Lance and I got to have one day off during the Equip school. We thought about just staying home, which can be nice some days, but we decided that we would go out and explore some of the sights around Ternopil. We packed a lunch, grabbed our cameras, and jumped into the car!

First stop, Kremenets, a city about an hour away from Ternopil. We often pass this way as we go to other major cities and we often look up and see this castle on a hill. We usually say to ourselves “We should stop there someday.” Well today was that day. It was a lovely stormy day, sunny for almost all day but very windy with dark clouds rolling in. The castle is only in ruins now with most of the wall remaining and one tower but it is always so fun to see such history!

Next stop was Pochaiv, a city about 30 min away from Kremenets. We had heard that there was a lavra here (Lavra: a type of monastery consisting of a cluster of cells or caves for hermits, with a church and sometimes a refectory at the center.) There was a huge lavra in Pochaiv and is considered a spiritual center for Orthodox. They believe that Mary, the mother of Jesus, came to the monks there and left her footprint in the rock. Now all the waters the come from a spring in the rock are considered holy and to have medicinal properties.

It was an interesting experience for us, not being Orthodox. Many times these spiritual centers leave us feeling empty and lost. So many people come looking for answers or looking for God but they are only led to something else, in this case, Mary and her footprint. We had lunch in Pochaiv and then planned to head home but discovered something else…

We went home a different way and as we were driving I looked up and saw what looked almost like another castle on a hill. We thought we would pull off the main road and try to find this place whatever it was. Why not? It was an adventure day!

We managed to find it after a few turn arounds and discovered it to be an old monastery. Built in the 17th century by monks who escaped from Mongol attack in Kyiv. Over the years it served as a jail, psychiatric hospital, a stable, and an artillery warehouse. The ancient chapel is being rebuilt at the moment from damage down by water damage as well as remaining artillery fire from World War 1.

When we reached the monastery, we were able to see on the next hill over a huge lone rock surrounded by stone crosses. Would you drive away and not explore such a sight? I didn’t think so. We hiked down and over to the wondrous sight. This area is so quiet and serene, to stand amongst 17th century tombs during a growing storm in front of a mountainous rock was surreal to say the least.

The rock is called Devil’s Rock because as the story goes, the devil broke off a rock from the Carpathians and threw it at the monastery intending to destroy the monks and their monastery but the rock fell short and the monastery remains to this day.

We walked all about the rock and discovered foot & hand holds that led to the top. Again, would you walk away without trying to get to the top? I didn’t think so. We made it to the top just as the rain drops were beginning to fall and the thunder and lightning became fierce. We enjoyed the moment and sight from the top but then quickly realized that standing on top of a rock in the middle of a storm was probably not the best idea.

We made it back to our car before the torrent of rain came and continued our trek home to end our fun adventure-filled day off.

This summer was filled with training! Lance and I were both staff in the Equip school in Ternopil. This was the same school that Lance and I were students in way back in 2012. You can read all about it HERE.

Guest speaker, Arlen, shares Philippians with us from memory.

We all received the award of Professional Communicator!

Last summer we ran an Equip school in Ternopil, so this year it was our second time and everyone felt much more organized! We had 8 students from Russia, Ukraine, USA, and Finland. The effects of the school would spread even beyond those borders or any physical border though. Many students feel that what they learned in the school would not only apply to Discipleship Training Schools or just to YWAM or just to missions, it was life skills for followers of Christ.

Got to love technology! Guest speaker, Darlene Cunningham, shared via Skype!

It was 7 weeks of intense training, full days of lectures, homework, time together, and preparation. We had all sorts of topics, from being a disciple to staff development, from confrontation to communicating with God, and from leading the classroom to crisis management. All different topics that leaders need to be trained in. Students were reading different books, they were making presentations and doing research.

Jim Isom comes to teach on how to disciple students from difficult backgrounds.

Sharing the Gospel on the streets of Ternopil.

The panel of experts on crisis management.

Everyone graduated at the end of the 7 weeks and took home a plethora of resources. Many of those students have already jumped into leading schools and some are staffing schools that are about to begin. They are putting into action what they have learned and will pass on to others.

“You’ve heard my message, and it’s been confirmed by many witnesses. Entrust this message to faithful individuals who will be competent to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:2

Graduation!! As the DTS goes, so goes the mission!

Youth With A Mission Ternopil has been in existence for 20 years now. That’s 20 years of ministry, 20 years for training, 20 years of sending teams out, and 20 years of serving the Lord. That is a lot of time. We wanted to honor all those that have been a part of this base and the time they have invested into building the base up as well as serving the community and the nations.

Worshiping God together

We had two days of celebration. Many people who used to be staff in Ternopil came as well as leaders and pastors from the community. Day one started out with worship and moved into a time of sharing history. Many leaders, friends, and pastors shared how YWAM has impacted them.

Saturday was spent in worship again but we accompanied worship with a time of prayer for Ternopil and listening to what God had to say about YWAM Ternopil. It was great to be able to have others give insight into what God was saying for Ternopil.

We ended our celebration by going to a park for shashlik and fellowship. We sat around in the sun, gorged ourselves on roasted meat, snacked on yummy desserts and chatted with all those who had a hand in building YWAM Ternopil and the kingdom of God.

For those that receive our email updates, you will have seen the monthly picture of the progress on our new building. (If you do not receive our monthly updates go to our About page and click Subscribe.) I am STOKED to tell you it is finally finished!! I can’t even begin to tell you how many hours were spent on our knees scrapping paint and grout off of the tile floors. Just way too many…

It seems appropriate to show you some before and after pictures, mostly after actually.

The base as I first saw it.

Front view 2010

Back view 2011

That cute little house to the right was our kitchen/dining room/office. Once the water line to it broke, we knew it was the en, though all its cuteness and quaintness couldn’t save it. A good friend made a fun video of the destruction of this quaint building, you can see it by clicking HERE.

Once our little office building was removed from the picture, the digging began!

Beginning of July 2012

End of July 2012

End of August 2012

October 2012

November 2012

December 2012

After December, much of the work had to stop due to snow and cold weather. We had a long and cold winter that year and work could not begin again until the end of March!

March 2013

April 2013

June 2013

Sadly, I left Ternopil in July to begin my trek back to the states to get married. I forgot to get a July picture and was emailed a picture from November of that year after it was painted.

November 2013

April 2014

July 2014

The finished product is amazing! We are so happy that it is done as well as to have extra rooms for more ministry and activities!

Opening the new building with worship

The new classroom is being put to good use!

It’s pronounced Y-awe-sh, for the record.

After teaching in Cahul, Moldova, we went to Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, to apply for our Ukrainian visas. We stayed in the capital over the weekend with friends and after we received our visas (praise the Lord!!) we headed out to Iasi, Romania.

Looking out over the city

This was a quick trip. We were only there for a day and a half but it was still enjoyable. Lance has a friend who is staff with the YWAM base in Iasi. This friend has put us in contact with the girls who will be leading the DTS in Iasi. She asked Lance if he would be willing to come for a visit to explain and give some insight into leading/staffing a DTS. Since Iasi was only a few hours away from Chisinau, we couldn’t say no.

Enjoying mamaliga together

We only had one full day of DTS training but it was fun and enjoyable. They were so hospitable and we loved being able to visit a new base and hear of what God is doing there. We wish we could have had more time there, we will just have to come back another time!