Basic Explanation of the CampsUSD$560 plus air fares and admin fee We invite teams of Americans/British and/or Australians to come to Ukraine for the camp. Teams generally are from 10 to 15 people. We then recruit 20-25 English-speaking Ukrainian college students to participate. The students come to camp mainly to practice English, to have a rest outside the city and to build international friendships, but they understand there will be a Christian component to the camp, and they are willing to listen. We then spend 10 days together playing indoor and outdoor games, having campfires, sharing Bible discussions, singing, eating smores. Our camps are a great way to build relationships with Ukrainians, and to share the Gospel in the context of relationship. It is amazing to see God work as doors just naturally open up to sharing Jesus. Many of the Ukrainians by the end become pretty interested in spiritual things, and some even make commitments to Christ. We then follow up with them through weekly English club meetings or through Bible discussion groups for new believers and strong seekers. It's exciting to see God work in the hearts of these students, and the American, British and Australian team members come away changed as well. They get to be part of a significant and meaningful outreach, they get to experience God using them, and they get to build international friendships that they can continue through the year via email. It also gives them the opportunity to expand their world vision. Don’t miss the opportunity to join us in Kyiv in July! English Camp Goals 1). To help Ukrainian college students with English, giving lots of conversational practice At camp, each Western team member will be partnered with one or two English-speaking Ukrainian college students. They will live together in a dormitory room throughout the camp, and will participate together in the larger group activities. There are many activities that promote conversational English practice, including regular small-group discussion times, group games and some conversational English lessons. 2). To have a cultural exchange We will set aside time for cultural talks nearly every day. Six Westerners will share about something from their culture, and six Ukrainians will share about Ukraine. Past talks have included sharing about London, or sharing about quilting, or soap-making, or rodeos. Ukrainians share about Kyiv, Ukrainian food, Ukrainian embroidery, etc…. We also will have a Ukrainian picnic and an American picnic and will share games from all the cultures. For example, in past camps, we have learned both American and Australian football. It's really interesting to learn about each other's countries and cultures. 3). To show the Ukrainian Students what it means to live in relationship with Jesus Christ We want to give the Ukrainian students an opportunity to see that Jesus is a living person who wants to live in relationship with us. Many of them have a picture of God as distant and irrelevant to their lives. They don't see Jesus as someone with whom they could have a relationship. But just living together for 10 days with a group of Western Christians helps them begin to see that Jesus is real. We also have Bible discussions, watch a film about Jesus and share testimonies throughout the camp. This is done in an interesting and non-pressuring way, and it generally generates lots of questions and the beginnings of a spiritual search on the part of the Ukrainian students. Some even progress to the point of making a decision for Jesus by the end of camp. But many more commit to reading their Bibles and investigating further after camp is over, deciding to participate in our followup meetings throughout the year. 4). To Have Fun We play lots of games, we laugh a lot, we have campfires and smores, and we just enjoy building international friendships. Ukrainian students understand and agree to these goals prior to their participation in camp. Since there is limited space at the camp (we keep a one-to-one or one-to-two ratio for relationship-building purposes), students must complete an interview to participate. Students are chosen who are able to communicate in English without use of an interpreter. We also try to select students who are more spiritually open. Approximate Cost $2,200 (depending on airfare) The cost includes plane tickets to Kyiv (the major portion), lodging and food at camp, travel insurance, transport within Ukraine and some sight-seeing. The only money you need to bring is for snacks and souvenirs. The trip cost also helps cover part of the cost for a Ukrainian to attend camp. Ukrainians pay more than a third of their costs, but economic difficulties here make it hard to demand full payment. Do not let the cost of the trip be a hindrance. We can send helpful information about support-raising. If the Lord is calling you to come to Ukraine, he will provide the funds, and he will build your faith in the process as you see him do it. Living Situation For the camp, we will stay in a dormitory at a small retreat center just outside Kyiv. The rooms will hold three or four persons. There are toilets and showers in each room. Don't expect five-star accommodations, but the rooms will be quite livable. The retreat center is located in a forested area, but it also is in a small town. There are shops a 15-minute walk from the retreat center if you are interested in buying snacks. Part-way through camp, we take an excursion to Kyiv with the Ukrainian students. The students have a chance, then, to show their partners around the city. Some may invite their partners to meet their families and to stay with them overnight before returning to camp the next day. This is a great opportunity to build a deeper relationship with the Ukrainian student, and it is a terrific cultural experience. Many Westerners see this as the highlight of their trip. After camp, we will stay in Kyiv for two nights for sight-seeing and debriefing. Many will stay in Randy and Shelley Marshall's apartment sleeping on couches and air mattresses, but some may stay as a group with our Ukrainian friends who live nearby. Food There is a good dining hall in the camp dormitory. We will eat three meals a day, which are covered by your trip cost. Breakfasts might include plain omelets or a Ukrainian-style pancake, but they also might include vegetables or pelmini (a Russian-style ravioli). Lunch will always include a broth soup of some kind, meat (chicken/beef/fish) and potatoes/pasta. Dinner will include meat and potatoes/pasta. Bread will be offered at every meal, and often there will be fruit or cookies/candies offered. The meals are large, so there is plenty to eat. Food is generally less spicy than in the west, and hot tea is offered at every meal. Transport We will travel on a small bus to and from camp, but when we are in Kyiv for sight-seeing, we may ride the subway. Public transport can get crowded at times, but it is convenient. We won't have cars, so we will be walking more than you might normally . Overall Schedule of the Trip Day 1: Arrive in Kyiv. Drive on bus directly to camp to rest, relax, and eat supper. Day 2: Orientation to Ukraine, camp, and the ministry. Day 3 – 12: Regular Camp Days Day 7: Home Visit Day 13: Leave for Kyiv. Sight-see, shop, and evening De-Brief. Day 14: Fly out of Kyiv. Daily Schedule 8 a.m.—Western team meets for prayer, sharing, planning 9 a.m.—Breakfast 9:45 a.m.—Fun songs to help wake up 10 a.m.—Cultural talks (usually one Western and one Ukrainian each day) 10:30 a.m.—Bible discussions in small groups (Groups of six to eight Ukrainians and Westerners) 11:15 a.m.—Outdoor games (The first two days, this will be relay, group-type games. After the second day, this will become optional. Those who want will play baseball, ultimate Frisbee, basketball, volleyball, etc… The rest can watch or go walking in the forest, can sleep, can talk with their partner, etc…) 1 p.m.—Lunch 1:45 p.m.—Conversational English lessons. This is done in a big group with some Westerners serving as up-front teachers while the rest work as tutors for their partners. 3:15 p.m.—Free time 5:15 p.m.—Watch 30-minute portions of a film about Jesus and discuss it in small groups. 6:30 p.m.—Supper 7:30 p.m.—Evening meeting (Worship singing, testimonies, short devotional talk) 8:30 p.m.—Tea time/Free time (drink tea together, share snacks, play games, etc…) Midnight—Go to your rooms for the night Your Responsibilities 1. Share a five-minute testimony during an evening meeting. This should highlight your life before Christ, how you were saved, and how your life has changed. If you have been a Christian since childhood, it should instead focus on when Christ became meaningful to you. It can be a testimony of something that God has done for you. It should not cover your whole life story. 2. Help plan and lead camp activities. Through email and possibly through team meetings prior to traveling to Ukraine, the team will divide up responsibilities for planning and leading the various camp activities. Some will lead outdoor games, some will lead fun songs, some will lead English lessons, etc... If you are responsible for an activity, you will need to plan it fully and make sure you have all the needed supplies. And then you will lead it during camp. If you are not responsible for planning and leading a specific activity, you will just participate in the event like everyone else during camp. 3. Help lead small group discussions. There will be Bible discussions, Jesus film discussions and possibly other small group discussions. There will be at least two Westerners in each group, so you won't be alone. You will need to decide who will lead or decide if you want to share leadership. If you haven't done this before, don't worry. It's not difficult, and we will provide questions as well as some advance tips on how to lead. 4. Prepare and share a cultural talk. Six Westerners (not the whole team) will need to come prepared to share a 5-7 minute cultural talk. This should include a powerpoint presentation with pictures. We have had talks about cities like London, showing pictures of buildings and people. We have had talks about sporting activities like golf or snowboarding. We have had talks about hobbies like quilting or soap-making. Anything that relates to a particular country or culture can be interesting if it includes pictures and is well-prepared. The team will need to choose six people to do this prior to coming to Ukraine. 5. Love Ukrainians and build friendships with them. This is probably your most important responsibility at camp. Your ability to influence and to share the gospel will be greatly enhanced as you build these relationships. All it takes is regular prayer that God would help you love Ukrainians, and then just spending time with them, talking with them and having fun. And in the midst of that, God may give you opportunities to share about him. We have a scheduled opportunity at the end of camp where you will share the 4 Spiritual Laws tract with your partner. We arrange it in a non-pressuring way that is natural and comfortable for all. About Kyiv (Kiev) and Ukraine Kyiv is a scenic city of close to 3 million people situated on the Dnepr River. It is the bustling capital of Ukraine. Kyiv suffered severely during World War II, and many irreplaceable architectural and art treasures were destroyed. Earlier in the 1930's the Soviet authorities systematically destroyed many churches. Extensive restoration has revived much of historic Kyiv. In the post-war years it became the third most important city of the USSR. The city hit the headlines in April 1986, when the nuclear reactor at nearby Chernobyl exploded, but scientists agree that the city is now safe from radiation effects. Despite repressions, suffering, political turmoil, and ecological disasters, Ukraine's spirit and national identity have never died. On August 24, 1991, after the aborted coup in Moscow, Ukraine proclaimed its independence. As of 1994, Ukraine has diplomatic relations with over 135 countries and close to 60 diplomatic missions are established in Kyiv. News correspondents, business representatives, and students from all over the world reside in Kyiv, and the flow of foreign tourists and official delegations is heavy year round. The art and architecture of Kyiv are world treasures. The Cathedral of St. Sophia, where the princes of Kievan Rus were crowned in the years of Kyiv's grandeur, has outstanding mosaics and frescoes dating back to the 11th century. Overlooking the old section of Kyiv stands the Ukrainian Baroque church of St. Andrew, much beloved by Ukrainians. The Percherska Lavra, the Monastery of the Caves, a short trolley ride from the center of town, has two 11th-century cathedrals on its grounds, in addition to its world-famous catacombs, bell tower, and museum collections. Close to the center of town stands the Golden Gate, a structure which dates back to 1037. This recently reconstructed remains of the former fortified wall of the city defined the limits of the city in centuries past. Several blocks away, stands the magnificent 19th-century Cathedral of St. Volodymyr – The ruler who brought Christianity to Ukraine. The city has an extensive infrastructure and highly developed system of public transport, including a metro system and public bus routes, which are very inexpensive. The center of Kyiv (Independence Square and Kreschatyk Street – where the democratic political rise called the Orange Revolution took place) becomes a large outdoor party place at night during summer months, with thousands of people having a good time at nearby restaurants, clubs, and outdoor cafes. Kyiv is a relatively safe city but travelers should be conscious of their belongings as in any big city. About The Ukrainian People The people here are very intelligent, highly educated, and very good at expressing their opinions. In fact, Ukraine boasts some of the greatest human capital in the world. Ukrainians grow up speaking Russian and Ukrainian but Russian is the language used on the streets in Kyiv. Under Soviet Rule, Christianity was basically forbidden. After its fall, people were crying out for spiritual information and coming to the Lord in droves. But that time is passed. Right now, people are more focused on making a living, getting a good job, and enjoying life. Ukrainian people are not closed to religion. Most people who attend church are Orthodox Christians. The Orthodox Christian church is generally traditional and formal. It uses an old form of Russian that is difficult to understand. While the services are quite beautiful and interesting, they tend to portray God as mysterious and distant. Most Ukrainians have little understanding about an intimate, personal relationship with God, and Christianity has little influence on their daily lives. Ukrainians are extremely relational people. They generally have fewer acquaintances and more close and really deep friendships that have developed over time. In Ukrainian culture, people do not make eye contact with or greet a stranger on the street. One is usually introduced. After an introduction, they are incredibly warm people. Sports, art, music, and English are good ways to break through many of the cultural barriers. A Ukrainian may not be as quick to greet you on the street but once you get to know then, they would give you their right arm if you needed it. They are incredibly hospitable people. In the summer, most Ukrainians vacation and many youth go off to camps. The camp atmosphere and being out of town really appeals to them. Going to a camp AND practicing English with native speakers is incredibly appealing to them. They appreciate new ideas and seeing life from a different perspective. They also really like the idea of building friendships with foreigners. | 
