April in Bloom
Dear Friends and Family, As the seasons change on thing comes to mind MUD! It is now that I am grateful that the soil here is NOT like the clay in Georgia. The snow and ice is melting and as you walk there is less slipping on ice and more dogging puddles and trying not to fall in mud. Spring is trying to come albeit late and with a last snow shower. Currently it is lightly snowing and today will hopefully be our last day of the fluffy white stuff until late fall. With the changes of the seasons I was pondering something unique to this time. In nature when there is a change, there is a transitional time during which it is quite messy and sometimes stormy. Needless to say the process isnt clean and instant. It would be nice if you could go to sleep with snow and ice and wake up to spring flowers and green grass, but that doesnt happen. The snow must melt first create a muddy mess then the grass and flowers can come. If this is true for nature, which God has created, how much more does it apply to us as His creation? This concept has been very encouraging to me as I am currently navigating through a transition of ministries. I am working towards one day serving the Lord fully in the area of science with YWAM. The process has been muddy and I was feeling like I have done something wrong. Then the Lord directed me to observe nature, and spoke to my heart about the muddiness of change. It was encouraging to me and I wanted to pass it on to all of you. Regardless of what may be going on, we have a Lord who is with us, will never leave nor forsake us. If you find yourself in the mud of transition praise Him for the flowers of spring are coming! Now for some updates LocallyKings Kids Ternopil During this past month we completed our year round program. At the beginning of March we went to an orphanage outside of the city. It was an adventure to get there as the roads were worse than after WWII. This trip was significant as it was our first out-of-town trip with our group and they did wonderful! We spent sometime baking cupcakes, making gift boxes and wrapping gifts. The team also prepared some games and learned how to play some songs. We packed up and left for the orphanage and did a birthday celebration. Everyone had a blast and the thing that meant the most to me was how God was faithful to direct our paths this year. In September we asked the children to pray and find out what God wanted us to do for our outreaches. They came back with three thingspetting zoo, nursing home, and travel away to an orphanage. At first they werent sure what this meant since they thought they were to have one idea. Then I explained how it would be possible to do all three if we seek Gods guidance and timing. We gave our plans to God and asked Him to direct our paths. Our first outing was bringing the animals (petting zoo) to a local orphanage in October. Later on in November we went to a nursing home and gave out cards and prayed for people. Now in March we went away to an orphanage! Isnt God amazing? We gave Him our plans and He worked out the details so that the team could accomplish all that they desired. At the end of March we held a parents meeting and shared with them all that their children did this past year. It was a blessing to hear and see how the children have changed and grown in the knowledge of God. RegionallyEastern Europe As I am writing this Roma, Tamara and their family are driving to Switzerland. Please be praying for safe travels and for the amazing things the Lord has in store for them there! They are going to be staff for a school of Principles of Childrens and Youth Ministry (PCYM) so that they can direct one here in Ternopil. Essentially they will be staff/students as they learn how to organize and run a school. Tamara will also be homeschooling Sasha and Tolik as their school year has yet finished here. I would covet your prayers for them as they embark on this endeavor. The PCYM that they will be leading is really needed here in this region.
Worship Conference We had a wonderful time! We were blessed beyond words by Carissa Caricato coming to us from FL. Her ministry Hoola-for-Happiness is now represented in 28 countries! Each day we started with worship and prayer then went into hoola-hoop dance classes. During two afternoons, we went to an orphanage to share this fun ministry with them. It was amazing to see the childrens faces light up. The most significant thing that happened, was a little boy who wouldnt let us touch him or love on him sat by me for several minutes and allowed me to rub his back. This may seem insignificant, but it isnt. All too often the children in the orphanage have a hard time receiving love. This young boy is in that category. For him to sit for more than five minutes and allow me to love on him and pray for him was amazing. The fact that he came back for seconds was phenomenal. After sitting by my right side for awhile he got up ran away and thirty minutes later he came back and sat by my leftand stayed longer J I was honored he allowed me to share with him the love of Jesus. What helped this? A unique tool of hoola-hoopsyes your eyes arent deceiving you! The children received so much love and joy through something so simple and I am grateful for your help in purchasing the hoops! Thank you!! Another praise report from the conference was we encouraged the children to pray for one another. We asked all who were not feeling well to step into the center. Then we asked the children to pray. We heard a small voice that we hadnt heard before, I looked to see who it was(yes I peeked) and was surprised to see one of our youngest praying. After the prayer time the mom came with tears in her eyes, saying it was the first time her son had prayed. We were all encouraged to see God moving. The children so much liked the hoola-hoops that they are all ready looking forward to our camps this summer. It is our hope that during our camps we will design and perform a hoop dance and drama on the streets of Ternopil to share about the love of God. Its going to be fun! InternationallyYWAM in Science I have purchased my airplane tickets to Kona! I will be leaving here on April 23 and returning to Ukraine around May 20th. My journey is long and is more of a road trip too. I am traveling in/out of Poland and when I arrive in Hawaii, I am planning a personal retreat before the Science conference begins. I will be spending the first four days in Kauai completely by myself and in prayer. On April 29th I return to Kona and begin the preparations for the meeting. May 12th I begin my return journey, which I will arrive TWO days later! Once back in Poland, I will be spending sometime with a friend prior to my return to Ternopil. Wowthats a lot! I am getting tired thinking about it! Please be praying that I receive all the Lord has for me during this time as it will be pivotal in my transition from Kings Kids to Science. PersonallyI am feeling much better! I would really appreciate your prayers while I am in the midst of planning for my time in Hawaii. I really need to hear from the Lord regarding some things and I am expecting to receive clarity of vision and a heart full of hope. I truly am grateful for all of your prayers, love and encouragement. Here is a quick look back at what we were able to accomplish togetherincrease the knowledge of God in childrens lives, share Gods unconditional love with an orphan, learn a new and unique way in demonstration Gods love. Praise the Lord! Until next time Love, April Harper J
Donations should be sent to YWAM Tyler, PO Box 3000, Garden Valley, TX 75771 My name can not appear anywhere on the check. Please attach a separate note with my full name on it.
Fun
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