I've Got This!

Hello Again!

Наш Бог так велик! (Nash Bog Tak Velik) 
Ukrainian for How Great is our God!

This last week in Ukraine has been pretty amazing! We spent it at camp for the 2nd time. There were about 50 kids there from the ages of 14-18. The whole week was consisted of lots of sports and worship activity. Clinton and I were in charge of baseball, and we had a blast doing it. (Besides the fact I got hit with a baseball bat. Accidentally of course!) There was also football(soccer), dancing, and another sport that I'm not quite sure what it was, haha!

Worship. I can't even begin to describe how that was. Just wow! All these teens wanted to participate in singing in front of everyone and we even danced! It's so amazing how me and Ukrainians can worship the same God in different languages! We sang "How Great is our God" is Russian, and I know how to sing the chorus in Russian! Each night, we would play some funky Jesus music and just danced and worshiped the whole time! So much fun!

Clinton preached again on how God is a father to us, and I shared my testimony also. That night, we all had prayer for one another. On another night, Clinton talked about why he does missions, and why we all should do it and how we are called. I shared all the places I had been to, and why I came to Ukraine. Also what I have in mind for next summer (but I'm not mentioning that right now because it's a secret!) haha! 

I think the most challenging thing I did this week, was hike up a mountain for 9 miles! If anyone knows me well enough, they know it's not easy for me to do these things! But I did it! With only one stopping point that wasn't even 5 minutes. When I was at my weakest point climbing that mountain, people were helping me. Helping me climb, offering to hold my backpack, and just encouraging me. I listened to my funky Jesus music the whole way and I told myself "I've got this! I've got this!"

We had a water day, where we had different stations of events the kids could do water-wise, and I was going to help lead one, but turned out I had to join a team. So I had to do water activities. To be honest, I did NOT want to be involved with the water, but it turned out to be fun. But, the pastor kept dumping cold cold cold water on me about 5 times! And so did about 3 other people! 

We had one kid that was baptized. His name was Michael. God is Good!

This week of camp was lots better than the last one, I think the only thing I didn't like about it was I didn't get to remember all the kids names because there were so many! But I loved every minute of it.

I wouldn't trade this month in Ukraine for anything. It has been so amazing here and it's sad that I have to go back to the states in 3 days! I honestly want to stay here longer. It's bittersweet. But, I guess I can say I'm ready for a new chapter in life with college. I can't wait to see what god has in store for me next summer! It has truly been amazing this past month. How Great is out God? I'd say pretty dang great!

Show Love, Be Love.

Tonya!

What's Going On...

Hi guys!

This week has come and gone real quick! This week we have visited the abandoned babies and kids at the orphanage. I did a little shopping and met some pretty amazing people that Clinton knew! Today we are relaxing and getting things ready to leave for my last week of mission work - camp! I'm pretty excited about camp again! I like it there. 

Yesterday we celebrated 4th of July here in Ukraine! The Preacher and his wife and two kids from camp came and celebrated with us! As did Christina and along with 2 world racers. We had hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, and ice cream! That's the most of american food I have had in 2 weeks!

I am looking forward to this next week of camp. We will have more of the older kids (around 50-60 of them), teenagers around the ages of 16-20 years old. So more my age! Before I know it, this next week will be gone and I'll be headed home in the states. I don't know if I'm ready to go home though! It's been such a short time here! When I signed up to stay a month, I thought that was a long time, but it's not! I would honestly stay here the whole summer if I could. It's amazing here! The people are nice, and I would love to go and visit the kids at the orphanage at least 3 times a week!

I don't know what God has planned for me next summer, but I wouldn't mind coming back to Ukraine any day! Amazing ministry opportunities here.

I'm praying that some teens would really focus on God at camp this coming week. I would love if you would pray also! 

Show Love, Be Love.
Tonya, :)                                                                          

Just..Wow.

Priveet! (Hello in Ukrainian!) 

Today we went to the Svalyava Regional Baby Orphanage. It was so amazing! We walked in and as soon as we did there was a huge smile on the babies faces and they all just ran up to us and hugged us! Precious! 

This is Bogdana. I was mostly attached to this girl the whole time! She was born with a cleft palate. She has had 3 surgeries, and has 4 more to go. She has to wait till she's older to have more. It's so sad to think that maybe she was abandoned because of that. She came up to me and wanted to sit in my lap. It was the cutest thing ever! She clung to me for a little while, then wanted me to follow her everywhere for her to play! She was so sweet and her eyes were beyond gorgeous! Beautiful girl! She seriously was the highlight of my time there. I'm sure my aunt and uncle wouldn't mind me bringing her home. ;) 

I honestly can't see why parents wouldn't want their kids. Did they think it was best? (maybe it will be best). Did they see something wrong with their child? Did they think they wouldn't be good parents? There wasn't a dad in the picture? Financial problems? They were not ready for a child?Maybe for lots of these kids, it's best. Someone who wants a child has the opportunity to. The only thing is, they aren't aloud to be adopted until they are 5. I seriously wanted to being this girl back with me! These babies were not mistakes. And I know God has a plan for their lives. I'm praying that when they are older, that they will know someone loves them. God made them and He loves them. They were created for a purpose. I pray they don't think they were mistakes and that someone didn't want them. Because they ARE wanted by the Father. Whose love is never changing and never ending.

Here are some pics!