FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF UKRAINE

I was reminded of a story about a man throwing starfish back into the sea that had become grounded. Someone said “What’s the point of throwing a few star fish back into the sea? – there are hundreds of them grounded here!”

His reply was “It makes a difference to the one you throw back”.

That pretty much sums up how I feel about my first visit to the Ukraine. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the enormous amount of poverty, corruption and alcoholism that grips the country but I did feel we contributed in a small way to the lives of a few Christians and non-christians on our travels.

Times are slowly changing in Ukraine, especially in the big cities like Kiev, and the big supermarket giants have already arrived, even in Nikopol (for better or for worse!) Russia makes life as difficult as possible for the Ukraine, by refusing to import their agricultural produce (Ukraine was the bread basket of the former soviet union) and also charges them European prices for gas (quite shocking when you consider that half the population of Ukraine live below the U.N. poverty line of $2 a day.) Prices generally in the shops are comparable with English prices so only the privileged few can afford to live well.

On visiting Nikopol and the surrounding villages it was rather like being transported back in time in Dr. Who’s Tardis. The plumbing (or lack of it!), their clothes, homes and the way they literally live off the land is all quite alien to us today.

It was a privilege to spend time with Pastor Vanya (John) and Nadia in their home in Nikopol. They are such a hospitable couple and give their time and practical help selflessly to the church and also to all their neighbours. They are a very special couple.

Maranda, our American representative for East West Fellowship is a delightful young lady, who radiates the Lord and we really couldn’t have managed without her help. She looked after us on the journey from Kiev to Nikopol and throughout our stay and was there whenever we needed an interpreter.

Please pray for Maranda as she has met a young Ukranian man called Vassalie, who is training to be a Pastor and they hope to get married very soon.

I was met with lots of hugs, kisses and handshakes from the Christians in Nikopol and the surrounding country churches and made to feel really welcome.

We visited a Drug Rehab Centre twice and several orphanages and a school. To see so many orphaned and abandoned babies and children is very distressing and overwhelming, especially when they are holding out their arms and crying “mama” to you. We also did a couple of home visits and even visited a lady in hospital in Dnipropetrovs’k on our way to the airport!

Please pray for Eugenia who gave his life to the Lord. He is a drug addict and also has AIDS and has lost his wife and child because of it. This young man seemed very genuine and really wanted God to change his life.

Going to the Ukraine is a humbling experience and also makes you appreciate afresh all the things you take for granted. It may have been my first visit – but I don’t think it will be my last.

Wendy Rickard

October 2006

Mission to UKRAINE September 2006

Report by Paulene Dickson

It was a great joy to meet with Maranda at Kiev Airport and to travel with her to Nikopol to stay with Pastor Vanya and his wife Nadia.

Once again our time there was very busy and very varied, from the orphanage for babies right through the age ranges to the elderly, we visited them all!!

The things that stick out in my mind…

The babies, who could resist them. Our hearts ached for them as they held their arms out to us: the little girl at Skola internat whose father visited her once, made all sorts of promises, and then never returned, leaving her broken hearted and thinking that it was her fault. The rehabilitation centre, broken lives, broken by alcohol and drugs, the same the world over but it was a joy to see that some come to the Lord and receive new hope for the future. I gave a teddy bear to one lady for her little boy and she wept – I will see my little boy tomorrow she said (he lives with his grandmother) and this will be the first time I have something to give him.

The devotion and love in the churches was so lovely, the eagerness to serve. Packing up parcels for some of the Baptist Church’s 140 widows.

And of course the hard loving work that Nadia and Vanya put in. No holidays for them they just keep going, and dear Maranda soon to marry Vassya.

Godbless them all. It is a privilege to know them.

Paulene Dickson

November 2006