We are so grateful to God that we have the opportunity to hold outreach day camps for children on the Book of Jonah in different places in the city of Rivne this week. We invited the children of displaced people to this camp. This is a real holiday for children who are uprooted from their homes, and for families without livelihood who cannot afford any leisure or fun time for their children during the summer holidays. We also see this as a good opportunity to build relationships with their parents.
On the first day of the camp, the children together with their caring mentors visited the Rivne Zoo. In its spacious territory, there are beautiful lawns for recreation, picnics, and Bible lessons on the green grass. Swings and various playground complexes for the youngest visitors are set up between the animal cages. During the week, we are planning to visit a real barbershop for boys and an improvised beauty salon for girls, many games, crafts, trampolines, and the basics of floorball and soccer. Of course, the main goal of these camps is to draw children’s attention to God and His Word. And at the end of the whole program, there will be a father’s day, when the participants of the camp will bring one of the adults and we will have a great opportunity to get to know them better and invite them to the meetings after the camp.
Children affected by the horrors and hardship of war remain children, so we are very grateful to God, who gave the kids a few carefree sunny days because we ourselves are unable to provide protection from missiles or draw their attention away from the news of what is happening in their hometowns and villages, nor comfort them as our merciful and loving Lord can do. Please pray for God’s blessing for this ministry and for a good fruit for His Kingdom!
Tatiana Arterchuk
