The Claycamps in Ukraine

2011-12-01T22:04:00.001-08:00

It is FINISHED!!! Praise God, after 2 years, the coffeehouse project has finally come to a close. There is still furniture to add and cabinets to install, but it's ready to be used. May this place open doors for ministry, fellowship and outreach to the community. This Sunday we will open it for the church and celebrate with tea, cake and cookies.

Kaharlyk Day Children's Festival

2011-09-14T22:20:00.000-07:00

Our church was invited by the city to put on a children's festival at the celebration of Kaharlyk's Birthday. We set up stations for the kids including face-painting, cookie decoration and evangelistic bead bracelet making. We thank God for another opportunity to make relationships with the children and parents in our town and we pray that He would continue to use us to impact the community for His glory!

The Josies entertaining at the Oldies Night...

2011-08-10T09:52:00.000-07:00

April/May Newsletter

2011-06-03T21:19:00.000-07:00

Looking back over the last two months, we have many reasons to count our blessings. The Lord has been ever faithful in directing and leading our family here in Ukraine. We have watched His hand open doors, presenting new opportunities to minister his love. We have continued to move forward on existing projects and ministry opportunities as well as enjoying the fellowship of working alongside fellow believers. Here is a quick look at what we have been up to.

Jeanne visits Ukraine
This was my mom's 5th time visiting us here in Ukraine. Whenever she comes, she immediately jumps right in serving and helping wherever needed. She has been involved in the past with our elderly dinner nights. This time she brought gifts that the women's ministry at Calvary North had put together. She spent two weeks with us serving our family, cooking, cleaning and learning some Ukrainian culture. She learned how to make Vareniky with Yura's mom and joined us in our weekly ministries throughout Kaharlyk.

Michael
Before I moved to Ukraine, I was once told by a former missionary to remember and note those you have invested in while in youth ministry. Michael Steinle was one of those boys. I have watched him grow and mature in his faith so I invited him to come out here for the summer and pray about what the Lord might have for him here. While he is here, he will be involved in language study and helping me with the various remodel projects at church. He also is involved with us as we minister in youth, orphanage and elderly ministry. He is a servant and loves the Lord. I am watching God work in and through him while he is here. It is neat to watch God chip away and fashion us to be more like him through people and our surrounding circumstances. Please keep him in prayer as he continues to adjust to life in Ukraine and for wisdom and direction for the future.

Easter
This is a huge holiday in Ukraine. It is full of tradition and saturated in religiosity. People greet each other on the street by saying "Christ is Risen." And are greeted with the response, "He is risen indeed." Many attend a five-hour mass that continues into the early mornings, bringing their basket of gifts to be blessed by the priest. As we prepared for our youth sunrise service, it was interesting to see the masses of people so early in the morning walking the streets. We again celebrated Christ's Resurrection on top of a hill this year, singing and remembering all that Christ has done.
Jeremy's graduation from Kindergarten
These last 5 years in Ukraine have seemed to fly by. We placed the kids in school and this investment has proved to be a blessing in more ways than one. They learn the language, make friends and invite them to church and our house. It is neat to see God work through their lives at such a young age. This fall we will have three of our kids in elementary school as Jeremy transfers into first class. "Yeah, no more naps" he says!
Josie has also graduated to the next level at her school. They have the same teacher for the first four years. She was blessed to have a wonderful teacher. Next year, she will move to fifth class and have different teachers for different subjects.
Ongoing ministries and links...

Oldies Dinner Nights
The Lord continues to bless this ministry monthly as hearts are touched and mouths are fed. We really enjoy these nights where we work together to bring Christ glory as we serve the needy and lowly in our town.
Orphanage
Every Tuesday we head down to share our lives with these kids. Most are from troubled homes, waiting for their home life to become stable again. Some will return, some won't. We have been involved for about three years now and are praying about being involved in fostering on the weekends. We would appreciate your prayers in this area and the Lord knows the challenges we will face and the strength we will need.
Youth Group
We are watching these youth grow and mature in their faith. It is a slow process but one we are committed to. Like a farmer planting seeds, looking forward to the harvest...we press on investing the word in their lives and hopeful of what the Lord will do in and though them. Last month we enjoyed a fun costume party in celebration of Sasha's 17th birthday. We also had one boy from our youth group graduate from high school. You might remember Vova from our previous newsletters. He and his older brother Serogia have had a difficult upbringing but we have witnessed God's grace poured out in their lives. Vova is planning to work at the biodiesel factory this summer.
Remodel Projects
The Children's ministry room finally has carpet. It was in the plan, but things just take time here. I wanted to design a small pond around the tree with a path leading to it. I used my airbrush to create the stone path. Window blinds have recently been added which will keep the room cool from the sun. Praise the Lord for his blessings and the opportunity to serve him this way. Michael has been helping me in our future coffeehouse. We have laid the floors, grouted tile and textured the walls. Hopefully we will be painting soon.
Cricket
Check out the video to hear Pastor Wayne's vision for Cricket in Ukraine... http://www.vimeo.com/24337282
Biodiesel
Check out the video about what the Lord is doing with this ministry... http://www.vimeo.com/24336731

Prayer Points:
• Family - Continued strength and wisdom raising our kids and loving each other
• Josie Sprague and Michael Steinle - Language lessons and adaptation here in Ukraine
• Daily filling of the Spirit for the work he has called us to do.
• Biodiesel - Renewed contract with McDonalds
• Fostering Orphans- Wisdom and guidance as we seek the Lord in this area.

Easter Morning Sunrise Service

2011-04-25T21:37:00.000-07:00

Team from Arizona visits Kaharlyk...

2011-01-23T22:04:00.000-08:00

From January 10-18, a team from Arizona came to serve in Kaharlyk. This was the third trip by Pastor Chris Ward from Calvary Chapel Maricopa. He has been a major supporter of the work and the church here in Kaharlyk. His wife, Debbie, and children, Maddie and Aaron joined him on this trip along with six other team members. The team ministered in the orphanage, helped with the remodel of the children's ministry room, and led an 3-day English camp to teens in one of the local schools. It was a great week of ministry and we praise God for the opportunity this team had to come serve with us! There have been some new faces at youth group as a result of the English camp and we pray the Lord would work in their hearts!

2010 Year in Review

2011-01-02T11:20:00.000-08:00

Create a picture slideshow

Christmas Card...

2010-12-19T03:48:00.000-08:00

Create your own scrapbook

The Rep comes to Ukraine

2010-11-14T21:39:00.000-08:00

Our good friend Brandon Kagel, a Christian rap artist from Arizona, came out last week to minister to youth in our town. Throughout the week he shared his songs and the gospel message at different venues. He also was able to go into four schools and share Abstinence Education with the students. He was the guest speaker at our youth conference. The theme was Old and New. He shared in three sessions about how God rescued us from the old life, gives us a Spirit-filled life, and then gives us a purpose for life. It was amazing to watch God work in and through him, touching the hearts of the kids. Brandon loves Jesus and it shows! We will miss him but hope to bring him out here again to share in Kiev.

Outreach concert in Kaharlyk

Sharing Abstinence Education in schools

Teaching at the youth conference

Rapping, sharing his testimony and the gospel to students on a Sunday night outreach

For more info about his ministry, email him at : therep1@cox.net and check out his newest video online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weNMZbB78RY

Coffee House Ministry

2010-09-24T22:05:00.000-07:00

What a great night playing in a coffeehouse again. It makes me think back to the old "Three Taverns" days! The church in Rzhyschiv has been renting this building on Sunday nights for 4 weeks. They are reaching out to the youth in a coffee style environment. Sharing with them, loving them and serving them coffee, tea and cake. It was a great night to see a lot of my old friends and to be encouraged by Neil as he shared about the amazing power of God that transformed his life. Blessings to all you guys in Rzhyschiv for following God into this endeavor and thanks for allowing me to play.

Youth Group Work-Day

2010-09-11T20:51:00.000-07:00

Today we had an opportunity to visit Zhenya and help her take care of some needs at her house. She needed her windows fixed and doors insulated. It's great to get the youth together to serve others when the needs arise!

Our Road Paved...FINALLY!!!

2010-09-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

One day last week, we were surprised to hear commotion outside as some workers started paving our street. Our street has been a source of irritation for us over the years as the harsh winters have caused huge potholes. So, seeing people actually fixing the road was a very nice surprise! The kids even got in on the fun as the workers let them take a ride on the steamroller.

Zvenihorodka Kids Camp

2010-08-03T20:58:00.000-07:00

Just got back from an awesome kids camp! It was located in a village 1.5 hrs away called Zvenihorodka. This was a 10-day kids camp geared at sharing the gospel, building relationships and investing in kids ages 7-13. Last year was my first experience with this camp and I had the opportunity to meet the church behind it. Here is the story: The pastor of a charismatic church in Zvenihorodka wanted to start a kids camp for underprivileged kids in their community. They purchased an old dormitory used to house workers for the local sugar factory. The factory has been closed for 40 years and the dormitory was in desperate shape. The city was going to demolish it but the pastor bought it for $3000. The building has no running water, or plumbing or heat. The ceiling leaks as the roof is in desperate need of repair. Last year we came a week early to clean and repair as much as we could so we could have our first kids camp there. We painted and patched holes, I drew murals on the walls, and we all cleaned the rooms in preparation.

Sixty kids were transported to this small village to learn of God's love, forgiveness, and salvation. I brought Josie with me while Christy was at home with Jaden, Jeremy and Justin. This year as we transported the kids to camp, we noticed there had been more renovations done. The local church had received a donation from America which allowed them to fix the leaky ceilings and paint the stairs and corridor. They also made another outhouse and put in two outside showers. It really made a big difference. For 10 days, our youth group would be the counselors and kids were assigned to teams according to age groups. The counselors slept in the room with the kids on mattresses and led Bible lessons with them during the day. Meals were prepared by two sisters from the local church while other members would come in to serve and clean on shifts. I shared the main message each night based on the days lessons. The meetings included worship, skits, a message and a daily slideshow of pictures and video taken throughout the day. Alyona, who runs the children's ministry at our church, directed the camp.

Looking back, it was a wonderful experience to watch kids come to know Jesus, be challenged in their faith and watch unity in action. It really blessed me to see two churches from different backgrounds working together in unity. The goal was not our religious expressions, but to serve these kids and share the love of God with them. And that's what we did! We grew in our love and friendships, served with our eyes on Jesus, and watched God do His work in their lives. Shouldn't all Christian ministry be like that?

Ukraine Ministry Video 2010

2010-07-31T00:19:00.001-07:00

Day at the AquaPark

2010-05-10T20:50:00.000-07:00

We were blessed with the opportunity and funds to take 12 children from the orphanage to the AquaPark in Kiev. It was awesome to see their faces as they entered the waterpark! They made the most of the 3 hours, enjoying the slides, wave pool, and even tying out the sauna. It was a really great time and we know it was very special for them. We hit McDonalds on the way home, which was an added treat!!!

English Kid's Club

2010-03-15T04:32:00.001-07:00

We have started an English Kid's Club on Saturdays. It has gone really well so far. There are about 10 kids coming and they are fun to work with. We play games, sing songs, make crafts, watch movies and learn English! It is our prayer that God would use this as a tool to make friendships and open doors to share about His love!!!

Special Visitors from Arizona!

2010-02-02T20:37:00.000-08:00

We just had a visit from Jeanne, Mary and Josie from Arizona. Josie is going to be staying with us for 4 months as a short-term missionary. Jeanne and Mary accompanied her to Ukraine and stayed with us for a week, visiting our family and checking out what the Lord is doing here in Kaharlyk. We had a great time with them and were sad to see them go. Here are some pictures of their time...

Inner Tube Sledding

2010-01-21T22:20:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from the Claycamps!

2009-12-23T20:27:00.001-08:00

drawn by Josie Claycamp, age 8

Jer-Bear turns five!

2009-11-29T22:41:00.000-08:00

Our little Jer-Bear is five! He brings so much joy to our lives. Here are some of our favorite pics...

Happy Birthday, Jeremy!!!

Wake Up! Youth conference

2009-11-11T22:27:00.000-08:00

We are preparing for our fall youth conference here in Kaharlyk. The Lord has laid on my heart the verses in Romans 13:11-14. The theme...Wake Up! These verses have been on my heart for some time. They are an incredible motivation and encouragement to keep looking ahead...heaven will soon be here. In light of our salvation, let us continue to live it out daily as we look forward to His return. The date is scheduled for Nov. 21. The conference will include about 5 or 6 other youth groups from nearby villages. Our youth team is putting all the peices together and serving with joy. Please pray the Lord will open hearts to Wake up...to a deeper understanding, and commitment to follow God.

Josie has a blog

2009-11-03T08:24:00.000-08:00

Josie created her own blog, if anyone would like to check it out!

www.josiejoukraine.blogspot.com

Ministry Video 2009

2009-10-14T02:42:00.000-07:00

This is a video of our ministry in Ukraine over the past year.

Our special friends at the Internaut...

2009-10-05T22:54:00.000-07:00

A Visit with Zhenya

2009-09-12T22:40:00.000-07:00

Zhenya came to our door wanting to spend the night. Our policy has been she needs to call in advance, we are trying to teach her responsibility in the process. She lives about 9 km from Kaharlyk in a small village and said she walked accompanied with her dog. She was dirty, tired and hungry. We fed her, she took a shower and stayed the night in the guest room. She said she came because people in her village don't like her and she was being hit. I'm not sure I totally believe that as we are still having trust issues with her. She is no longer going to cooking school but has decided that working will be much better. She has recently gotten a job in Kaharlyk's cookie factory. I pray she will hold on to the job and not quit for lack of interest or unrealistic reasons. She is an orphan, and she is at risk as an adult. She is learning what it means to live on her own and be self sufficient. We pray the Lord would change her heart to seek Him and then open her eyes to follow and trust Him. It's going to be a difficult road for her.

After lunch and a trip to the playground with the family, Jaden and I took her back to her village. She lives with a very old babooska in a very old house. They have no running water and no gas, just electricity. There is a well located 50 meters from the house where Zhenya says she carries buckets back to her home. Zhenya took me on a tour of her house. (I think this house used to be one of her relatives that died and was passed on to her.) Her room is 8' x 5', just big enough for some cushions she uses for a bed on the floor. Posters and artwork are hanging all over the wall. Many of them are black and white paper printouts of friends. She showed me her kitchen and living room and the bed where the babooska sleeps. It was humbling for me to see such unsanitary conditions and to think someone could live that way. It was a good eye opener for Jaden as well to see what village life looks like.

We have been blessed so much and often can be blinded by the desire for more. This was a good reminder to be thankful in ministry and continue to love to lost and the poor.

Back Home...

2009-09-04T23:11:00.000-07:00

Well, we are back in Ukraine and settling in after our 6 week furlough. Our time in the States was great! It was wonderful to see our friends and family and we have come back to Ukraine refreshed and encouraged. Aside from catching up with people, our family spent a lot of our time in the water. Our kiddos became quite the little swimmers. Another highlight of our time home was a road trip to California where we visited Sea World, Lego Land and the beach. Here are some our favorite pics of our time at the beach...

Enjoying our time in the States...

2009-08-08T09:34:00.000-07:00

We are enjoying our time on furlough in America, spending precious time with friends and family. The first two weeks of our trip we spent in Colorado. It was very relaxing and the kids had a great time playing with their cousins and old friends. The weather was a bit weird, with some hot days mixed with some major rain storms. So, now we are in Phoenix and loving this HOT weather! The kids have been in the pool often and they are loving being with Mimi and Poppi. It will be a busy few weeks, but we are already feeling refreshed and rested! Three more weeks and we return to Ukraine!

Misssion Team from Arizona

2009-07-24T16:29:00.000-07:00

Pastor Chris Ward from Calvary Chapel Maricopa Arizona recently came to Kaharlyk once again. This time he brought a team of 9 excited youths and leaders ready to serve and be a blessing to those they would encounter. We had a great time with the team worshiping, patching walls for our future coffee shop and helping the elderly with some much needed jobs. They finished up their 2 week outreach with Camp 120. I liken it to Survivor Ukraine. It's basically a week long camp for Ukrainian Christian youths and takes place on an island off of the Dnipro river. It's truly "roughin' it", camping in tents and fighting off mosquitos, but it is definitely a highlight of the year. The team had a great time hanging out with the Ukrainian youth and made it through a very unique camping experience!

Looking back, Christy and I were truly blessed by this team and their love for the Lord. We know that God worked through them in ministering to others, as well as in their own hearts. Many of them have already discussed a future trip possibly in the winter or next summer. Either way, we would love to see them again.

For more stories and pics check out their blog http://calvarymissionsukraine2009.blogspot.com/

Servant Leading in Action

2009-07-02T22:19:00.000-07:00

Our Youth group planned a trip to visit our friends in Venihorodka 3 hrs away. The church purchased a rundown dormitory from a closed sugar factory a while back. Their desire is to have kids camps in it and use it for the glory of God. The building is in desperate need of repair and there is lots of work needed. We planned a 2 1/2 day trip to serve and help clean the building in preparation for a kids camp in Aug. We joined our friends and and geared up for the big tasks ahead. The days were spent sweeping, patching walls, painting doors, drawing murals, cleaning carpets and landscaping. I shared about servanthood and that we work as though we are working for the Lord not as unto man. It was great to see the students in action...they did a great job. We spent the evening at a local quarry that has been turned into a lake. Never thought I would be able to pile 14 people into my 7 passenger van...new record! We enjoyed swiming and cliff jumping. We came back to camp and spent the rest of the evening around a campfire eating sala, and singing worship songs. Looking back I was truly blessed to serve alongside these hard working youth. My prayer is that their relationship with God will continue to deepen and they will see some of the fruits of their labors on the kids faces next month. Those students who came to serve will also next month be counselors so teaching them servanthood before leadership is huge.

Legal Graffiti

2009-06-19T01:15:00.000-07:00

Petya, one of my youth teens just graduated. Every year there is a custom to have the graduating class paint on the asphalt on school grounds their farewell address. This year Petya asked me to design a graphic and paint it on the school fence. Here is the finished product...it says 11b Graduation 2009.

Kids, kids, and more kids

2009-06-16T20:26:00.000-07:00

We were blessed to be a part of Jono's English camp last week. Magdala and I led one of the groups in songs and games. It was great to be able to sings songs in English! There were around 50 kids each day and everyone seemed to have a fun time.

We have been visiting the internaut, which is like an orphanage, in a nearby village. This Monday, we took the whole family to visit with the kids there. Magdala brought some dough and we made some interesting pastries over the fire. These special kids have touched our hearts and we look forward to getting to know them better!

Here are a few pictures of our kids while we were hanging out at the stadium here in town...

Jaden graduates!

2009-05-22T21:12:00.000-07:00

Jaden is now officially graduated from kindergarden in Ukraine! He had a little program at school, with lots of singing, dancing and reciting verses. So, now he is ready to start first class! We are so proud of him!!!

Here is a short clip of him saying his line. The translation of the verse he is reciting is this: To school we will soon be going, before long ready for first class; everyone will now call us school-kids!

The kids in their Easter Sunday best...

2009-04-19T22:38:00.001-07:00

Christy's Birthday

2009-04-15T21:09:00.001-07:00

We are so blessed to have great friends here that offer to watch our kids so that Christy and I can get away together. For Christy's birthday, we took a day trip to Kiev. We checked out the mall, Caravan, where we had some good coffee, window-shopped, went bowling, and had some yummy soup bread bowls for lunch. It was chilly outside, but we still enjoyed a walk along the river. For dinner, we tried out one of the many theme restaurants that are just outside of Kiev on the road heading back to Kaharlyk. The one we chose was called Three Musketeers. It was actually very nice...it had ducks, swans, and even a petting zoo. We were the only ones dining in the restaurant, which gave it a very romantic feel. It was a nice get-away and I think Christy had a very relaxing and enjoyable birthday!

Youth Conference in Kaharlyk

2009-04-15T20:57:00.000-07:00

Last week we put on our first youth conference in Kaharlyk. It was a big step, but awesome to see so many come together and be involved to make this event happen. The theme of this one-day conference was "Being Called By God." Jake Knotts, a pastor from Chernihiv came and spoke on God's calling on our lives and also on serving God. The day included worship, games, Bible teaching, dinner and an afterglow. Six towns came and participated. It was wonderful to see a room full of youth eager to love and serve God more. We closed the night with worship and lighting candles. Each person came forward to light a candle symbolizing their desire and commitment to let their light shine in their community.

The last few weeks...

2009-04-09T00:10:00.000-07:00

We have not blogged in the last few weeks so here is look at some of the things that went on in our lives... We attended a youth conference in Zhovti Vodi (Yellow Waters). We piled into our van along with the Zschech family and drove 5 hours through pot-hole filled roads to meet the rest of our youth group at the conference. We enjoyed 2 days of worship, teaching, great fellowship and wonderful hospitality. I taught a 2 hr. workshop on design principles and how to apply it in photoshop. I shared about looking to creation for design inspiration created by the "great Designer".
Last year, I got to know the village veternarian. Emily, our dog, was having some stomach issues, and someone directed us to Sergei. When my mom was here, we all went out to Sergei's home for an authentic Ukrainian meal. His wife, Lyena, laid out quite a spread and we enjoyed an amazing meal and fun conversation, thanks to our translator, Anya. We decided to return the favor and invited them over for an "American" meal at our home. We also invited Yura and Oksana. So, Christy actually went with the Italian dish, lasagna, complete with garlic bread, fruit salad and carrot cake for dessert. We think that they enjoyed the food or they were being very polite. Sergei and his son, Dima, tested out the Wii bowling and loved it. It was a fun evening and we pray that God would give us more opportunities to spend time with this family in the future and share with them the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Sergei and his son bowling on wii.

The men in our church decided to put on a special dinner for the ladies in our church. Yura was the head chef and other men helped cook, serve, or provide entertainment. The ladies had a nice time being served and just relaxing and chatting with each other. According to my wife, "I had a great time and loved the food Yura cooked for us. It was wonderful to be able to enjoy a quiet meal with friends and not having to lift a finger to help with cooking or dishes! So, when is the next one?"
The Lord has provided me with some little work projects to help some of the ladies in our church. I helped out with a remodel at Natasha Semenenko's place, plastering and patching up her ceiling. Another project that came my way was building a temporary outhouse for a babushka in our church. Baba Olya has a fueding neighbor who has been harassing her and tends to destroy her property. His last rage was against her outhouse. She lives alone and usually has many jobs that need to be done around her house.

Baba Olya stands in front of her destroyed outhouse.

The temporary outhouse I built...4 poles, black plastic and a door.

The church had a work day to clean up the building and surrounding property. We showed up ready to work. Our cleaning arsenal consisted of rakes, shovels, brushes and a tractor complete with trailer for all the trash and rubble. The Lord gave us a beautiful day to serve him!

Puppet Show Outreach

2009-03-02T01:40:00.000-08:00

After months of preparations and awaiting the Samaritan's Purse shoebox gifts to arrive, our church put on a puppet show for the needy kids in town and from surrounding villages. We held two shows, one on Saturday and one on Sunday and over 150 kids came. The kids sang songs, watched a puppet show about the birth of Jesus, had cake and juice, and received a shoebox filled with gifts. It was a great time for all involved and we were blessed to be able to take part in this outreach. Here is a video we put together of the shows...

Dr. J is six!!!

2009-02-27T22:09:00.000-08:00

Jaden celebrated his sixth birthday yesterday. He had been anticipating the big day for months, crossing off days on the calendar leading up to it. It was a nice party with a few good friends, a little bowling and baseball on the wii, lots of spiderman goodies and a cool batman cake. We were blessed to have mimi here to celebrate with us!

We are so proud of Jaden! He is adapting so well to life here in Ukraine. His teacher at kindergarden commented this week on how well he is doing on his classwork and we are amazed at how he is picking up Ukrainian. He is such a sweet and sensitive little man. What a joy you are to us, Jaden! Happy birthday, Dr. J!!!

My mom visits Ukraine again

2009-02-26T23:52:00.000-08:00

We had the blessed opportunity to have my mom out here again in Ukraine. Winter is probably not the best time to come to Ukraine. Its cold and dreary and things tend to slow down during this season. But the Lord opened a door for her to come and really blessed the time we have spent with her. She came out mostly to visit and not necessarily for ministry, but it looked as though God had other plans. He opened doors to be involved in some orphanage trips, women's bible studies, an elderly dinner night and a children's puppet show. Our kids have had a blast tubing with "mimi" and just enjoying her around the house. We have been blessed with the extra help. My mom has the gift of servanthood...and might I add cleaning. Our house has never looked so good. Thanks mom! Here are some pics, more info and details to come in our monthly newsletter.

Who needs a sled when you can purchase a used inner tub from a tire mechanic for half the price. Plus its multi-functional...winter tubing, summer swimming!

A grandma overjoyed at the broach she received. These gifts were made by the women's ministry at Calvary Chapel North Phoenix.

My mom pictured with Alyona, Natasha and Anya. Natasha accepted the Lord as her savior last year and was baptized. Her daughters have been praying for her for a long time.

Justin turns 2!!!

2009-01-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

We can't believe it...our baby is 2! Yes, our little Justin Micah turned two today and we celebrated at home with just the family. Daddy bought him a car he can ride on and he hasn't been off of it all day! Mom and Josie baked some yummy cupcakes in honor of the big day and we all relaxed at home together. Very low-key, but nice! Justin is such a joy to us and he has the cutest smile ever. But he has entered his terrible-twos, as they call it, so we need God's strength daily in raising him. We think he is pretty amazing! Happy Birthday, little bud!

I've been tagged! (Christy's turn)

2009-01-20T05:49:00.000-08:00

So, I have noticed lots of my friends being tagged lately and I was wondering when it would be my turn. Thanks to Edna, I can share a few things about myself with whoever cares. These are supposed to be 7 weird or random things about myself...and, well, they aren't really that weird, but anyway, here goes...

1. I love to bake muffins. I could eat them every morning. All kinds too...my favorite is strawberry/banana. Now, my kids are really into them too and ask me faithfully every night before they go to bed to bake them some muffins in the morning.

2. I love to entertain my kids by dancing around in the living room to music from their kids' shows. My favorite is to dance to the Wiggles. Something about the catchy tunes they sing makes me feel quite silly.

3. I absolutely love naps! My favorite time to nap is actually right after breakfast. I have always been able to wake up early with no problem, but for some reason after I eat something, I get really sleepy.

4. My favorite thing to wear is sweats. I have always cared more about comfort than fashion. Nowadays you can find some pretty stylish matching sweatsuits. I think I would like some pink ones with rhinestones!

5. When I was growing up, I changed the spelling of my name 4 times. My full name is Christina, but I always went by the shorter version. I spelled it Kristy, Christi, Christie and what I use now, Christy.

6. I love to watch American football. When I am at football gatherings, I find myself always drawn to watch it, usually with all the guys, instead of chatting with the girls. My dad was a football fan and taught me everything about the game. He was also a huge Bronco fan...which I also am. I am rooting for the Cardinals for the Superbowl...love that Kurt Warner!

7. My favorite place in the world is Maui, Hawaii. We took our honeymoon there and went back a few years later for my sister's wedding, which Micah performed on the beach. I think it is the most beautiful place on earth, of what I have seen thus far in my life. I would like to go back on our 20 year wedding anniversary!

OK, so I can tag 5 people now. I choose...
1. Lori Gossenauer
2. Cassie Walters
3. Cheryl Lyons
4. Tanya Susidko
5. Karie Hughes

Mom and Josie visit the States...

2009-01-19T02:07:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of Christy and Josie's trip to the States...

New Year celebrations at school...

2008-12-29T20:18:00.000-08:00

Josie, Jaden and Jeremy all had New Year celebrations at school and had shows for the parents. It was so fun for us to watch our kids dancing, singing in Ukrainian and just enjoying being a part of this culture!

Yura's van finally painted

2008-12-22T04:46:00.000-08:00

After 3 months of Yura's van sitting in my driveway awaiting paint, I can happily say the project is completed. A lot of factors were involved that contributed to the length of this project...but I have learned living in Ukraine that waiting for a completed project is normal. Let me take you back to the beginning of the story...

Yura purchased Dan Gollan's old Ford Transit and had it towed from Rzhyshiv to Kaharlyk. It needed a lot of work as well as an engine overhaul. It had been 5 years at least since this vehicle was in use. When it quit running it was left to rot next to Dan's house. Yura got a great deal and we towed it home. He took it to a local repair shop for body work and primer. Then it came to my house and sat until I finished some other projects I was working on.

I told Yura that we could use my garage as a paint booth. I used a large gas heater to warm up my garage before I could paint. Paint doesn't dry too well when it is freezing outside. I alternated painting and turning on the heat so the paint could dry. Not a good idea to paint with the heater going...it's an explosion waiting to happen. After 5 coats of white and 3 coats of clear I finally finished...well that's all the paint I had.

Since I had never painted a vehicle before, there was a lot of trial and error involved. My compressor and spray gun gave me problems at first. But after some adjustments I was back in business. Yura wants me to airbrush a mural on his van later (my first time for that as well). I will keep you posted. Christy will be buying the airbrush paints in America...they are no where to be found here in Ukraine. I plan on starting this project in the spring. Thanks Yura for the opportunity to bless you and for the willingness to try new things!

Merry Christmas from the Claycamps!

2008-12-13T05:13:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

A unique school photo...

2008-12-03T09:57:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of Josie that she had taken at school. I have never seen a school photo quite like it!

Jer Bear turns 4!

2008-11-30T06:17:00.000-08:00

Our little Jer-Bear turned four today. We just had a low-key party at home and cupcakes at church. We are so proud of our Jeremy. He is such a funny kid. Great sense of humor and feisty. His lovable nature attracts everyone around him. We look forward to seeing what great things God has in store for him in the future! Happy birthday, son!

A late knock on the door...

2008-11-15T11:23:00.000-08:00

Last night as I was laying in bed I heard a crash of my neighbors fence. Its 12:30am so I awoke and looked out the window. I saw nothing. Partly because all street lights are shut off after midnight anyway. I did hear the yelling of a few voices, but saw nothing. A few moments later I heard our doorbell ring. I jumped out of bed trying to put my pants on and hurry to answer the door. Emily our dog was barking as well. She sleeps inside by the door and I could tell she was curious to see who was outside. I turned on the porch light and looked out the peep hole. There was a man standing there with his face covered in blood. I quickly opened the door, and he began to rattle off in Ukrainian. I caught a few of his words, but was more interested in getting him a wet towel for his face. I gave him the towel grabbed a flashlight and headed out the door. In the street I was met by 3 others. One was a babushka who came up to me and gave me a hug. The other was a dedushka who shook my hand and said thank you. The 3rd person was a lady who looked like she was his wife or girlfriend. They began to rattle off about what happened...but I really understood nothing. We parted ways, I said goodnight and went back to bed. Who were these people? Would I ever see them again? What happened?

The next morning I awoke and shared this story with some friends who were staying with us. I had no idea what happened but wish I had a translator with me at that moment. I also noticed our one of our cats was missing. I searched for her all day...but she was no where to be found. I thought maybe the situation last night had something to do with our cat but was not sure. On the way to youth group that night I saw our cat dead in our neighbor's yard. It was near the road and had probably been struck by a vehicle that night. I still wondered if the events were related but figured I would never know. Driving home from youth group I thought about all that happened, boggled but curious. As I drove down my street I just so happened to come across those same people I dealt with at night. They were walking somewhere but I had to stop and ask them. I quickly telephoned my friend and had her translate to me what happened. She said this guy got jumped by some guys last night and jumped our fence to get away. He came to my door seeking help but not wanting the police to be involved. Looking back, I was thankful that the Lord allowed me to know what happened. I am at rest now. Well,so is my cat...I just buried her. Such is life in Ukraine.

Golden Oldies Night

2008-10-31T03:34:00.000-07:00

We celebrated another Elderly Outreach on Wednesday. It's a neat thing to watch the church function together in serving the needs of the elderly. Some cook, some clean, some drive, some entertain, but all love. We had a great night. We served a meal of chicken, potatoes and beet salad. Notice in the picture Danny is mixing the potatoes with a drill and mixer attachment. Hey, its Ukraine! It might not be grammas way of doin it, but it's not grammas kitchen and you gotta do what works. The entertainment for the night was musical. Mostly they sang songs and a few played instruments. My daughter Josie even played a song on the piano and sang with her friend Anya. Thanks for all your prayers and financial contributions to make this a monthly outreach a blessing to those who come.

A Visit From My Mom!

2008-10-29T08:41:00.002-07:00

Last week, my mom came to visit us in Ukraine! We were all so thrilled to spend time with her and have her see firsthand the place God has called us to. The trip was only 6 days, but it was so worth it! We had a great time showing her around town and Kiev and introducing her to the awesome people in our lives. She had plenty of play time with the grandkids and even climbed up into their treehouse one day! I enjoyed some great talks with my mom, just catching up on all that God is doing in our lives and in hers. Thank you, Mom, for making the trip out to see us! It meant so much to us! We love you!!!

Time in Kiev, New Friends, and Cleaning up...

2008-10-18T04:50:00.000-07:00

Last week, Micah and I got away to Kiev for a night. With NO KIDS! We did have a few errands to take care of, but after that, we took it easy and tried to enjoy the city. It seems that whenever we are in Kiev, we are either running lots of errands, stuck in traffic or trying to handle four hyper kids in the van. So, it was so nice to have no agenda and no distractions and be able to focus on each other. We ate at a wonderful Chinese restaurant, had lots of yummy coffee drinks, strolled the city streets and did a bit of shopping. We also visited the Lavra Monastery. It was such a nice get-away for us and we look forward to the next one!!!

We have enjoyed getting to know the Crowe family, who moved to Ukraine a few months ago. We traveled out to their place for dinner and fellowship. The kids were very excited to see their new friends and we were happy to catch up with Bruce, Deb and Cassie!

We had our annual fall church clean-up day. It mostly consists of raking the leaves into piles and hauling them away. The kids got in on the action and were actually very good helpers. The best part of raking is jumping into the leaves, but they were a bit too wet for that this time.

A Fall Day with the Silva's

2008-10-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

We were finally able to get out to Billa Tserkva to visit the Silva family. The weather was gorgeous and we all enjoyed walking through the park and basking in the beauty of fall here in Ukraine. Greg took much better pictures than us, but here are a few that we took...

After the time in the park, we were delighted to have undeniably the best hotdogs and buns we have tasted here in Ukraine! Thanks so much guys for treating us so well and for the great afternoon! You are such a blessing to us!

Chernihiv Conference

2008-09-28T23:19:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we attended the Chernihiv conference located at a camp in the forest. It was a rough weekend for us, actually. But God was so faithful to us and taught us some lessons through it.

The kids were a little out of sorts, mainly Justin and Jeremy, and were very clingy, whiny and not into the camp food. The first night our power went out and so our little heater was of no use, so it was a bit chilly. Justin woke up at 5 and was ready to go...but Mom was not! The next night was much better and our heater worked! Micah got a tummy bug on Saturday and was feeling pretty lousy. He did manage to play two soccer games, though, thinking that might help bring it up. But it wasn't until he laid down after the games and Jer came and jumped on his stomach, that it really came up! He was feeling better by Sunday, just in time to make the 3 hour drive home! Josie and Jaden, on the other hand, had a wonderful time with their friends, playing and exploring the forest for hours and hours.

The theme of the conference was "God's heart revealed in Scripture." Micah was able to hear Conor's session on Christ revealed in Scripture. I was happy to get to hear one session also...Jake's message on God's glory ministered to me. God showed me through the frustrating times this weekend how much He loves me and that He wants to show His glory through my life in every situation I am in. At 5 in the morning with a crying baby, when I was feeling so tired and cold and embarrassed, I was thinking, how can I find joy in this situation? Micah and I were talking about it and realized that it was not the right question to be asking. That is such a selfish way of thinking about it, how can I find joy? It should be, How can I glorify God in this situation? How can others see Christ in me when I am at my wits end and overwhelmed with life?

Another wonderful part of the conference was definitely the worship. Man, there was a lot of talented musicians there. But the worship sessions didn't seem to be focused on the talent, but focused on praising an awesome God! Micah and I agreed that hearing worship in Ukrainian and Russian is quite amazing. Our worship band was able to participate in leading one session. I got a nice surprise in seeing Micah singing acapella with the girls on one song.

So, even though we had some rough moments, we were blessed to have attended this conference. It was great to see old friends and catch up. We are so thankful to be a part of what God is doing here in Ukraine.

Orphanage

2008-09-22T22:54:00.000-07:00

On Monday Josie and I had the chance to go to a nearby orphanage with some of the girls from our church. It was a great experience for Josie as she got to see what life is like for the kids there. We had a fun time playing games with the kids and meeting new friends. This is an orphanage that our church is hoping to minister to on a more regular basis.

a creative drinking fountain...

Zhovti Vodi

2008-09-22T22:50:00.000-07:00

On Friday I took a four hour road trip to Zhovti Vodi along with Masha, Lyena, Katya and Lesya. We dodged potholes and puddles as we made the rainy journey. We went there to attend a leadership training seminar that focuses on team building in ministry. We attended last year and it was really beneficial so it was a no-brainer to attend again.

My van got stuck in the mud as we ventured off the path looking for the turnoff to camp. Everyone got out and pushed while I tried my best to get traction to get back on the road. Mud was flying everywhere as my wheels spun giving most of the people behind me a mud shower. We cut down some branches and placed them under the wheels to finally get us back on the road. What an adventure.

It was on Sunday I shared this story at church. The Lord showed me the importance of helping others and team unity through that experience. To come along side those who need help, who may have ventured off-course and who are stuck in the mud. Helping them will require you to get dirty, this is not something we always want to do. We like to help and come out clean and go on our way, but this is not always the case. You are needed to help push. Team effort is many times needed as well, all pushing for the same goal of restoration and unity to get back on the right road.

Looking back it was an encouraging weekend. Lyena and I had a great discussion about youth ministry and the direction the Lord is leading. We are excited to put into practice some of the things we learned.

Sasha teaching about setting goals and how to reach them...

The pastor baptizing two new believers at the camp...

Praising the Lord...

God's final touches on a great day...

Sharing on Sunday morning...

Yura turns 40!!!

2008-09-05T07:17:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of Yura, his brother Misha, Jono and I at Yura's birthday party. There was a huge spread of great food, some rockin' 80's music playing, and even some dancing. After the party a bunch of us went bowling in Kiev. It was fun hanging with everyone and celebrating Yura's 40 years of life! Happy Birthday, buddy!

Back to school!

2008-09-01T22:27:00.000-07:00

The kids had a successful first day of school, or as they call it here, first bell. And I didn't forget the poofy bows this time!!!

Hanging out at the McNamees...

2008-08-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

We went to visit the McNamees in Chernigov for a few days and as usual, had a blast. The kids were thrilled to play with Gav and Emma. We got to try out the "wicked cool" wii games too! It seems like every time we visit these guys, we come back feeling refreshed and encouraged.

Fun in the Bounce House!

Always time for dress-up!

Crazy Gav-man! (and Justin leaving his mark on the TV)

The gals playin in the sandbox...

Micah and Conor on kid patrol...

The kids enjoyed playing in the cool teepee!

Maia stopped by for a visit...

Catching up on the latest gossip...

More of VBS fun...

2008-08-23T04:36:00.000-07:00

We finished out the last few days of VBS and had a special show for the parents today. The leaders did a wonderful job teaching their groups this week! Several kids accepted the Lord and will hopefully start attending the youth group. Here are some more fun pictures...

VBS - Day 1-3

2008-08-20T23:00:00.000-07:00

It is VBS week for the kids of Kaharlyk. So far, the numbers have been less than expected (around 40 kids), but it is going great so far! Please be praying for the last couple days, that in addition to having tons of fun, the kids would learn about God's love and their eyes opened to His incredible sacrifice for them!!!

Girls Day Out in the Big City...

2008-08-08T08:05:00.000-07:00

Our little Josie-Jo turned seven on Thursday! Instead of hosting a party at the home, I decided to invite the girls out for a day in Kiev. Josie took her best friend, Angel, and we were joined by Magdala, Anya, Alyona, Olya and Annaliese. We started at good old McDonalds for lunch and cake and then headed off to the mall. Unfortunately, the skating rink and rock climbing wall were closed, but the girls were happy to do some shopping instead. Along the way, the girls enjoyed bumper cars and jumping in a bounce house. The highlight of the day was renting rowboats and enjoying a nice row in the river. We finished off the day with some sushi. (It was a first for Anya and Alyona!) All in all, it was a very fun day for everyone, especially the birthday girl!

My Top 5 Reasons For Owning a Chainsaw in Ukraine

2008-08-06T23:29:00.000-07:00

After waking up to find my neighbor's plum tree broken across my fence I began to ponder life with a chainsaw...
Chainsaw...
What a great invention. After handling an ax for a while, I think its time to upgrade. But upgrading comes with a price. Here in Ukraine prices can range from $200 and up. I have found that when you buy cheap you end up paying for it later. So, Danny and I have agreed to go in together next month to purchase one. This got me thinking on some of my top 5 reasons why to own a chainsaw in Ukraine. Enjoy.

1. Chop, chop, chop, chop, chop, chop, chop, chop, chop, chop, chop, chop, chop...x100 vs. buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz - finshed!
2. Outreach opportunity - What a great way to show love to your neighbors by doing a little pruning for them.
3. Ukraine is full of trees - There is always a need
4. I have talked about it for a year
5. Is this a sign?

Cliff Jumping...

2008-08-01T21:27:00.001-07:00

Micah was the taxi for the children's ministry as they went off to a camp in a town called Zvenihorodka. As he was there picking up kids, he had a chance to hook up with some friends he made at Camp 120. They showed him some of the fun things in town, including a quarry that they took turns jumping into.

Our past few weeks...

2008-07-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

Here is what we've been up to...

Micah and Josie went to the island for Camp 120.

Chris and Aaron Ward from Calvary Chapel Maricopa came to check out what is happening in Kaharlyk.

We spent some time in Kiev with Chris and Aaron and the gang.

Found some awesome fields of sunflowers and took a photo...

Micah played paintball here in town: Kaharlyk vs. Rzhishschiv...

We rid the house of lice. What a pain! We had to shave Jaden's head and here is a picture before we finished the job...

Well, that is about it. Hope you are all enjoying your summer!

Friends from Arizona

2008-07-21T13:20:00.000-07:00

We have had a great time with Pastor Chris and his son Aaron from CC Maricopa. They have had a chance to see what the Lord is doing behind the scenes here in Kaharlyk. They have been staying at the church in the newly renovated guest room. Right now, the new remodeled kitchen serves as a popular hangout for most ministry in church. Chris and Aaron have not seemed to mind the constant activity around them. Yesterday, we went to the park and stadium to ride bikes and after had lunch in front of the church. We also had an opportunity to help Baba Olya prune her trees in her yard. It was a major job, and she was extremely grateful. After, she had us sit and eat borscht, sala, bread and cucumbers. It was a good cultural experience for Chris and his son and a chance to see Ukrainian hospitality and food.

Our family has also found some relaxing time to eat and fellowship. It has been a blessing having them here and we are discussing plans for a future trip with a team next summer.

I took this picture because it reminded me of what patience looks like. One guy, one small lawnmower and one giant soccer field...does "job security" come to mind?

Baby talk...

2008-07-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

Off to the island...

2008-07-13T08:52:00.001-07:00

Please be praying for us as we head off for Camp 120 for 5 days. Josie, Jhenya, Emily (our dog) and I will be roughin it on an island along the Dnipro with 160 others. We will live in tents, bring our own water and food. I liken this event to "Survivor Ukraine" but no one gets voted off. We will also be enjoying games, fellowship, times of worship and Bible study. I am to teach on Thursday morning but am still waiting on the Lord for direction. I am excited because this is a great opportunity to get away from all the busyness and wait upon the Lord. I pray the Lord refreshes our hearts and draws us closer to Him this week.

A new patio and a celebration...

2008-07-04T21:02:00.001-07:00

Micah completed his patio project just in time for our 4th of July celebration. It took him 3 full days to complete. He said it was the hardest, labor-intensive work he's ever done. It turned out great. Now we have a place to hang out on these nice summer nights! Thank you to my wonderful hubby for your hard work!!!

We celebrated the 4th of July with the Footes and the Silvas. We had a BBQ with hotdogs and real buns and even set off some fireworks. It was a fun day hanging out with our fellow American missionaries and enjoying our new patio!

Claycamps plus one...

2008-06-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

About two weeks ago, a social services worker called the church concerning a young girl from a nearby orphanage. This girl was released from supervised care at the orphanage and needed a place to live until she starts technical school in the fall. We all felt led by God to take this opportunity to love this girl who has not seen much love in her life. Well, it was decided that our home was the best place for her, since we have a nice guest room outside.

Jhenya has been with us for a week now and it has been quite interesting. She is 17 years old, but mentally acts about 12. Before her parents died, they were alcoholics and physically abused her. She acts as though she has ADD, at times hyper and loud and not able to focus very long. She likes to play with our kids, loves to play with her new phone and is always asking to play video games. She feels very comfortable here with us and gets a little anxious when she has to leave. The girls in the church are helping us by taking her out and about, although she continuously asks to come back home.

She will be with us for two months. It is our hope that she would learn some life skills while she is with us, as she will be on her own in the fall. Right now, we can't imagine her living and functioning on her own. We know that these next two months will be very trying for us, but we also know that God will give us the strength to love and care for her. Please pray for us to have patience and understanding with her. Pray that God would be glorified through this situation and that she would come to know Christ in a personal way.

Road trip to Hungary...

2008-06-23T02:53:00.000-07:00

We just got back from our road trip to Hungary. It was a great trip. We traveled with Wayne and Olya and their boys and Yura and Oksana and their family. Our youngest two stayed home with Magdala. The yellow van had a few mechanical problems along the way, but nothing to stop us from reaching our destination.

Before the conference in Vaijta, we stayed the night in Budapest and one day taking in the sights. We saw a cool castle, had breakfast at Gloria Jeans, and spent a few hours at IKEA. Then we went to the conference where we spent 5 relaxing days, listening to good teaching on God's word, worshipping with fellow missionaries from all over Europe, swimming in the pool, drinking lots of great coffee and catching up with old friends.

The conference theme was "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord." The focus was standing fast in the victory the Lord has already won. It also focused on prayer and its importance in ministry. It's so easy to step out before one prays, or as missionaries become discouraged because our expectations are not being met. But it's as we wait on the Lord first, that He strengthens us to move forward. Sometimes moving forward means standing fast where we are in the battle, realizing God has already won!

Check out our pictures of the trip here!

You Don't Have To Be Afraid...

2008-06-12T09:00:00.001-07:00

Here is a little song I wrote to help my kids deal with the transitions and changes in Ukraine. Josie, Jaden and Jeremy learned the chorus and we sing it often on the way to school...It's a great reminder that God is always with us and we have no reason to fear.

Chorus:
You don't have to be afraid
Cause God is with you every day

You don't have to fear at all
Cause God's the one who's in control

Verse:
He's always watching over you
He sent His Son so you would know
Amazing love so big so true
Let Him rule inside your soul

Summer Fun with the Slip 'N Slide!!!

2008-06-12T01:53:00.000-07:00

We brought back a Slip 'N Slide from the States and the kids have been dying to try it out. Today looked like a great day to test it out. The kids had tons of fun slipping and sliding and getting soaking wet. Micah modified the technique a bit, just tossing them down the slide. Thanks Mimi for the great gift!

Our newest pet...

2008-06-04T21:00:00.000-07:00

So, Micah surprised me again with a new pet for the kids. He brought home a rabbit after visiting one of the nearby villages. He said, "they just gave it to me, so what was I supposed to do?" The kids are happy to have another addition to the family. Well, she is a nice lawnmower for our grass and weeds out back!

The Claycamp pets: Emily the dog, Alona the hamster and Svena the rabbit

Last bell...

2008-05-31T02:28:00.000-07:00

This was the last week of school for the kids. Josie had a "cv-ya-toe" which means festive celebration in honor of completing first class. It was a time for reciting verses and singing songs for the parents. Although it was cute to see each kid dressed up to the max and saying verses in Ukrainian, after an hour we got a little antsy. Josie did well with her lines. We were very proud parents!

After the festivities, the kids went to eat lunch and the parents were left to decide what to do to remodel the classroom. I guess this is normal for all classes at the end of the year. All of the parents are expected to help pitch in money and labor. It was a little intimidating for us because the parents all seemed to have different opinions and suggestions and they made them known in loud voices all at the same time. We have no idea what they decided but we are sure we will get a call soon to inform us of the decision.

Then on Saturday morning, there was the "last bell" celebration with all the classes getting together, performing, handing out flowers to teachers, and a graduation ceremony for the seniors. Serogia, from our church, graduated this year and it was great to celebrate with him.

The decision to put our kids in school was a difficult one, but we felt that God was leading us to do so. We are glad that we made that decision and have seen the Lord's hand in it. They have learned so much this year and have started to make friendships and speak the language. We pray that our family would reflect God's love to the other children, parents and teachers in our community!

Bingo makes its way to Ukraine!

2008-05-28T23:26:00.000-07:00

We celebrated another Golden Oldies night in Kaharlyk. We were not sure how the turnout would we because it was raining so hard. Josie and Jaden wanted to come and play a part in the festivities so I brought them along. Christy even had a hand in the night, though not there physically, her "American" lemon cake sure was a hit. We showed up and found out that the rain had put a damper on the plans so we just made up the schedule as we went. For the entertainment, I played a few songs and a babushka read a few of her poems. Then we introduced them to the wonderful world of "Bingo". I found this bingo set while I was in America at Walgreens. I wanted to bring it to Ukraine and see if it would work out here. The elderly in America play this game often. Magdala printed up more game cards and the kids helped her with numbered balls. It was a hit...maybe we will have more bingo nights in the future!

A day at the Zoopark

2008-05-23T22:17:00.000-07:00

We took a trip with the family to the zoo in Kiev. After battling traffic for an hour in the city, we made it to the Zoopark joined by our new friends, Dave and Rayma (missionaries from Russia) and their two boys. Though not as elaborate as zoos in the States, the Kiev zoo has some interesting animals that you can get pretty close to. The kids really enjoyed touching the turtles and watching the elephant do a little dance for them. Micah was like a little kid when he saw a cool iguana and I personally loved the zebras. It was fun day, but as a family trip usually is, it was exhausting-especially after another 2 hours in the car to get home!

Painting

2008-05-17T06:58:00.000-07:00

I have finally got around to painting the house. It has been a long road but we are glad to see it finally completed after 1 year of remodeling. Looking back I remember all those trips to EpiCenter for supplies, and paint. I ended up adding dye to white paint to get the desired color. After a few hit and miss color variation and mixes, we decided on a light coffee color. We are pleased with the result and want to thank all those who helped us get our house ready for paint. Now that I have 2/3 of the house painted, I almost forgot how much work it is. I hope to get around to painting the window trim white soon. Check another thing off my to do list.

A Trip to the Botanical Garden

2008-05-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

Today we took the kids to the Botanical Garden in Kiev. It was a beautiful day and the kids wore themselves out running around the park. Here are some fun photos...

No training wheels!

2008-05-07T05:42:00.000-07:00

So, Josie really wanted us to post this video of her first time riding her bike with no training wheels!

Pray for Justin...

2008-05-04T08:17:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to send out a request to pray for little Justin. He fell with a toy in his mouth yesterday and knocked out his front tooth. He is handling it just fine, but we are concerned that the root of the tooth might still be there and might need to be extracted. We are praying for wisdom on what to do and where to take him. Micah thinks he looks like a pirate baby.

Happy Anniversary, Doll!

2008-05-01T12:44:00.000-07:00

Christy,
I just wanted to post this to let the world know how amazing and special you are to me. Amazing because of the woman of God you are. You seek Him and love Him first and that blesses me. You are special because I have never known anyone like you. You have stuck with me and have weathered the storms by my side...I love you. You have given me 4 beautiful children that we are raising together to know and love the Lord. Your insight and support in family have helped me become a better dad and father to our kids. I pray the Lord grants us many more years together in ministry and marriage. I love you for coming to Ukraine with me and standing by my side as we venture these foreign waters.

Because its 10 years today, its only fitting to have the lyrics to the song I read to you on our engagement day! With all my love for years to come,

Micah

A Page Is Turned - Bebo Norman

A page is turned by the wind to a boy in curly grin
With a world to conquer at the age of ten
But as history unfolds and the storybook is told
He finds salvation but not at the hands of man

And the God of second chance
Picked him up and He let him dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, preparing him, the one
To hold him up when he comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And now a man, here you stand
Your day has come

A page is turned in this world to reveal a little girl
With a heart that's bigger, as it is unfurled
By the language in her soul, that's teaching her to grow
With a careful cover of love that will not fail

And the God of second chance
Picked her up and He let her dance
Through a world that isn't kind
And all this time, preparing her the one
To hold her up when she comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And grown up tall, here you are
Your day has come

Beneath the air of autumn, she took him by his hand
And warm within the ardor, she took his heart instead
And high upon the mountain, he asked her for her hand
Just for her hand

A page is turned in this life, he's making her his wife
And there is no secret to the source of this much life
When the grace that falls like rain is washing them again
Just a chance to somehow rise above this land

Where the God of second chance
Will pick them up and he'll let them dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, they're sharing with the one
That holds them up when they come undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And once again, here you stand
And once again, here you stand
Your day has come

Listen to the song:
http://www.last.fm/music/Bebo+Norman/_/A+Page+is+Turned

Rap concert

2008-04-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

The social worker in town set up a special rap concert featuring Brandon yesterday at the House of Culture. We weren't sure what to expect, most events we do there draw a minimal crowd and they usually leave after 15 minutes. Well, we were blown away by how many kids showed up! Maybe 200 kids...and they stayed the whole time! So, they heard 6 or 7 of Brandon's songs, as well as his testimony and the gospel message. There was such a great response and we are excited to see how many kids come to youth group tonight! Pray that God waters the seeds that were planted and brings many to Himself!

Jaden, Jeremy, Mark and Matthew gettin their groove on...

Karie's back!!!

2008-04-15T23:36:00.000-07:00

Karie Hughes from Arizona is back with us along with two team members, Lisa and Brandon. They are sharing with kids in a village called Sloboda about abstinence, as well as training several Ukrainian girls from Kaharlyk and surrounding towns. They are teaching the kids about purity and the risks of pre-marital sex, including facts on STD's, AIDS, and abortion. Brandon will be sharing his rap talent and testimony with the kids in school and also at a concert in town later this week. It has already been such a blessing to have them here and we are seeing amazing things happen! God is at work and we are so thankful for this opportunity to be a part of what He is doing in the lives of the young people in this country!

a new talent...

2008-04-09T22:20:00.000-07:00

Justin is trying to copy what his sister and brothers do. I walked into the boys room and found him up on the stool typing on the keyboard, attempting to play one of Jer's computer games. He found the whole thing very hilarious!!!

Lost another one...

2008-04-09T22:11:00.000-07:00

So, it might not seem like a big deal to anyone else, but to us parents, when our kid loses their first teeth, it is quite exciting! Dad tried for a few days to get this sucker out with no luck, but then mom came to the rescue and yanked it right out! How cute he looks!!!

Enjoying a warm day in Kaharlyk...

2008-04-05T23:38:00.000-07:00

We are settling back into life here in Ukraine. The kids enjoyed a nice spring day outdoors yesterday, planting flowers with dad and riding their bikes up and down the driveway. We are looking forward to seeing the flowers around town start blooming as the temps start rising. The kids are ready to start their exploration of the forest and parks here in Kaharlyk!

Back in Ukraine...

2008-03-23T23:39:00.000-07:00

We made it back home to Ukraine safely and are trying to recover from our exhausting travels. The flights were long and at times difficult, but we managed. The kids are happy to be in their home and play with the dog. We are excited for another year of ministry in Kaharlyk. Thanks to everyone praying for our travels!

Disneyland!!!

2008-03-11T07:46:00.001-07:00

Last week, we took a special trip to Disneyland with Josie and Jaden. We had a wonderful time! Here are some of our favorite pics...

Jaden turns 5...

2008-02-26T09:34:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Jaden's 5th birthday at Mimi and Poppi's. We had a Spiderman theme and all the cousins, including Jake from CO, had a blast. It is hard to believe he is already five! He is growing up to be a sweet, sensitive and bright boy. Happy birthday, Dr. J!!!

Sharing at churches...

2008-01-29T21:19:00.000-08:00

A quick 5 minute video about our involvement in ministry in Kaharlyk.

http://www.calvarymaricopa.org/MicahReport.mov

Enjoying Arizona

2008-01-29T14:02:00.000-08:00

This is probably the best time of the year to enjoy Arizona...mainly the mountains of outer phoenix. First the weather is incredible (55f or 12c) and the desert is springing with life. I wanted to show my friends in Ukraine a little of what the Arizona Desert looks like.

I am standing in front of a Giant Saguaro cactus. Because it just rained it is plumper than normal. This is a plant with a very shallow root base. It collects as much desert water after a rain from the surface. It then stores it inside to live on through the very hot summer months. It is "fluted" vertically so it can expand and contract with water.

Here is a "jumping cactus". No, it doesn't really jump but gets its name from the cactus needles it releases when brushed up against. When the needles go in, they curl on the ends like fish hooks. Last time I got some in me I had to use pliers to get the needles out.

Our baby boy turns ONE!!!

2008-01-27T14:21:00.000-08:00

2007 Kaharlyk ministry video presentation

2008-01-26T20:56:00.000-08:00

Here is a small video presentation we have put together to show our supporters what life is like for us here in Kaharlyk, Ukraine. The Lord opened some great opportunities in 2007. Here is just a sample...Enjoy.

all together again...

2008-01-20T15:02:00.000-08:00

Well, we made it through some long flights and a few days of jet-lag and are now enjoying the sunshine here in Arizona. The kids are enjoying seeing their grandparents and cousins. Micah and I have already enjoyed some excellent Mexican food!!! We are gearing up for a busy two months visiting our supporting churches and catching up with friends and family.

Josie and Jaden's holiday programs at school...

2007-12-27T04:40:00.000-08:00

Josie and Jaden had their holiday programs at school today. Unfortunately, I had to stay home with the baby and Jer-bear, who wasn't feeling well. Micah did capture lots of pictures and video of the events, so I could see just how adorable they looked! One thing we are learning about Ukrainian culture is they love to dance. Here are some cute pics and a special video!

Getting ready for Christmas...

2007-12-23T05:46:00.001-08:00

The Women's Ministry at church got together Friday night to make Christmas cards. They had a great time fellowshipping and getting creative. Christy had a bunch of "scrapping stuff" she brought from Arizona that she added to the mix.

On the home front, our kids decorated our Christmas tree...or should I say, "Christmas Branches". I pruned an apple tree in the backyard and we got creative. Add some lights and some Christmas ornaments and...whola! We had fun as a family doing this. We also made those puppet reindeer that so many of us Americans remember creating in school. The kids traced their hands for the antlers and their footprint for the face. Then they put on a puppet show...enjoy!

Josie's First Ukrainian Recital

2007-12-19T03:53:00.000-08:00

Josie had a recital at school in honor of the holiday of St. Nick. Parents were invited to attend and hear reciting of the story and singing. Josie did very well reciting her lines in Ukrainian (with a western Ukrainian accent, so we are told). We are so proud of our little harboosik (pumpkin)!

Sledding Fun 101

2007-12-19T03:23:00.000-08:00

Since it was a nice day today, I thought I would buy a sled and take the kids to the park. This would be their first sledding experience so they were all excited to get a sled. I know they had seen kids being pulled by their parents, and seen the sleds at school, so they were curious. After purchasing a sled at a nearby hardware store, we set off to find a good hill at the park. After a couple runs...my sled was hurting. The metal was bending and the pull rope broke. I should have expected it. We made it work and we all had fun.

Christmas Windows in Ukraine

2007-12-12T04:34:00.000-08:00

I had some tempra paints brought over from America. Its always a good thing to have paints around especially with kids. These paints I have used for crafts and posters...and now windows. I painted windows during the Christmas season in America which brought in some extra cash for the holidays. Recently I decided to spice up our church a little and bring in something unique to our town. I painted the youth room first, then started to paint the children's room at church. I gave some painting lessons to Anya's english class and they painted most of the upstairs kitchen. It was fun watching them get creative. These design are fast, easy and washable with water. The goal is to just have fun and be creative.

look who's walking...

2007-12-06T00:07:00.000-08:00

Justin has started to walk! Of course, when we want to capture it on video, he doesn't cooperate very well. Here are some shots we caught of him practicing his new talent...