FSAOF Ukraine Mission Trip 2013

The next day both campers had an instrument...
For now? Just memorize the  fingering; adno i dva!

Liverpool - Simperopol: 2,210 miles of adventure

DAY ONE!

Someone once said:  ‘The journey of a lifetime begins with the first step’ this trip feels very much like that.  I really did want to go to Ukraine and support Captains Ruslan and Marina Zue, our friends, in their mission and ministry in the Crimea.

Initially I had met them two years ago at a Congress in Kiev celebrating twenty years of the SA opening fire in Eastern Europe.  It was during those early days of TSA moving into Ukraine due to the pioneering leadership of the then, Captains Sven and Kathie Ljungholm that Sven made Ruslan a Junior Soldier, and so it was an added delight and privilege to now come and support Captain Ruslan.  A young man with much energy, drive and passion for the things and the people of God.  I think you would be hard pressed to find a couple of Officers who are more driven to make a difference for good in the hearts and lives of men, woman and children and for the Kingdom of God.

And so our journey began, many weeks ago prior to us leaving home for this beautiful country.  As usual we started collecting resources to take with us, mainly brass instruments, Salvation Army uniforms, a bass guitar, and a piano accordian to name but a few.  We also took some children’s clothes that had been donated by a former officer, now a foster parent for adults with physical and other disabilities.  Pauline had contacted me through Facebook to inform me she had some clothes that she desperately wanted to go to Ukraine, and when we met for me to take them from her, she explained why.

Over sixty years ago, a Ukrainian man left Ukraine for England.  He was now the Father to a Downs Syndrom baby and believed his child for whom they had been told would only live for a few years would have a better chance of survival and quality of life in the UK.  However, as the Father left Ukraine he took an acorn, wrapped it in tinfoil and put it into his little boys pocket for good luck.  As his child grew, and grew into manhood too he kept that acorn and carried it with him wherever he went.  Just last year, Alan, that once baby died, sixty two years later, and when his foster carers read of us going to Ukraine they desperately wanted the best of Alan’s clothes to go with us for other children as Alan was only the size of a twelve year old boy.

 

Bandmaster Chris Duckett assist by strapping down the
last items, a plastic bin containing 12 SA uniforms and
an acoordian piano.

And so with our car heavy laden, probably groaning beneath the weight of the heavy load our journey began.  At 8.00am Sunday morning we left Liverpool and headed for Barrow-in-Furness in the Lake District for me to conduct the installation service of Lieutenant Martin Davison.  

This journey was fraught with difficulties, including a road accident and roadworks.  However, we eventually arrived to find the enthusiasm of this brand new Lieutenant and a very receptive group of soldiers and friends.  Martin’s enthusiasm was infectious as he encouraged his folk to look beyond their four walls and reach out into the community God had given to them.  Martin had swung wide the doors of the hall for us to be able to look out and others to be able to look in and we witnessed something of Martin’s possible first mission field, the people in the pub across the road from the hall.  After the meeting Martin very kindly took us out for lunch and prayed God’s blessing upon our journey and gave us even more uniforms to take with us.  We turned the car around and headed back down south for the boat at Harwich late that night.  

En route we stopped to collect a cornet that Sven had bought on e-bay and to meet with Vaughan Rowlands a former Officer, one of the earliest in the UK to join the several hundred UK members, who again wished us God speed.

 And so, from Harwich to the Hook of Holland we sailed arriving in Amsterdam at 07.45 and with Sven at the wheel we journeyed through Holland and into Germany where it was time to switch drivers.  

With me then at the wheel we traversed Poland until we found a small village hotel around 11.00pm (01.00 UK time).  Early the next morning (Tuesday, our fifth wedding anniversary) we set our Satnav to the Ukrainian border.  However,  I had inadvertently set the Satnav to avoid toll roads and we found ourselves criss crossing major roads for the next four hours, arriving at the border late afternoon.  

END PART ONE - DAY TWO

Major Glad Ljungholm

DHQ Liverpool