Meet the Team: Heather Harris

Name: At camp: "Hezzair"

Age: 25

Occupation:Program Coordinator at Vanderbilt University

Favorite Movie: About a Boy

What is your perfect day? My perfect day would involve some of my favorite Ukrainians being able to experience some of my favorite Nashville things. So basically a large group of Ukrainian teenagers wandering down 12th South getting coffee at Frothy Monkey, popsicles at Las Paletas, and having a picnic at Sevier Park. The best of both worlds!

If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Donald Miller

WHY are you going??? In 2009, my first trip to Ukraine affected me greatly and changed my life. A trip I assumed would be a one-time life-changing experience instead threw me into a world where Nashville was my first home and Ukraine became a close second. I am excited to go on my fourth trip to Ukraine and begin the transition from loving these kids as orphans to loving them as graduates heading out into the overwhelming world of adult life. I am thankful every single day to have these kids in my life. They remind me of our Father's incredible, doting love for us and to have an opportunity to be (an unqualified) vessel for that Love has changed me forever.

Meet the Team: Kelly Wendel

Name: Kelly Wendel

Occupation: Special Education Program Coordinator

Age: 30

Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans

What is your perfect day?: My perfect day would include playing in the sunshine, friends, homemade dessert, and

probably a spontaneous dance party.

If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?: Paula Deen (we would cook together) – great food, lots of laughs, and a life story to learn from.

WHY are you going???: This will be my fourth trip to Ukraine. When I look back to when I signed up the first time, I think it was mostly because I had always wanted to go on a mission trip and, despite my reservations, I

felt God leading me there. I certainly did not anticipate it resulting in a long-term commitment to the

orphans I met in 2009. However, I have witnessed how Jesus’ love and light are transforming lives in

such a dark and seemingly hopeless place and am grateful for every chance I have to be a part of His

movement there.

Pray for the churches in Ukraine

Like greater post-Soviet society, even the churches and believers of Ukraine don't take an active role in the lives of orphans. Old communist expectations still linger even amongst the church that care of the orphans is the government's responsibility and not their's. They tend to ignore scripture like James 1:27, that "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look afterorphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Pray for the churches of Ukraine that there would be a sweeping change of attitude toward the needy orphans in their country. Pray that church leaders would look to actively engage in the care of orphans, and that church-goers would be compelled to step in and maybe even adopt these children and save their lives. Pray that they would stop looking to the government to address this issue but see the care of them as a way the Lord reveals a better understanding of how we all are his adopted children!

Meet the Team: Betsy Trent

Name: Betsy Trent

Age: 24

Occupation: Nanny

Favorite Movie: Nacho Libre

What is your perfect day?: I would wake up around 7 am, have a nice cup of coffee, read and write in my journal, clean my room, eat a granola bar...then go to the gym (preferably a spin class); after that I would get cleaned up, then hang out with friends at a park after we've gone to Sonic happy hour and gotten half-price drinks. By this time it would be around 5 pm and I would like to have dinner with my friends (potluck, if you will)...then we could hang out in our backyard, sit by the fire pit, play some corn hole, drink some ice cold lemonade and enjoy each others company. I would brush my teeth, wash my face, and be in bed around 10pm....and that, to me, is a perfect day.

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

WHY are you going???: My first trip to Ukraine was this past January. I loved every minute of it; even though there were things that took some adjusting to, those very things made the trip all the better. The kids we were able to visit with were so full of life; it was truly amazing to see them so happy to see us and so quick to warm up to us- even me, because I had never met any of them before. As big of an impact as we may make in their lives, they're making just as much of an impact in ours- whether they know that or not- and that, to me, is reason enough to go. Our Father in Heaven is watching those children, and I feel blessed to be part of such a wonderful mission. I can't wait for this summer!

Meet the Team: Lori Martin

Name: Lori Martin

Age: 30

Occupation: Care Partner at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital

Favorite Movie: tie between A River Runs Through It and The Pianist

What is your perfect day?: planting flowers or picking strawberries in the sun while drinking red wine and pondering a trip to Venice the next day...

If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?: I mean, really, I should say Jesus, right? I'd love to pick Fiona Apple's brain. Or, talk to Regina Spektor about life in Moscow vs. life in NYC and ask her what "Apres Moi" is about.

WHY are you going???: I feel such a supernatural LOVE for these kids. I see myself in many of them. God has been at work my entire life preparing me for this amazing journey. Although it can feel uncertain at times and I am an emotional sap who gets attached easily, it has become so much more than how it's affecting me. I want to stay in these kids' lives somehow and allow God to glorifiy Himself through me on their behalf and through nothing good in me save HIM.

Meet the Team: Josh McLean

Name: Josh McLean

Age: 30

Occupation: Middle School Teacher

Favorite Movie: Big Fish

What is your perfect day?: Working outside in the yard or hiking

If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?: My Aunt Lisa

WHY are you going???: A mission trip has always been something I have wanted to do. I want to be a part of what God is doing in another part of the world, and say that I gave every part of me that I could for him. I also want to witness how life is different for people in countries outside of the U.S

The contagious mission

Team member Michelle Reising just wrote a great blog post about how contagious this mission can be, that includes one of my favorite supporter stories ever:

"My second year, I sent out letters to friends and family, asking once again for donations and prayers for our team. I sent one of these letters to my best friend, Ashley Hartsook (pictured above). Ashley got her letter in the mail and called me immediately. Ashley didn't want to donate just money or time; she wanted to go. This was only a few months before the trip and I sadly informed her that our team was full but that I would check with our trip leader, Russ. Two days later, I got a call from Russ that one of our team members could no longer go and wanting to know if I knew anyone else who would want to/be able to join us...I did. It was wonderful having my best friend join our team last summer! It's hard to explain what the experience is like, why you would want to summer in Ukraine year after year, or to have someone share the thrill of getting a message from one of the kiddos over Vkontake (Russian facebook), so it has been such a blessing that my bestie is now a part of that."

Check out the rest of the post here.