Equip4good: Mission accomplished (for this trip)

Hello friends, and thank you for being with us on this little adventure.
For 12 years we have had connection with Ukraine. Many trips have taken place to encourage the good things that are happening to share the love, compassion and kindness of Jesus Christ in this place. As always we came on this trip to encourage others, but we have been the recipients of many encouragements. Many of our trips have been taken up with helping the shelter work and particualrly the building of transition house (with over 100 from the UK being involved in coming out to support that project.) The last 2 trips have focussed on helping the work at Black sea camp to build what has become known here as the "VIP block". Next month the camp ministry will kick off. There are 3 seasons in camp mininstry - first the arrival of many children from the PRIUT ministry, coming for a well earned holiday with their loving parents. Next will be the many children and young people on summer camps who not only enjoy the stunning surroundings but also hear of Jesus Christ and his awesome love for them. The finale of last year was a special youth camp which in August hosted 3000young people in a "tent city". The camp staff worked from dawn to dusk (3000 teenagers and young people need a bit of looking after - especially in the rubbish and food department) .For UK folk - It was something of a mini glastonbury situation (without the excess, alcohol, bad behaviour or stupidity). Our desre was to encourage all these ministries and the future ministry prospects (pastors camps, church leaders development camp? etc etc . )

WORK KOMPLETE
I am very glad to say we have accomplished what we felt God had tasked us to do. We arrived 2 weeks ago with a room full of plasterboard, tools and materials. We leave with the internal shell of the building looking excitingly purposeful. The bathrooms now have completed walls (they didnt when we arrived), they have been sealed, tiled, and the stone tile floors now being laid. All bathroom ceilings and utility ceilings have neat white UPVC coverings which gives an exceptionally fresh and smart look. Floors have been levelled, walls have been fine tuned, sanded, taped, sealed and are ready for the plasterer to do their vituosity with the float. Although there have been some hold ups, problems and unexpected discoveries, I can say hand on heart the team have done an astounding job in the time available.

Of course there are still many things to do, but we praise God that we have been able to do what we can. We will give a fuller work and project upddate on return.

5 Highlight of this trip.
1) An amzing team of servant hearted people. We picked each other up from "our little moments", we multitasked, we trully worked together and all played a hugely vital part. TEAM is how christ meant us to work together - and this truly was a team - the sum being greater than the parts.
2) Time spent behind the scenes learning about the shelter work, the challenges, tears, joys, children, stories of progress and difficulties with individuals we will never ever forget. We love those who work with these children so much and thank God for such loving people in such a broken world.
3) Our time spent in the bible together each morning. For all of us, our time spent in 1 John was a very special start to the day. It is a book about "walking with God", how we can know him in his love, truth, light and holiness. There were many times we sensed God in the room with us by His Spirit urging us, encourageing us, uniting us together, assuring us of Christ's love, affirming us to live more courageously for him, and above all telling us keep investing everythng we have in Jesus Christ. When our lives stop on this world, one thing will remain - our relationship with God.
4) The new gifts and talents we discovered. Through a series of events Mo was asked to tend the many trees at the camp that had overgrown, gone out of shape and needed the special kindness and attention of her loppers. The task was to make it "pretty enough that children would want to stand under them for photos and shade under them with friends.
MO... task well and trully accomplished. I'm sure you will agree the result is stunning.

Dennis drew the short straw and worked with me on tiling ceilings, plasterboard and "stuff". For a man of his mature years he's got an amazing engine, his engineering training is still clearly visible, his singing is of a wide reportoire and his passion to serve is humbling. If every church was filled with a Dennis there wouldnt be too much need of sermons on encouragement, authentic joy or work ethic. Actions speak so much more eloquently than flannel and spin. I thank God profoundly for the model my brother and friend sets.
Ken was a star in every way. From his willingness to fit in with many wierd and wondeful jobs ( i particulurly remember him wondering around for many laps of the building with buckets of PVA, sealing and masking tape to keep us on track. He was the tech specialist to get us online, the tools and materials guru ... questions often started "Ken have you seen the..."
I will never forget one late session of tiling (when flagging ) hearing throiugh the other side of the bathroom wall at mega volume "OOOH AHHH ... I wanna know if you'll be my girl" It brought a smile to my face before i saw his illuminous shorts and T-shirt. Ken ... for the way you have served and the work you have done this week... Yoiu DA MAN... just please update the SPOTIFY playlist before next trip :)
Emlyn. what can you say about this guy and his service to these folk over many years. Faithful, generous beyond comprehension, cutting in his precise wit and an awesome friend to have on such a trip. The low point of shraring a room with hin was probably being woken at 2 am by his motorbike alarm clock (as he snored through the entire thing) - It's quite disconcerting on your first night when disorrientated you feel there may be a Harley Davidson at the bottom of the bed. The highlight was the same as on many other occaisions... asking if anyone had any gifts of clothes for the ministry?... Emlyn opens up his case to reveal encough brand new swag and toys to kit out the entire of Odessa (children youth and adult) and make many rainy days filled with laughter,. Thank you (again) my friend.

Early start tomorrow to catch the flight so I will leave you with 3 things
1) Please catch up with the blog when we are back home and have time to update everything properly with photos and tell you of our next great adventure.
2) Please Keep praying for these special folk when we leave.
3) A couple of pcs as the sun goes down Ukrainian style...
Lots of love BLOGSKI and the TEAM.

Bring your carer to work day... Den showing how had cut the perfect circle for a pipe.