Probably the first thing I should write about is that God had showed again that for Him all things are possible. After we meet the Ukrainian team in Irkutsk of course we wanted to meet them again, but the possibility of that seemed unreal, that it was hard for me to believe that one day it will happen. I think that really I believed in it only when we were in the camp and were cleaning the houses and praying for the territory. God had clearly shown that no doubt is accepted, that he can do everything if it is according to His will and for His glory. But we should also remember that all that happens to glorify Him always has the other side it happens for our best. I love my heavenly Dad for His abruptness and his surprises! That is why I am completely sure, that this meeting with all of you wasn’t the last one!

Second is that I don’t have enough words to express how glad I was to see my friends, who became even closer during the time of this summer project. Guys I love you so much – you are the future of Ukraine, because you bring the good news about Christ to your people! Maybe I don’t often show my love with the help of the emotions, but know that I do love you very very much. I may probably not often answer to all of your letters (I promise I am working on that) but I always pray for you and remember you!

And of course I am really grateful to God for all new friends whom God had given to me during that time. It is so great to realise that me spiritual family has become bigger and closer and that is not the range!

When we were going to go to Ukraine I was praying that God would use me and help me to be the blessing for all of you, hope that it became true. I was trying to show you love but you can’t even imagine how much love was shown to me by my father through all of you, all of you had been a great blessing and encouragement for me. There weren’t a single second when I didn’t feel your love and support. I will never forget how you (Ukrainian team) has met us from the train there was so much sincere love in that for all of us and for me personally it meant a lot. From the very first minutes of our presence in Cherkassy I felt that God’s love and grace are poured on me and all of us not only like a fountain but like real endless waterfall.

The time spent in Ukraine was the only holiday I had this year but I never regret that I’ve spent it the way I did, it was a holiday and a rest from all the everyday anxiety and routine, I came home rested and fresh, full of strength, energy and many new ideas! I won’t tell what surprises waited for me at home, not to spoil the whole picture, this is completely other topic. I can only say that the time spent with you has given me strength to go back in a good mood to all of my business in Irkutsk.

God had taught me a lot of things during that time I can’t say about everything at a time. I want to share with what God had shown, that the real leader is the one who directs others only with love, one cannot be a good leader without love to those whom you are working with. Because only seeing your true love people can trust you and listen to what you say and tell what they have in their hearts. Then God will be glorified through these relationships. You cannot use other methods besides love only than the person can see that you wish only best for him or her. That can help a person to trust God.

Also it is impossible not to value the importance of this trip in development good relationships within our Siberian team, it is a precious experience and I am sure that God will continue to use it in the lives of each one of us for our growth and development. But now I can surely say that I believe and see, that non of us was there just by chance. God had a curtain purpose for each one of us, and he continues to work in our hearts!

I cannot miss to say about the sweet cherries, thank you David very much for the opportunity to eat such a delicacy for us!!! That was a special present!

And I would like to finish with my own words which I wrote in our team diary on the day of my birthday, the diary you all have seen in Galia’s hands, these words express my thoughts and my moods in the camp and now. “…Father, you are the best and it is honour for me to be Your beloved daughter, and to know that You don’t stop to fulfil Your best and great plan for my life. I love You Father, I love all my family and I am happy to be part of it!”

In 2000 I moved from a traditional big Baptist church into a small (only 10 people then) not traditional Christian youth church was later on called “Faith, Hope, Love”. I love my church and very proud of it even though it is young and inexperienced, but I grow in it together with other brothers and sisters giving everything in my life to my Heavenly Father. Now in our church we have 30 members, 90 % of young people (there are a lot of students in our town).

Why do I want to go to this project in Ukraine? There are probably several answers to that.

Of course I really want to see guys, whom God had given the opportunity to meet with two years ago here in Irkutsk, to see what God does in their lives and tell how we live, the meetings like this always help to see, that the world is really bigger and that it doesn’t end on our town and that God is at work everywhere, that always brings a lot of encouragement and blessing.

Since our church is quite young, I may say that this is a great step of faith for us – because that is our first mission trip beyond the borders of our region and that means that we grow! Here in the region we did and are doing a lot of different projects, but that is the first time we send the missionaries that is why it is a great honor for us – to take part in spreading of His kingdom on this earth. I hope that in that trip God will teach us unity, love, trust in Him and how we can be a blessing to others. I pray that through this trip we become closer to God, for other Christians to come closer to God as well and for the nonbelievers to have the opportunity to get to know about Christ and to believe in Him and except Him with their hearts. This is our goal!

There are others, for example I just dream to eat sweet cherries, I like it very much, but it is very expensive here and I can effort buying it only once a year for my birthday.

I think I better stop on that.

Since I accepted Christ as my personal Saviour, I am burning with a great desire to serve to God, because I am extremely grateful for what he has done for me. When, I found out about this project, I felt very strongly about it. I didn’t know whether I would have the possibility to take part, so I trusted everything to God’s hands and so he did everything the best way and I am very grateful for it.

Each day that I spent in Ukraine was very special for me. Every day God was changing something in me, He was moulding me as a great artist, he was making me the person he wanted to see. Taking me through different situations, he was teaching me patience, humbleness, love. When it was hard I felt His love and care through my brothers and sisters. God is near. He is within us and he does a lot of miracles through us. It was a great joy to serve to him in this project. From the morning until I fell asleep at night I felt his love and care. When I saw God changing lives of other people I was changing too and I understood, that it was worth all the difficulties.

Through this project I grew up spiritually a lot and now I am ready for new trials. The fellowship with my brothers and sisters was so precious to me. We became very close friends working together, sharing our needs and revelations from God, love and joy. When there is God among us I understand, how great it will be to spend the eternity together. I hope, I will be able to take part in many projects like this one, where I can share God’s love so openly.

I want to take part in this project because I want to help other people to get to know God as I once did. I also want to find out more about my gifts, to gain the experience of working with people, I want to grow spiritually and make new friendships.

Bye!

It was the first camp where I was working as a leader. I had a very precious experience there and I didn’t realise before that I would be so exhausted. But there was always God among and over us, who feeds us by His Word and love, and gave us strength.

Since the beginning of the camp everything began to rotate around me at a huge speed. I didn’t expect that I would be in the centre of a whirlpool, which twisted me and did what ever it wanted with me. I served God. Now I had to renounce my private time, to give something of the little that I have to the Lord.

There’s one thing that was opened to me during the camp. It came clear to everybody. The heart of this question is that every person in this world is very important to God and we are like a diamonds: at first we hide under the ground. Then when they are found and cleaned, the price and profit will rise. But the Master is going to work with a precious stones until they are ideal. And only when diamonds are cut will they shine.

Those precious stones that I was talking about are people who live on Earth. For the time being they live in darkness, where they won’t be found by God, Who will find believers and those wishful to know Him. But it is not the end of the way. God will work with everyone, He will teach and change for the better. And only after all this work we’ll shine in the glory of our Creator.

If to talk about the camp, God was working with every person, opening the eyes to see truth and love. I think all of the campers heard call: the knock on the door of their heart, the knock of our Father God.

No doubt this summer 2004 was the best that I’ve ever had. Two different camps, different people and destinyies and only one thing that joined us – faith.

I want to thank the campers that they were patient with the leaders if at times it was a little boring. But now I want to thank brothers and sisters in Christ, with whom I was working side by side in the MI4 team. I remember the time that we spent in Ukraine every day. Ukraine!!! You are forever in my heart, thoughts, dreams and prayers. American and Englishmen you are awesome too!!!

Remember everyone! God has his own plan for you. Special and unique. You were in that camp not accidentally, but because of the Lord’s will. I’ve never seen hearts change so fast and confidently. I’ve never felt like I feel now, thanks to you. Let God be the source for all you do.

Do not give up when everything in this sinful world is against you. He is always near.

Love all of you and miss you so much,

Your brother in Christ,

Zhenya.

When I studied in the first grade and even in the kindergarten I visited the lessons of the Sunday school. Well, it can be said about me that I didn’t change at all as I always have been sociable and I looked like a Christian, I wasn’t with God then but I was close to that. I started my road in the country of Christ since I was 8 years old, when I repented in the youth camp that was organized by the believers. My life has changed completely and started to flow in a different direction. I’ve realized that at last in my life a new fire of love started. Some time later (that was quite a long time), to be more specific in 6 years, I found myself in a Christian camp named “Russia – Ukraine, 2002″, in which I spent 2 wonderful weeks, it is there that I became interested in living according God’s will serving only Him… and there I’ve made a final decision to get baptized. “The fellowship with people truly lightened by the sparkle of the holy fire of God’s love became a real blessing given by our God” – I thought, remembering the days I spent in the Ukrainian camp. I was very happy to be there. And I know that God knocked into the door of my heart then, pushing me to the next step on my way to Him – baptism. The same way I want to go to the camp, to help somebody to come to Christ and to except Him as God and Father. Cause sometimes the smallest thing that we lack are the words from our neighbor, the person who had gone through the second birth in their life, the birth from above, the birth in a dazzling light.

And I also want to see my brothers and sisters, who have helped me to find a true meaning of life. Work at God’s field.

I lead worship in my church “Living water” and I will gladly praise the Lord with all of my heart and my soul in that camp… If I’ll be granted an honor to lead worship, I’ll gladly and without reflecting will do everything possible, for nobody be bored and praise God of the pure heart!!! I think every Christian person is familiar with the filling when there is a need to use all of your potential. To tell others everything he or she knows. And youth camps are the best place for their dreams come true. On the present level of my spiritual growth I fill that God is calling me to give Him a little (or a lot) more then I give Him now. I just want to separate from this vanity that burdens and grips everybody without exceptions. This trip would become a breath of fresh air, a new burst towards Christ. A real “BRAKETHROUGH”!!!! And a miracle.

To work for Christ is not a burden, but a true promise. We are given an authority from God to preach the Gospel, as He had once done for us. With a pure heart and soul, enlightening the lost and finding new people for our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. We are the light to this world as it is written in the Scripture: (Math. 5:14) You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Brothers and sisters let us be filled with the Holy Spirit for the instructions, teaching those who don’t know about God and for encouraging the believers. The trip is a true opportunity to glorify our Father and show His power, though not to all the world but at least to the chosen ones, whose names are written in the book of life.

Why do I want to take part in that project.

1. I want to use the new opportunities for the fellowship with people.

2. I want to tell them about who Jesus is and what He has done for me.

3. I want to have the opportunity to study (experience exchange).

There is also the opportunity of having fellowship with God through nature. I will see one other corner of the earth, which my God had created. I’ll have the opportunity to do something and get rest with many young people, who are going to take part in that project. I’ll be able to get to know them closer, what interests in life they have, what plans they have, and also to find out what their difficulties and worries are.

My God has given such an opportunity for me today and I want to use it to glorify my heavenly Father. I hope that the Holy Spirit will use me and I will be His useful servant in this project.

The thing is that the church I am ministering at is a students church and that means that this is the church of the future and I hope, that everything we are going to see find out and learn with our team, we will be able to use in similar projects in our church.

And also Ukraine is my motherland and I am very glad and thankful to God and to all the people who stand behind of this project.

And also I am going to see my mother.

Thanks to everyone. Halleluiah.

I thank God for the good time and relationships I have made. I am glad I got to know some people from other countries. I like to know their views on things. I thought it was cool that when we are singing in two languages we are all still praising God and he hears all of our prayers whether in English or Russian. He hears it the same way. God taught me patience during the heart attacks. Even though it might not be fun I still need to participate and not complain. I was taught kindness. If I don’t like someone I still have to love them. Thanks you so much for having us.

It has also been amazing being with the Russian team. I learned so much from Vladimir and Galya. I have never seen a true man like Vladimir. Galya has amazing faith. Jenya and his steadiness. Nikita and his singing. Anya with her sweetness. I was expecting to come over being this great servant, but that was not the case at all.

The Ukraine team was also amazing. Victor, what a guy, I think I could talk to him for a year and not get bored. Nastia, so excited about life and friendly. Anya saved my life frequently with her translating. Anton seems to on fire for Christ.

The campers were so awesome to get to know. Sanik, it seems to me like the Lord really has a lot in store for him. Slavic and Sanya were so fun trying to communicate with them, or even just kick a soccer ball. Sima, I’ve never seen someone such a joy to be with, and laugh with. I came to touch the hearts of Ukraine kids, but my heart was the one that was touched.

I was served. I just pray that the Lord used me some how, through a skit, or just being friendly. I learned that Ukraine people are very friendly, but it also seems there is a big difference between Christians and non-Christians, and that is something I don’t see in the States. I have learned to be grateful with what I have, because I deserve none of it.

I learned to love all because all are made in Christ’s image.

People here are so beautiful and gifted in the Lord. It has been a great joy getting to know a few girls and I go back to my home knowing better what God is doing in the lives of these wonderful people. I also hope to be a better intercessor for them.

Thank you for going the extra mile to accommodate us into your camp. We leave Ukraine knowing you better and be a more personal prayer partner for you. Praise God for the clear vision and love you have for the people here. May you continue to be a blessing to the wonderful Ukrainians here.

I know I would love to come back, God willing.