Back in Ukraine for Winter Camp...
Right after Christmas, I hopped on a plane to Warsaw, Poland in order to do the arduous overland trip to Kyiv, Ukraine. I am not a huge fan of cold or snow, but I wanted to be a part of Mercy Projects winter camp in a beautiful facility in Cherkasy. This area is a few hours south of the capitol on the Dnipro river. The kids were a lot of the same ones from summer camp, who come from all over this war torn country. So we adults and young adult counselors had the benefit of building on relationships that were forged this summer in the Carpathian mountains. Sometimes, when I mention that I am heading back into Ukraine, people will say, "Oh, they are still at war?" Yes, regardless of the fact that it is rarely mentioned in our US news cycles, these people are still being bombarded with missile attacks, drone warfare, air raid sirens, decimated lives and interrupted electricity, careers and education. Others wish to debate their political stance on whether we should have sent millions to this nation or if indeed their government is corrupt. I don't go to Ukraine for political reasons, nor do my husband Marty and I do our work in other countries for that motive. I go because innocents are unfairly being harmed, many of them friends for many years. I have been involved with Christian humanitarian projects with the same non-profit since 1997 and Marty has been going even longer.
Yes, I believe that their government is corrupt, as is ours and every other government on the earth. It is my humble opinion that no government puts their citizens first. Vulnerable people are my number one concern, I cannot help what my nation or other countries choose to do at any given time. So that's my two-cents on that subject.
At winter camp, I was privileged to do my best to spread love, joy and friendship to traumatized young people-who want a future like any other teen their age. By the way, the thing that will always stand out from this camp in my mind is not the art projects that we did, although those were fun. And the vibrant music and dancing, which was fantastic too. There were outside activities such as zip lines and obstacle courses that were phenomenal for confidence and team building the passion. There was exceptional zest for life despite their circumstances. But what I will always remember most is having to tour the bomb shelter that was essential for the safety of each and every person there, including myself, should life shattering weapons fall from the air. Can you imagine sending your child to a winter camp that needed a bomb shelter as an amenity?
