A Lesson From Earrings

Although Ukraine was a very cozy and restful month for me, (check out my last blog is you haven’t yet!) it was also FULL of wonderful ministry opportunities! As I mentioned, the pastor we were partnered with is from America and moved to Ukraine. The church we were with is called Living Water and they truly made us feel welcomed right away. The pastor quickly trusted us with different ministries to help with! I forgot to mention in my last blog that there was another world race team partnering with the same church so there was a total of 11 of us! We stayed in different houses for the month but came together for ministry and to spend time together! 

Every week the youth met on 2 different nights. The youth group is structured in more of a group Bible study way and would go through books of the Bible verse by verse! Each time one of us would have the opportunity to teach the youth and explain as many verses as we could get to that night. Toward the end of the month I was able to lead one of the teachings which was the verses in John when Jesus was talking about being born again! The Lord used this to remind me that my name, Renée, actually means reborn or born again! What a sweet reminder this was and I was thankful to get to share what it means to be born again as a Christ follower with a group of young believers! 

Each week we also got to help with various English clubs and classes. There was an English club at the church every Wednesday night and the people who attend the class were able to practice with us! We also got to travel to a village for English classes with another missionary who lives there! Every Friday she would drive us there and she would teach 6 classes back to back! I was very impressed at how she give her all in every class for 6 hours straight. We got to engage in conversation with the children and help however was needed and asked of us. 

Another ministry opportunity was their Royal rangers program every Saturday at the church. Each week we were responsible for leading a devotional, making a game and a master class for a group of around 20 kids ranging from ages 5 or 6 to teenagers! It was a very broad age range but each week we got to be creative and engage them in the word and some fun! 

I have often realized on the race that so often we think that we are here to pour out and minister which is true, but while doing that I get ministered to and poured into. God is so gracious. During the month in Ukraine I found selfishness creeping into my mind and heart more often. It was in the little things like choosing to not ask my team if I could cook for them as well when I was making food like I had previously done. Sometimes it was thinking I should do something kind but choosing not to for whatever reason or excuse may have popped in to my mind at the time. I realized this was happening and asked the Lord to help me. I was reading through Deuteronomy at this time and God used verses in chapter 15 to speak so clearly to me that my heart was becoming hard and grudging toward being generous. He reminded me that He has generously given everything and that I too must freely give with open hands! 

There was one specific teenage girl at the Royal rangers program that was so sweet and would hug me every week. I wore these black leather looking earrings often and one week she touched my earrings and I instantly felt like I was supposed to give them to her. I have decided to not wear a drop of makeup this entire year, but I still rock some earrings occasionally! haha

I wrestled with the Lord for about 10 minutes over these earrings… I know it sounds silly but they were my favorite and I wore them SO often! I tried to be sneaky to see if she had her ears pierced, which she did… I then handed them to her and she was shocked and so thankful. I knew the Lord wanted to teach me something through this. One of my teammates was aware that I had given away my favorite earrings. A few days later she handed me earrings that she made by hand that looked almost exactly the same as the ones I had given away. I was in shock at her generosity to do that for me. I now had HANDMADE earrings from my teammate! What the Lord showed me through this is that this young girl did not NEED those earrings but I NEEDED the lesson. At the end of the month this same young girl gave me a drawing of a picture of us with her wearing the earrings. It was a beautiful testimony to what God can do when we start to realize all things are His and we should hold them with open hands including material things and service to others. As we freely give, we will be able to see more clearly how the Lord has freely given to us and continues to, even earrings!! 

My team ended the month by hosting a gathering at the apartment we were staying in with some of the ladies we got to meet that month at the church. It was a beautiful night of laugher, delicious food and discussing what it truly looks like to trust the Lord in all areas of our lives. 

This church and month was a beautiful example of what it looks like to be one big family who truly cares for each other. It was a blessing to be a part of it and witness the ways they are loving each other. They have challenged me to do the same. 

As we left Mukachevo, Ukraine we jumped on a train that felt like the polar express and headed to the airport. 

Next stop… JORDAN!!