Good Morning from Donetsk, Ukraine!

Yesterday was an exhausting but exhilarating day of training for our Ukrainian team members! The picture posted is a “translating triad” exercise where each person is given a different Russian parable or story to share orally in the triad. One shares in Russian or Ukrainian, one translates into English, and the third person evaluates the translator. After about five minutes they rotate among themselves where the one who translated now speaks the Russian/Ukrainian, the one who evaluated now translates into English, and the first one to share now evaluates (and so on until all three members have a chance to translate and be evaluated). Other items were covered in training: what to expect in camp, a review of last year’s program, a review of curriculum, what to expect from Americans, etc. Much emphasis was placed on practical experience. The Ukrainian team members shared their own journeys of faith with each other, they completed activities that will be used in their teaching at camp, and they discussed their own reactions to camps and working with American team members. Veteran team members also shared their insights about how to work as translators and team members.

Much thanks goes to my assistant, Inna Kuzmenko who co-led the seminar and to Dasha Novikova, Director of Operations for EEM’s Donetsk office who started the training off with an introduction to the work of EEM in Ukraine. Certainly, a lot of thanks goes to these translators who gave up a Saturday, some traveling several hours to come to Donetsk. They are truly a dedicated group. As I told them, I am so blessed to be allowed to work with some of the greatest people on both sides of the world! Today is Sunday and I will be traveling an hour or so outside of Donetsk to speak to a house church led by one of our translators, Sasha Rodnaev. His wife, Juliya is also one of our translators. Sasha and Juliya are wonderful young Christians who work so hard to spread the word of Jesus throughout Ukraine. They open their own home every week to host the church in their community. I am very excited to be able to be a part of their assembly and to encourage them. Please keep the 2013 Youth Camp Program in your prayers! It’s only a month and a half away for some of our teams to begin their work at camp! Love Wins!