Thank you video and link to pictures

We hosted camps in 6 different orphanages, passed out hundreds of blankets, and thousands of slippers. Thank you for your help in our January projects. All presents, slippers, and blankets have been distributed. God bless!

 

 

Click here to see all pictures of Slipper and Blanket Distribution.

Troistkaya 2-7

The team visited the children in Troitskaya this last Saturday. It was the last of the Christmas visits. The children were blessed with a fun program that was about the joy of Christmas. The children enjoyed the time with the volunteers in small groups making crafts and playing games. Each child was blessed with a handmade blanket, slippers, fruit, and Samaritan's purse box. Special lamps to be used during power outages, notebooks, and personal hygiene items were also given. Praise God for all those that sent these items to bless the children.

As we mentioned recently, this is a new team. Please be in prayer for this team as the are at the beginning of building relationships with the children.

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is to help orphans and widows in their needs." (James. 1:26, 27)

Presents!

The end has come for gathering gifts and distributing them to children. Many people throughout the region in churches and shoppers at the local mall collected 447 gifts! The gifts have been distributed to children in orphanages, children from low income families, refugee children, and children still living in Eastern Ukraine where the fighting continues. The last few gifts just went out this week.

 

 

Praise God for all the gifts that were gathered and all the children that were blessed.

Andreevo Ivanovko Winter Camp

A team of 17 people entered the orphanage on January 9th to put on a winter camp for the kids. They were there for three days and everyone had a great time!

The first day was a day of getting to know each other a little better. The topic was about the gift of life that God has given each of us. Leaders met with the children in small groups and shared their personal testimonies. There were lots of fun games indoors and outdoors! This camp team took it to heart when we said winter camp. They took the kids outside for relay races in the snow, archery, and hockey. In the evening, everyone played board games, a movie, crafts, and time for conversation.

The second day was given the topic of unity and togetherness. They shared with the children about working together and getting along. In the morning meeting, there were plenty of songs and games to capture the children's attention. Then there was the contest of building a cake together. They had fun with the whip cream creating a culinary design. The rest of the day was spent playing more sports games outside, board games inside, crafts, and socializing. In the evening, there was a special meeting for girls and the boys enjoyed a movie, "A Thousand Words."

The third and final day was given the topic of talent. Everyone has  talent that God has given them and we wanted to let the kids perform. Most of the day was spent in preparation for the evening show. Late that afternoon it was the show that lit the stars! The children sang, danced, and recited poems. One boy showed a pre-recorded video of his talent on the jungle gym bar. One by one and two by two many came to share with us their talents.

After the talent show, there were gifts for all the children. Everyone received a backpack, stuffed animal, and a pair of warm slippers.

Then it was time for the final goodbyes. The kids did not want us to leave and the team did not want to go. It was a great time for everyone and gave the opportunity to build relationships. The team will visit again soon at the end of the month.

Winter Camp in Kilia

On January 8th, sixteen people loaded into the bus and headed to Kilia. They arrived almost 4 hours later. They spent the night in the orphanage and awoke the next day ready to minister to the kids. They had worked hard for many weeks planning and organizing a fun program for the kids. There were Bible lessons, sports games, crafts, contests, and talent shows. Everyone had a great time and it was very hard to part. The best part about the team staying with the kids is that it allowed for a lot of open conversation. The team was able to build relationships with the kids quickly and had many opportunities to love and care for them during the three day camp.

Masha gives Bible lessons using the poster board evangelism method.

Masha shows the kids some fun magic tricks!

Indoor Games, talks, skits, and activities.

Crafts and Sports

 

The last day is always the best and the hardest. It's the best because we have invested a lot of time in building relationships. The kids are the most open with us on this day. However, it's hard to say good bye. Thank you for your prayers for our winter camp and for the children in Kilia.

Winter Camp in Izmael

On January 9th through the 11th, there was a winter camp in Izmael. What a great time! The team enjoyed spending the days and evenings with the children sharing with them the Christmas Story, playing games, making crafts, and getting to know one another better. The camp also had the theme of, "You are Special." They talked about how God created each one of us differently and that we are special to Him.

Praise God for yet another great winter camp. Thank you for your prayers and support of our work.

Winter Camp in Pishana

Winter camp in Pishana was held from January 9^th to January 11^th. The team left on the 8^th and arrived at the orphanage in the evening. It was an interesting experience for our teams to be able to stay in the orphanage with the children. The best part was being able to interact with the children and to experience their life with them.

 

During the 3 day camp the children participated in games, fun contests, educational games, making of crafts, singing of songs from summer camp, and listening to Bible lessons. The children really enjoyed the time with the team. This was an opportunity to build strong healthy relationships with the children.

 

The best part of the camp was that one boy accepted Christ. Praise God for this.

On the last day, there was a talent show. The kids performed skits, danced, sang, and recited poems. For their great performances, they were given lots of encouragement and applause!

The time ended by distributing gifts. There were warm fleece blankets, slippers, and treat bags with a small flashlight for each child. They were excited and blessed to receive such gifts.

 

Winter Camp in Karolina Bugaz

Just a few days before the camp our big team of 18 slowly diminished to 13. Then the children from Eastern Ukraine returned to their orphanages and there was just a small number of children left for the camp. The team arrived and there was no electricity and there were no doors for the showers or the toilets BUT! The enthusiastic team pressed on! It turned out to be one amazing camp!

The team was there for three days and was able to really interact with the children. It was a unique opportunity to work with a small group. The children were all able to participate in the games and to enjoy one on one time with leaders.

The Biblical lesson that was taught over several days was about Christians in Rome and also the Christmas story. Ceasar himself welcomed the children to play games in the Circus Maximus! Christians were ready to become food for the lions as the told the children about Christ. On the last day a soldier in the play accepted Christ. This team and the coordinator spent lots of time preparing such a creative and fun program. The children played gladiator games even though the room we were given to play games was extremely cold and without heat! The all camp game, Christians against the Romans, was so enjoyed and even played twice! Crafts were also given the Roman theme.

 

The children all received warm blankets, slippers, and a backpack of school supplies as a gift. The children were quite delighted to pick their items.

Praise God for this camp, team, and this unique opportunity to work with these children in Karolina Bugaz.

Clowns visit children's hospitals

A Nasledie tradition is to visit the children in hospitals on January 1st as clowns and pass out gifts. This year we were delayed a little because of the large snowstorm that hit Odessa. On the 5th of January a small team visited several hospitals and greeted many children. Some kids were a little afraid of the clowns, but all were happy to receive a gift and some joy. We were able to share with the children about the birth of Christ and why we celebrate Christmas.

 

 

Balta Winter Camp

The Balta Winter camp was held from January 2^nd to January 4^th. A team of 13 people from different cities in Ukraine headed to Balta to spend time with the kids. Every morning the day started with songs, contests, and Bible lessons. In the afternoon the kids were divided into groups and rotated between sports, crafts, or music. The evening meeting was a time for kids to spend time with the leaders in conversation, listening to Christian music, and/or watching a Christian film.

 

 

One of the most encouraging conversations was with a young girl from the 6^th grade. She really wants to come to church, but she is not allowed at this time. She wants to know more about Him and asked us to pray that she would be able to change bad habits in her life. Pray that God would continue to move in her heart.

We are thankful for the sponsors that helped with this camp. Thank you for your prayers and heart for these children in Balta.

Winter Camp Project

Nasledie Teams will be hosting short three day winter camps in six different orphanages this holiday season.

The reason we will do these winter camps at this time is because this time is the biggest holiday time of the whole year. Therefore, the kids that are left at the orphanage are truly alone. They have no one or relatives can't or won't take them home to celebrate. We want them to know that we will be there for them. We want to share with them that even at this hard time Jesus is with them.

The general plan at this time, is that teams of 12 to 18 people will head out to the orphanages in early January. There will be Bible lessons, large group activities, small groups, crafts, and games. The main point of the camp is to spend time with the children. The focus is not the program or the gifts that will be distributed. We want these children to know that we are their friends and we love them because God loves us and He wants us to display His love to them. The team will stay in the orphanage. It will be just like we joined them for the holidays, since they aren't able to leave. During this time we will distribute slippers sent from the States and other gifts that have been collected.

If you are interested in supporting the Winter Camp Project you can make and online donation here or send a check to International Messengers P.O. Box 618, Clear Lake, IA 50428. Please note that the donation should be sent to Slavik and Alyona Puzanov and the Winter Camp Project.

Thank you and God Bless you this holiday season.