Planning my missions trip to Ukraine was quite a ride really. The invitation to teach at the Youth Ministry Training College (YMTC) in Kiev in approximately ten weeks time was a surprise to say the least. Eric and I had to make special trip to Brisbane to apply for my passport, which was provided within two days (delivered to my door). Then I had to wait for an official letter of invitation to come from the Ukraine Government and finally then I could apply for a visa. Incidentally the visas (mine and Emma’s) arrived two days before we left. Mmmm. We bought our tickets and it was done.

We flew from Coffs Harbour to Sydney, from Sydney to Singapore, from there to Amsterdam and on to Kiev. It took 26.5 hours in flight time. We were wrecked by the time we arrived and had some difficulty getting over the time change. We decided to have lunch and a sleep at 4pm Ukraine time. We woke up at 6 am the next day !!!

On 12 July, we met Oksanna our guide and translator. Oksanna took us into Kiev to buy a sim card for my mobile and exchange some money for Grivna (the local currency) or so we thought. We rode in a marshootka (mini bus), then the metro (subway) to arrive in the city. The Metro has escalators that range from 50 to 200 metres in length, straight up and straight down. On our sight seeing tour we saw The Lavra (Orthodox church and associated paraphernalia), beautiful churches, the main street of Kiev, Tolstoy’s University, Federation Square, views of the city, the Opera House, the Rainbow of Friendship, ex Communist Buildings, the Presidentail Palace (used to be Tsar’s residence), amazing buildings and architecture, the city gate and the bell tower etc. We arrived back at the Seminary College at 11pm after having dinner at MacDonalds!!!!

Katcha was our guide and interpreter for most of the time Emma and I were at the Youth Festival. The festival was a joint project of some of the churches in the city. A ministry called Global 180 that operates from the US, partnered in the project. They major on youth and evangelism to the youth of the nations of the world. We saw the creativity of the youth in Ukraine as they presented different items of entertainment at the festival and had the privilege of experiencing internationally renowned contemporary Christian rock band ‘Delirious’ in concert. I ate some kind of liver that night for dinner, a bit of a nightmare really. We did some shopping at the Youth Festival and found some wristbands that we bought for our youth. We also found a Graftonian!! Andrew Ford from Grafton has been in Ukraine for seven years ministering to children in orphanages. It was surprising to be hear a voice from behind saying, "Are you Australians?" And there he was with an Australian friend. We chatted and he told us where we could ‘find food’. We left the Sports Stadium on our own and discovered ‘Fridays’ a great place to eat with American type food.

On Sunday we attended the home church of Anatol and Svetlana. Anatol is Dean of the Seminary College. We recognized some of the worship songs and sang them in English. Oksanna translated the sermon for us. The following Sunday we attended Hillsong Church in Kiev and sat in the foreigners section, head phones and all.

Monday July 17 the Youth Ministry Training College commenced and so did my teaching block. The teaching went well over the next five days. I wrote the unit before leaving Australia based on the course outline that Natasha Sobyetska (Course Co-ordinator) sent to me. I taught what I had intended to, and also introduced Emma’s testimony, as well as a personality profile, and deep muscle relaxation technique. I also bought lots of lollies at the local shop and Emma gave them out in class. I have found this to be a good way of making friends.

The students gave testimony on the final day of teaching to what they had learned and it seems they had learned many things and interacted well with the material. One young woman was released from a ‘fear of the dark’ that she had carried with her from childhood. One young man had become confident of being able to have a good relationship with his wife because he had come to understand about bonding. Most of the youth testified to the fact that they were taking away from the sessions fresh understanding of the issues that youth face and how those issues come about. They understand that youth need to be taught who they are in God so that they know their identity and therefore know truth. The note they wrote to me said, ‘We are thankful for your open heart, and the knowledge you taught us will help us be more fruitful in our ministry. You are an example for us – God bless you.’

On several occasions the anointing during the teaching was very strong and I know I spoke prophetically what was on the heart of God for these young people. Natasha, who was my interpreter, organizes the YMTS, and she conveyed to me that she was pleased with what I taught and that the students had got a lot out of it because it was age appropriate. She was surprised that I had not worked with an interpreter before as she indicated that I do it very well. She said, ‘You don’t talk over me. Most people talk over me’. I thought to myself that it was a ‘bit of a miracle really!’

The Seminary College was founded by missionaries that were sent from Australia. The College has a good teaching facility and library. The library was built and resourced by an Australian couple. Norm and Roz trained up national Ukrainian leaders to head up the college, which they handed over two years ago to Anatol and Svetlana. What an extra blessing it was to meet Norm and Roz who are now doing missionary work in another part of the Ukraine. The College has 24 hour security in the form of guards at the front gate and a security system in the main accommodation centre. Emma and I had a small apartment in this complex with the guards situated outside our door.

The war between Israel and Lebanon began just after we arrived in Ukraine. Emma and I did not know it was occurring until Ps. Eric mentioned it during one of our phone calls. We were only about the distance from Sydney to Brisbane away from the war zone. It really is a different part of the world, but the people are essentially the same.

I had two other speaking engagements, a women’s meeting and a morning worship service (chapel). At the women’s meeting I spoke on Ephesians 3:20, Hebrews 11 and James 1:6, God is able, and faith. There’s a miracle in your mouth was the gist of the message. I was amazed to discover that the ladies had been reading and discussing the very scriptures the Holy Spirit had revealed for the evening and they were so blessed by this. There was a time of ministry where the prophetic word flowed and a woman with cancer was prayed for. Emma had a word of knowledge about where the cancer was situated in her body and she felt that it was healed. The word of knowledge was correct and the woman testified to experiencing the sensation that it had left her. The women praised God. This lady had been healed of cancer previously several years before and had the faith to believe again.

Emma and I desired to go the ballet at the opera house in Kiev but the ballet company was on tour and there were no performances scheduled whilst were there. On one of our last evenings in Kiev we went out with Julia and Oksanna. As we were walking through the park we came across an orchestra playing from the conservatorium of music. What a treat. We sat and listened for some time and then walked on past the football ground where a match was taking place between Kiev and Crimea. Kiev scored a goal right before our very eyes. It was exciting, we even saw the riot squad and the fans taunting each other.

We had a day of rest and on Tuesday 25 July. We said our goodbyes and got in the taxi for the drive to the airport. We boarded our plane in Kiev for Amsterdam and then flew to Tokyo a 12 hour flight. We had a massage in Tokyo that was quite painful but Oh was it worth it. We boarded Qantas flight QF 22 for a 9 hour flight to Sydney and then on to Ballina. We arrived Thursday 27 July in Ballina, it had been 21 hours and 15 minutes flight time.

Ukraine was part of the USSR until 15 years ago. It does not have a functioning government yet despite the democratic elections that take place. Corruption, the people told me is still rife in the government. There is no social security system except a small pension system and there are many orphans. (I was able to take knitted beanies, scarves and bags with me and these were given to an orphanage to distribute to the children.) Orthodox religion was the allowed state religion under communism and it is very religious, even to the point of paying for prayer and lining up for hundreds of metres to see a ‘religious relic from Jerusalem’ (and kissing it). The people of Ukraine need God and a personal relationship with Jesus. Wellspring and Southlands Churches, and other Christians have been a part of a useful missions outreach to Ukraine. The youth who attended the YMTS were from all parts of the Ukraine, from different denominations and have returned home full of the Holy Spirit, ready to minister in His Jesus Name and possessing hope for the future. They are the next generation of believers in that nation. God bless you all for your prayer and financial support. It is working even now on the other side of the world.

In His service.

Ps. Helen Aaron