Life and ministry in Ukraine and beyond

Blog has moved

2009-02-27T18:42:00.000+02:00

I have moved my blog to http://artyomkl.wordpress.com

How crisis looks in Ukraine: a few glimpses

2009-01-26T22:30:00.001+02:00

I do not doubt that crisis has affected many in many countries, but since I live in Ukraine, I am experiencing crisis “Ukrainian style”. Well, I can’t complain. God has been very gracious to my family, we do not starve, and we have all we need for our lives and to provide for the kids. Yet, there are things that concern me about certain groups of people in our country, the state of affairs in some areas…

… for instance, education and teachers. I must say that to be a teacher in a public school is to be in poverty. Another insight would be that in our system public schools is the most common way of educating kids in our country. There are now a few private schools here and there, but they remain to be in minority. I’d say 90%+ of students in Ukraine attend public schools, and homeschooling is not an option. So, the education of our kids, the future “brains” of our country are in the hands of those enthusiasts that still find some satisfaction in working full time and getting very low wages. I understand that Ukraine is a different economy, but with average wages of $1500 per month in Kiev, and may be $400 - $500 per month on average in Ukraine, the teachers before crisis were getting about $100. After the crisis hit, the government cut 20% of their wages in our national currency, hrivens, plus hriven fell to dollar (it used to be 5 hriven to 1 USD, now it’s 8 hriven to 1 USD), thus their wages now is about $50 per month.

Now, if one lives in a tiny apartment that he or she owns, and paid in full for it (doesn’t have to pay back a loan), the monthly expenses on utilities, communal fees, and transportation to and from work would take up to $150. So, even if our teachers learnt not to eat and survive, they would still be $100 dollars in red each month… And this is just teachers in public schools, I am sure there are other groups that struggle not less than teachers.

Another thing that I learnt recently… that for HIV positive orphaned kids that are held in a special hospital government budgeted 20 kopeks (one fifth of one hriven) per day for meals. Now, let us see.. 8 hrv is 1 dollar, 1 hriven is 12 and a half cents, then 20 kopeks makes it two and a half cents per day per child. Man… is that a special diet for kids with this terrible diagnosis?

Yet, we manage to survive. Teachers, workers, those at mercy of the government… It’s still a mystery to me how we do it, but we do it! I already came up with plan B: in case of complete collapse of economy, there is still the land that Ukraine is famous for… I will just have to learn a few farming tricks… may be I should start learning now?

Masha's performance

2009-01-21T09:14:00.004+02:00

Having two kids completely fills our schedule: different activities, special time with them, providing for them, etc. A lot of work.. and even more fun! My daughter Masha is learning to sing in a choir (among some other things). As it turned out, the choir where we took her, is well known in music circles and is invited to different places to sing. Well, on January 11th, they sang in Kiev National Philarmonic. Masha is the youngest member of their choir. Below are the videos from that performance.

On the train from Moscow

2008-12-17T16:34:00.004+02:00

So, what is it that I like in my mission trips the most? I guess that one of the most exciting things for me is meeting new people - my brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. People I would not have met on this side of heaven if not the ministry that God has entrusted me with. The reason why I enjoy meeting believers in different parts of the Earth is that they tell me something new about our God. Each of us brings to life different facets of God's beauty, His wonderful character. It almost seems that while each of us is imperfect, corporately, when we are together we represent the whole beauty of God's character. Each one of us tells part of the Universal story of God's restorative and redemptive work in creation. I am called a "missionary" and by definition of the word it would seem that I need to bring something into people's lives, which of course, by God's grace I do. Yet, the other side of missionary's experience is often omitted and not verbalized. In my experience, I have been as much if not more blessed by people's lives and testimonies, their passion for God and their understanding of God that enriched my understanding.

Right now I am riding on the train back to Kiev from Moscow and my friend and partner in ministry Dr. Wayne Vanderwier is going to Krasnoyarsk. God, in His infinite wisdom ordained that I do not go to this session this time. I really was surprised to feel almost heartache that I won't see my "extended family" in Krasnoyarsk. It didn't feel right that I am not going. Oh, how much I long to see my friends there. Lord! How much I long to see Your glory that shines through these dear brothers and sisters! It's a funny feeling… when on one hand I can't wait to see my family, yet, on the other hand, I wish I was on the plane to Krasnoyarsk.

The session in Moscow was a lot of fun. While it was completely voluntary for our students, as it's not an official part of our curriculum and we promoted it as a session for "those who'd like and be able to come and learn to practice what we have been teaching", we had over 50% of students show up. Smaller number of people helped us to create a wonderful family like environment. It fostered wonderful time of dialogue and learning experiences. Students came out of this training very thankful for practical ideas that they have drawn from it, for testimonies that they have heard, for fellowship that they have had.

I am going home with the feeling that it wasn't enough. It felt like of drinking from the spring of fresh water, as we have dwelt on the wonderful Word of God throughout two days of the training. Truly, "iron sharpens iron" - insights from the Bible that others had were an exhortation for me over and over again.

I don't always know the impact that my ministry makes, sometimes God lets me see that, but, most likely, He hides it from me to keep me humble, so that glory be to Him and only Him! Yet, I sure know the impact this ministry makes on me. God is taking me on a wonderful journey of discovering Him, on a path of realizing (once again!) how infinite He is! Praise be to His name!

Written on the train Moscow - Kiev, December 13, 2008 at 10 pm (two hours before we go through Russian border into Ukraine)

PDAs, CPAP and travelling on the train...

2008-12-12T18:12:00.008+02:00

Well, last night I and Dr. Wayne Vanderwier boarded a train in Kiev bound for Moscow. This was Wayne's first time in Ukraine and first time on the train and it was pretty cool to observe his excitement. The most routine things for me seemed to be so much fun for Wayne.

The train from Kiev to Moscow crosses the border between the two countries in the middle of the night. At 12:30 am we went through Ukrainian border patrol, and this time even I was amused to see how Ukrainian officials used PDAs to register our information. The matter of fact is that it used to be much faster with using paper, it took them about 1 min to process one person, but now with this new technology it was fun (well, not really fun.. in the middle of the nigth) to see how it took them about 10 minutes using stylus to register our information into the PDA. So, instead of being awake for only about 5 min, we had to be up over 20. Go figure... and they say that technology helps.

Then, about an hour later, at about 1:30 am we were checked by Russian border patrol. This really throws a sleeping cylcle, but on top of all of this, Wayne uses CPAP to help him breath through the night, but on the train there was no electricity supply, so he had to do without it for this night.. for me it meant a night watch (though not necessary.. but I was kinda afraid and really tried to stay up and check on Wayne's breathing).

Having arrived to Moscow early morning, we were greeted by our Moscow coordinator Sergei Babich. He took us to the bus stop to board one of the buses that went to the church where we were going to conduct our seminar. This was the first time when I travelled Moscow roads without traffic jams... but it happened because it was early in the morning, and we were going agains rush hour traffic.

So, the first in-between-modules practical session was about to begin.

Off to another conference

2008-10-24T06:15:00.003+03:00

Well, I have been in ministry for about 12 years. This has been a time of shaping me as a Christian and as a missionary. I started out with Ukraine Bible Institute while still studying at Kiev State University, five years later I joined International Faith Initiatives, and I have been with the latter for over six years. Hard to beleive. Now, with much surprise I notice that I actually have something substantial to contribute to the whole process of missions ;)

So, today I am leaving for a forum titled: "Missions today: history, analysis, and new approaches. Perspectives for International Partnerships in the CIS". I am really excited about this opportunity and look forward to hearing out what others have to say about missions in ex-USSR!

Please, pray for this event: for God's guidance during the two days of the conference (Oct 24 and 25), for networking possibilities, for planning of future efforts, and most of all for humble hearts seeking God's plan for missions today in ex-USSR.

Conclusion: Invisible and silent war

2008-10-20T14:48:00.002+03:00

When all is said and done, I love to sit back with a mug of hot tea (especially in the cold weather like today) and reminisce a bit about the event that just ended.

It's nice to be home, and it's great to hug my kids… healthy kids… Oh, Lord, how much we take for granted! I have seen so many wheelchairs, so many challenges that parents have with their unique kids.

As we were sitting at Tetyana Vyhovska's home (Tetyana is the head of rehab center for kids with disabilities) I thought about analogy of silent or invisible war. A parent of healthy kids, myself being in good enough health, I rarely stop and think about all those with challenges in their lives due to the unique make up with which they were born. It happens so, because in Soviet times and to a degree nowadays, these kinds of people are hidden from society: one will never see them in a regular school, or being a part of our regular societal environment. They don't go to movies, they don't go to theaters, they don't go to parties or any other events, and they can't find meaningful employment.

That's what the parents of kids with challenges face. They face one huge CAN NOT. This is not just about disability in the physical make up of their kids. It's about everything else in life. The parents are in this invisible war, silent war. Nobody hears them, nobody notices them. In our system they are on their own.

That's why conferences like the one we have just conducted are so important for Ukraine! We teach doctors to have compassion, we teach them to be open with their patients, and most importantly, we teach them to make Christ known. It's a slow process. As it turned out, it's pretty hard to evangelize doctors, many of them were happy to attend master classes, but just a few showed up for "Learn from the Master" Bible study. Yet, I am sure that the number of attendees at the Bible study is not the measure of things. Every doctor on our team has spoken about Christ, has shared the hope that he or she has in Him. The seeds were sown and God will make it grow in His perfect will and timing.

Meanwhile, we are joining with parents in pressing forward in this silent and invisible war.

More pictures from the conference you may find at

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=9147&l=dba57&id=1060477577

A few words about healthcare system with regards to kids with disabilities

2008-10-16T21:56:00.000+03:00

What does it take to be a parent of a child with disability in Ukraine? This is a question that we can answer… as to another question: what does it take to be a child with disability in Ukraine we can't really answer. Many of the kids can't speak, or if they can it's very underdeveloped ability, and we can't learn from them.

Two times a year a child is required to undergo a hospitalization and doctors require him to take much medicine nature of which is not necessarily disclosed to his parents. If parents refuse, the doctors threaten to cancel the disability diagnosis which in turn means the cancellation of all the benefits (however small they are) that are given to disabled kid.

If parents need more help from authorities, they come to local government with a request for financial aid. The local authorities send to their place a commission that audits the home where a child lives and decides whether the family needs that help. If that family happens to own a washing machine or a newer TV set, they are told that they are well off and do not need financial aid.

These two examples are among many other obstacles that parents need to overcome in fighting for wellbeing of their kids.

Today we had a very productive day, talking with parents through ways they can change the system. Being a Ukrainian I could relate to certain apathy with regards to possibility of any change. Coming out of the Soviet Union and having a history of corruption during independence times of Ukraine, sometimes it takes a lot of faith to believe in the possibility of change. Yet, at the same time as a Christian I knew that change IS possible.

This morning I was doing a devotion for our team. I shared from Hebrews 11. We all know the wonderful words from the first verse: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see", but my main focus was all those testimonies of men of faith that are listed further throughout the chapter. Noah and the Arc, Abraham and the land that he has never seen, Moses refusing to be called the grandson of Pharaoh, and many others. These people were facing extraordinary circumstances and requirements. It was challenging for me to think about my response in situation like Moses'(how I would feel if I realized that I must leave the privileges of being Pharaoh's and become persecuted fugitive with my nation), let alone the situation with Abraham going to sacrifice his only son!

I am sure that what parents with kids with disabilities feel in our country is close in intensity to what heroes of faith felt. Faith helped these people to go through the trials and hardships that seemed to be unbearable. Many on our team haven't lived through what these people are experiencing… but we were able to offer them help of far lasting kind. We prayed a lot, we comforted those who cried, we talked about organizing parents support groups, and helping parents understand that their voice can be heard… even in Ukrainian system. In short, it's been a wonderful day.

Ministry in Lutsk continues

2008-10-15T21:17:00.013+03:00

19 percent of parents of kids with disabilities in Volyn region of Ukraine are suicidal. They just do not know how to handle the kids and the pressure of constant stress that comes out of lack of knowledge, experience, and support. These were the words of Tetyana Vyhovska – a director of children’s rehabilitation center in Lutsk.

As our team gets immersed into the world of kids with disabilities and their parents we realize more and more how much needs to be changed.
Yesterday we went to kids’ social rehabilitation center, which has day care programs for kids from Lutsk and where they train kids to take care of themselves and to learn simple skills. We came there to share the love of Christ and to hear parents out. Most of the parents really wanted to get some professional help, so Dr. Jim Peipon was very popular person. The main comfort, it seemed, was in learning the ways how the disability will develop into. Michelle, Jolene, and I were a support team. While we had a chance to talk to a few parents, they were reserved, and mostly complained about how hard it is for kids with disability to have future in Ukraine. Besides some encouragement for parents to form parent organizations that would promote the socialization of kids with disabilities we were able to offer a word of prayer and to share good news of Christ. Yet, it felt that in their despair the main sign of love was the examination and explanations that American doctors provided. The very fact that someone cared enough to examine their kids, to talk to them about the conditions of their kids, to help them understand how to care for their kids was winning their hearts.

I wish I could tell you that very many people came to our first night of Bible study series “Come and learn from the Master”. We had three Christian doctors show up, and one person with disability in a wheel chair. While we expected more people to come, we were thankful to God for the night of very close fellowship with these doctors. It’s been an encouraging night for them, as we have discussed the story that is described in Mark 5:25-35 about a woman who suffered from bleeding for many years and got healed by touching Jesus’ robe. We talked about what this woman might have felt as she suffered from this bleeding, how they treated her the society of that time, and how Jesus looked at her, and what were the implications for Christian doctors of nowadays.

This night our group split into two: one went to a church where we do the Bible study series, and another group went to another church to preach and present our ministry at their Wednesday evening service. I went with the one that preached. At the end of the service many people approached us with requests to see their kids or kids of their relatives/friends/coworkers.... The need is huge!

I promised to share some picutes of our work in Lutsk. Here they go:

Bob Buckendorf is playing with the kids (above and below)

Talking to families (above)

At the orphanage for kids with disabilities (below)

This is our team and hosts on the opening day at the ministry of health for Volyn region

The first day

2008-10-13T21:45:00.002+03:00

Praise God for Wi Fi :) For me it's still a surprise when I find a WiFi connection in Ukrainian hotels. Sitting in a hotel in Lutsk and being able to update the blog and write about our conference is a blessing!

We joke that any location in Ukraine is an overnight train ride away. And it's truly so. One of the main ways of commuting between town and cities in my country is trains. So, we hopped on the train at 9 pm yesterday to be woken up by a conductor around 5:45 am the next morning announcing that we will arrive to Lutsk in half an hour. Thus today was an early start for all of us.

After checking into a hotel and a light breakfast we went to the regional branch of health ministry of Ukraine where we had an official opening of our conference. It was encouraging to see healthcare officials and Volyn University dean and professors come to the first day of the conference and make opening remarks. Sometimes it was hard to follow all the numbers of how many disabled kids they have in each city of the region, but the main theme was clear: they really wanted to be taught in ways of integrating kids with special needs into society. Well, that's precisely one of the goals that we have set for this conference.

Then we were invited to see a performance by little kids from a main orphanage in the city of Lutsk. It was so sweet to see all those kids sing and dance, and recite poems. I have taken a few pictures and even shot a video of their performance, which I hope to publish in the blog tomorrow.

We also had a chance to tour the facility and see all the age groups present in the orphanage. The way system functions in Ukraine is that orphanages cover certain age groups. For instance, the orphanage which we visited and where we are going to work serves kids from birth to the age of four. Then kids get transferred to another orphanage where they stay will age of six, and then they move on to another orphanage... and so it goes on... It hurts to imagine how their lives get institutionalized.

So, one of the goals we hope to achieve is to help Ukrainian healthcare professionals, their patients (kids) and parents of kids with special needs to learn ways of making these kids part of the society.

Tomorrow we are starting hands on training. I am going to be in a group that works with parents. It's so important to teach parents to live with such kids, help them develop and learn to understand them. I look forward to this time. I know it's going to be very emotional time as I will hear the life stories of many kids, but at the same time I hope I will get a chance to show the love of Christ to these people. Please, be praying for us!

Medical Conference

2008-10-12T14:00:00.003+03:00

Tonight I am leaving to go to Lutsk, a city located in the western part of Ukraine. As many of you know from my newsletter this conference has twofold purpose: one is to train Ukrainian doctors and parents in dealing with kids with disabilities, and two (the most important) is to share with them the Good News about Christ. This is a second conference of the kind that we are conducting. Previous one happened two years ago.

Every time when I participate in medical / humanitarian efforts I realize all over again how many things I take for granted: my personal health, the well-being of my family. Meeting people with so many needs is always humbling and spiritually rewarding experience. I come to minister to them, but their lives and perseverance ministers to me.

Please, pray together with us about the following:

1. So that each team member could show the love of Christ to people that we are going to work with.

2. For both doctors, kids and their parents: that the kingdom of God would spread through their hearts.

As the conference unfolds I will try to update you on daily basis through this blog. Please, visit it again :)

Trying it out

2008-10-03T13:09:00.002+03:00

Hello. The first post is difficult I guess, it should be catchy and interesting.... or not. This blog is just an attempt to better inform my friends and ministry partners about happenings in my personal and ministry life. What will come out of it, I don't know, but I will give it a try.

So, welcome to the blog.