Well the euphoria is growing in our house these days, as the excitement and anticipation grows as we prepare to head out with a group from our church and Morris, to Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. We'll be spending 2 weeks with this group, working in a camp through the ministry Shelter Plus, teaching English and helping to run activities - all a part of bringing hope through the gospel to a group of teens living in a country that often experiences deep hopelessness.
The excitement is so deep in our home that we even forgot who we were for one brief moment this week. So much so that we even dropped the green and white to don the blue and gold for a brief moment to meet some of the Bombers as the Buck's BBQ chips were unveiled.
But as I sit here, only 3 days from departure there is a deep sene of gratitude to God for giving us this opportunity - gratitude in so many ways. Though I've never been keenly aware of family roots and trees, it has donned on me how special it is to go back to the land where my Letkeman family started. Back to the land described to my Dad by his parents as one of beauty, and richness and fertile soil - yet also a land that brought severe hardships and persecutions for them.
Gratitude for giving Monica and I an opportunity to experience mission with our children in a foreign setting. To be able to walk through the experiences of being a foreigner, the one who does not know what 's going on with them is one I richly look forward to. And in that to be able to worship together, knowing that though we may not know all that is going on, and may not always be able to communicate perfectly with those we will be ministering with, it is the cross, the blood of Christ that makes us one.
To be able to witness our children using their gifts in this setting for the kingdom is something I know I will treasure, and will marvel at. Then I look forward to watching their eyes and see them witness things and experiences for the first time - as we serve God and then take some time after to tour through His creation in a foreign country.
So I leave now to carry on the prep and packing and will hopefully (if internet connections allow) touch base soon from the country of Ukraine.
The excitement is so deep in our home that we even forgot who we were for one brief moment this week. So much so that we even dropped the green and white to don the blue and gold for a brief moment to meet some of the Bombers as the Buck's BBQ chips were unveiled.
But as I sit here, only 3 days from departure there is a deep sene of gratitude to God for giving us this opportunity - gratitude in so many ways. Though I've never been keenly aware of family roots and trees, it has donned on me how special it is to go back to the land where my Letkeman family started. Back to the land described to my Dad by his parents as one of beauty, and richness and fertile soil - yet also a land that brought severe hardships and persecutions for them.
Gratitude for giving Monica and I an opportunity to experience mission with our children in a foreign setting. To be able to walk through the experiences of being a foreigner, the one who does not know what 's going on with them is one I richly look forward to. And in that to be able to worship together, knowing that though we may not know all that is going on, and may not always be able to communicate perfectly with those we will be ministering with, it is the cross, the blood of Christ that makes us one.
To be able to witness our children using their gifts in this setting for the kingdom is something I know I will treasure, and will marvel at. Then I look forward to watching their eyes and see them witness things and experiences for the first time - as we serve God and then take some time after to tour through His creation in a foreign country.
So I leave now to carry on the prep and packing and will hopefully (if internet connections allow) touch base soon from the country of Ukraine.
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