I boarded a plane and moved to Ukraine! (I just wrote that, then read it and realized it rhymed.) But wow! Can you believe it? I have been here for two whole months! Some days, I feel like I have been here for years and other days I feel like I just got here an hour ago- but everyday is an adventure. I have been learning a lot about culture, time, people, myself, and God. I wish I could sit here and list out every single thing that I am experiencing, describe it all in perfect detail for you, but I’m not that talented, plus you and I don’t have the time for that. There is also so much that I could tell you, that I am almost at a loss of words. A lot of what I am experiencing is one of those situations where you have either had to been there to understand, served cross-culturally for a long period of time to “get it,” or just be able to sit and talk with me for hours until I can finally describe to you in a way that you understand. But there are two things that I want to talk to you about, and I hope I don’t cross any lines with what I say.
The first- sometimes-following God requires sacrifice, and sometimes that sacrifice sucks. This is the first time I have been away from family for holidays, and boy oh boy is it harder than I thought it would be. Not only do I miss the traditional food that is served on holidays, but I miss my family too. (Ha! Just wanted to see if I had your attention). I really do miss my family, but God NEVER gives you something you can’t handle and when you make a sacrifice for Him, He will make sure you are taken care of. So here I am in Ukraine and I got to spend Thanksgiving with my new Ukrainian family and share with them what Thanksgiving is about. They happily took part in celebrating an American holiday (hey, who wouldn’t for food?) and that helped me feel right at home. I miss the time I get to spend with my family and realize I am missing out on memories being made with them, but these days technology is so great and I got to skype in to the dinner table! Plus, just yesterday on the phone, my niece Jillian said, “I’m still six!” So they aren’t moving on with life too much without me! =]
I’m also in this weird life transition time where I just graduated college, I now have friends in all different parts of the states, some have new jobs, some going to school, some engaged, and some even married. I also have friends still in school at Messiah. We are all now in different walks of life and who knows where everyone will be in two years. Why is this so hard for me right now? Well, if you know a little bit about me, you know that last year at school wasn’t one of the best for me. I lost some great friendships and never felt more alone. But as time went on God put some amazing people into my life! These people have become some of the most important people in my life, but then… I left. I went thousands of miles away. Before I left, I kept struggling with the question of time. “Why didn’t God allow me to have more time with these people? Now I am going to leave and if I come back in two years, everyone will be in different places.” Then I remember, sacrifice. We may not like it, understand it, or want to do it, but God honors our sacrifices to Him and never leaves our side. So right now, it may suck that I’m far from family for the holidays, missing some big life events in the lives of my friends, and just missing out on making memories with them, but I know that I am where God wants me to be and I can take comfort in that.
The second thing I want to talk to you about is that God is not done working here in Ukraine. He is just getting started. A lot of people’s lives here are being changed because of the war. But that isn’t a reason to not invest in what God is doing here in Ukraine. I have heard of people questioning whether they should invest in ministries in Ukraine right now and when I hear that, it hurts my heart. What everyone needs to understand is that NOW is the time to invest in what God is doing here. NOW is when the people of Ukraine are searching for answers and stability, and NOW is the time when they need to be directed to our God who has all answers and is our stability. Investing in a ministry doesn’t necessarily mean finances. Investing means taking time to specifically pray for the country, the needs, and for the ministries that are here.
As you hopefully know, I came here to Ukraine to help start university ministry. You may also know that we are trying to build a café as a place for university students to call their own, and be a safe place where they can be free to explore their identities in Christ. Now, there are people who may say, “Why should I be interested in you starting a café for university students when there is a war going on?” Well let me tell you a few reasons.
- The university students are this country’s next generation of leaders. They are potentially the ones who will be left to clean up after this war and then figure out how to lead the country next. How amazing would it be to have all these future leaders looking to God for how to run their country?
- Due to the war, there are a lot of international students here in Uzhgorod. Uzhgorod has never really had any diversity like this so it is a new sight for them to see “color” around. This year there are about 400 international students here (from India and Africa). It is projected that next year there could be about 1200. We know of a small group of about 20 Indian students who are already believers and are looking for a place where they can continue to grow in their faith. It is hard when most churches here don’t have translation as part of their service (though most accommodate to foreigners by finding someone to translate for them into English). Think about the impact those 20 students can have on their peers, and then what an impact the ministries here could have on the lives of these international students who will then some day go home and will share the Good News they have heard! It is a potential larger Kingdom impact than I can even imagine!
- College years are some of the most formative years in a person’s life. For many, it is the first time they are on their own and start to make decisions that will impact the rest of their lives. It is important to have a place where they can feel safe to explore their identities, a place where they can feel free to express who they are, ask hard questions, and potentially find answers. This is what we hope to do with our café.
So, as the news in America most likely gives you some distorted view of what is going on here in Ukraine, know that NOW is the time to invest in what is going on in Ukraine, it is NOT the time to retreat and abandon. God is here and doing so much more than we could ever imagine. I often refer to Habakkuk and how God shows how he is raising up this terrible nation and no one will understand why He is doing it, but soon, that nation will pay for what they have done. God says, “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” (Habakkuk 1:5)
So as I end this post (that turned out a lot longer than I intended it to be) I ask that you consider investing in Ukraine. Invest in whatever way you feel God is calling you to invest. If you want specific ways you can do this, contact me and we can talk about different opportunities.
In Christ,
Julie
P.S. Here are some quick updates
-I officially have my permit and am registered! Wahoo! That whole process is done!
-I moved into a new apartment that is really turning into a great home.
-Doug and Clinton are in the states, so pray for them as they are traveling and spending time with family.
-Tim and Helen returned to the states this past weekend, and will be greatly missed. Pray for them in this time of transition.
-We are in the process of raising funds for the completion of the café. We are hoping to raise $20,000 to complete this stage so that we can have the café open in the spring.