Reflections On A Black Sea

(Link) Joel’s WWYC donation page

Priviet! Hi! I’m Joel. I had the honor of serving as team leader of WWYC’s Team Donelson for 2 years now. This was my third mission trip to southern Ukraine. My first trip was as a member of the team from Loveland, CO in 2006. My niece, Jessi and her friend Robin joined me for that trip. I met Chuck Cullum, a really terrific guy with a heart for these children as big and blue as the Ukrainian sky.

That trip changed my life. I didn’t really want to go in the first place. I concocted all kinds of excuses why I couldn’t go. But, in the end, The will of God won out. None of my excuses held up under the weight of his plan. I fell in love with the country and it’s people; but especially, it’s orphans. I made wonderful friends in our Ukrainian teammates.

It was on that trip that I met Helen and Eugene Strahkov, Arusik and Artur Kazaryan, Artur’s wife Yasya, Aida Kazaryan (Arusik’sand Artur’s mom), . All of these wonderful people have dedicated their lives to serving children. Often at the cost of their own comfort; sometimes at the risk of their own safety. We call them mentors. I my estimation these people, my friends, are angels.

Mentors serve on WWYCs teams as teachers, translators, and guides. More importantly, they continue building and nurturing relationships with the children throughout the year; long after we Americans come home to our creature comforts. Often they serve the children at their own expense…money that is hard to come by.

I returned in 2007 as a team leader. We had a team of 9 Americans and 6 Ukrainian mentors. There I met Galina Simeletko, Dima Paschenko, Lena Shkurapatskya, and Anya Nikonorovna. More wonderful angels. Together we faced personal and bureaucratic challenges and stioll managed to establish meaningful relationships with children and staff in 4 different camps in the tiny coastal town of Skadovsk in the along the Black Sea.

What a wonderful and miraculous trip we had. Kids learning about light and friendship. It was an awwesome 15 days making new friends and loving and accepting kids right where they are; unconditionally. We love our new mentor friends Anya, Vika, and Nastya.

To Helen, Eugene and Julia: It is so easy to see the light of Christ in you. You’re an AMAZING family!

Joel