Joy In The Camp!

If you could talk to each camper, only then would you get the full impact of "joy in the camp". The Lord has caused a great move of His Spirit among the youth in our churches in Ukraine. With our "small" faith we did not know what God had in store for the young people. We saw God in His great power touch many lives. Some had never before been touched in such a manner.  There were times when the young people would gather together to pray. Other times, after the service, the Spirit of God would be so real that the young people would weep as they walked to their rooms. We have many testimonies of lives that were changed in the camps.

Some of the young people came with an apprehensive attitude. They were told that because of our "rules" of dress and conduct, they were going to a "concentration camp". At the end of the camp, many of them were weeping as they left their newfound friends. They said, "Please invite us again next year, don’t forget us." One girl from a village in West of Ukraine (20 years old) sent her younger sister home after the first camp to tell her parents she wanted to stay. Her mother caught the bus and rode many miles back to the camp and told her daughter she must come home. There was work to be done. The girl went home with her mother ---- but she was back the next week to be a counselor in the second camp.

We had a total of 4 camps this year. The first 3 camps were held just outside of the city of Zhitomir during July. Our 4th camp was held the first part of August in the East of the Ukraine (about 12 hours drive from our other camps). There were more than 600 in our camps. Many of the young people from different villages came back to Zhitomir for church on Sunday, August 5^th, for more "youth camp fellowship".  Next year we are planning a "young adult" camp for the unmarried (21-30). There is such a hunger among the young people to know more about the Lord and his will for their lives in Christian service. Br. John Duncan did such a wonderful job in his lectures and preaching. Because the young people are asking him to return, we are making plans for Br. Duncan and his wife to be at camp next year.Next year we are planning a "young adult" camp for the unmarried (21-30). There is such a hunger among the young people to know more about the Lord and his will for their lives in Christian service. Br. John Duncan did such a wonderful job in his lectures and preaching. Because the young people are asking him to return, we are making plans for Br. Duncan and his wife to be at camp next year.

There is not space enough to tell of all the orphan children that the government had in the camp. Some of them were in every service, and some were even saved. One boy that was saved, Maksim (13 yrs old), has read the entire New Testament since the camp.

I would like to thank Br. Duncan for his burden and dedication to the camps, and his wife, Sis. Ellen, for her support. I would also like to thank each pastor, church, and individual who supported this youth ministry here in Ukraine. In the four camps there has been a great harvest. There were 29 written testimonies of Salvation, and 152 written testimonies of God’s Spirit renewed in their lives.

We cannot thank you enough for giving to make these camps possible. Your gifts and prayers were appreciated and needed.

The Lord bless you,

Pray for Ukraine-

Br. Gene