May Day

Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for your prayers and support, thanks to you, we have been able to go to the Peninsula and to share the Good News. Our trip lasted from April 29 to May 4.

This time we’ve decided to go by car right to the border. However there was one issue – where to leave it. God gave wisdom and we found a church near the border, in Chaplinka, where brothers agreed to keep our car. I thanked and praised God for His children everywhere. We left Kiev late at night and in the morning came to Chaplinka. We thank God for keeping us safe all the way. We crossed the border quickly, without incidents, we felt that many brothers and sisters were praying for us.

On the “other side” we were met by our friends, and we continued our trip. After arriving to the camp, we were very happy to see our dear friends, to pray together and to thank God. That day (April 30) we had a lovely chat and planing the next few days.

Brothers from Rivne were supposed to be with us. They set out later and wanted to cross the border in their car. I was worried about this and prayed that God would look after them. Near 22:00 they called and said that there was a huge queue on the border (about 100 cars). We began to pray and wait. At 24:00 they called and said that they weren’t allowed to cross the border with the car, so we started to think, how to pick them up. Thank God, there was one brother, who took them from the border and brought to us. The car was left in Ukraine, at a gas station. Everyone worried that nothing would happen to it, but God took care of it.

Brothers arrived somewhere at 7:00 in the morning, very tired, and we sent them to sleep. It was the first day of “May Day” (as we named the project). At 11:00 people started coming, I knew some of them, because we were together in the camp, but also there were strangers to me. During that day, we had time to get acquainted and to learn something about each other. Somewhere about dinner everyone had gathered together, we woke up the guys and the May Day was officially begun. In the evening we went to the mountains. Every day during the weekend we went and looked at the world that God created. These trips were conducted by our brother who knows a lot of poems of different poets, and with the help of them, he talks about greatness of God and His wise plan. Then we opened the season with a swim in the lake. Also, every night, we had a chat around the campfire, where someone preached the Word of Scripture, and then we all sang songs. Then it was the perfect time to talk a little bit and find out what personal attitude each of us had to faith, to God’s Word, to the Lord.

It’s great that on “May Day” came a lot of guys who were soccer, volleyball players and they communicated on serious topics. Girls also arrived, with whom we played different games and talked about topics that concern us. I thank God for every day and every communication, which He gave. A feature of this weekend was that there was no strict timetable, so we always had time to talk and to share our faith.

On Sunday we went to the service and then to Hadyrles. It’s a celebration of spring. It was said that that year there were a lot of people, even much more than ever. When we went out there and looked at the costumes and listened to the songs, I thought that sometimes worries better unite people.

On the last day in the morning was overcast, the rain came, but we still went to the mountains to look at the ancient caves and beautiful landscapes. After lunch we had to go home. We did not want to leave friends, but time is relentless. We all thank our Father that He made it possible to assemble, and that He protected us all this time, and then went home. We crossed the border without any problems. In Ukraine, we were met by a family from Chaplinka, and we went to their church, where we had little time to get more acquainted and to have some tea. We were glad that we had met and shared our plans for the future.

It was night outside, the moon came up, and we drove home in our car. On our way we saw a column of military acquipment, it reminded me to pray for peace in Ukraine. We got home with no problems. Our Father cared of us all the time. Your prayers have always been with us, we have always felt your support.

Pray so that we could spend ‘there’ a camp in the summer, so there would be brothers and sisters who would be willing to serve, and that Almighty Father would already prepare the hearts of those who would hear the News about Him.

Ira

This trip was a great blessing to me. God once again showed me His power and reminded that whatever we plan, He has a better plan. I did not doubt that we would reach the Crimea and calmly cross the border. And so has happened. We knew who were supposed to be in the team, and waited for the brothers to plan the program. Challenging for me were the events that occurred with brothers from Rivne. That night, when they drove, walked and drove again, was the prayer night for me. I asked God a lot of questions and I was very worried. However throug that God experienced our faith, not only brothers’. And He showed once again that everything is in His hands, and that’s the best it can ever be.

I went for the trip not knowing exactly with whom I would have to communicate. During this “journey” God has given me a lot of new acquaintances, some of them I even made friends. That trip was another chance to share the Gospel with other people, and to remind It to me. I thank God for this wonderful time and hope to serve there in the summer camp.

Sveta