On the road to camp

Hey everyone this is robb pring, we are on the bus now to camp. Looking forward to getting to know our translators/friends over the next 9 hrs. I'm sitting here with katya as we have just finished our morning devotion and are learning more about each other, katya says hello.

We are all really excited about seeing all of the kids and for all that we are about to experience together and with you. We really can feel your prayers for us as we prepare and travel. Thank you so much. Much love from myself and the rest of the team!

Orientation in Kiev

Kharkov Team. Orientation Posted on June 30, 2011 by admin Share Hello loving supporters: We arrived safely in Kiev yesterday around 5PM. There were no problems getting through customs and although many of us did not sleep much, we were in good spirits upon arrival. Betsy was the only team member with a lost piece of luggage, but it arrived safely here at the university today. We have met all of our translators and some of the Radooga staff, and we are excited to meet the children tomorrow. We have already felt an incredible connection with our Ukrainian brothers and sisters. Pray that our team members make no agreements with the enemy and that we continue to foster relationships with our friends. We will leave for our 8 hour bus ride to camp tomorrow. Please pray that our journey is safely in the Lord’s hands and that we reach our destination on time. Please also pray that God will provide us with rest and alertness after intense jet lag. We are so excited to start this amazing mission that God has called us to. -Midtown Team

Val's airport adventure

Well, most of the Nashville team hasn't even made it to the airport yet, but we've already hit a snag and have seen the Lord bless us through it.

Val Morozov was a late addition to our team, so we actually had him book his own travel. Val's originally from Belarus, so he speaks Russian and is a pretty savvy traveler from all the back and forth. He was scheduled to arrive only an hour or so after us in Kiev, though he was flying through London, not Amsterdam like the rest of the team. The tricky thing was that he booked his connecting ticket to Kiev separately, and had to switch airports in London (from Heathrow to Gatwick).

Well today he arrives at the airport to find that his connection through JFK had been cancelled. That's when he called and we sent out the call for prayers. The Lord answered.

They were having trouble finding any way to get him to London. Finally, the Delta guy told Val they couldn't get him to Heathrow. That's when Val suggested that they send him to Gatwick instead. No problem, he was rerouted through Atlanta.

Update 3:35 - Atlanta is still Atlanta. Val's flight out of Nashville sat on the Tarmac for an hour. Now we're not sure if he'll make his flight to London. Please pray for him! Though leaving later, he'll arrive at around the same time in London, exactly where he needs to be for his connecting flight to Kiev. No need to change airports or pay for bus fare. Praise the Lord.

It's like you're right there with us

We're now on Twitter! We'll be documenting every step of the trip that we can, until we lose internet access of course.

It's the best way to keep track of how we're doing! Follow us now: http://twitter.com/midtownukraine or @midtownukraine if you know how all that stuff works.

Meet the Team: Josh Carter

Name: Josh Carter

Age: 25

Favorite Movie: Snatch. It's a British Gangster Screwball Comedy, what's not to love?

What is your perfect day?: April 25th, because it's not too hot, not too cold. All you need is a light jacket.

If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?: Steven Spielberg, but maybe that's too much like saying Jesus.

WHY are you going???: These kids are amazing. I mean, seriously. They're talented, athletic, smart, creative people. They deserve to be loved.

Meet the Team: Val Morozov

Name: Val Morozov (center)

Age: 32

Favorite Movie: Too many :)

What is your perfect day?: Get up on Sunday morning and have waffles with a nice cup of coffee :) Go to Midtown with my family. Then, go to see my boy play football (aka "soccer"). Then, go play football myself. Come home and grill while watching a good Manchester United game on TV with the fam.

If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?: Apostle Paul

WHY are you going???: I've always liked going on mission trips because only there you realize how helpless and powerless you really are and that you have no other choice but rely fully on God and His mercy. It's a very humbling experience. After going to Ukraine last year and meeting the kids I realized that it can't be a one-time mission trip. Not only because of my experience there but also because of staying in touch with them through different social networks. But you can get so much closer to them physically, mentally and spiritually by being there. And hopefully make a difference in their lives as well as they make it in mine. And that's why I'm going back.

Prayer send-off - Thursday, June 23, 7pm Hope Center

It doesn't matter how many times I do this I still get nervous. Two weeks from now we'll be on a plane!

Please come join us next Thursday evening at the Hope Center (2415 12th Avenue S) for a special send off service for our team. We covet your prayers and take them very seriously. Make no mistake, we are about to step into a very dark place with souls that don't want us around! Add to that the physical day-to-day hardship, language barrier, and issues dealing with another culture, and we'll be striving to just maintain a good attitude, let alone preach the Gospel. We need a supernatural power to step in and change the lives of these children through us!

Please join us and support us in prayer!

- Russ Anderson

Meet the Team: Robb Pring

Name: Robb Pring (front and center)

Age: 32

Occupation: Landscaping

Favorite Movie: Fight Club

What is your perfect day?: I wake up and I can fly. After that, I can pretty much have whatever I want.

If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?: Dead- The Apostle Paul for sure and Alive- Brad Pitt because he's cool.

WHY are you going???: To encourage and to be encouraged. To share the gospel and meet new people. I wanted to go somewhere for the 4th of July and I heard that Ukraine had great fireworks.