MISSION UKRAINE: DEPARTING KIEV

Our final days in Ukraine were spent in Kiev with our kids Mike, Rachel and Ellie. We walked through the ornate but empty Orthodox churches and toured the Museum of the Great Patriotic War (WWII) where the great Motherland statue was erected just before the fall of communism. It is equivalent to our Statue of Liberty. A hammer and sickle are on the shield. It struck us how many memorials are in this land to the battles of the past. The reason there are more there than in the US is that the battles were fought on their soil. We are fortunate to not have so many.

We saw Mike & Rachel's ministry with young adults up close as they gathered for a special all day party at a church member's home. Mike and Rachel work with training the core group of these young people as leaders. Many others attended on this day including some non-believers. In Ukraine young people are part of this group until married. The youth played games, went to the beach, had a Bible study time and ate. These youth will be the future of Ukraine. We should pray for them as they grow and reach the next generation.

Monday we said goodbye to our children to return home to the US. We were blessed to see, be a part of and support these ministries. We returned Gig Harbor with a greater sense of knowing we have been blessed so much here both materially and spiritually. As Jesus said, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." (Lu. 12:48) As individuals and a church we have a great responsibility and privilege to share with the world the life changing Gospel.