From 27th October till 2nd November 2024 Iris Krakow organised a short mission trip to Ukraine. This time a group of six volunteers from UK, Germany and Slovakia travelled more than 1.100 km to get to Mykolaiv in south part of the country. We joined our local partners in their project Light in me to help organise a children’s camp in Kherson region, close to the warzone. Children living in surrounding villages are isolated, there is no public transport, no running water, school is online. It results, as we found out, in problems with reading and concentration.
This vacation week they kids enjoyed being and playing together, eagerly participated on the themes of the day. First day was about Identity, being loved. Second one was Hope and third day was focused on Miracles and Healings that still happen today! Children prayed for each other and about half of them felt better right away. One member of our group prayed for a teenage girl, who wanted a prayer for her soul. She felt peace and love coming upon her and felt heaviness leave.
From our Singaporean partners Love on Ukraine we brought 30 audio Bibles with Ukrainian worship music in form of a sheep toy. It was exactly enough for each child to receive one! They all loved them so much, even teenagers ;) Our team prepared different art-, music- and dance-sessions, modifying them according to how kids responded.
For me personally, the highlight was the leading of Holy Spirit throughout the trip. From picking the members of the team and giving us supernatural unity, peace and joy, to suggesting us what to pack.. For this week to happen, four different ministries came together, and the Lord reminded me: „ What you need, I have given to your brother, so you will come together in My name.” Body of Christ in action.
At the end of the camp we received some messages from the parents. They were all the same! They thanked us for coming and said they are so grateful because the eyes of their children are shining again! And we received the invitation from local pastors to come again as soon as possible! We came back so blessed, because you cannot exhaust God´s mercy and love!