It had been a dream of mine for the last couple of years that before all our children graduated, our family would take a mission trip to another part of the world, so God could show them just how fortunate they were! Not necessarily to a third world country, but just somewhere that they could all realize they had it good here in Oklahoma. Besides, I still wanted indoor plumbing and food I could recognize. There was no need to go completely overboard.
On Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at noon, our family boarded the first of four planes (plus a 3 hr bus ride) bound for Ukraine, along with 11 others on our team. We had no idea what awaited us or how our lives would be forever changed.
Exhaustion got the better of us and we don't even remember the last plane ride. All 16 of us then hopped on a bus, loaded our luggage and gulped down McDonald's double-cheeseburgers, french fries and coca-cola. It was also my first introduction to a squatty potty. Gross...but necessary. During the bus ride, I wasn't sure we'd make it out alive. But we did, and we're alive to tell about it.
Thirty-three hours after leaving OKC, we arrived at the Hope Center on Thursday. It didn't take us long to fall asleep and we woke up to scrumptious breakfast...Ukraine style. It was like a scene out of a movie as we all sat outside on a long porch, feeling the breeze and sunshine down on us. We were 8 hours ahead of our time zone and still a bit groggy from all the traveling.
We spent the day preparing for the children's arrival. The balloons and bubbles were ready, as well as chalk, crafts, bracelets and face paint. This would prove to be a group of children we would never forget!
There were 4 wards where the children slept, and most of us hung around with Ward 4, the youngest of all the kiddos. We enjoyed playing and getting to know them all, but by the end of the week, it was clear there were two kids in particular that we each bonded with...Masha (8) and Yan (6).
Masha never left Sam's side...literally. She clung to him and was by his side nearly every waking moment. They danced, sang, crafted and even swam together in the Black Sea. Yan was more hesitant around females, but took right to Sam and Johnny. He would often be found alone, entertaining himself with a puzzle or some small toy. His face lit UP when Kyle and Johnny each presented him with a Hot Wheels car! It was like Christmas morning!
We all dreaded leaving morning...the good-byes would be emotionally draining. Not to mention how dehydrated we were from the loss of tears. It hurt so bad, knowing some of these children we'd never see again. But spending the last 9 days loving them was the greatest thing we have ever done. Somehow, the joy of that was supposed to override the pain of good-bye.
That night, we were all treated to a special meal prepared by the camp directors to celebrate a wonderful week that God had given us. After the group sharing time, our family gathered outside near the cross, ironically where a statue of Stalin used to stand, to share how this trip had impacted each of us and what we were all thinking and feeling. We circled in prayer, all in agreement that we didn't come in search of anyone to adopt, but that two children had singled our family out. Now, it was up to us to pursue these children as God pursued us.
Before July 27, I didn't even know Ukraine existed. Now, it's all we think about. We're obsessed.
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