These are the days of ACTS in Kyiv

It’s been well over a week now since we arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine and it’s been quite the time again. Unsure at first, exactly what we would be doing in this new location then discovering God had much planned and ready for us here. Our few contacts resulted in more contacts and many more ideas.

Instantly recognizing the intensity of sexualization of women in this city and knowing that Ukraine has a high trafficking rate we found ourselves surrounded and in the middle, identifying the many connections between this issue, alcohol and drug usage and the fact that Ukraine has the fastest growing infection rate for HIV.

One of the outreach ministries that we are connected to here is with Teen Challenge. Every Tuesday they go out, first to a Methadone Clinic (well, outside the clinic, as they are not allowed in) and then to the main train station for the purpose of building relationships, providing of limited medical care and handing out invites to addicts and the homeless for a coffee house Teen Challenge puts on the following night. The purpose of the coffee house is to share of God’s love and salvation for all and as well in hopes of helping men and women with their addiction through their own rehab centre.

We also have the opportunity to tag along with our translator and visit a women she has befriended, who has sadly contracted the virus of HIV through her lifestyle as a prostitute. She is currently 47 years old and only this year through a friend, came to accept that Gods love is for her as well. She recognizes that it is only through God’s strength that she has been able to quit many of her habits, including selling of her body for money. She noted that in her past there had been many times where, if she could have, would have left this industry and stopped her addiction to drugs.

These are just a couple ministries that we are connected with here.

One of our biggest excitements, that ties everything together, is our combined vision for Kyiv and for Albania – to spread awareness of Human Trafficking. We are a group of many talents – art, design, media, photography, and music and a heart for those effected by injustice. It is our hope and plan to use all these things, to research and investigate as much as we can about this issue here in Kyiv and combine it all into a presentation to present to the people here in Kyiv and to each of our own contacts and Churches back home in our many countries.

I am so excited about what God is doing in this group, in this city and in this vision. Before arriving we were not sure how we would fill our days and now the time is flying by with our many activities and brainstorming sessions.

I’m especially excited about the idea of an instillation art design piece in the main centre of Kyiv to put on display during the final weekend we are here, as well as a final documentary of all we have learned and experienced, sharing of the many personal stories we have encountered.

We have less than 3 weeks left already and they are going to fly by. Please continue to pray for the group, for strength, courage, boldness and for patience. Pray for open doors and please pray for a blanket of safety and protection over this group.

Til’ the next time, blessings ☺

Farewell, for now, Pogredec

Well, we’ve been in Kyiv for almost a week now. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to write a final blog on Pogredec. Internet is very limited here, to the point of sitting in a restaurant for their free wi-fi if you order something…but that also means you need a computer, which for me this is not so. I hope to still be able to blog once a week but it may not be so scheduled as before.

We had an amazing final week in Pogredec. All the seminars went really well, even though attendance was small, I believe those that came were very impacted. I sat in on the one for the Roma girls and it was a very emotional time for one of the girls. At first she held it in, uncomfortable with some of what was being said, as these are not things you talk about out-loud or with others. It was so important for us to speak utmost love into this beautiful child of God. To be honest that we realize that her life is not easy, that some of her deepest hurt has come from some of the closest people in her life, but God will never hurt her, he will never leave or forsake her and though we may not be with her physically, she will always be with us in our heart and we will always be praying for her.

The Roma boys seminar went very well too. Three of the older boys we have come to know were in attendance and were apparently very alert to what was being spoken, clinging onto every word. One of the things our guys spoke on was the warped view of how men understand love to be. Often growing up hearing their fathers say they love their wives and in the next incident seeing them beat up the same women they just said they loved. On our final day, as we got ready to leave, two of these boys ended up hanging out with us for a large part of the day. Helping us move and joining us for our final dinner at our contacts house along with two of our translators. It was incredibly hard to say goodbye to these guys. It is just so amazing and so hopefull, to know what they have gone through and yet see how they do still have such compassionate hearts and love for those around them. We pray that this will continue in their lives and into their family lives.

That same final day, we walked one last time throughout a number of the neighbourhoods of our children to say final farewells and give one more hug.

That evening we talked about the fact that there are a number in the group that feel a lasting connection to Pogredec and though at this time we don’t know what that means or how that looks, it will be a continued conversation amongst us, of figuring it out.

A Women's Worth

How many of us women at some point have felt worthless? Sadly, I think that is all of us. How many of us have felt unimportant or degraded as a person or our opinions not heard because of our gender?

This week our group has been holding a number of seminars on the value and worth of a women. In a culture where women are unvalued, used as punching bags or objects to have sex with - self worth is a thing of the past.
In total we are holding 6 seminars for the following age groups:
1) Albanian Church women
2) Albanian Church teens
3) Roma Women
4) Roma girls
5) At risk Albanian women
6) Roma Boys - to encourage them to see the value of women as God created them.

Each seminar has been geared to each group personally but include the same foundational information which touches on identity, what it means to be a women and what it doesn't mean, talents and gifts, love - what it is and isn't as well as abuse, trafficking and begging.

Today we shared with the Roma women. In the end, unfortunately, only 3 women came but this session touched the depth of my soul. The three women were all mothers of children that were a part of our summer camps and who we have formed relationships with from our neighbourhood visits.

The one women, we'll call her Litina, is a mother of five beautiful, vibrant children whom we just can't get enough of. The eldest, we'll call Johno, at 14 years, has a different father from the rest. He has grown up watching a man that is not his father, continually beat up his mother Litina. Some times to the point where her face has been almost unrecognizable. Only God knows how she has survived. The life of abuse is reality for most of these Roma women. Despite what the children of this mother have grown up with, they all are kind, loving, always smiling and laughing, being goofy and just acting like kids. Latina is a Christian women and thankfully knows pieces of God's love for her and shares it with her children.

The two girls, Pearl and Audrey, leading this particular seminar entered into the description of what love isn't:
Being emotionally hurt is NOT an action of love.
Being physically hurt is NOT an action of love.
Being sexually degraded or humiliated is NOT an action of love.

It was at this point my world once again crumbled as Litina interrupted and spoke up.
"I'm 28 years old and I have five children and my life is over. I live my life for my kids, I endure the beatings for them. If I leave my husband, they will end up on the streets. Now we have a home at least."

I...am 28 years old. ME, Stephanie...28 years old. As I write this sentence, tears once again come instantly to my eyes. Sure I am close to my thirties, and though it gets joked about I am still told again and again how young I am, how I have so much ahead of me still and here...here is Litina, the SAME AGE saying her life is over. That her life no longer matters - yes for the reason so that it won't be over for her children, but still - over?! How do we allow this world, how do we allow men - to define us this way! God created us for so much more.

God created man and women. Man and women - equally out of his continual love and he calls us to follow in these ways of love. The honour of being able to bear and raise children, of being the heart of a home, of bringing love and care into these children's lives, to be models for them - this is what it is to be a women of God. To be a protector and provider, yes, to be strength and light, to bring a consistent flow of love to them, but it is not a job. These women are not just an object, a slave, with no rights or dignity. They deserve so much more, women deserve more. We are all individuals, each with a unique identity, every part of our being was God designed and hand-crafted. We are all special and beautiful beings that Jesus died for.

Latina is no different than I, we are both women created by God. Neither of us deserving to be degraded or abused and yet, at this moment, one of us is. This knowledge of knowing what she lives within each day is heartbreaking and tears at me inside. I am so thankful to know that still she understands God love is for her too. I am thankful that she knows God hasn't abandoned her and that he has a special place waiting just for her.

Latina also shared a story about her sister, who at age 13, was sold into prostitution. Actually, many women are brides at these early ages - 13, 14, 15. The family lied as to where she was, saying she was in a hospital for an accident far away. Latina continually prayed for her sister, never giving up. Today she could share with us that now, her sister is married, has one child and has a good paying job and is no longer having to sell of her body. Latina recognizes the importance of prayer and that it does make a difference, even if for whatever reason, she is still in her own circumstances.

I don't know where to go from here exactly. I am thankful for the relationships we have made with these women, I'm thankful for all who have had a chance to share of God's love to these women. To encourage them again and again and to remind them of their invaluable worth. God has been putting thoughts and ideas on my heart. I don't know what they all mean or where they might go, but I pray that perhaps, this won't be the last time I see these women.

For now, however, they are in my prayers, my heart and my mind. I will miss them so much, as I will miss the children too.