Ukraine 8- another one bites the dust:

We arrived back from Ukraine on Saturday night past. It was a good 2 weeks but was also probably the toughest I’ve had since my first year of everything being so new and different. Tough in a way that it challenged me and I think it grew me and shaped my character and leadership more than past trips. But even though it was tougher the craic was mighty and there are many a funny story. I loved the kids this year I learned how amazing it is to help make a kid feel special and accepted and how it can change their whole out look on camp (or whatever the situation it may be) and to watch their confidence grow through it. Especially one wee kid called Oleg- he got shouted at by a Ukrainian for no reason he got upset and completely closed himself down, I invited him to play with a rugby ball and after he caught his first pass his entire face lit up after that he was set for the week- he’s class! Here’s to Oleg, coco butter, Cock- A- Roach, Pastor Borris wanting to pee on Nevins knee, would you rather…?, discovering a love for bananas, the continuous lashings of sweat!, finally getting to see the Dynamo Kiev stadium, coverage, "Do you ever stretch your eyes?" Mike's facical expressions, freaking out in my sleep, “Your face looks like the back of a shovel”, Team times, “Just because your in my eye line”, late night chats, “Suck it up and get on with it!”, high five's, washing our hair with a hose pipe, too much food, vortex, it being way too hot, Our God is an awesome God, little mo, ice, the air hostess giving an 'I can’t be bothered' safety instructions, Dancing to I would walk 500 miles, Ratty’s woman’s bikini bottoms, PROPER!, nap time, wee fat mess, ta ta’s, “A small child in craft today fell on her head, fell on her head today, and there was crying lots of crying a small child in craft today fell in her head!”, discovering the toilet has a flush, the neighbours fighting, lying in a heap on Amsterdam airport floor feeling rougher than I’ve ever felt in as long as I can remember, getting everyone home in one piece and to the craic and laughter of it all.

Xhmelnitsky

Arrived in Xmelnitsky by train late last night. Had a good nights sleep and have just polished off some lovely pizza! Our first camp ended well and emotionally- We got very attached very quickly. We leave for Volochisk tonight which will be nice but the team have to spilt which will not be so nice! All is well although please continue to pray for Nevins Knee he's pulled ligaments, for unity and motivation as we spilt. Here's to the small child falling off her chair in craft, the pizza place, late night chats, sweat, "Just because your in my eye line!" going to the well for water and little mo's affirmations. oh and France for the world cup!

Ukraine

Have been in Ukraine now for 5 days and all is well. Camp has started and the team is getting stuck in. Didnt have too many kids to begin with but after some good old singing in the local town centre and handing out a few leaflets we managed to gather a few more kids up. We are only 20 mins from Kiev so came in here on public train and bus for the afternoon/evening. We're being hosted by a church which is different to what we're used to our first week. We're all staying in apartments and a mile from the church where the club is. Nothing major gone wrong but Nev has wreaked his knee it is on the mend but please do pray for it. The kids are great this is the first time they have had a camp in this area so the kids are loving it and its great to be part of planting the seed on new ground. Here's to Mc Donalds, the kid falling on her head, discovering the toilet had a flush after 4 days, extreme heat, craic and lookalikes [so far we have: Little Mo from Eastenders, Jady Goody, Darius, Ratty from Wind in the willows, Nedvick from Juventus, and Maradonna not to mention Pat Butcher on the train on the way here], to covering the toilet seat, bright yellow see through t-shirts, the vortex and to our good friend proper!! Please keep us in your prayers for unity, strength, energy and for immeasurably more.

Blunt | Quarter Finals | The big off

- Went to see James Blunt on Monday was a good show turned out to be better than I expected. Got pretty close as you can see from the picture.

- Ukraine went out of world cup tonight- Very sad would of been amazing if they had got to the semis. Im now moving on to support Figo's men of Portugal!!

- Heading to Ukraine in the morning- Can't wait to just get there and do what its all about!