Teaching Adventures

  • Update sent out

    Sometimes our newsletters can get long, and yes, I (Angela) can ramble! This time I decided that I would keep it short and simple- take a few minutes to look at 5 pictures that highlight some of our work, and if you have a minute to spare, be encouraged by reading a short quote from a book I am reading. If you don’t get our newsletters, please sign up on the side of this blog. We don’t send them often, but as you read them, your view of the work we do here will broaden, and hopefully, you will be moved to a greater worship of God as you see the work He is faithfully allowing us to join him in here in Ukraine.

    https://mailchi.mp/3379c399f55a/who-wants-to-read-a-long-email-how-about-5-pictures

  • Fall is Full

    When we see the fall leaves change colour that usually means a full schedule. So many things get started up in the fall again after a more relaxed summer. The kids go back to school, here in Kyiv our DTS gets started up again, we have a leadership team planning session for a few days away, we usually have a bit more teaching, Aqueduct gets started, there is a conference in Ukraine for all the ywamers, and our SBS enters the last quarter of their course…to name a few.

    Right now we are away with the leadership team praying into the next few years of YWAM Kyiv. We have such freedom here in Ukraine to serve this region and what a privilege it is.

    In the small town of Chernigiv, Ukraine
    Praying with our Leadership Team
    Such wonderful people we serve with.
    Ben taught Jonah in the Kyiv DTS.
    Ang teaching Philemon in the Kyiv DTS- (scarf was for a skit)

  • 3 Quick Facts about being back in Ukraine.

    1) We had great flights back and all adjusted to the new time zone quickly.

    2) We were sad to leave our family and friends in Canada, but excited to get back to the 8 students in our Bible school and the 50+ staff that we work with at YWAM Kyiv. Ang is teaching Nehemiah, Malachi and Chronicles next week, Ben is teaching the Gospel of Mark the week after that.

    3) Our kids started school today- they are excited to be back at Kyiv Christian Academy, even if it means getting up at 6:00am.

  • Preparing to leave

    Leaving is never easy, but especially after being here for a whole year. Our friendships have deepened and our time with family has been sweet! So many memories! It is going to be hard to leave. That is just the way it is. I keep thinking it might get easier as it gets closer to August 5, but this time it hasn’t. Maybe it is because it has just been so wonderful to be home with our parents, siblings, cousins, church and friends. Thankfully, we also love our home in Kyiv, the work we do, and the friends there that have become our Ukrainian family. It really helps the difficulty of leaving, when the place you are going to is so awesome! One more month, and then it is good bye Winnipeg, hello Kyiv!

  • Doerksen Family Road Trips

    It has been awesome this year to drive all around North America! We have done three major trips- one to California, one to B.C and one to Toronto. There have been many memories created along the way, with lots of reading, family and fun times! We will be heading back to Ukraine in August, and we are looking forward to that, though we will miss everyone here in Canada. This picture is from one of our road trips where we were on the road for Cassie’s birthday so instead of birthday cake we did Orange Julius.

  • A privilege to share

    I had the privilege to share a message with my home church in Winnipeg last week. It was so much fun!

  • If you couldn’t make it.

    This past Sunday, Ben and I had the opportunity to share at our home church about our lives in Ukraine and what we are dreaming for in the future. There were a few people who connected with us and shared that they would have liked to have come, but for different reasons were unable to. So, I pulled out my phone and decided I could make a video for those who would like that option.

    To begin with I (Angela) introduced a little bit about our Biblical teaching team that we work with in Ukraine. Then we showed the following video:

    After watching that video Ben got up, and I scrambled to get my phone recording (sorry about the missing first few minutes). Here is the video of his message:

    Hope those who couldn’t be there enjoy hearing Ben share.

  • Time to share.

    This Sunday, February 17, we will be sharing our vision for this upcoming season in Kyiv. You can join us at Kilcona Park Alliance Church at 9:15am or 11:00am. We will also post an audio version on our website in a few weeks.

    We will be visiting different life groups, small groups, and even sharing at our kids school. It is so fun to tell people about our adventurous missions. If you would like to have us share with your group, please let us know.

  • I can memorize anything!

    One of Kai’s greatest strengths is his ability to memorize. It is amazing how he can repeat something just a few times and he has got it down! From spelling, to Bible verses, to math facts, this is one smart boy!

  • Hockey, Hockey, Hockey

    Hockey pads, hockey stats, hockey cards, street hockey, books about hockey…the list goes on. Jay has fallen in love with playing hockey and collecting hockey cards! It is fun to watch him learn to love this Canadian sport as we spend this year home in Canada.

  • Great friends at school

    Cassie has made some wonderful friends at school this year in Winnipeg. Some of those friends are Teren, Elyse, Norah, Savannah, and many more that I (mom) can’t remember. But of course she still remembers her wonderful friends at her school in Kyiv. What a blessing to have friends all over the world!

  • Thank you for praying!

    Serenity Inn.

    Thank you so much for praying for us. We had a fruitful time away at ‘Serenity Inn’ (a cabin that some kind people let us use for a few days).
     
    After spending time in worship, reading the book of Titus, and both personal and prayer together, we felt that we came away from our time with some direction for our next term (4 years) in Kyiv, Ukraine.
     
    One message was that to try to ‘create a lasting impact/legacy’ would be a chasing after the wind. We are not to chase our own ‘footprint.’ We do want to focus on being obedient to what God’s calling us to do each step of the way and leave the ‘lasting legacy’ part to him. Angela was reminded of when God said to Hagar in Genesis that He is the ‘God who Sees.’ God sees our work and that is all that matters. Only what is done in love will last, we are not to seek our own glory.
     
    We looked back at our vision and values from 2005 that we wrote (they are attached if you are curious). We realized that we are still living along the same vision and values and that God is still calling us to those same things.
     
    We sensed God calling us to continue on the same path, continue serving in leading our growing group of overseas workers in Kyiv, Ukraine and continue multiplying Bible teachers. 
     
    This is a short summary of our time together. We are excited for the future, and thankful to be serving at YWAM Kyiv. It is a great mission and we couldn’t be more thankful to God for leading us there!
     
    We will continue to pray and plan, but this gives us some definite direction. If you have any feedback, please let us know.

  • Time to listen.

    We are home in Canada for a year to be with family, supporters, and our home church. It has been wonderful so far! We have met many new people and reconnected with long time friends and family.

    Time is flying by, and we realized that we need to take some time together to really listen to God and evaluate:

    1) What have done well over the past 4 years?
    2) What can improve?
    3) What exciting things we should expect in our next 4 years in Kyiv, Ukraine?

    Please pray for us today and tomorrow as we take 2 days away at a friend’s cabin (while grandparents watch the kiddos!). 

  • Cassie Grade 5

    Cassie’s teacher has been just the right fit for Cassie this year! She has inspirational quotes all over her classroom just like Cassie does around her own room. She also has lots of reading assignments which is one of Cassie’s favorite things to do. 

  • Jay Grade 3

    Jay has discovered hockey! It must be the Canadian water. He loves collecting hockey cards with his new friends at school and playing hockey at recess, and going to hockey games. On Sunday he went to his first Jets game and had a blast!

    Jay and Ben at the hockey game

  • Kai- Grade 1

    He is loving his class, all of his classmates, and all the fun things that happen at school everyday! He has been working hard at home and at preschool for the past few years so that has made grade 1 an easy transition. He brings our family joy and fun with his silly ways.

  • Sharing Our Stories – September 30, 1:00pm

    We would love to have you join us for Borscht and Buns on September 30. if you are in Winnipeg and would like to hear stories about our work in Ukraine. Please RSVP using the following form.

    Click here to sign up.

    Teaching Tuesdays have already begun, but it is not too late to join in. If you would like to study Micah and 1/2 Thessalonians you are welcome to join us every Tuesday from September 18- October 23 at Kilcona Park Alliance Church in Winnipeg.

  • 2014-2018

    We are excited to present our report on 2014-2018

    It will mean a lot to us if you read it- it gives you a chance to see what we have done co-working with you!

    Click here to read: Reporting to our friends and family

  • You have questions, we have answers.

    1) Are you really coming home for a whole year? 

    Yes, with the children in school now (they grow up fast!) it makes sense for our furlough year to correspond to the school year. We will be back at the end of June and stay until the summer of 2019.

    2) What does it mean to have a furlough year?

    Because our work here in Ukraine is around the clock, it is good for us to have seasons in Canada. We get away from our day-to-day responsibilities in order to rest, rejuvinate, get more equipping, and share with our supporters what they have been a part of! It makes us more effect, and healthy for the work we do here in Kyiv.
    3) How do you feel about coming home for the year? 
    We are excited. These past four years (since our last furlough) in Ukraine have been really great . We have seen so much fruit. We have also been a part of the leadership team here at YWAM Kyiv, which has meant additional responsibilities beyond leading our own Bible teaching ministry team. This has been a blessing, but it has also left us ready for a season away from leadership.
    4) Right now you live by others donating to your work on a monthly basis. Does that continue during your year at home?
    Yes we will continue to rely on our supporters and friends who believe in the work we are doing.
    5) So what will you do for a year?
    We will still be carrying some of the responsibilities of our work, even in Canada (the internet is an amazing thing)! After a summer of camping, and having our children spend lots of time with their family, we will see what God leads us to. There will be lots of different areas that we will be pursuing for the year: education, retreat, prayer, serving and teaching. However, the main goal will be to pray and seek the Lord what he would have us do during the next 4 years in Ukraine after our year of furlough. And of course, share with all of our friends and family the things that God has done since we moved here in 2010. Hopefully we will get a chance to visit friends and family that are outside of Manitoba as well.
    6) So does the Bible school (SBS) stop when you come home?
    No! Thankfully we have a great team here in Kyiv. Thelma Selvan is leading the SBS this year on her own (after co-leading with Ben last year), and she has an amazing team of people helping her. It runs from March-December. Next year in March she will lead it again! But please pray for her and the staff team- for many areas, but specifically finances. Most of our staff who are faithfully leading and teaching in the SBS live on less than $100 dollars a month (and their rent is half that amount). But they continue to trust God to provide for their needs because they believe in what they are doing. If you would like to expand the people you support in missions, please contact us and we can help you give to these workers who have proven faithful and trustworthy! As they say, not all of us can go, but all of us can send!
    7) What about your Bible teacher training and sending ministry (Titus Project)?
    Sonya Yakovenko leads Titus Project now here in Kyiv, and she does an amazing job! Every January she takes new graduates from our Bible school (and other SBS’s around the world) and trains them to be great Bible teachers! We have a growing reputation of being a great place to get trained and sent. She will also take over leading our Bible teaching team while we are gone. Please pray for her as she is also a part of our YWAM Kyiv leadership team so she has many responsibilities.
    8) So when do you actually arrive back in Winnipeg?
    We will be arriving June 20, with our three kids and our dog ‘Midnight.’ We will be living back in our little home on Melbourne. You can call us at 204-977-2950.
    We are looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

  • Kai’s 6th birthday

    Mom- So Kai, what do you like best about being six?

    Kai- I actually don’t like getting older, but I like birthdays. I like staying little.

    We like him little too. He can read, ride a bike, and do so many big boy things! Happy 6th Birthday Kai!