Ukraine summer mission - Day 5

Hi All,

It is great to see your comments and prayers, they are being passed onto team members.

Today is our last day of proper work as we have our day off on Saturday which allows us to relax and spend time together as a team and with the villagers. I have no idea where the week has gone, it goes so quickly. Simon you are correct they don't only want one re-match but two lol!

We can't take for granted how blessed we have been so far on this mission. I feel like God has really had his hand on us all this week and blessed us in little things and big things.

I have an update from the medical and community team which Duncan McLaren, a new member of the team whose family have joined us from Newmarket, they have been a real blessing to the team this year was able to provide.

The commuinty team had a pensioners club in Gyula, the previous clubs have gone so well the massage that Wendy and Hannah Satterthwaite have provided being a highlight for many villagers. Duncan was pulled into help with the medical que which was over 70 by 8.15. Rachel was called away to do some home visits which left the community team a bit stretched and leaving Linda and Sonia to run the pensioners club on their own. However, like with most things here everyone is willing to help and have been so flexible, Akos was able to help with the medical que and Duncan could help with the Pensioners club. The home visits by the community team have been great and even with a busy schedule they still managed 4 visits in Nevetlan. The team was praising God for help given and many encouragements.

The outreach team have continued to do so well. It's been wonderful to see Simon and the team share the Gospel message with previously unreached villages.

The Youth camp has been such a great success, so praise God for such a great team and their ability to be flexible, work hard and have a great sense of fun! They have had over 100 young people there all week which shows how God has really been at work. It is great to see the team working outside their comfort zone and resting in God's strength, in particular with how the team have shared the gospel message.

The School is finishing shortly, it has run so smoothly this year, again due to great leadership by Cath and Carol and a great team. The children have had fun with different crafts. Today they have made braclets which have different coloured beads which symbolise different messages, Black (Sin), Red (Jesus blood), White (Washed clean), Blue (Baptised), Green (Christian faith) Orange (Heaven) which is one example of how the school have been so creative and fun with their ideas to engage the children and share the great news of Jesus.

Tonight we have a thanksgiving service in Gyula, please pray for Alan as he preaches and Alex as he leads. This is followed by a social in Akli where our team will be showing casing their musical talents. The word on the grape vine is that Andrew Howe has some kind of performance up his sleeve so we are preparing ourselves for something very funny!

Hope you are all well at home.

God Bless,

Ukraine summer mission team 2011

Ukraine summer mission - Day 3 and 4

Hi All,

Things have been really blessed here and everyone is having a great time.

Apologies for no blog yesterday, we had no internet access but we have managed to get some really great updates from the outreach team and Medical team which give you a glimpse of the work here:

Outreach:

The Outreach team, skillfully led by Simon Winchcombe and his 'alter-ego' puppet friend 'Jed', has been searching beyond the boundaries of Alki and Gyula to spread the influence and work of the other teams.

 

A mixture of fun, games, water-balloons, biscuits and preaching has been on offer to villages that don't benefit from the work of our medical, school, youth and community teams. We like to think our sessions are giving the children a taster of what's on offer and many have returned with friends which has been very enriching for the team.

 

The work is mostly spontaneous as only simon winchcombe can provide and many highlights have included the introduction of cricket (you are welcome Philip) to the Ukrainian population and the cooling effect of a fierce water fight in the relentless summer sun.

 

As we continue to reach out to villages that aren't as fortunate as ourselves, we hope our work can inspire children of all ages while offering an insight into the Bible and its inner meanings.

Hugh and the outreach team

Medical:

During the first 3 days the medical team have been really busy in Akli, indeed, things have been busier than last year. Praise God through that everything is going well so far.

The doctors are working 12 hour days and seeing an average 20-25 patients a day. This might not seem big numbers but remember every consultation has to be conducted through an interpreter so lasts twice as long as normal.

News of the work of the medical team has spread far and people are coming some distance for a chance to get on appointment. The rumour on the street is that people are coming feeling ill and going away feeling better.

As a result of the pastoral visits a number of house bound people have been contacted and had visits arranged that would not otherwise have been done.

Youth and Schools:

Youth and Schools are doing really well, which is such a blessing. It is great to see the 16 youth members and people from the 20's group working so well together. Christ really is at work in them and it's a joy to see. There was a youth service last night in Gyula which was really well recieved and Becky Etheridge made an excellent testimony which touched us all I think.

Please pray for continued good health, pray that people would finish the mission well.

Thanks for your prayers and support.

God Bless,
Ukraine Mission Team 2011

Ukraine summer mission - Day 2

Hi All,
 
Thank you so much for the prayers and support.
 
So, day 1 continued to progress really well.
 
The medical team managed to get set up and everything continues to go well. They are seeing so many patients who are very ill and in pain so please pray for the pateints and the medics as they do such a great job. Tony our dentist had some difficulties setting up but managed to see a number of patients and the dentist from the near local village sasha is working with him which is encouraging since Tony can give him some advice on good practice.
 
The youth team had a great day all round. They had a great gospel message from Kaitlyn and drama which Drew said was Awesome and the kids were really attentive and listening closely which is fantastic since that has previoulsy been a bit of a problem. Pray that it continues to flourish. This afternoon they are having a Ukraine YUCKFEST!!! which will be lots of fun and very MESSY!
 
Linda led a bible study up in Akli Hegy with a number of people who had been through a lot in their life and lost everything but had found Jesus and she found it very encouraging as they talked so openly and honestly about their faith. Being able to participate in those types of conversations with our brothers and sisters here is what it's all about and a real blessing as we encourage each other.
 
Which now brings me onto today Day 2. The commuinty team have had there first pensioners club which is going well. Wendy and Hannah have been doing some massage workshops which has been so well recieved, as has the Darts and Bingo!
 
The Outreach team have gone to two very repressed areas today so please pray for them, Simon and the team are fired up to do whatever they can and have been a real example to us all.
 
The School is doing great and has grown in number with 120 today, but you wouldn't notice as everything is so well organised and they are so flexible.
 
It's so great to watch everyone be so passionate to do God's work and use their gifts and talents to such good use. God is certainly visible and at work.
 
Please pray for the Akli thanksgiving service tonight and Linda as she leads, and Alan as he preaches.
 
Pray for those that are feeling a little unwell and most of all please pray that we would continue to show love and grace to one another, for energy as people are running a little low on energy and that we would continue to be enthusiastic in everything we do.
 
Thanks and God Bless,
 
Ukraine Mission team 2011

RE: Ukraine Mission Update - Day 1

Hi All,

So today we have started the mission with all the teams hard at work and really enjoying the excitement of serving the villagers who we have been preparing for. It's a great feeling to finally be here.

I'm writing this blog from the school where things have run really smoothly. There is a great atmosphere and everyone has a smile on their face. We have Music lessons, English lessons and all sorts of fun crafts and games which the children are excited about and Drew and Carol are doing the DEN time which involves music and our bible message which is centered on Colossians 1:27 Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The Youth on the mission have taken to everything so well which is such an answer to prayer.

The community team have pastoral visits which they are preparing for now and the doctors are busy as usual. Please pray for the medical team as they have lots going on and pray for some extra translators as some have dropped out at the last minute. Please also pray for the Outreach team (Simon Winchcombe, Jon Tarcy, Ellie Curtis, Hugh Wolton, David Shine) as they go to some new villages which for them is entering into the unknown, so pray things come together and that they are able to deal with whatever situation arises.

The Youth camp looks great and they have some really great talks and worship planned.

Just to let you know we had a great time at the village day yesterday, it was made extra special by the football match, the mission team v Gyula. It was great fun and Hugh Wolton, Charles Evans and Andrew Howe all put in great performances, we managed to win the game 4-3 which was AMAZING! and we had some great supporters cheering us on.

Thanks for all the prayers and support.

It's a little difficult to blog because we don't have internet access on our phones but we will try to keep you posted at least once a day.

Thanks and God Bless,

HTC team

On our way to the villages in convoy

At 19:37 Andrew says “All over the border and grateful for a relatively easy crossing. With our translators and on our way to the villages in convoy. It looks as if we may arrive early at around 10:00pm”

 

Brian

Across the border

Message from Alex at 18:53 – “Hi, we have made it through the border in good time. The journey was really blessed. All now eager to meet our host families”

 

Brian

Coach crosses Hungarian side of the border

Message from Andrew Tarcy at 15:55 on Saturday – “Coach has now crossed Hungarian side of the border and in long queue on Ukrainian side. The two other minibuses and cars are still being inspected in Hungary.”