MINISTRY UPDATE

As many of you already know our American team is currently in the states due to the unrest in Ukraine. We appreciate everyone who has been praying and are hoping to make our way back to Ukraine in the coming weeks with safety plans in place. At the same time, you are probably wondering what is going on with ministry with the current situation so here are a few updates...

Post Orphanage Ministry Update:

First of all we just want to say thank you so much for sponsoring our grads for camp! It has been such an encouragement and blessing for us to see God using each of you in this way. With that being said, we want to let you know that camp will still be happening. We are praying, praying, praying that we will get to be back in Ukraine by then. However, if for some reason we can't, our amazing Ukrainian team will be running things from there. 

Things to pray for:

- Camp planning would continue to go smoothly

- Our American team - that we would be able to be back in time for camp

- Our Ukrainian team as they continue to help with the planning; for the pastor as he prepares the messages 

Orphanage Ministry Update:

We are excited to be in the process of preparing summer ministry plans with both the Pravdinska Orphanage and the Ulianivka Orphanage. Our Ukrainian team is rocking the preparation for camps and continuing the connection with the kids there. Being in the states, we were able to get 4 boxes of shoes and goods for the orphanages donated by Neighborhood Church Castro Valley's Junior High group shipped off to Ukraine. Right now is a period of preparation for all that May and June hold in ministry! 

Please join us in prayer for:

- Department permission documents to be approved quickly and easily for ministry

- Volunteers to be available for camp programs in the month of June

- Ways to bring in more humanitarian aid due to the recent troubles in Ukraine. 

SPRING CAMP SPONSORSHIP

Snow is melting. Temperatures are rising. That can only mean one thing: SPRING CAMP IS COMING!!!

These kids have been chomping on the bit since the day fall camp ended; continuously asking "so, when is the next camp?!". Well, kids, it is on its way and we are so excited for what awaits. 

This April 4th-6th we will round up as many kids as that little camp can hold and host a camp focused around the theme "Whose Side are You on?". Games, Bible lessons, crafts, discussion groups, impromptu dance parties, soccer galore, worship, meaningful conversations, and ridiculous amounts of laughter are guaranteed to make this camp incredibly memorable. 

BUT, before any of that happens, we need YOUR help! We are looking for sponsorships to cover 28 kids and 5 leaders at $70 each to attend this rock solid camp. Whether you can sponsor a child in full or in part, every little bit helps us make the magic happen and bring God's love to these beautiful, yet broken kids. 

Use the link below:

OR:

You can make checks payable to Open Arms Ukraine and send them to: PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580

Your prayers are also greatly appreciated as we prepare for the all that God has in store!!!

MINISTRY VAN

For the past 5 1/2 years, the Open Arms team has relied on public transportation to get around here in Ukraine. It has worked... well enough, but it is high time for a change! Y'all, it is time to buy a VAN!!! 

Ministry has continued to grow over the years and with growth brings about new needs. The sheer inefficiency of public transportation is slowing down what we believe God is ready to do. Here's a little example of what a car could do for our team:

Current situation - Let's take a trip to visit kids in the village of Mezanivka - sweet! Walk to the bus stop. Get on a bus to the actual bus station. 40 minutes later, you get to buy your bus ticket. Wait 15 minutes for the next bus. Take that bus for an hour to Kransapolye. Wait 15 minutes for the next bus. Take that bus for 30 minutes to Mezinivka. Get off at the bus stop, walk 15 minutes into the village. Visit the kids for a bit, but the last bus out is at 4:20 so you'd best head out or you'll be stuck all night. Let's be real, you don't want to be stuck in Mezinivka. 

Future situation - Let's take a trip to visit kids in the village of Mezanivka - sweet! Team walks down to the car. Gets in. Drives 40 minutes to the kids houses. Stay until ministry is done for the day. 

We can NOT wait to spend more time doing ministry and less time traveling, but we need your help to make this happen. 

A pastor in our city is selling a Mercedes Vito. It's a beauty.

We have $8000 to go towards this car, but we need $9000 to purchase and $1500 more to pay for the year's insurance. So, we are in need of $2500 more for this to be a done deal. 

ANY AMOUNT gets us closer to the goal. $5. $500. Whatever is on your heart to give can bring about some amazing ministry! 

We're excited. 

Here's a link so giving can be ultra simple:

Or feel free to send checks to Open Arms Ukraine, PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580. 

SP - A BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY

Today's post comes to you from the heart of Sasha Pevniv (aka SP). We were recently able to take a trip back to the juvenile detention center in Sambir (where he spent 3 years) for him to continue his healing process. Read and be encouraged. Our God writes beautiful stories. 

Hello.

It has almost been 3 years since I got out of prison. It hasn't been easy to talk about it and I wasn't very comfortable when people asked me questions. When I was in prison, I didn't know God very well. I always thought about, you could even say, I always dreamed that after I got out, I would go back to the the guy who always had me beat; who had been out to get me all those years in prison. He did things to make me stay longer even  though I always did my work, even beyond what I was asked. 

When I got out, I started to know God more and more everyday. I understood that what I wanted to do wasn't what God would want me to do. And so I thought "if I never go back there, everything will be ok." At first, this didn't seem too bad. But, I still always want to ask him "why?" But anytime I thought of that question, I just wanted to beat him.

God helped me deal with all of those thoughts and told me that I should just go there. I went with the Open Arms Team (the same team who came to visit me every month in prison) - it was such a long trip! I realized how much God loves me; I went to Sambir one time and I was tired from just the trip there. The girls came to visit me every month for 3 years and 3 months. Honestly, I don't even I can't even put into words how I feel. Thank you, God, for my new family. 

So, we arrived in Sambir and walked up to the prison. I absolutely did not want to see Roman Bogdanovich, he’s the one that used to beat me. I saw Grigory Mikolaevich [the librarian] and walked up to talk to him. And while I was talking to him, Roman Bogdanovich walked up. We were all talking together, laughing, and I didn’t even ask him "why" he did what he did. And I don’t know why I didn’t ask him, but I think that’s what God wanted. Now, it doesn't feel so bad. After that, girls took me on a tour of the city and I liked it.

From then...

Till now...