By Alicia Jones
I came to Ukraine on the first of July with the hope of seeing God establish a kindergarten as part of the ministry of New Life Roma Church. The first classroom of children will not gather until the first of September, but I knew there was much preparation to be done. The stepping stones from no kindergarten for the Roma children to a functioning effective kindergarten for the community may be difficult to see but are certainly there. God will take this community from one stone to the next until they arrive on the other side.
About six months ago at my church we held an interest meeting for the upcoming trip to the Ukraine to work with New Life Roma Church. At the meeting each attendee shared his or her gifts and how they hoped God would use them on the trip. A young man and his wife attended the meeting because of her interest. The young man shared that he has a hobby, woodworking. I immediately piped up and said, “Wonderful! Could you come help build furniture for the kindergarten?” Over the next few months he researched and planned. This was his example chair. I was delighted as I saw more stepping stones appear.
Six months later we found ourselves amidst a busy week at the church. The men on our team went with some local Romani men to the Ukrainian version of Home Depot and got excellent prices and all the supplies needed for the furniture project. By the end of the team’s trip to Ukraine, 20 chairs and 5 tables were constructed. The next team from Kannapolis, NC came the following week. They, along with many of the Hungarians who serve as translators, painted the tables and chairs. As the finishing touches went on I could almost see the chairs filled with squirming kindergarteners. There are many more steps to leap across, but I praise God for the gift of furniture for the kindergarten.
