We Survived Camp!

Yes, indeed, we have returned from camp, caught up on the laundry, and seen our short-term team off. It was a wild time, full of challenge, excitement, some frustration, and lots of laughs.

Here are some of the highlights:

After a grueling 24 hour trip to Ukraine, our team of 6 traveled from Kyiv to L'viv via train, spent one night in L'viv and then boarded the train again for another overnight trip to Odessa. In Odessa, we clambered aboard a hot and overcrowded bus for the 4 hour trip to our "baza" right on the Black Sea.

Here, team member Leah wakes up after catching up on a few winks along the way.

Once at the campground, everyone was assigned rooms and divided up into teams of 10-12 people...here is Tim's group.

During the week, we enjoyed morning devotions together, free time on the beach, English lessons, time in youth-oriented seminars, mealtimes, games, lectures, and discussion groups. We also had lots of skits to keep the atmosphere light and Leah also danced a beautiful ballet routine and team member Chris shared her testimony during the week. Another team member that joined us from Kyiv, Jeff, also shared about character while demonstrating his karate technique. Everything was very well-received by the campers.

1) Karate instruction on the beach. 2)Andrei and Zoryan doing a skit. 3) Team member Chris winning the arm wresting championship for girls. 4) Team member Bruce conducting an English lesson for beginners.

Of course, the ultimate highlight of the week was watching the Holy Spirit move in the hearts of our guest campers. As the week progressed it was a privilege to know God allowed us to have a hand in reconciling five of His children to Himself. Ira, Marianna, Christina, Alina, and Yulia all publicly confessed Christ as Lord and we look forward to watching them grow in their new faith over the coming years.

Marianna getting ready for a competition.

So here is how you can pray:

Please pray for our new church plant as they hold their first church service this coming Sunday, August 26th. We trust that many people from the camp will continue to investigate what it means to follow Christ through this church, God's Love.

Continue to lift up these 5 new believers as they encounter opposition to their new faith and that they would rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to provide the strength they need to overcome any obstacles the enemy throws in their path.

Tim will be assigning new small groups this year, developing more leaders and encouraging them as they guide their groups through studies of God's Word. Pray that he would have wisdom as he delegates more and more of his oversight job to other leaders in preparation to passing this particular baton off to a new "runner".

Our family would also covet your prayers as we enter into another academic year. Naomi will be attending a new school this year, so please pray for an extra measure of grace to be added unto her as she makes this transition.

Also, our adoption process seems to have hit yet another snag. We are asking the Lord to show us how to peacefully, respectfully, and lawfully handle the beaurocracy of the Adoption Center of Ukraine. Seemingly still riddled with corruption, it can be difficult to discern where legitimate fees end and where bribery begins.

Most of all, we ask that you would pray that our lives and ministry would reflect the glory of God and that His love would shine through in everything we do.

Thank you all for your prayers and love.

Heather for the Millers