I Wished I Could Do More

^{Guest post by Ray Castellano}

I have never understood the reality of what a calling is, until I stepped foot on the grounds of Camp Smerichka.  God can use us all, even someone like me who is far from perfect.  From the moment I first walked through camp with the children, my heart belonged to Ukraine.  The hearts of the children yearn for Christ and their willingness to learn is something I’ve never seen before.  God used me in ways I never thought possible while teaching lessons to the teens.  We all laughed, we all cried and we all found common ground through God’s word.  I never have had a group of teens stop me after class and ask for another lesson.  An extra lesson on their time, an extra lesson about God’s word and an extra lesson in a secular camp.  In this same camp children run to get in line for the best gift ever, a Bible.  Putting a Bible in their hands can lead to the greatest gift ever, salvation!  

^{Ray Castellano being mobbed by his class on the final day of camp!}

I never thought this trip would affect me as much as it has during the past two years.  I started this journey asking God the help me touch at least one life.  He did not let me down; he changed my life!  He changed my daughter’s life who joined me in camp this year.  He changed the life of one of my first students who is now one of my interpreters. He changed the life Bogdan who has his own Bible and does not have to wait on the family bible to make it to him in rotation. He changed Vika’s life for bringing her new friends that accept her for who she is.  This mission changes many lives and there are many more stories.  My connection to these children is amazing as I message with over 275 of them daily on social media.  

I’ve sat in the pews and listened to the reports about spreading God’s word.  Always clapped and congratulated those that go into the world.  Thanked them after their awesome presentations on the work they did.  I wrote checks telling myself “I wish I could do more“.  I was excited to help put the care boxes together for people around the world, putting my own special note inside.  I’ve spent decades of being content with staying in my comfort zone and not pushing the limits of my talents.  

Now I can’t imagine not pushing the limits, not leaving my comfort zone, and not returning to Ukraine to do Gods work.

Let’s Go!

-Ray Castellano (Team Spirit, Burleson)