The winter camp in Zakarpattia region in Poliana village has become a real blessing for the graduates of the boarding schools and the students of the education institutions of Rivne region. The Department of Education of the IPO “Hope to people” has been assisting the graduates of the boarding schools in obtaining professions for more than 10 years. The graduates of the boarding schools are studying at the universities and colleges. Throughout the studying year, they attend church services and the house groups in the cities of Rivne region. Twice a year (summer and winter), we invite students and graduates of the boarding schools in the Christian camp that is carried out in Zakarpattia region in Poliana village. In order to serve the children, the team of students is selected. We are pleased to be always together with you and with the friends from the U.S., to serve in a one team, to reach with the Gospel students, who are not reconciled to God, and for those, who are reconciled – to help in the analysis of their hearts by virtue of the Word of God.

In a difficult time for Ukraine, you have given us a hand and have supported in the organization and carrying out the Christian camp. The winter camp program “Why did Christ come” provided an opportunity to conduct a seminar “Foundations of faith” by Bruce Wilkinson, the Doctor of Pedagogy. This seminar will lay a solid foundation for the students` “building of faith”, so that they will not be afraid of any storm in their life. It is dedicated to the fundamental notions of the Christian faith: the Bible, the sin, the salvation, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the life after death. The seminar covers the issues that seem obvious to many people.

The students and the graduates of the boarding schools, who are reconciled to God, testified how they live under the protection of the Lord, how their faith is growing. They managed to do an analysis of their hearts and their faith.

For a week, students were placed in the home family of the church. Over a period of the camp, we were able to talk with them about God.

Thank you that our children could live in the warm cozy rooms, that they could sleep in pristine white beds. They were fed with home-cooked food in the canteen. Every day they ate fruits, salads and pastry.

The “Foundations of faith” seminar covered the following topics: the Bible; the sin; the salvation; Why did Jesus say: “I shall return”; What happens when I die. Between morning and evening worship there was a time for the seminar, small groups, face-to-face communication, excursions, walks in the mountains and swimming in the pool.

God gave us a lovely atmosphere in the team. It was a great testimony to all whom we served. Every morning started with a joint worship. From 7:30 to 8:00 am, we were taking turns reading short passages from the Scripture, discussing what was read from the Bible and praying. It was a great blessing for us.

After breakfast, everyone was in a hurry to be at the morning worship. We prayed together, sang and listened to the testimonies. Who are glad now that we chose exactly these topics for the morning worship. They became a firm foundation for the evening service. Our unbelieving friends know almost nothing about God, so for them it was the first serious acquaintance with their Creator. Answering the question: “What topics of the seminar were the most useful?”, the students wrote: “All the topics of the seminar.”

Evening service (from 20:00 to 21:30) started with a prayer and singing, and then everyone, who wanted, could praise the Lord with singing, performed sketches and a variety of games to become closer friends with each other. Of course, some guys were anxious to stand in front of everyone and to tell something about themselves, so every night someone from the team spoke and praised God with his group. This made a very good impact upon the atmosphere in the camp.

Each of the evening topics was important to rethink the life. We used some videos and showed Christian films. It elaborated the topics or served as a good prologue. Particularly successful was the 20 minutes film “6000 points for the Sky.”

At 22:15 the team gathered for debriefing, prayed together for the blessings that God gave us.

After a personal testimony, Sergei offered to pray the prayer of repentance to anyone who wants to follow the Lord, how they with Ivan do. The appeal was dismissed, but in the evening two girls came and told in a private talk, how they reconsidered their life, prayed and asked God for help in reading the Bible. Their prayers were accompanied by tears of joy. God be thanked!!! We see the fruits of the Holy Spirit and rejoice with friends that these young people have made the most important decision in their lives – to follow the Lord. They are willing to serve God for the rest of life.

With love in Christ,
the Bondarchuk Alexander and Valentina, Yuri and Tatiana family

Thank God with us for:
– The participants of the camp, who made important decisions in their lives;
– His care in the service for the students, graduates of the boarding schools of Rivne region and our family;
– Organization and carrying out camps for the students;
– Participation of the brothers and sisters from the Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis in the organization and carrying out the Christian camp for the students and the orphans;
– Ability to continue to serve the students with the meals after the services on holidays and weekends;
– Designed seminar “Foundations of faith”.

Pray for:
– Revival of the children and the students, who were in the camp;
– Conducting the Bible groups for the students and the graduates of the boarding schools;
– Ability to continue to serve the students and the graduates of the boarding schools of Rivne region;
– Organization and carrying out the Christian summer camps for the teachers, students and children of the boarding schools;

With love in Christ, the staff of The Department of Education of the IPO “Hope to people”, the city of Rivne