.8th) we will departing at 5pm, but we will be having our group prayer time at the Airport chapel at 2:00pm! We welcome all of you to come send us off in prayers!

Prayer Requests 2019

• We have fulfilled the donation goal and have also gone 2000 dollars over the goal. Thank you all for your support and prayers

• Praise God because we have also collected all of the materials we need and are going to pack it on this Wednesday 6:00 pm

• We are going to leave this Thursday, please pray for our trip and that God’s presence and guidance will be with us as we spread God’s word to Ukraine House of Mercy

2019 Team Progress!

1. We have raised $2180 for our mission trip. That means we need to have $9820 more to fund our trip to Ukraine. Please pray that we will be able to raise enough for the trip.

2. We have put up the promo board up in the main foyer. If you would like to help us for our trip, please go to the board and see what you can do.

The 2019 Team

Our 2019 Team is a go!

This year our team consist of Daniel Pun, Daniel Chow, Crystal and Calvin Sun! Daniel Pun will be updating the blog for this year’s team! More info to come!

Day 13: Last day in Ukraine

On our last Monday in Ukraine we visited some of the children in the rural villages as well as one of the Roma settlement in the city. To be able to see where these children lives helps us to have a greater understanding of their challenges and pain. When we hear a story of how children saved their drunk mother from drowning by keeping her head above water in a watery ditch, it is truly heart breaking. Our hopes and prayers is for the gospel to reach deep within these family's lives and also into the system that enslave them. 

An important thing I've learned is that it is sometimes easy to show and display the needs and poverty of a people group versus their strength and assets. But by doing that, we may inadvertently lower their dignity and value. If our mission is to participate in the restoration of humanity's relationships with God and our value as being made in the image of God, we will need to shift our focus toward the other's strengths and potential as opposed to what they don't have or what they can't achieve. The depth and width of what Christ has done go beyond our broken spirit and individual salvation, it is big enough and powerful enough to change the world, and with it, the transformation and reconciliation of political systems and social structures. 

On our last evening together, we had a great evening of fellowship with board games while children played out in the field. It is interesting to see how everyone comes together to form this community. Their desire to fellowship together is not a program, but it grows out of a commitment and love to be together. They are not together because of services rendered; it's not because there is a children program while parents meet, or a great speaker for the meeting. But there is a deep desire to serve and love one another as a family. As I consider what it means to have hope and faith on this trip, I am challenged in that maybe my hope is too small and too narrow. If my hope is based on a narrow view (N.American perspective) of what family and community mean, then I may have missed out on the rich meaning of being adopted to into the family of God. Reflecting on my time spend here from my first trip in 2009 to today, I've learned from HOM and their families of what being adopted into a family means, and that a community that flows from the love of Jesus is absolutely powerful even in the midst of darkness.

As we take photos with some of the youths we've seen grown up, we give thanks to God for how He guided their paths. We pray for all the little ones that they too, will know the loving presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and that one day, we can gather together to share what God has done in their adventure with our saviour.  

Prayer Request:

1. We will be leaving for Budapest tomorrow, please pray for a good journey home. 
2. Pastor Adriel has developed a dry cough that's not getting better. Please pray that he will have rest and healing. 

Day 12: Last Sunday

On our last Sunday here, Pastor Adriel spoke at their church from Luke 7:36-50 about how we are to love much because we have been forgiven much.  It was a very hot day and there was a short power outage during the service and then one of the A/C started to fail (ice coming out). 

After the first sermon by Pastor Adriel, there was an amazing hour-long worship presentation by a youth choir from a church 500km away. This was a glimpse of what worship will be when all tribes and nations gathered as one. I thank God every time I get to worship here. 

On the ceiling of their church is Rev.3:11, and it is a reminder that Jesus is coming back soon.  

During the afternoon, Daniel and Adriel left for a church youth event where Adriel led a session. It was a great opportunity for him to get to know the lives of youths in Ukraine. 

Back at HOM, there was another birthday celebration for one of the teacher there!

The kids loved the Spot-It game!

Day 11: Camp evaluation, partnership dialog, and a visit to the Mercy Farm

On Saturday, Daniel and Crystal led the teen leaders in a debrief and evaluation of the children camp. It is encouraging to hear their honest comments and experience as to help one another grow in their leadership. The HOM staff also spent the morning meeting with Pastor Adriel and myself in reviewing our relationship in the past 12 years and what we can focus on together between SCCEFC and HOM. We were excited to see how the Holy Spirit was aligning both our communities vision and we are looking forward to bringing the discussions back to our church.

We brought some Canadian chocolate and candies for everyone to try!

One of the HOM kid combined his crafts!! Genius! 

In the afternoon we visited the Mercy Farm. This massive undertaking includes a cafe, vegetable market, kitchen (including flash freezing to deliver food to remote villages), hydroponic greenhouses, storehouses, and hectares (30?) of farmland. There is a huge need for workers and business professionals here as many workers often leave for another EU country for higher wages. The farm pays quite well here in Ukraine, but it is difficult to compare to other European countries.

During one of our meetings Vasya and Valera brought out the recorders from the first ever camp with our church. They bring back many great memories for everyone. 

Day 10: Last day of camp!

Last day of camp!

We can't believe the week has passed so quickly! We thank God for how our teen leaders led the children throughout the week, and also for the stories of how some of the children were able to accept the good news of Jesus Christ. Sometimes we wonder if their experience here at the camp is only temporary, but I was encouraged by young adults who were kids in our previous camps as they recalled joyful memories that had an impact in their lives. It's impossible for me to know the effectiveness our camps and workshops, but I do know that we are called to be faithful in planting the seeds and trusting God to transform their lives and their situations. 

Every morning, all the children are provided a breakfast as many do not have such meals at home. While the breakfast sandwiches are being distributed, there are usually dozens or more bees flying around it. The teen leaders just waves them off and the children continues to fight through the buzzing bees for their food. 

Craft station: Cross craft...

... and a card to send to a parent or friend about what they've learned at the camp.

The final epic event: Raft ride (with leaders pushing them)! 

As the camp ended, the kids says good-bye to all their teen leaders. We prayed all the relationships build throughout this week will continue to grow. 

As we cleaned up the camp site, Captain Mark and Romper sailed down the river into the sunset. 

A short nap before dinner ... and then volleyball.

For our last dinner at the camp site, Valera made his famous bogush soup. This soup is unmatched anywhere on the planet; it's epic in taste, ingredients, and texture! 

Today we also celebrate Ivan's birthday! He's a model of endurance and faithfulness for many generations after him.

Our awesome teen leaders! Bold and courageous! We pray they will continue to grow in the Lord.

After we moved back to the HOM centre, Daniel highlighted the lunar ellipse that was happening. "It only happened 120 years, and mainly in this part of the hemisphere...." He repeated it 5-10 times; he was that excited.

Day 9: Camp day 4

The fourth day of the camp is about finding rest in Jesus. In the midst of busyness and checking off our to-do lists, all of us can easily dismiss our need for rest. Even in our time of rest, we sometimes try to find it in things than in our LORD Jesus Christ. It is encouraging to watch a lot of these youths take to their time of rest and solitude with the Word each day. We pray that they will continue to find rest in God as they weave through the complexity of adulthood.

Making pillows in the craft station!

Bible story time!

Watching Romper the otter and Captain Mark!

Today is Craft Mania day! There were three stations (plus one secret station) of crafts for the kids to make at the end of the day.

Vasya made use of leftover ice for snowballs!

After all the children left, Vasya led the youths on a short hike! They have so much energy! 

Many of these camp leaders were part of our camps as children throughout the past 12 years. We are tremendously thankful to be a small part of their lives, and we pray they will continue to walk with the LORD and reflect the relentless love of Christ to their community. 

Day 8: Camp day 3

The weather this week has been amazing, sunny with cloudy periods. When the kids were out for reflection time, the clouds moved in to provide coverage. The breeze by the mountain side was also a relief when it does get hot. God has been good in giving us some of the best Ukraine weather we've ever experienced!!

Parachute games for day 3 games station!

In the afternoon we had a power outage and ran a secondary power source with their generators. We were afraid we won't have power to pump the water to the field as it is also water games day today! We got the water running and the kids had a great time in the sun! 

A few years back we sang the song "Unstoppable" for the G-Force VBS camp here in Ukraine. During the evening, we decided to sing it again with the youths who were in that camp. This is a picture right before Pastor Adriel pulled something (his back/shoulder) in the middle of the song as it is a very physically demanding song. The youth had great memories of that camp and that song. 

It is also Olya's birthday today! Picture perfect timing by Adriel.

Day 7: Camp day 2

Our second day theme is on acceptance, this is an important topic in a country where there is a divide between the Ukrainian and the Roma people. Mark and Oleg did a great job as the Captain Mark and Romper (puppet)!

Craft station...

Science station...

Games station...

Life size foosball! 

Small group reflection time. The camp site provides acres of space for groups to reflect and discuss what they learned.

A few prayer requests:

1. Pray for our health as we continue to move through the rest of the camp days. 
2. Prayer and thanksgiving for the weather. We have clouds and sunny breaks with breeze in the camp site. It's the nicest I've experienced here!
3. Pray for our leaders as they continue to work through and develop the logistic and stories of each day. 

Day 6: Camp day 1

On our first day of camp we met many new children from poor villages as well as the ones from HOM. This year our theme is Rolling River Rampage and throughout the week we find "adventure, acceptance, joy, rest, and peace" on the river. 

In each station, the HOM youths lead the story time, craft, games, science, and small groups. It is a huge part of our goal to empower and equipped youths to live and lead for Christ. 

But as we develop the current generation of youth leaders, we are reminded that there is another generation growing up after them. The continuing work of discipleship that is the building of relationships and reflecting the relentless love of Christ to the others is not over until Jesus comes again. We are reminded that our mission is not just working on a project or making people more useful or functional, but we are to build relationships as that is God's mission to us: His desire to relate to us, to be our personal friend, king, and saviour, and adopt us as His children.

We celebrated many birthdays in this two weeks. 

Ended the evening with some games and volleyball. 

Day 5: Sunday

This is our first Sunday to church and everyone got ready at 9:30AM. As we waited for the bus, a few of the boys picked flowers for their teacher and Crystal also got a bunch too. These boys will melt your heart! Dan on the other hand, was the centre of attention as the kids loved all the games he played! 

After church we came back to the centre for lunch. We were blessed to be able to meet a team of ministers from the conflict zone in Eastern Ukraine. Their stories and experiences were convicting and challenging to our western ears as their problems are more than mere numbers and strategies, they are life and death. 

Pastor Adriel found his other brother who is also a pastor (with a Korean root) from Eastern Ukraine! 

The original Cabbage roll for lunch. There are no comparisons in Canada.

Sunday evening we moved all our materials and luggage to the camp site. The teen leaders and us will be staying here for the rest of the second week. We spend the time decorating the hall and prepping for the week. For much of the camp, we are letting the leaders run with it, empowering them to make their own choices and praying that they themselves will experience God in their adventure with the kids. 

Day 4: Teens sessions continue and the Asian Canadian dinner

The day continued with the teen's workshop. We spend much of the time figuring out each station as well as purchasing last minute supplies and ingredients for the evening's Canadian Asian dinner.  

We started our cooking at around 4PM, and I think they thought we might not make it! In previous years, we had begun to prep the night before!!! Our Canadian Asian dinner night is meant to help give the cooks an evening off as we "attempt" to cook a decent Asian meal for our Ukrainian family to try! This year we had baked salt and pepper chicken, miso soup, and lettuce wrap! Our dessert was made by one of the teachers in the centre!

Our miso soups.

Milka's artisan cakes!

At the end of the dinner, children presented to the staff of the centre wreaths filled with shrinky-dinks filled with thanksgiving messages that they made while the staffs was on their date night. You can sense their heart-felt thanks in each of their speeches. 

After the dinner, there were volleyball matches, football games, and much love shared amount everyone. Their lives truly examplifed a community living out their faith and their joy together.