Recent Mission Trips
Little Lambs Ministry Missions Trip to Znamenka Ukraine, June 2-15, 2015
On June 1, 2015, two members of Maranatha, Larry Webb and Cheryl Closson, traveled with Little Lambs Ministry to Znamenka, a town in Kirovohrad Oblast, Ukraine, in order to minister God’s Word and share His love with children residing in an orphanage there. Due to the political unrest and fighting in eastern Ukraine, more and more children are being orphaned and families are finding themselves in states of homelessness. These children and families are in great need of hearing that they have a Heavenly Father who loves them and has not forgotten them.
Little Lambs Ministry is a non-profit organization that was established in 1993 to provide spiritual, physical and emotional help for orphans. Every summer, over 2,000 Ukrainian, Russian, and Moldovan orphans hear the gospel and are shown Christ's love in action! Each program is two weeks long and offers opportunities for children ages 6-18 to learn Bible lessons and English and to participate in sports, art, crafts, games and music.
This year, upon arriving in Ukraine, the team had the opportunity to spend their first night at Esther House. Originally established to house orphans, Esther House has recently constructed an upper-level addition in order to also serve refugees due to the current conflict. Esther House also provides short-term housing for prospective adoptive parents. After multiple hours of air and land travel, the team greatly appreciated the comfortable accommodations and the delicious food they were provided at Esther House!
Due to cuts in government support of the orphanages, the supplies that they have on hand and the programming they offer is extremely limited. Therefore, supplies are often carried by team members for the programs and activities they will implement once they arrive at an orphanage. Because the orphans have little or no opportunity for fun and games, and loving relationships are virtually non-existent in their lives, Little Lambs schedules loads of fun activities as well as purposefully planned opportunities for relationship building and spiritual instruction for the children. The children are divided into small groups based on their ages; mission team members are divided as well so that two or three adults are working with each group.
Every day during the camp, the team leads the children in physical exercises, Bible studies and crafts as well as large and small group games. There is also time allotted for the team members to just “hang out” with the kids in order that personal relationships can be established. The team members also eat every noon meal with the students, which also allows opportunities for one-on-one conversations, spiritual guidance and connections. In addition to the regularly scheduled activities, the Little Lambs teams always provide a carnival for the children, which includes fun games and prizes, as well as a big birthday party complete with cake and a gift for each child. The birthday party is a very important part of the ministry because many of the children would never have a party otherwise—they need to know they are valued and that God created them for a purpose!
Both Larry and Cheryl were able to establish relationships with several children in the Znamenka Orphanage. This was Larry’s 14th trip to an orphanage with Little Lambs and Cheryl’s 3rd such trip. They each do their best to maintain communications with students they have met while on past trips as well as those they met this year. We praise God for the opportunity He provided for them to go and for all of the children who have come to know the Lord Jesus through Little Lambs very special ministry to neglected and abandoned children in Eurasia and China!
Little Lambs Ministry is a non-profit organization that was established in 1993 to provide spiritual, physical and emotional help for orphans. Every summer, over 2,000 Ukrainian, Russian, and Moldovan orphans hear the gospel and are shown Christ's love in action! Each program is two weeks long and offers opportunities for children ages 6-18 to learn Bible lessons and English and to participate in sports, art, crafts, games and music.
This year, upon arriving in Ukraine, the team had the opportunity to spend their first night at Esther House. Originally established to house orphans, Esther House has recently constructed an upper-level addition in order to also serve refugees due to the current conflict. Esther House also provides short-term housing for prospective adoptive parents. After multiple hours of air and land travel, the team greatly appreciated the comfortable accommodations and the delicious food they were provided at Esther House!
Due to cuts in government support of the orphanages, the supplies that they have on hand and the programming they offer is extremely limited. Therefore, supplies are often carried by team members for the programs and activities they will implement once they arrive at an orphanage. Because the orphans have little or no opportunity for fun and games, and loving relationships are virtually non-existent in their lives, Little Lambs schedules loads of fun activities as well as purposefully planned opportunities for relationship building and spiritual instruction for the children. The children are divided into small groups based on their ages; mission team members are divided as well so that two or three adults are working with each group.
Every day during the camp, the team leads the children in physical exercises, Bible studies and crafts as well as large and small group games. There is also time allotted for the team members to just “hang out” with the kids in order that personal relationships can be established. The team members also eat every noon meal with the students, which also allows opportunities for one-on-one conversations, spiritual guidance and connections. In addition to the regularly scheduled activities, the Little Lambs teams always provide a carnival for the children, which includes fun games and prizes, as well as a big birthday party complete with cake and a gift for each child. The birthday party is a very important part of the ministry because many of the children would never have a party otherwise—they need to know they are valued and that God created them for a purpose!
Both Larry and Cheryl were able to establish relationships with several children in the Znamenka Orphanage. This was Larry’s 14th trip to an orphanage with Little Lambs and Cheryl’s 3rd such trip. They each do their best to maintain communications with students they have met while on past trips as well as those they met this year. We praise God for the opportunity He provided for them to go and for all of the children who have come to know the Lord Jesus through Little Lambs very special ministry to neglected and abandoned children in Eurasia and China!
Monterrey Mexico Work & Ministry Team, June 2-9, 2015
Monterrey Mexico Work Team, April 7-14, 2015
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." ~The Lord Jesus