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| Reflection times with catching up |
PermaLink - Jul 24, 2005
I got ricied today really bad while journaling. By accident I pressed a link in my browser and next minute you know I'm viewing Calgary weather, and lost my entire journal. That is not bawling.
Again from the top
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I just finished putting up all my digital photos from the trip. There are a couple days of pictures that I don't have. I do have the other 10 though and a few hundred photos online. Definitely have a look at all of these as they will give you a really good idea as to what it was really like in the Ukraine
http://www.tapestrycalgary.com/media/thumbnails.php?album=1
http://www.tapestrycalgary.com/media/thumbnails.php?album=4
Thursday July 14th
I got a bit behind with journaling the last few days so I will start by playing a bit of catch up on here. Today it feels like we have a routine going in the Ukraine, which was more than I could say for the first week. With having a set schedule everyday as far as the English school days were alot more structured. I would usually wake up around 10, quickly polish some breakfast. Even get a quick work out in on the park at DCU. When Kent would pick us up we would either meet some our students like Victor and Trevor did today, or Kent/Rachel would take us out shopping for a bit. Today the rest of the group kept pretty relaxed and did some english planning at Kent's before our lessons.
Lessons went really well again. Today I gave as review and as an open class for questions. We did alot of vocab of things around the house, and clothing items,etc. Bible study was on the Bible, which went really well again. The last hour, the games hour, is always alot of fun. Games and songs. It's always funny to get a random group of people singing songs, and playing games.
By today all of us were really comfortable teaching our classes, and with our students. The two relationships that I felt really grew, were the one between us and our translators, and the I.P. team. Both of these two teams were a huge blessing, and a joy to work with. I look forward to staying in touch with both of them and hopefully even getting back over to work with them again.
After Class we always go out for dinner as a group, to vedge out a bit, and spend some time reflecting on the day. We went to Yo-Mi-Yo which is right on the river(well more like water reserve). It's a very nice place. Big grounds all around the main building which is like a big lodge. There was live music inside, and a huge patio around the outside, which is where 95% of people were sitting. Since we were a big group(12) and the patio was full we were inside, which was nice and relaxing. The food was the best we had eaten since been in the Ukraine. Very good quality and the service was expentional which is rare for that part of the world.
Friday July 15th
Last day of english lessons. The day started off again like usual except for when Rachel came to pick us up today, we went to another Market. That was alot of fun. I bought some socks and a pair of sunglasses. Today was a really good day for me to get to know Trevor, as we walked around all day together. I think we were all a bit exhausted from walking and the sun, but after polishing a burn, and a meal later we were ready for our english lessons.
Today being the last day, I basically left the whole class as open. I was very tired so I'd admit that I wasn't quite as enthusiastic as I would have liked, but the class still flowed well. Victor and I taught about Jesus today as a closing to our bible lesson. The whole week had been geared towards this day, where we our hopes were that substantional enough relationships would have been built that the students would carry on with I.P. once were gone in future bible lessons and english clubs. With the survey that the students did we found out that more that 70% of them were interested to keep on with both studies. That was an encouraging number for all of team tapestry to hear. The last hour today rather than being games and songs, it was more of a lesson based hour. Victor started the hour of by giving his testimony. A song and then Natasha(I.P.) Gave her testimony in Russian. Another song. Then my testimony. I was nervous burgers for this prior to getting up there. I don't know why. I guess it was more the anticipation and the tiredness of myself that was behind these feelings. Anya my faithful translator was with me, and I gave what I would say was my best testimony. The most relaxed and all from the top of my head.
I never realized until today what it really meant to me and to them to be sharing these parts of my life with them. It was a really good feeling.
Although we would see them at the bbq tomorrow morning. Today was a big closing for alot of us with our students,etc. It's amazing at how well in a weeks time you can get to know eachother.
We went to "The Three Fat Men" Restaurant which is just across the park from the community center where we were teaching. This was a big group. 20 of us, with a couple students, I.P, Kent, Translators, Tapestry... I wasn't a big fan of the Pizza, but talk to Victor and you'll receive another story. Say it's sausage, and Victor will eat it by the... anyways, he'll enjoy it.
Saturday July 16th
Last full day in the Ukraine. And a good one at that. Met all of our students at 10am for a picnic just of the river(well more like a reserve,ricies).. Spent alot of time getting to know some new people that were there. Like Olga's daughters. Those two. Kids are kids no matter you are in the world. Sometimes not being able to speak the language makes for some interesting situations, but good thing there mom is a translator.
Alot of ball, Lunch, some songs. We had only planned for the picnic to go until noon, but it was easily 2 by the time we were out of there. We walked over to Marina and Natasha's apartment where we had a debriefing time with the I.P. Team. These were some really special times. We spent some time prayer walking with them to wrap up our time together. Back at Kent's flat we spent a couple hours there debriefing with Kent. It was about 6 now, and Kent thought before supper that it would be appropriate to take us out for another adventure.
So he dropped us off about 10 minutes away from his house by the Amstor, and Mcdonalds. Two teams. Same teams as the market day, and we had to race back to his house. Food/taxi, anything. I flagged down a taxi right away, and needless to say we made good timing. We told our driver the biggest landmark we could think of near Kent's, and just pointed from there. 15 Greiven later, we arrive at the same time as Kent. Victor, Cerena and Linsdey were along a few minutes later. If I say we got ricied for supper, would you understand what I meant? Lets just say the food was incredibly below average, and our server, was dead like I'd never seen anyone before. What a night to end of the Ukraine. That night was our good bye's with Rachel and their two kids, Tessa Princessa and Sam Sam. It's actually hard to beleive how good Kent and Rachel were to us, so it was sad to not be able to give them more of a thanks then we did, but I know that they know how appreciative we were.
Back at DCU, I spent my night playing chess with Trevor and Nick. Ryan always goes undefeated 7 games in the Ukraine. After Packing, and shower and bed.
Sunday July 17th
This is the longest sunday of my life, and early mornings come, well early. Our flight left at 9:30am from Donestk. That was a smooth flight, to start our travelling off, with a couple hour layover in Kiev. Even that went smoothly. Next minute we're on a flight for 10 hours heading to Canada. Even that went smoothly. Lack of communication, and tiredness, and temperature made for an interesting time in Toronto. We couldn't get onto a standby flight, so our layover was scheduled for 3 hours. With a day of delayed flights, being late in the day the flight we were scheduled on, was affected, and it was already an hour later by the time we boarded the plane. Now trust in Air Canada to give you problems at the end of a long day travelling. It's almost midnight now, but with the 7 hour time change, we were feeling pretty below the grid. Once on the plane, we sat for about 20mins, and then the Pilot comes on to give us an update that it's only going to be like another 30 minutes as they give the plane a tire change and a few other things. The plane started getting really hot as they had to remove to cooling unit for a bit, during repairs. That was not bawling. Flight left, and was a nightmare from elm street. Not that once in the air, the flight was really that bad. Just bad service, uncomfortable ride, and tired. We did though finally arrive in Calgary, at like 2:30 am. Our team of supporters I guess started large, but slowly weedled down until there were 4 left.
That takes me to today. I'm glad to be home. I finally got to sleep at about 5am last night, and not being able to sleep in today, is having it's effects, but I'm holding out. I am right? I'm going to finish up this journal, and come back in a couple days to give more of a follow up as far as reflections in the aftermath. After all it was only 8 hours ago I was struggling on that last leg from Toronto.
Paka,
Ryan |
| English Lessons and Ukraine Feelings |
PermaLink - Jul 24, 2005
There have been alot of funny emotions going around in the Ukraine. Alot of really neat things are happening with our ministry which is keeping up busy in the times that Victor and I don't have our boxing gloves on. I'm not going to go into detail on events as Victor has done an excellent job on journaling the specifics of all of the things that are going on over here. Here is a link to his Journals: Victor's Journals I was hoping to be the journal king, but with a laptop Victor has assumed the position. Like I mentioned the first couple days I felt like tourist, We visited alot of really neat places, like a monastary, and some smaller villages. We attented church in a village outside of Donestk on Sunday. It is a new church plant. It was exciting to see the similarities to the church plant that I am involved with in Calgary to the one's that are here in the Ukraine. We've had some bawling Ukrainian meals at our hosts house. It's a good thing I'm good at Rock Paper Scissors. Only ask Nick and Trevor that sleeping on a floor without carpet isn't the most comfortable thing in the world. Sunday Night 8 of us crammed into Kent's car and drove the hour back to Donestk to get ready for our intro night for our English class. The English class finally makes sense to me now. When we were in Canada I think we all thought that we were going to be teaching english at the university that we were staying at. That isn't the case. What has happened is that a team of International Partners,(missions), got together and advertised through posters and word of mouth to put on a week long english school at a community centre here in Donestk. These are students of all ages, well young adults+. They have all levels of English abilities. We have 3 hours with the students each day, which is divided up into English Lesson, Bible study and Fellowship. Many of these students have never heard the Bible before, and they are interested to hear. Already through our Minisitry at the English school, and help in other area's like the Tent Ministry the first day we arrived, we have seen people come to Christ in their own lives. If we were to leave today I would feel that God has used us, and that our trip has been worth it! Throughout the week though we will be building relationships with our students, with the hopes these relationships can continue with the International Partners, to work into a bible study or even church plant once we are gone. With this we are all learning how effective English is as a tool, to communicate the Gospel. We are building really awesome relationships. This experience is really helping to grow our team as a whole, and also as individuals. We've been thrown out into alot situations that wouldn't be part of our normal lives; Things like sharing our testimony in front of different churches, and explaning why we are here. Teaching english, and even the bible study. It's been really hard for us to work meda over here, as computer access is limited for digital camera's etc. All of those big updates will come once we land in Canadia. We did however manage to get up some short introduction videos, which are linked below: Ryan 1 Ryan 2 Ryan 3 Ryan 4 Ryan 5 Ryan 6 Cerena Lindsey Victor Trevor & Nick Hopefully those will work for everyone, otherwise we will get them up as soon as we get back. Spasiba. God Bless. Ryan from the ukraine | |
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| Ukraine Arrivals |
PermaLink - Jul 24, 2005
We're here! I'm the first of 6 to get on here to do an update, so I own't spend too much time with alot of things, and there will be more complete updates on the way, when time is more readily available. That time. More like that Ukraine. The Ukraine is bawling. We arrived yesterday afternoon. I stayed up all night the day before to basically get to the point where I was soo bagged that I didn't have a body clock to mess up. I know there are things like getting sick to worry about, but I'm alright. Some cat naps on planes, and in cars, but mostly held of until a good sleep at our dorms. Well Good until Victor couldn't sleep at 7, and then well. The rest is history. Alot of things are hard to describe without pictures, but I'll try. I thought that the Ukraine would be like Hungary. I guess parts are, but it's alot older, and well more russian here. ww2 scenery every where. I'm loving it. It's really neat to see old high rises, and houses, everywhere etc. Style is alot different here in everyway, cars, houses, clothes. etc. The reason we're here is for God though, and it wouldn't be fair to carry on without getting into it at all. Jim. Maybe I am coming out of my closet here. Canada has been exciting for me hanging out with you and Nick,etc. but the Ukraine and language barriers,etc. has really hit it big with me. He is certified Tesol. God has been with us no doubt prior to our journey, and the whole team feels his blessings throughout our safe journey, and throughout our time spent here in the Ukraine. We've already had an impact on lives here, and have been able to experience alot of where God is working here in the Ukraine, and how we can get involved with the lives of the people here,etc. Alot of people were asking me what we were going for, and to be honest with them, I didn't really know alot, ot have alot to say. So my simple answer was we have a contact with an international man of ministry, and our home camp was at a university and we had some plans of teaching English. More so though that we were going to pioneer. To step out in faith, to answer God's call, to bless the people of the Ukraine, and to take part in God's work. Now all of that has been true. There is alot of unknowns in those last goals, and they are only just starting to make sense now. Yes we've met Kent, we're at the uni., but what about what God is up to here? We are in cities where people are living on a couple hundred u.s. dollars a month. Cities where there is one church to every 30-40 thousand people. Cities where many people haven't heard anything of the Gospel before. Ukraine is considered the bible belt of this area of the world, which o.k. you can say, as it is like just over 1% Christian, compared to like .5 in other former Russian states, but the numbers are still staggering. Take Cochrane for example. There is 10+ churches we figured out for what 10-12 thousand. That is like 30 times more. The people here are hungry to hear, and to explore the Gospel. We had an opportunity to meet and take part in "Ukraine tent Days" which was a week long tent, setup where they brought youth in, and told them about Jesus, and the Gospel, and where they can go with it, and what it means,etc. It was really neat to be mixed in with a group of a couple hundred youth, same age as me, and to experience this. In the mix of translators,etc. It was alot of fun. I had an opportunity to share my testimony with them, and I think there were alot of hearts that are ready. Dinner is ready at our hosts house, and I've taken my time. I will see what I can do with Victor to get some media online to share with you. Once again, Thanks soo much for your prayers and blessings. From the Ukraine Ryan |
| Mornings with words like departure |
PermaLink - Jul 24, 2005
It's the morning of the 5th. It's early; to be fair that statement really depends on what part of the world that you live in. Let's say the Ukraine, being 9 hours ahead of Mountain Time in Canada, would currently put them at 1 p.m.
I'd say that this has been the craziest month of my life, but I've had a few before that would like to argue. 1 year birthdays, Homecomings, Residences, Ricies, accidents. Not to mention the final stages of fundraising. Spiritual war fare or bad luck comes in twenty-three's? I'm not going to put a finger on anything, as to use words like 'spiritual war fare', can get some funny emotions kicking.
The whole fundraising process has been a journey in itself. I remember being told, when we first started out and were planning the whole thing, to leave space in our plan for God to show up. And to most importantly pray and expect him to show up. The God stories had me skeptical at first, but now months later, ready to depart on my first mission trip I already have God stories of my own to share.
I know that God had a huge part in getting me to where I am, but I also owe thanks to everyone else that supported me through prayer and finance. Please continue with prayer for the entire team as we continue with the second part of our mission.
Quick Facts:
Full country name: Ukraine
Area: 603,700 sq km
Population: 48.05 million
Capital City: Kiev (pop 2.6 million)
People: Ukrainian 73%, Russian 22%, Jewish 1%
Language: Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian
Religion: Ukrainian Orthodox, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic, Protestant, Jewish
Government: republic
Head of State: President Viktor A. Yushchenko
Head of Government: Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko
GDP: US$218 billion
GDP per capita: US$5,400
Annual Growth: -1.7%
Inflation: 5.5%
Major Industries: Coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food-processing (especially sugar), grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables, beef, milk
Major Trading Partners: Russia, China, Turkey, Germany, Belarus, US, Poland, Italy
Member of EU: No
This Post contains a bit more of a personal look at the Ukraine.
I'll be in the Ukraine tomorrow. Thanks again, and God Bless. We'll be updating this site with journals, news, and hopefully even some media while we are away.
Ryan Fyfe |
| The Power of Dreams |
PermaLink - Jul 24, 2005
Honda was on to something a while ago. It's never to late to catch onto a good concept though. The last months of life have brought on interesting challenges, and increased understanding for me. Among many things understanding of life, love, relationships, and most importantly God.
As another year goes by
another takes it's place
twelve months more of missing you
of never seeing your face
The thoughts of your smile
for the chance to hold you
I'd walk a thousand miles
I wrote this poem with wishes
and dreams that can't come true
of dreaming dreams that you were here
wishing dreams really could come true.
Can you picture it: She's one today. I can.
Life
Now you can't really summarize on life, because life is no more the same then it is different for each and every one of us. I'm always taxed with thoughts on the purpose of life. Or maybe another way to look on that, is how to live a life of purpose. Look at yourself in the mirror. Look at your friends, your family, our world. What drives us? Many things do. Are they good or bad? What is our reasoning behind these things? I'll hit at one because it's always pushed to the forefront in my life. Possesions. What we have. What we consume. Is it human nature to live like this or did one day we put love and being humble aside, and decide we always had to have more than our neighbor? Do you beleive in God's creation of the earth or do you beleive in evolution? Did either of those two things create greed? Did man create greed? Was it human nature in the 'cave age' that created greed out of a need for survival? Or did we make the cave man up, and in times of need is it not true that we are better off when we stick together, with words like share and love?
What if life was looked at and defined by what we gave away. How much we gave ourselves away. I beleive that all of us at one point in our life have been caught up chasing what we believe to be the riches of the world. Some succeed, some fail. Both lead to the same end. An end where all will be left behind; and end which bluntly tells us how foolish we were to be chasing after the wind during our days. How much you give not how much you have. Ici je suis.
Ecclesiastes 2:17-26
...What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which lavors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest.
...I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me
...A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for witout him, who can truly eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.
This all sounds a bit familiar. Maybe because Mathew was getting at it in 6:19-21
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Jump on me for the idea if you want, but keep in mind that no where in the above does it say that it is bad, "to have"; or that God wouldn't be pleased if you have more than someone else. What I'm saying is don't measure yourself to your wealth rather to your ability to humble yourself and be thankful for what you have.
 Now I've been told that the Purpose of life is to give glory to God through enjoying him. My first thought was - Pretty awesome. But what about if your not a Christian? After alot of thought I realized that whether your a Christian or not your purpose doesn't change. We don't decide our purpose. Our creator does.
Think to a time in your life where you've designed something; anything. You designed it to accomplish something to have a set purpose. Lets say you designed a car. You designed it to be a car, and that's what it's purpose is. The car can't just all of a sudden pull out of the garage one day and decide to be an airplane.
umm.. yeah. ok. well... - I think you get the idea.
For me to say, whether you are Christian or not the purpose of your life is to Give Glory to God, is extremely single minded. Here. Argue with me. What are the alternatives? Even Step it down a level... what are the alternatives to Christianity. Evolution - Man came from Monkeys?
I'm going to be completely honest with you. That idea scares me as much as this cat below being a robot:
Everyone knows of course that you can argue it both way. Will science every be able to prove the big bang? Evolution? The Bible? Is there already proof and are we just to blind to see it?
Science is continually discovering things. Things like the dead sea scrolls, things like fossils and bones. Back and forth, back and forth it can go.
By now I've heard both arguements, as I'm sure all have. I can find for myself more truth in christianity then in evolution. Do we need truths? Or is that not what Faith is all about.
Either way you choose it's a risk.
Decide for yourself which risk is cooler to take.
*Extra - If your interested to see more videos of "Necoro" - The Japanese Robo Cat, you can check them out here: http://www.necoro.com/theater/ |
| Love, Life and Cross Dressing |
PermaLink - Jul 24, 2005
Going on a summer mission project is often a life changing experience. Tell us one way that you would like God to change/grow you as a result of this experience.
I think the coolest part about this trip is that I really have no idea what God is going to do in me. I'm definitely excited to find out. Recent events in my life have taught me that the best thing to do in any situation is just to love people. How can I be a better friend, a better Son, Brother or Sister,etc. Soo often we go through life and we don't really take the time to just simply love people.
 For example I hop on a bus, I've got all this time to take interest in other people, en yet I just sit to myself, and pass the time, just wondering what others are up to. Most likely someone will come on, something about them will set an emotion off inside of me, and I will be quick to judge them. "What is that guy thinking dressing like that".
To be honest with you, it's not normally the dress that I think off; I bet people are normally thinking that of me. But similar I am quick to judge people.
If you can relate to me in this way, I've realized that love is the answer. Love. What is love?
Love is patient, Love is kind, It does not envy, it does not boast, It is not proud, It is not rude, It is not self-seeking, It is not easily angered, It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. Love never fails.
Now if quoting Corinthians 13:4-8 Is going to do it for you; you rock. What really is love though and what does it look like?
Love is genuine: "Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them" - Romans 12:9. Love is taking a moment to talk to the person sitting next to you on the bus, taking an honest interest in their life? Love is offering your seat to someone who is standing? Love is saying a prayer for the people riding with you, asking God to bless them. Love doesn't mean holding hands and kissing the gentleman sitting next to you.
I've started to see in my life that as I open up to love people, it's amazing at how things have changed in my. I heard this story of a girl walking home from school, terribly depressed and down on life. Ready to commit suicide when she arrives home, as she has just had enough. A classmate who had never spoken to her, comes up and asks if he can carry her books, and walk with her. Coles notes version is that because of the Love expressed by that boy, she didn't commit suicide and found new meaning in her life. We think of saving lives as firefighters and police officers. What about that boy? Is he a lifesaver? He didn't boldy enter a burning building or stop a fire. He simply just took the time to love.
My first response was and the one that I hear from most people is: I'm too busy, or I love enough already. I'd say if you honestly answer those questions you'd have the same response as I have. I'm not too busy. I just manage my time badly. I'm riding the bus anyways. Why not love the guy sitting next to me. I love enough already. There is never a time or a place in your life that you will love enough.
Ok Ryan. You've gone on for ever. What is it that you want God to do in your life as a result of this experience. Everyday God puts people in my life to love. I started thinking that if I'm going overseas to love and to serve, I better be doing it where I'm at right now. So I've been making a huge effort to grow in this area of my life. To put aside my selfishness, and to care more about others than I do about myself. I want God to continue to work with me in this because I know that I'm far from perfect. Going to the ukraine is going to be such a great opportunity to set aside my life completely, and to just love and serve people.
BTW - Happy Easter
Ryan Fyfe |
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