Sunday, November 01, 2009

 

The Amazing Race/Journey of Faith










Pine Needle Camp in Kolentsi, Ukraine


A couple months ago several of us who are involved in ministry in Ukraine were holding a planning meeting for future outreaches. Our friend Andrew, who has a wonderful new camp northwest of Kyiv, said he wished they could use the camp for women’s conferences but he didn’t know where to get a speaker. A chill went across my spine. So, I must go back a little and explain why.

Before Richard and I moved to Ukraine, I had been involved in giving a couple of conferences on prayer. It was something I thoroughly enjoyed doing and as God led us to Ukraine and unknown ministry, I hid the desire for this type of ministry in my heart. Moving, learning to live in a foreign culture, Richard’s dental ministry and other things took precedence over my own ministry. But as the years rolled by, I was getting restless and began to wonder what I was doing here. Distributing literally tons of clothing, necessities, and gifts to orphans, widows and other organizations to distribute was a lot of work, sometimes fun, but not very challenging. Living with the mess that sorting piles of goods necessitates, drove me crazy. God kept reminding me that I had said I was here to serve, no matter what, even if it meant scrubbing toilets—which fortunately I had not had to do much of.


Our third year anniversary of lining here came and went. I prayed for guidance and for peace. I wanted to find my niche in this country and the world of missions. I asked God to show me. Nothing happened. I asked God to make me content to just keep supporting Richard’s ministry and take care of the house when he went on outreach. And God gave me peace. Yet, I am human and I feel God puts dreams in our hearts, dreams for His glory, dreams for personal fulfillment.


So when Andrew mentioned women’s conferences/retreats, I jumped at the chance. I offered to help put one together and to even share from my experiences if they wished. So we set a date and decided to gear a retreat toward Ukrainian women. During a couple of Mission to Ukraine camps, I had worked with mothers of disabled kids and my heart was touched with the struggles that women have raising kids—whether disabled or healthy. Those who are in ministry also need encouragement and support. God put into my heart to talk about Faith’s journey, help ladies on their own travels, and give them encouragement.



A couple weeks later, I talked with Olha, a lovely woman who along with her husband are in ministry with Andrew and Jenny Kelly. She was so excited about the conference and told me she had been praying for the camp to be used for such purposes. I felt confirmation in this task. At first I had my doubts that many would come, but others assured me this was a great need and would be welcomed. Assembling a team was easy. Several friends immediately wanted to help. We went ahead and put together plans for the maximum 56 people that the camp could comfortably handle. (After watching the movie Facing the Giants, I felt I had to prepare for rain since I had asked for rain.) I gave the project into God’s hands and told Him that since it was His conference, I would gladly go along with whatever He planned whether few or many participants.




Then I attempted to advertise it through church, Facebook, our conference team, and flyers. A couple of different ladies told me they could easily find women who would want to attend. We kept the price down to a fee of 150 griven—an equivalent of $19. This was enough to cover the food and lodging only. I offered to find sponsors for those who couldn’t find even that amount in this time of crisis. Yet no one from the Kyiv area seemed interested or they had other plans or. . . But several ladies from Zhitomer were very excited about it and others were coming from farther west.


During this time I began to work on my talks. Let me tell you, I LOVE the TV show, The Amazing Race. I see so many things related to this race of faith I am on in the weekly episodes of this series. The apostle Paul likens our personal spiritual experience to a race and I really wanted to link these ideas together yet I knew that this show was not seen here and relating to it would not work. So we called it The Amazing Journey of Faith. Once I started working on the talks, the enemy decided to hit me with every doubt and fear that I had carried for years. As I thought about leaving behind the baggage and junk that a person carries, God brought to me the excess luggage I have toted for years. Moments of depression, discouragement, past disillusionments, lost dreams surfaced in my mind and heart. All my past failures and attempts at ministry came back to haunt me. But God has kindly, gently, helped me to see them for what they are and I am slowly discarding them. He is helping me to humbly know that everything on this journey needs to be done His way for His plans to succeed. And I know in my heart, if not always in my head, that His plans are much, much better than anything I can imagine or dream.

My friend, Coleen, has an amazing ministry teaching women to scrapbook their faith, journal their gratitude and/or prayer. She began designing a journal for her classes at the conference. Another friend, Tanya, works with family ministry and prepared to teach women about self worth and faith. Friendship evangelism discussions were organized. Others volunteered to interpret, translate talks and worksheets, perform skits, be prayer leaders and the worship team. The Kelly’s planned wonderful meals. Welcome packets, many door prizes, a Hawaiian banquet and a prayer room were prepared. A friend from America brought Mary Kay samples for each lady. Facials and fingernail polish, and crafts would be offered. Yet we had more staff than participants signed up. But the ones who were coming were very, very excited about the prospect. So we continued with preparations.



Last Friday, the H1N1 flu pandemic became a problem in Ukraine. Because of several deaths, Western Ukraine was quarantinesd and travel restricted. Oops! The women from there cannot come. We have heard that tomorrow, our area may also be quarantined. So far large public gatherings have been banned and schools have been closed for the next three weeks. As of this writing, I do not know whether the rest of the ladies will be able to come on the 13th or whether we should postpone it until the first of next year. Actually, I am amused and amazed at what God knows and does. Cancelling the retreat with only a few would be much easier than if there were many. And possibly the retreat will still happen. This is just part of the race—missed boats and delayed flights, anticipation of what’s ahead, the challenge of things beyond our control.



There have been lows the last couple of days but they are always followed by highs. All I can say for now is that God is gracious. He does have a plan for me and each lady this conference is meant to touch. Somewhere, somehow He will show us His plan. Until then, I am still His daughter and His love will sustain me through the detours and roadblocks of life. He will do the same for the other women. Whether a journey or a race, it doesn’t really matter. In the end, what counts is the destination (pit stop) and the One who is waiting there to receive us with open arms.











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