Karie Hughes: April 2008

Monday, 28 April 2008

slices of Ukraine

Make a postcard - it's easy!

Saturday, 26 April 2008

glimpse of our trip....Ukraine 2008

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Wednesday, 23 April 2008

i represent God to the fullest....

Click and enjoy! Here's Brandon at Slobado High School

the stage was set for God to be glorified

I'm still in awe. Awe and wonder at what Jesus did. Only He could
have done what took place. You know we were set up to follow an
awards ceremony. The House of Culture is a very old building from the
Soviet Union and Communism era. Old wooden floors, no heater because
they turn off all heat in government buildings when winter is over,
very old seating and the stage curtains must have been hundreds of
years old.

But the message of Jesus Christ from Brandon's rap illuminated not only
the House of Culture but the hearts of every single student,
teacher, official, Assistant Mayor, principal and all who attended!

For the 1st time ever in this community the stage, literally, was set
for God to be glorified as He used Brandon's talent in rap to portray
a message of Hope.

"could you walk in His shoes?
could you drink from His cup?
He opened up His arms like He loved you this much
could you do what He did and die so we can live?
if you could then your name is JESUS"

The Gospel message was translated word by word at the end of his
concert and everyone; everyone listened.

Micah said he had NEVER seen this many students gather together in
Kaharlyk. He had the students repeat a prayer. So amazing to hear
this translated. We plugged in Ultimate Freedom which is Micah's youth
group on Saturday night.

Can you believe it!!

One more thing....After the concert a beautiful young girl about 8
years old with braided pigtails wearing blue knit stockings and a long
coat stood out because of her smile. She ended up being Alonya's
daughter. Alonya is the lady who is the Regional Counselor for schools and had
a strategic part in putting the visit in November and this visit
together.(especially Brandon's rap concert) She is not a believer but it's all
about relationship and building trust.

I asked her, "Are you a single mom" because I heard from Olya, the pastors wife, to pray for her. Well it turns out she has been a single mom for 4 years. I was
able to share with her how I was a single mom for 10 years and only by
making Jesus real in my life and allowing Him full control did I ever
make it raising two beautiful children. She said she would talk with
me tomorrow, Sunday, so I hope this will take place.

UKRAINE TIDBIT: Only 10% of homes in Kaharlyk have bathrooms.
Everyone else uses an outhouse.

Friday, 18 April 2008

"the rep"

Brandon, also known as 'the rep' which stands for Representative of Christ had his first appearance in the Culture Center following an awards ceremony. We walked into the building tonight not knowing what to expect.

God knew. He knew all along and planned this from the beginning. The house was full of over 200 students and from even 20 minutes away students somehow came from the village we just shared at in Slobada. These students were standing in the entryway! The screen came down. I've never seen a screen this BIG....and Brandon's video was the kick off. My Life, My Struggle.

He got the students involved by his next rap when he would point to the crowd and they would say, "the rep"! His lyrics preach the gospel and that's what happened this afternoon. The Gospel was preached to every student, teacher, representative...

I was in awe of what God did in this little town of Karahlyk. The vision Micah has had and Wayne the Pastor of Calvary Chapel is community transformation. And that it was!

Thursday, 17 April 2008

Talking to the Parents...

Brandon & I spoke to parents about the sanctity of life to break the bondage that "it's just a blob of cells" and bring truth it's a miracle of life in the womb. We were able to pass around amazing fetal models in a black velvet box with 4 models representing 7weeks, 8weeks, 9weeks, and 10weeks. IT"S A BABY! A real life...by 10 weeks there is a heart beat, brain waves and finger prints. I love sharing this truth and setting captives free.

By sharing personal testimonies, skits, stories, statistics both in America and Ukraine their eyes become open and hearts tender to receive truth. Olya, Pastors Wife, said out of everything we're doing here in Kaharlyk 'this' is the most important. This will have the biggest impact for the church. We were able to plug the parents, teachers, and officails into Calvary Chapel Kaharlyk and bridge the judgement gap.

Wednesday, 16 April 2008

Teaching in Slobada...

We wrapped up today after 3 days of teaching to 8th to 11th grade students at Slobada, a little village about 20 min. away from Kaharlyk. We opened with question and answer time in the beginning then went straight into hard truth teaching about pornagraphy (which is as easy to get here like buying bread...a staple every family has). The issue on abortion is so real and rampant here. Families are brought up believing that if you're pregnant you just go to the local hopsital and abort. The Dr.s here also tell the young girls to 'have' sex to increase their testostrone. The Pastor's wife said there's a general belief that the body NEEDS sex so no matter what the they engage. Absurd lies!

Ukraine is 6th in the world for abortions and the leading European country. Never, ever, have parents, students or teachers heard a pro-life message. This country has been over 70 years atheist. Our Parent Teaching, which is tomorrow at 12-2 will be a challenge & it'll be only God who can lift the veil over the eyes to hear and know the truth of the miracle of life in the womb.

When I was last here I met with the Mayor's Assistant and he has organized this Parent Teaching at the Culture Center. Check out how! This is a mandatory meeting for the White House! Funny name they call their white building which is the Regional Building where teachers, counselors, and educational staff work.

Brandon and I will teach most of what we taught students...abstienece until marriage, sanctity of life and the knowledge of how and why to wait. Oh, please pray for the parents to be able to come alongside their son or daughter IF they ever become pregnant vs. the easy way of driving them to the local hospital and having their grandchild become a statistic.

At the end we passed out flyers to the students about Brandon's concert which will be in Kaharlyk on Friday in the Culture Center. This concert is following the Awards Ceremony at the local high schools. Brandon had the students repeat a part of the chorus "The Rep" which is his name (meaning a REPresentative of Christ). We owe this whole trip to the Lord and how He worked through His Word and prayer moving on the heart of Micah & Christy Claycamp, missionaries in Ukraine.