Today we woke up to more rain, however, this did not seem to dampen the spirits of either the English students or our team- Breakfast was a real surprise, FISH and RICE! Charlie ate lots of bread...
After our morning class we played board games, made special cards (that we cannot wait to show you all!) and several of the guys hiked down to the waterfalls again. They were curious to see what they looked like after the rain.
I find that the students are certainly more at ease with our team members now and we have lots of fun talking and learning together. It amazes me to see how eager they are to learn to speak English.
The house where the adults are staying has no hot water again. We are hoping that it can get fixed soon because we are all pretty muddy from the rain. Thank goodness most of us brought at least on long sleeved shirt! wqe need them today as it is quite coool. After lunch and afternoon English class we hiked up to a small zoo. The hike was very muddy but fun for all.
Back to the water situation, as of now there is no water anywhere in the village! The tremendous rain storms have flooded the water supply house and no one has water. The bathroom situation should be interesting, not to mention our muddy bodies. This has not dampened anyone's spirits. Our team has no WHINERS!!! Yea Grace Team!
Supper time was a new dish to us- it resembled cheese grits and it was really good. After a team meetings we all met for worship. Pastor Meredith is doing such a great job with her sermons and Rhys is doing super time leading us in songs! Looking forward to another wonderful day of sharing God's love with each other!
Written by Hannah
PS: Today was also an exciting day for Charlie which I am sure you may here about in the near future....
Friday, July 9, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
English Camp Blog- Wednesday, July 7, 2010
We awoke to a light but steady rain (that persisted, it turns out, for the entire day and into the evening). The rain merely added to the beauty of the Carpathian Mountains and God’s majesty. After the morning devotion and a delicious breakfast of cheese blintzes with a blueberry toppings, our English Camp began afresh! Our bright, inquisitive Ukrainian students continued to maze us with their knowledge of English and their eagerness and thirst for additional learning. The morning sessions all went well, providing a number of enriching activities for students and facilitators alike. The morning sessions were followed by a variety of games designed to enhance the vocabularies of our aspiring students!! A lunch of a rich chicken broth and potato dumplings slaked our appetites and readied us for the afternoon sessions. The different teams changed stations to learn additional aspects of the English language. After the afternoon sessions, everyone was treated to a movie (w/subtitles) followed by supper (a nourishing meal of beef and potato stew and a tasty slaw salad). We are a well fed group indeed!! After a team meeting to discuss our observations and perspectives of the day’s activities, we all attended the evening worship service. We enjoyed a mixture of Ukrainian and American hymns and a superb sermon delivered by Pastor David. Pastor David adroitly brought the parable of the Good Samaritan into a contemporary setting. After the service drew to a close with prayer time, many of us decided to watch the World Cup match between Germany and Spain.
After such a day of varied and rewarding activities, we are feeling especially blessed. We know that The Lord is inspiring us in our work. This was truly a day that Lord hath made.
Written by Glen Bottoms
After such a day of varied and rewarding activities, we are feeling especially blessed. We know that The Lord is inspiring us in our work. This was truly a day that Lord hath made.
Written by Glen Bottoms
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Blog Entry July 6, 2010 Monday
English Camp HAS BEGUN
Today was the first day of English Camp. The Ukrainians were divided into six groups which will rotate throughout our group lessons in the next three days. The day started off with a hearty breakfast of pechinka (liver) and rice and then the first classes began. The first class period in the morning went well but some rough spots were discovered during the course of the class, but were hammered out afterwards. We then had free time. During this time, some trekked down to the river while others hung around camp. At 2 o’clock we then moved onto lunch which consisted of chicken and soup. After lunch, we moved onto the afternoon sessions where most of the rough spots in the classes were fixed. After the second session, we hiked the half mile or so to a place known as “the waterfall,” which is a series of rapids near the village. Spanning about an hour and a half, we went onto the rocks next to the rapids and some even went downstream to swim. We then walked back to the camp had “ragu,” which is a stew with many vegetables. We then had worship, a prayer time, and it is now 11:00 pm and we are watching the Uruguay v. Netherlands World Cup match. We are all very excited to see what tomorrow brings and to learn more about our new friends.
God bless from the Grace Mission team!
Written by Charlie Vancampen
p.s. Yes mom I ate the liver and I enjoyed it.
Today was the first day of English Camp. The Ukrainians were divided into six groups which will rotate throughout our group lessons in the next three days. The day started off with a hearty breakfast of pechinka (liver) and rice and then the first classes began. The first class period in the morning went well but some rough spots were discovered during the course of the class, but were hammered out afterwards. We then had free time. During this time, some trekked down to the river while others hung around camp. At 2 o’clock we then moved onto lunch which consisted of chicken and soup. After lunch, we moved onto the afternoon sessions where most of the rough spots in the classes were fixed. After the second session, we hiked the half mile or so to a place known as “the waterfall,” which is a series of rapids near the village. Spanning about an hour and a half, we went onto the rocks next to the rapids and some even went downstream to swim. We then walked back to the camp had “ragu,” which is a stew with many vegetables. We then had worship, a prayer time, and it is now 11:00 pm and we are watching the Uruguay v. Netherlands World Cup match. We are all very excited to see what tomorrow brings and to learn more about our new friends.
God bless from the Grace Mission team!
Written by Charlie Vancampen
p.s. Yes mom I ate the liver and I enjoyed it.
Blog Entry July 5, 2010 Monday
English Camp 2010 is Underway
English camp began early today in L’viv with the group waking up at 5:30 am, having breakfast at 6:15, and catching our taxis for the train station at 7:00. Our 13 mission team members were joined by 32 Ukrainian students and 5 other Americans (David, Shannon, Shannnon’s Parents and Michael) to make 50 total campers (51 including baby Jesse)! Then finally, we headed towards the Carpathian Mountains. After a three hour train trip, we transferred into three Ukrainian style buses for a two hour drive over mountain roads. The scenery was beautiful.
Our camp is made up of three houses that are nestled on a hillside of green trees. Allan, Hannah, and other Grace leaders are housed in a close by cottage, while the other two houses are next to each other. There is a “women’s” house (and the Gorans) and a “men’s” house (with a few women that needed a bed!).
We enjoyed a late lunch and then participated in Icebreaker games lead by Kjersti: a fun time of Human Knot, Trainwreck, and a Ukrainian game named “Morgalka.” This was a fun time of getting to know our new friends and Ukrainians were seen attempting the Human Knot again and again!
Tuesday begins our four days of several topics and group activities to help our Ukrainian friends with their conversational English. Many of the students participate in a “Molod’ do Isusa,” Youth to Jesus program in L’viv. The program is an “inter-confessional” Christian program for college and young adults.
Classes start tomorrow and we are so excited!
Written by: Bob Thomas
English camp began early today in L’viv with the group waking up at 5:30 am, having breakfast at 6:15, and catching our taxis for the train station at 7:00. Our 13 mission team members were joined by 32 Ukrainian students and 5 other Americans (David, Shannon, Shannnon’s Parents and Michael) to make 50 total campers (51 including baby Jesse)! Then finally, we headed towards the Carpathian Mountains. After a three hour train trip, we transferred into three Ukrainian style buses for a two hour drive over mountain roads. The scenery was beautiful.
Our camp is made up of three houses that are nestled on a hillside of green trees. Allan, Hannah, and other Grace leaders are housed in a close by cottage, while the other two houses are next to each other. There is a “women’s” house (and the Gorans) and a “men’s” house (with a few women that needed a bed!).
We enjoyed a late lunch and then participated in Icebreaker games lead by Kjersti: a fun time of Human Knot, Trainwreck, and a Ukrainian game named “Morgalka.” This was a fun time of getting to know our new friends and Ukrainians were seen attempting the Human Knot again and again!
Tuesday begins our four days of several topics and group activities to help our Ukrainian friends with their conversational English. Many of the students participate in a “Molod’ do Isusa,” Youth to Jesus program in L’viv. The program is an “inter-confessional” Christian program for college and young adults.
Classes start tomorrow and we are so excited!
Written by: Bob Thomas
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Day 3: July 4th - Independence Day in Ukraine!
Hello Ukraine mission team followers!
Today we got a good look of L'viv and packed quite a lot in! The day began with breakfast, consisting of delicious bread and jam, fruit, cereal, yogurt, and tea and coffee, upstairs in the student center. We shared our company with the Goran's (wee Jesse included) and Michael, despite some late arrivals from some select individuals. After breakfast, several Ukrainian students arrived for our trip to a nearby lake. While preparing to go, Somala, a 14 year old girl, sang and wowed us with her beautiful voice. Shortly thereafter, we embarked on foot to the bus stop, then took a short ride over to the lake and our barbecue area! Despite a little early rain, we got the kabob grills going and started to fill skewers with shashlik - a delectable assortment of meats marinated with an even more so tantalizing spices and sauces. (Also Meredith and Eric deserve Kudos for filling the skewers for quite literally the entire meal. We also enjoyed vegetables, and summer drinks which included a sparkling juice type of thing and a fermented bread drink. Throughout the the time, we shared fellowship with numerous students. Each and every one were very exuberant to talk and share stories, hobbies, and interests, regardless of English levels. Julie and Camille also had an interesting experience with the nearby bathroom, which was decidedly unused and un-photographed. Full of food and newfound friends, we headed back to the hostel. The bus ride back was perhaps the most sweaty, cramped, and awkward experience of mass transit for many due to excessive overcrowding in the vehicle. After a short rest and change into fancier get-up at the hostel, we headed up to the student center for the church service. The unique time was marked by prayer, scripture, sermon, song, and overall worship expressed in both Ukrainian and English. We were undoubtedly different cultures speaking different languages, but we were one people loving the same God. Another unique facet was that the pastor was a product of the student center who had initially wanted no part of Methodism but eventually became one of the few Ukrainian United Methodist ministers to go to seminary in Moscow. Upon the end of the service, all hung around and chit chatted with fellow worshipers before enjoying a dinner of NY style pizza and assorted salads. The group then took some time for reflection and then time to hammer out details for English camp tomorrow. After consolidating suitcases we are a mere seven hours before heading to the train station for the Carpathian mountains. So I bid you all farewell and look out for more updates.
Goodnight & God Bless!
The Ukraine Mission Team
P.S. Sorry for the lack of paragraphs and overabundance of multiple clause sentences.
Today we got a good look of L'viv and packed quite a lot in! The day began with breakfast, consisting of delicious bread and jam, fruit, cereal, yogurt, and tea and coffee, upstairs in the student center. We shared our company with the Goran's (wee Jesse included) and Michael, despite some late arrivals from some select individuals. After breakfast, several Ukrainian students arrived for our trip to a nearby lake. While preparing to go, Somala, a 14 year old girl, sang and wowed us with her beautiful voice. Shortly thereafter, we embarked on foot to the bus stop, then took a short ride over to the lake and our barbecue area! Despite a little early rain, we got the kabob grills going and started to fill skewers with shashlik - a delectable assortment of meats marinated with an even more so tantalizing spices and sauces. (Also Meredith and Eric deserve Kudos for filling the skewers for quite literally the entire meal. We also enjoyed vegetables, and summer drinks which included a sparkling juice type of thing and a fermented bread drink. Throughout the the time, we shared fellowship with numerous students. Each and every one were very exuberant to talk and share stories, hobbies, and interests, regardless of English levels. Julie and Camille also had an interesting experience with the nearby bathroom, which was decidedly unused and un-photographed. Full of food and newfound friends, we headed back to the hostel. The bus ride back was perhaps the most sweaty, cramped, and awkward experience of mass transit for many due to excessive overcrowding in the vehicle. After a short rest and change into fancier get-up at the hostel, we headed up to the student center for the church service. The unique time was marked by prayer, scripture, sermon, song, and overall worship expressed in both Ukrainian and English. We were undoubtedly different cultures speaking different languages, but we were one people loving the same God. Another unique facet was that the pastor was a product of the student center who had initially wanted no part of Methodism but eventually became one of the few Ukrainian United Methodist ministers to go to seminary in Moscow. Upon the end of the service, all hung around and chit chatted with fellow worshipers before enjoying a dinner of NY style pizza and assorted salads. The group then took some time for reflection and then time to hammer out details for English camp tomorrow. After consolidating suitcases we are a mere seven hours before heading to the train station for the Carpathian mountains. So I bid you all farewell and look out for more updates.
Goodnight & God Bless!
The Ukraine Mission Team
P.S. Sorry for the lack of paragraphs and overabundance of multiple clause sentences.
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