Global Aid Network Mission Reports

As reported by William R.:

Each place Jerry M. went with the chocolate bus had special meaning.  Each place had special people; some seemed sad, then changed to happy as they heard and understood the “good news” we brought.  Some seemed to enjoy our touch, whether it was a mere pat on the back, a hearty hand shake, or a full embrace. 

The real story was the team; it became evident to me that God had selected each one of us, not for our unique abilities, but rather in spite of our lack of talent.    Some of us had not spoken in front of groups before; some of us were shy to share the Gospel.  Some of us had never been to another country, let alone flown ten hours to get there!  God took us as we were, farmers, optical dispensers, teachers, insurance salesmen, retired persons, and young students.  He chose us and molded us into a unique instrument for His glory. 

We were strangers for just a short while; as we gathered at the New York airport, we got to know each other; some were first timers, others had been on five, six, ten, or more mission trips with Global Aid Network.  We discovered that we had so much in common, but the main thing was a love for the way God changes lives through His Son Jesus Christ.  As ministry continued from day to day and site to site, we would share our individual experiences with the rest of the group as we rode on the chocolate bus between boarding schools and orphanages or youth shelters.  We realized how blessed we have been in our own lives and how much our caring attention to the less fortunate touched these people of Ukraine.  From sharing our insights to sharing the food off our own plates with each other, we became a family.

One of the churches we visited was called “Family of God” and indeed this was our ministry; we introduced many to Jesus and the Holy Spirit called them into the family of God.  Praise God for using us as is instrument for this time; may we continue to share this same good news once we have returned to our routines back home.

We made many friends, Jerry M. said, but to see how each place we went to brought us to more friendly, searching souls was overwhelming.  Each of the volunteers was touch in ways that will linger; those we reached out to were blessed, not only with the physical humanitarian aid we distributed, but more deeply, emotions and souls were stirred to repentance, and many experienced rebirth.  

Those in the HIV Church Center received not only food goods and Bibles, but hope for a better life while they remain here, and assurance of eternity with God because of Jesus Christ.  The run aways in the youth shelters and those incarcerated for crimes learned that Someone cares for them; all we met were invited to accept the forgiveness of sin through Jesus, turn from their past ways, and grow in fellowship with other believers and relationship with God.  We taught them that prayer was simply talking to God and that God speaks to us through His Word, the Bible.  To see how each place we went touched the lives of many new friends and adopted them into the family of God as brothers and sisters really impressed Jerry M.

Each contact was touched in a different, but special way: some were touched with joy, some were moved to tears, but best of all were the tears of joy shed for deliverance from the burden of sin as these sweet people of Ukraine came to understand and believe and repent to a new life with Jesus Christ.   We welcomed them into the family.

To see how God worked through this trip –that had been bathed in prayer daily, both here and back home by many supporters- really kept us safe, healthy, and vibrant to minister.  Thank you all, each of you who prayed for this special ministry; your  prayers have been answered a hundred fold.  God worked though this trip, kept us safe in daily travel on very busy but poor roads, He opened doors to locations that had been quarantined and provided other ministry sites when doors were closed.  None of our chocolate bus team experienced illness; there were no accidents.  God is good.

As reported by William R.:

This was a return to the site where we participated in Sunday worship; the pastors greeted us as old friends and introduced us to the families who had come for their weekly group meeting.  There were several babies and adorable toddlers as well as young children perhaps up to age 12 as well as mothers and fathers.  To look at these loving families one would never guess that they were suffering from the effects of aids, but this is a place for comfort and support where they can feel safe.  The pastors are especially blessed with gifts for reaching out to children.

We were able to sing many songs with them by the assistance of our interpreters and teach the children motion action songs.  A brief testimony was given to explain how simple it is to accept God’s forgiveness for our many sins.  The gospel bead bracelet was used to explain the steps toward salvation, and an example of the sinners’ prayer was given.  The audience was intently interested.

One young mother with both a toddler and an infant seemed especially touched by our words.  She had brought a stroller for the baby, but had to hold the child to keep him from crying, so candy and a Gideon New Testament was slipped into the stroller pocket for her edification when she might have  more time.  Other New Testaments were given out as well to those who wished to study God’s word.

The carepack gifts of school supplies and food staples were described and demonstrated by giving each individual item to a chosen participant to the great enjoyment of the rest of the audience –perhaps partially in that they were not the object of the demonstration!  These same items were given out in a large bag to each family.  Illustrated Bible story books were also given out along with candy, stickers, small toys and balloons. 

The churches had prepared a lunch for the families, so we said our good byes and “Dosvidanya” to these sweet people who carry such a dreaded disease.  The teddy bears were being hugged as we left.  Though the disease was not evident as the ailments of the bedridden we had ministered to yesterday, our emotions were once more touched and tears were shed.

As reported by William R.:

This was our Sunday worship experience in a lovely new building on the lower level south side of Poltava which is a much poorer section of town. We arrived at eleven in the morning on our chocolate bus. Two congregations share the facility: Revelation Church was concluding their worship time, and since we were scheduled for one o’clock, we had time to tour the annex building of a bright and cheery dining room and kitchen as well as their rooms for pregnancy counseling, dormitory rooms, rehabilitation center, and storage area filled with a new delivery of Samaritan’s Purse gift boxes from Eden Prairie, Minnesota as well as a number of boxes of shoes. These gifts will be given to needy persons and children that the church ministers to year-round. The members of the church had prepared a substantial lunch for us which kept us occupied for an hour and a half before it was time for the Salvation Church worship service at one. This new building was brightly lit by large clear glass oval toped windows covered in sheer white curtains on three walls of the sanctuary, and when the service began with choir music, the chandeliers and sconces were turned on, filling the room with warm color. The choir was composed of 25 men and women singing four part harmony. They presented two hymns before the children’s sermon which was given by our Dave S. Then the primary children’s class sang a song for us before they were dismissed for junior church. Our Tim D. gave a detailed testimony which brought tears to many eyes. Four more choir pieces were presented before the first sermon, and two more selections were sung by the choir before the second sermon. In all of the lovely worship music, only one was recognized by the Americans; it is exciting to hear praises to God in another tongue to tunes that we have never heard before. This was a foretaste of what Heaven must be like, only there we will be able to understand the words! We were invited to various homes for afternoon tea; breaking into small groups, we squeezed three or four into each of the waiting compact taxis which were parked in front of the church. We were able to visit for several hours, comparing our similarities and differences. The apartments which most Ukrainians live in were built fifty years ago and are in a sorry state of disrepair. The concrete structures are seldom lit in the hallways and stairs, but the two room flats are frequently crowded with comfortable couches and hanging Persian rugs on the walls. The kitchens and appliances are tiny, and chairs or stools have to be carried from room to room as needed. After tea was enjoyed, gifts were given to the host families before we had to depart. Hugs and promises to pray for each other filled the air as we waved “dosvidanya” to each other.

As reported by William R.:

The chocolate bus was rolling early this morning as we had an hour and a half ride to the elder care facility, Khorol Vyshnyaky, which was built in 1805 as a private estate with a grand rotunda domed main building which now serves as the administrative center.  The additional two storied buildings which serve as living quarters flank both sides of the original structure, and together all form a nice garden area with walking paths and benches which were just being brought out since the weather has turned spring-like. 

We were divided into two groups to minister to the two residential wings: the ambulatory residents met in an assembly room with bright sunshine streaming in the window where they were shown pictures of our families and introduced to our volunteers.  Songs were sung, the gospel was explained and the residents were invited to repeat the prayer of repentance.  Books were distributed and questions were answered on a personal basis.

Wheel chairs and walkers were delivered along with carepacks of soap, lotion, and shampoo, hats and clothes, shoes and socks.  The 225 pensioners living in  this facility were very well cared for.

In the bed-ridden wing each room was visited by small groups of our volunteers, sometimes without interpreters as we were becoming fluent in saying “hello”, “good morning”,  “God loves you” and “Jesus loves you” and such things.  Small care packs and candy was distributed to those in bed.  The lotion bottles were most welcome as they soothed bed sores; we had made a collection of motel sized bottles before leaving the States for just such a purpose.

The second site visited today was a boarding school for retarded children in Lubny.  Here 131 students receive loving care and instruction.  Since it was lunch time for the older children, we began an assembly style presentation to the young ones, telling them where we had come from, why we were visiting, how much God loved them, and how they could ask Jesus to come into their lives and forgive their sins.  These students knew what sin was and answered our questions, participated in the action songs, and as all students have been on this trip, were thrilled with the gifts of school supplies, books and teddy bears.  When the second group of older students came in, they were likewise very attentive and participatory in all of the presentations we gave.

This was a good day, but it was long after dark by the time we returned to our hotel, tired, but joyfilled.

As reported by William R.:

The chocolate bus riders got a chance to walk today as the building where a “church action” was to take place was only three blocks from the hotel we have been using.  We still had to carry a few things,  so boxes of gifts and musical instruments were sent by taxi.  We were treated to a very upbeat and enthusiastic presentation by the youth of the Family of God “Bozha Simya” church.  Though this rented building was only dimly lit in the auditorium by six lights in the three ten light chandeliers, the brightness and joy of changed lives shone out from the actors on stage.   There was music and action across the front of the room, several ice breaker cartoons were shown for the children and parents as they filed in and filled the auditorium to capacity, and a Max Lucado story to present the specialness of each individual and the need for personal salvation from the stains of sin.  We participated with songs, explanations of why we had come to Poltava, gospel bead presentation to the assembled group of near 300 persons, and finally the explanation and praying of the sinners’ prayer.  The action picked up again with the actors as they built up anticipation for the “padaruki” or presents they were about to receive which consisted of food staples, gospels of John, “More Than a Carpenter” and other goodies.  The pastor instructed the parents to have each child come up and receive the gift bags on one side of the stage and then walk across the stage for all to see.   The youth pastor invited all the children to come back Sunday for the beginning of a new childrens’ Sunday school program.  As children and parents left the auditorium,  they walked between two columns of cheering actors who told each child “You are special in God’s sight!”  Hand knit hats from churches in the States were given out to all the children who needed one.  There were big smiles on the faces of all.   God is working in Ukraine, and we are fortunate enough to witness it.

As reported by William R.:

The chocolate bus drove to a communications business center which Zahyst Social Services had rented for two hours this morning so that we might make a presentation of the plan of salvation to local financially challenged families of invalids.  There were about 65 persons waiting for our arrival and a few more babushkas came in as we entered.  One mother and father had brought in their crippled daughter who could not use her hands and legs.  She had to be carried up and down the stairs and held in front of either mother or father and lifted with each step of the parent.  They had trudged through the slushy snow to attend and receive the precious bag of food staples.  We gave out macaroni, rice, flour, buckwheat, and similar non perishable staples along with a school supple carepacks, Bible storybooks, Gideon New Testaments, “More Than a Carpenter” and other books.  When the two hour rental time was up, we had given out all of our gifts and we personally greeted each family with a cheery “God loves you” and goodbye.

The second site visited was Ziekiv Boarding School for Boys which cared for 150 invalids.  As we arrived, we were greeted by the local pastor and one young woman who ten years earlier had prayed the sinners prayer after the gospel bead presentation the last time GAiN –then called Operation Carelift- was in this area of Poltava.   She told us that her life had been changed by that simple prayer, and when she heard that we were going to be at this school, she felt led by God to testify to the importance of our ministry. We were allowed to meet with 50 of the children in two separate auditorium settings.

Once again God had ordained a special kitchen presentation.  The director’s permission was required to enter this kitchen, so after asking to allow a small number to go into the kitchen, the director showed them the way and stayed.  When the invitation was given to pray the sinner’s prayer, the director along with the cooks prayed aloud.  Praise God!   As we left, the director, pastor, and young woman all bid us God’s  blessing.

As reported by William R.:

This morning the chocolate bus headed back in the direction of Kremenchuk and pulled off into a side road and a few other little roads until we arrived at Kremenchuk Area Boarding School where we met with 100 elementary age school children.  Forty of the children were orphans and the remainder were from farms too far from any school to stay with their parents.  The director, Valeriy R., has been in that school for 33 years and is now beginning to receive the children of his earlier students.  We divided into five small groups according to age and made classroom presentations of songs, introductions, explanation of why we come all the way to Ukraine, and then made the gospel presentation with the use of the gospel bead bracelets.  Children were invited to repeat the sinners prayer and those who responded were welcomed into the family of God.  Gifts were then distributed: teddy bears and carepacks had already been given out before our arrival, but we gave out the Bibles and “More Than a Carpenter” books.  This was also a poor facility in need of repairs to their outdoor toilets and septic system.

In both the morning site and again in the afternoon site of Novosanzkarskaya Boarding School, gospel presentations were given to the cooks in the kitchens, and as at yesterday’s site, each one of the cooks prayed the sinners prayer with conviction and  joyfully accepted the gift aprons and gospel of John.  This ministry to adults at each site is shared with another GAiN volunteer each day; it will be one of the memory highlights of this mission trip.

The afternoon site wanted an assembly style presentation for their 112 students; the directress, Oksana B., thought that would be a better method for her students.  We began by singing “Lord, I lift your name on high” in both English,  and with the help of our six interpreters, in Ukrainian.  Individual volunteers led the gospel bead presentation and sinners prayer.  As is the custom in Ukraine, all stood to their feet for the prayer, and many listened and repented.  We gave out Ukrainian explanations of the plan of salvation to help them explain their bead bracelet to others.  Then it was time for gifts of carepacks, Bible books, balloons, stickers, bears, and candy. 

As  we left this site, the sun was dipping in the west, bringing another sunny day to conclusion.  We returned the young youth pastor and his wife to the nearest village where they live; he visits this school and another one each week, so follow up mentoring will take place.  The humanitarian aid from GAiN of books, clothes, shoes and socks to each of today’s sites will continue to provide reminders of God’s love as this pastor tends these tender seeds.

As reported by William R:

Myrgorod Boarding School for the Deaf was located down a long narrow snowy road off the highway.  It had snowed several inches over night.  The children were waiting for us in the assembly room and waved wiggly fingers at us as we entered  -their sign of greeting.  The introductions, gospel presentation and sharing took much longer as the words we spoke had to be translated into Ukrainian and then into sign language.  It was a precious time of great sharing.  They were extremely appreciative. 
the director Yeugen Yeugenovych was pleased to show us the whole facility which was neat as could be, though the conditions were very poor.

The afternoon site, Mykilske Boarding School, was again down an unplowed road and set in a beautiful forrest.  Here the children were waiting in their classrooms acording to age.  They were model students and extremely attentive even though they were in this school because of various handicaps.  The youngest ones sat around in wrapped attention especially to the Bible story reading which concluded our session. 

These traveling safety days and lovely weather and interested children who prayed the sinners prayer with us are in a great part due to your prayers.  Please continue to pray for us.

As reported by William R:

Even before Adele and William left the SFO airport, ministry began.  While standing in line to get our boarding we heard Ukrainian being spoken by the two next to us.  We showed our Kiev Ukraine destination to them.  Only the son spoke English; his mother was returning to Ukraine after having enjoyed her newest grandchild.  When we approached security checking, the son had to say good bye.  We assured him that we would help her with any language problems.  Between our slight bit of Russian and Ukrainian, and her bit of English, and a grat deal of hand waving, we carried on a conversation of sorts and helped her along.  The flight took off on time to a clear sky.  Thanks for praying!  When we arrived on time at JFK we helped this “babushka” navigate through the airport to the proper  gate.  We had been explaining  the purpose of our trip and GAiN  to her, so she understood when we introduced her to our waiting volunteers.  We exchanged email addresses and will continue  contact with this sweet  woman. 

God had another “appointment” for us as we boarded the next plane; one young believer from Florida saw our name tags and said he wanted to talk to us once the flight was under way.  He has made several trips on his own to missions in Ukraine and surrounding countries and was looking for a group to go with next time.  We gave him contact information and a card to help him remember us when he chooses his next trip.

The second flight was through clear weather as well as speeded along with a tail wind so that we landed early, but our Ukrainian director was waiting there for us with a bus to take us to the first hotel.  It was mid morning and sunny, so after lunch we all walked down to the metro station and four stops later found ourselves in the center of old town Kiev.  We walked around, got our bearings and enjoyed the walking after so long a plane ride.  From California it was exactly 12 hours of flight.

The next morning we carried our suitcases down to the waiting bus and were on our way to our home base for the next while, Poltava.  Again God provided brilliant sunshine over the frosted fields.  You must have been praying to have so many lovely days in a row.

We began our ministry at a Baby House where we were told that there was an epidemic of flu and we would have to stay off of the carpets, not get close to the children, and be careful.  The children had other ideas and ran up to us and gave us hugs and enjoyed the love that we returned to them.  We were able to see more of the facility than we had been told, and were able to hold the children, and were able to take all the pictures we wanted.  Praise God for this change in attitude.

The second facility we visited that first day (Feb 18: Kremenchuk Shelter for Minors) had mostly young children under the age of 13, but there was one 17 year old by the name of David who remained sitting quietly in the back of the room during the gospel presentation and even afterwards as the younger children enjoyed the fun and games we provided.  One of our 18 year old interpreters sat down in front of him and began talking.  His story was very unusual.  He had been arrested five days earlier because the police said they had photographic evidence that he had committed a crime.  The drove him the hour and a half from  Poltova to place him in this shelter temporarily, only to tell him shortly before our arrival that they had apprehended the real criminal, and he would be free to go the next morning after the paper work was completed.  This David went on to say that he had been having vivid dreams that Jesus and Satan were talking to him.  He had grown very angry over the five days.  The gospel message rang true to him and he promised that he would go to the interpreter’s church next Sunday.  He said he would also bring his sister.  Praise God for the way this tragic mistake opened up eternal life to this young man.  Pray for David that he will follow through and be drawn to God.

From an update sent Saturday, Feb 16:

“The team has safely arrived in Lviv with all their luggage.  One person missed the flight due to some transportation problems getting to the airport.  He has been rescheduled on the flight today and they are all set to pick him up when he arrives and take him to Poltava.”