Did hanging out with cows while doing construction on a dairy farm, learning Hungarian from Roma kids, riding for hours in a hot van and being cooped up inside a water tower sandpapering the rust ever cross your mind as the perfect vacation? That's what I did, and trust me it was.
This was part of my experience with Youth In Mission last July. Our first service project was in Ozd, a village in Romania. We spent the week working on a dairy farm that is affiliated with an alcoholic rehabilitation centre. As a team, we built cow stalls out of cement, shucked corn and made two big holes in the wall for an office window inside the barn. I learned more about cows than I will ever need to know! One thing that had the most impact on me was the fellowship with the local missionaries. I miss those large family dinners. A bonus was staying in an old run-down castle built in the 1600s.
Next, we travelled to Ukraine where we worked at a Roma camp. I didn't know what to expect, but it turned out to be an amazing week. Each day the kids brought tons of energy and joy to everything. They didn't seem to mind that we couldn't speak their language, and they always welcomed us with smiles and laughter. It was great to see and share the mission and outreach that is provided to these kids. Like normal camps, everyday had a Bible theme, craft time and lots of activities. Many of the songs we sang were the same as the ones we sing in Canada, and it was lots of fun teaching them some of the English lyrics. One of the funniest things of the week was seeing how much these kids loved having their daily showers. This was quite different from my experience working at camps in Canada where the campers' goal is to go the whole week without bathing. The end of camp came quick, and before we knew it the kids were back home. But, to our delight, we went to their village for Sunday worship the very next day. I'll never forget their faces as we arrived at the village. We were pulled in every direction as they tried to show us around. It was an extremely special but emotional morning as we got to see the poverty they live in. This put things in perspective about what they experienced each day. I realized how incredible it was that they were so loving and welcoming to us despite their circumstances.
The final project was in another village in Ukraine. We helped out on a construction site building a large addition to a Christian school. We sanded the inside of a water tower and painted it, painted many doors and shovelled a lot of dirt. Because it was the last week, it was nice just being together as a team, debriefing and reflecting on the trip.
Reflecting back, I'm thankful for so many aspects of my YIM experience. Our leaders, Steve Ross and Sonya Henderson, always knew the right things to say and their sense of humour made even the tedious tasks fun. I'm also very thankful for all of the people we met along the way, the missionaries and leaders, and all the knowledge and insight they provided.
Looking back, I can see the many ways that God provided for us in all that we did. It was awesome to experience His love in a new and powerful way in a foreign land with new people. This trip has opened my eyes regarding the world of mission, and the work God calls us to do. It has instilled in me a desire to do more projects like this, and I'm looking forward to seeing what God is calling me to next.
Special thanks to Reuben and Katherine St Louis, leaders, Steve Ross and Sonya Henderson, and team members Shauna Whitford, Rachel van Blaricom, Sarah Capp, Claire Leminski and Ian Beck-MacNeil, and also to my home congregation, Westwood, Winnipeg, for their prayers, encouragement and financial support.
