This trip has truly been an experience that will change my life forever.  Words can't begin to explain the total picture.  It was awesome, wonderful, exhilarating and exhausting, fulfilling, humbling, overwhelming and unforgettable.

   My expectations were put on hold because of not knowing what was going to happen or what was expected of me.  "Love the Children" was what I was told to do.  That is easy except for the language barrier.  The kids and I worked through that and I "Loved the Children".

    Our team members were a thrill to work with and their acceptance of an elderly woman was great.  The thing that impressed me the most was their total commitment to Christ and their love for these children.

Vitalik, Marina and their boys were wonderful leaders for our team.  Rich and Sherrel are really blessed to have Vitalik and Marina as leaders for The Least of These. Sam and Lori were real examples of Christian love and I was pleased to be one of the Americans with them.  Each day we would meet the challenges.  This was a new camp with new student teachers and they had their ideas of what they wanted for the children.

   Most of the teachers were interested in our message that was given through songs, games, skits and crafts.  I pray God continues the work He has started in each teacher, workers and those precious children. 

The children are starved for love and want to be held, hugged and accepted.  So I hugged and held and made eye contact with every child I could.  All the team was praying for God to do miracles in every life of all involved in this camp.

    

 

 Each day, in our morning devotions, God ministered to each of us in a different way according to our own needs.  When we had to deal with our personal things, such as washing, showers, cleaning our room, there was always unity and willingness to help in any way.

    I loved hearing our Ukrainian Bible students tell how they ministered to the children in such great ways by listening, talking, and praying with the children.  There was no language barrier.

    It was hard to see a lot of food go to waste when the children were still hungry.  Every person was given the same amount of food and the food that wasn't eaten was thrown away.  This is a government problem we can pray about.

    My heart is full of love for these kids and the needs of The Least of These. 

   Lord, please allow The Least of These to have their own camp or provide money for the Christian camp in Kerch.

   I feel like I have new family members in Ukraine, I can be their Grandma.  I feel so privileged that I got to go to this country and see firsthand the needs of the orphans.

   On our last morning of devotions, a little boy came to our room and Vitalik allowed him to join us.  When Vitalik asked if there was anyone who wanted to share with us, Alusha, age 10, asked to speak.  He began to share with us the full gospel of Jesus Christ and we were in awe.  Then he prayed for the team members.  Lord, thank you that the work in these camps is not in vain.  God is working, we can too; the time is short.