Building Bridges, Summer Prep and Kids Arrive
Mission 823 teams in Ukraine are literally building a bridge to an island that we created at Camp Willow Park. The artesian spring that feeds the lake at our youth camp forms a small stream. We split the stream and added an island that will be used for recreation and relaxation with a cozy gazebo. The most important point is that we use tools like these to build relational bridges between us and children who have been traumatized. Kids need to be kids and enduring the hardships and horrors of war forces them into a stressful adult world way too early. Pray for Mission 823 and the children of Ukraine. Partner with us in rescuing these kids and restoring their childhood.
Building a new bridge at Camp Willow Park
Summer Prep at Camp Willow Park
Every year we strive for excellence and improvement over the previous year. The property that God has given us is a treasure located in one of the safest and most peaceful areas of Ukraine. We don't take this gift lightly and we work really hard to be good stewards of His resources. Beautification, maintenance and improvement are always a part of our preparations for the arrival of these precious children.
Landscaping
Cleaning out the stream
Facility Improvements
Trimming the trees
Staircase from main meeting hall to dining hall
Finished the main staircase
Improvements to Dining Hall
Dining Hall
Roof repairs
Dock repairs
Drying lumber for the docks
Firewood for Shashlik
New Appliances
New Paint
Great Food Gives a Good First Night's Rest
We work very hard to provide nutritious, healthy meals for the children that arrive from all over the country. Because of the war, many times there are food shortages where these kids live and because of the danger outside, sometimes safety trumps the most healthy choices. We want to make sure that these children, and the volunteers that accompany them, feel like royalty when they arrive. Our kitchen staff goes above and beyond to provide delicious Ukrainian meals that could never be called "camp food". Thank you to Halya Yakubovska, our staff manager, for excellence in everything she does!
Not Camp Food
Shashlik
Enjoying the Food
Essential Feeding Programs
Pastor Roman and his wife Inna will arrive at Camp Willow Park shortly with this group of children who live under daily enemy fire, very close to the front lines of conflict. A few years ago, we built a partnership with this church family located in the city of Nikopol in southeast Ukraine on the Dneiper River.
Kids in Feeding Program
Feeding program
Because of your partnership, we were able to purchase and deliver bakery equipment and begin to support a feeding program for hundreds of children in this community several times a week. After 3 years, funding for this critical ministry has been depleted and we are seeking monthly partners to restore this program. 25 sponsors at $40/month allows us to relaunch this ministry. Prayerfully consider giving HERE!
Disc Golf is Ministry
Paul McBeth Foundation
Disc Golf is growing in Ukraine and has become a great way to engage young people of all ages, building relationships that open doors to ministry. Clearing the forest in preparation for the Paul McBeth Foundation design team's arrival was our first step. Our Mission 823 team began clearing the proposed parking lot, park entrance, basket and tee pad locations for several of the holes. American and Ukrainian teams will begin work shortly to complete the design and rough-in the course in this heavily wooded location near our camp. Watch more HERE!
Become an Ambassador for Mission 823
Rick Melero - CEO HIS Capital
We would like to introduce you to Rick Melero, one of our Board Members, and let you hear his passion to partner with us to save and restore the lives of Ukrainian children. YOU can be like Rick and help make a difference, even save children's lives by taking some simple steps today! PRAY, GIVE and BE A VOICE for these kids. Hear what Rick has to say HERE!
PLEASE PRAY WITH US:
- The camp highlighted above is just one of the 11 scheduled at Camp Willow Park this summer. There will also be other camps, retreats, seminars and groups using the property for Christian ministry throughout the off-season. Pray for the orphans, widows, traumatized and displaced children of Ukraine, many of whom will come to our camps.
- Pray for the feeding programs and other humanitarian relief efforts. Mission 823 needs a specific license to receive large humanitarian aid shipments and we want to be ready to do more.
- Pray for Taras (our Ukrainian Director) and Shawn (President of Mission 823). Both of these men need prayer as they do the work of the ministry and expand our impact. Pray for laborers to help us in this work. We are actively searching for missionaries to help us expand and strengthen our efforts for the children and families of Ukraine. Do you feel a call from God to serve? Know someone who does? Send them our way and let's have a conversation. It is time for bold faith and courage. Mission 823 can serve as your mission organization, provide training and support and put you to work right away, either short-term in Ukraine or full-time here with us in the States!
- Pray for peace in Ukraine. If the war concluded today, there would still be generations of rebuilding and recovery requiring the support of non-profits like Mission 823. We are here on the ground for the long-haul. Pray for strength, wisdom and resources to continue to grow this great work.
THANK YOU and God bless you all! We need and appreciate your prayers, support and encouragement.
Please visit our Facebook and Instagram pages and our YouTube Channel and share them widely. We need a lot more voices and ambassadors actively participating so that we can have the greatest impact for the people of Ukraine.
Thank you and God Bless You!
Shawn and Amy Sullivan
CONTACT INFO:
Shawn - shawn@mission823.com - ph: 817-313-3656
Amy - amy@mission823.com - ph: 817-773-4758
Office - office@mission823.com - ph: 352-432-8587
Website: www.mission823.com
