Thoughts Concerning My Trip to the
Summer 2008 LifeNets Mission in Vinogradov, Ukraine 
 

A Glance into the Wonderful World of Tomorrow

by Ken Zahora

July 12, 2008

Two years ago I retired from being an elementary teacher of 33 years. 

 I have wondered a few times what God would have me to do with my remaining time.  I’ve had a painting business since 1978 and am doing that at the present.

 I believe it was in the beginning of 2008 that I heard about an opportunity to go to Vinogradov, Ukraine to teach English for two weeks.  My last 15 years of teaching was at a school where almost half of my class of students were learning English as a second language.  The students came from about 25 different countries.  This teaching experience provided a wonderful opportunity to help out in this area.
 

Vasyl and Irina Polichko operate a mission in Vinogradov, Ukraine, to help the street children in the area.  They have dedicated their lives to this worthwhile cause.  All people around the world have four basic needs:  shelter, food, clothing and love.  The Polichkos provide all four in a caring way.
 

With the help and encouragement of Mr. Victor Kubik, three volunteers and I went to Vinogradov on an experience much like what we all will experience in the Wonderful World of Tomorrow.  We cared for the needs of less fortunate human beings.  Our main goal was to teach English and love the 30-35 students in the summer camp.

The children ate up the attention given to them and their responsiveness increased positively throughout the duration of the camp experience.  They wanted to be with us every waking moment and wanted to know if anything was wrong when one of their teachers wasn’t with them for any length of time.
 

We used a program called Genki English to teach English.  Some of the subjects covered were:  What’s Your Name, How Are You, Left and Right, and What’s the Weather Like, to name a few.  For each lesson the vocabulary was introduced and reviewed with gestures.  Then the song was taught without music.  Finally the song was sung with plenty of gestures.  The children especially enjoyed the singing.  We hope they will remember the words much longer through the songs.
 

Seven of the children live in a house outside of Vinogradov in the country.  They were street children until a young couple named Maria and Vasyl adopted them.  I named them the Magnificent Seven, because of the changes they’ve made in their lives and will continue to make. 

Some of the children are very good at mushroom hunting.  Some mornings they would come home with a shirt full of mushroom.  They are quite good at knowing which are poisonous or good to eat.  We enjoyed their pickings in many of our meals.  I’m still here after eating them daily, so I’m sure they know which are edible.

Many afternoons were spent swimming for an hour or so.  One trusting girl, Diana, swam out to me and I didn’t break that trust.  She was rewarded with a ride on my back or she would stand on my shoulders and jump off, which delighted her immensely.
 
               Another Diana was one of the hardest workers at the camp.  She was always helping.  She would help serve the food, get more food when needed, help mop the floors and get the hall ready for Sabbath services.  She also made sure the boys followed directions.  She was one tough little gal.

Children are learning left and right, forward and back to a polka tune.  Pictures on right wall are to reinforce vocabulary words we build on each day.

Two important lessons from this experience were:  1) Children need love in order to grow mentally and emotionally, and 2) Satan is still around and bombards both children and adults.  We must stay very close to God to combat this bombardment and win this war. 

People everywhere have unique talents as well as negative traits to overcome because of their nature and environment. 

Life Nets can help by continuing their support of the mission in Vinogradov.  The two week camp could be expanded to two, two-week camps with two adults for each session.  This would greatly expand the children’s knowledge of English. 

I would definitely consider going back again.  Teaching in this setting gives one the opportunity to begin practicing what we will be doing for 1000 years.  For those who cannot make such a trip, do not be discouraged.  You can help with your steadfast prayers for this effort. In addition, any financial contribution you can make for this worthwhile effort, spearheaded by Vasyl and Irina Polichko, is much appreciated!         MORE