San Antonio Christian School has a new team preparing for their 8th mission trip to Ukraine. There are some who are returning for 2nd, 3rd, or 4th+ time back. Many are going for the very first time. Currently, there are approximately 20 on the team and they are all very excited as they anticipate what God is going to do.
Now is a time of planning, fund raising, and meetings. The team meets every week to get ready for this mission and to seek what God has planned for them. They will begin weekly Russian lessons soon as well. It's great to know a few words even though we have wonderful translators when we get to Odessa, Ukraine.
The team is working on raising funds for the trip. Each member must raise about $2,900 to cover the cost of airfare, travel in Ukraine and Austria, food, water, hotel, craft supplies, translator fees, and any need that the team feels they can meet while they are there.
One of the biggest struggles about going on such a trip is raising this huge about of money. However, there is no doubt about Who holds this money in His hands and Who is sending this team to do His will, therefore there is no worry about raising the funds needed.
Here are some things the team is already doing and will be doing in order to raise what is needed:
"Parent Night Out" nights are held at the school several times throughout the school year. Parents drop their children off for the evening and the Ukraine Mission Team takes care of the children .
In February, the school's annual "Battle of the Bands" takes place. Students get their bands together (all styles of music) and come to ROCK OUT all evening. This is the first time that proceeds will go to Ukraine missions ....... Our school has a heart for the orphans in Ukraine! Thank you Jesus!
Everyone on the team sends out letters to their loved ones asking for prayer and financial support. This is really the main way to raise support and of course, prayer is the most important support to receive.
The favorite fund raiser for the mission team, hands down, is the Father/Daughter Banquet. This banquet is as much of a blessing for those of us who participate in serving in it as it is for those fathers and daughters who come to the event. It is always a very special evening. Last year's theme was "Showers of Blessings". At the end of the evening the fathers had a special time of praying a blessing over their daughters and then completed the night with a precious father-daughter dance.
This blog post is just to let you know that another trip is in the making. Your prayers are very much appreciated. It is very important that no step is taken in the plans without God's hand guiding us.
If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to help this team go to Ukraine to minister to the orphans, please send your check to SACS @ 19202 Redland Road San Antonio TX 78259 and mark the check and the envelope Ukraine Missions. We believe that God will multiply each gift just as He did when he multiplied the loaves and fishes. He is in control.
As always,
THANK YOU for your prayers! God is the Creator of the universe and He cares for us so much. He cares for these orphans in Ukraine and He has put them forever in our hearts. We will continue to go for as long as He opens this door for us to go. So...thank you for your prayers and your support.
Check out the video to see what God did last year and see the awesome kids that are in Ukraine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h6gEi00QQo
Also, feel free to see the entries below to see more about last summer.
By the way.... Bill and Pam (Pam is the writer of this blog) may not be going on the trip this year. I have gone the last 6 years and have fallen so very in love with these kids. Bill has joined us the last 4 years and has also gotten all "messed up" in the heart. Because of this condition we find ourselves in, we feel God prompting us to adopt and we have started the process of adopting. We will not know the timing of our Ukraine court date any time soon, therefore we cannot make plans yet for the mission trip. It's hard to believe I won't be going with the team but maybe God's will make the timing all at the same time~
2 comments:
How awesome that you are planning to adopt!! :) God will do that!! He's done it for us...our dossier is in Paris France right this minute, on its way to Kiev. Amazing...so much relief mixed with near panic...wow!
Gotta ask if God has called you to a specific child? We have followed the children in this region and gotten to "know" alot of them so it is always incredible to hear who God has birthed in a family's heart.
God Bless!!
Yes, it is awesome and I can never answer this question with a short answer. : ) I just read your amazing blog and it makes me even more excited to face our journey. We have already had some of the trials you have had. I have come to know love so many of these kids from our mission trips so I have a very long list of kids that I'd love to bring home with me. It is so hard to leave them behind every year. The one boy that I have wanted to adopt for the longest time does not want to be adopted. We talked about it and then after a few months of him thinking more about it, he made a final decission to stay there with his big brother and grandfather. I understand this but would still take him if in a heart beat if he changed his mind. So, that was the first heart break. The other boy I want is in a different kind of orphanage. It's a juvenile detention center. I'm just hoping all goes well there and that God will work everything out. He is a Christian and has such a sweet spirit. The next one on my "list" is another heart break, so to speak, because someone already started the adoption process on him. And like you, I didn't want to do anything to mess up his adoption when he was so close to being 16 and then him not get adopted at all. I'm leaving this in the Lord's hands. If it is God's will for us to have him in our family (we have known him for 5 years) then I know He will work it all out. We are just in the very beginning stages. We just had our homestudy appointment and beginning to find out what forms we need to print out and get ready to go. We are walking blind at this point, but at least we are walking forward! You can email me at d7defrees@hotmail.com or add me as on facebook if you want to talk more about it. Sounds like we would have a lot to talk about. : )
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