Dear Friends,
I cannot express enough gratitude for everyone who has supported the ministry in Ukraine this summer. Thank you to those who donated as well as those who prayed for us. I have a special thanks for those who went on a short-term mission trip to join the nationals.
This summer Ukraine held its annual Summer Camp. Over 140 kids from ages 7 to 17 stayed at Camp Candela for a week. While there they were split into 3 groups, each studying God’s word together with their leaders, some of whom came from the US. The students played games, worshipped, and grew in their walks with God, and 35 of them made the decision to accept Christ into their hearts! Praise the Lord!
A few other team members visited some villages to provide eye exams and prescription glasses to those who needed it. This was an important opportunity to reach unchurched people. For example, in the village of Dinauti, 110 people came to be served by the eyeglass ministry, and all but 2 were non-Christians. It was therefore of the utmost importance to the team that their focus was to fill spiritual needs as well as physical ones. The team counseled people, listened to their stories, prayed with them, and shared the Gospel. Through that ministry about 15 people chose to follow Christ!
It has been my privilege to see God at work through the partnership between our nationals and the short-term mission teams that answer God’s call every year. I pray that anyone who hears that call will answer it and see how God will bless their response.
In Christ,
Cornel Stef
