Charis Around the World

Ukraine & the Blessed Women Thereof
Doran Richards and Tierney Dovan's journey to Ukraine

Doran Richards and Tierney Dovan, CPM joined Anne Sokol in Ukraine October 1st through 10th, 2008. They ventured across the ocean to present a Blessing God's Way "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made" seminar for women and young ladies. They spoke with two groups, one in Kiev and one in Cherkasy, two days at each. Enjoy Doran's journal of their trip!

Oh, what wonderful fellowship we had over the 10 days we spent in Ukraine. The trip was fast and furious but nonetheless, very productive. The women of the Ukraine have sweet spirits with a zeal and passion to learn more about their design as women. Here is a couple quotes from a young woman and an older woman:

“It was so great for me to listen to you, and interesting. Also, I am really thankful to you because you came to us and gave us such information which we really need. Come again and exchange with us valuable information.” ~Alexandra, 16 yrs. Old
 

“Thank you! It was all done Christianly, personally & motherly! I liked it all and the language barrier didn’t bother us. It was all done simply and orderly. It’s been a long time since I’ve received such information.” ~Nadya, Mom of 3 children, wife and grandma (I have full arms!)

Tierney Dovan, Doran Richards and Anne Sokol
 sitting in Natasha's kitchen discussing the day's schedule.
 

The first couple of days there Tierney and I spoke at a Church in Kiev. Kiev is HUGE - taking an hour just to get across town. The sites were amazing... people, the way they live, the culture, everything! The workshops were well attended. We had many ladies asking questions- they were thirsty for truth! We nourished them with the drink of our knowledge and filled their cups full to where they will have lots to process while we are gone. Anne Sokol was amazing as she directed us here and there with her family. Her job is HUGE as a missionary in that country. The women NEED her and are so blessed to have her as she spreads the "birth gospel" to help women see birth as normal life processes. Our translators were great - it took some time getting used to saying short sentences, waiting, and then talking more... it is a dance you play but you get quite good by the time you leave!

Monday we traveled 3 hours to Cherkasy. We stayed in a youth pastor's home (with his wife and two children) while Anne and her husband stayed down the street at a lovely lady's home with her family of 7 children. These ladies were even MORE eager than the ones in Kiev! The hospitality was awesome. We were offered so much food - snacks, tea, goodies - to make sure we were well taken care of.

 

The next day we went to an orphanage. One of the directors explained to us the system of how they bring children off the street. They slowly move through different steps to integrate them into a family setting. We also went to a building where Anne and her husband plan on working at in the near future (Mother/Baby Center). It was amazing to see the current demolition going on and to imagine the future with children playing happily there. The building is an old communist camp for youth. There were shared bathrooms, outdoor showers that are shared with rows of sinks. Everything in the Ukraine was cold, metal, dark, grey and depressed-looking from the time of communism. It was enlightening and so real. We also saw the children at the orphanage. No international adoption allowed through the orphanage we saw this day. But, they are doing great things there... and it was a Christian orphanage. May God continue to bless all their projects and the people helping!

Then we took a day to visit an official birth house (women do not birth in hospitals but in separate buildings called “birth houses”). It was so bizarre, the way it was set up, and we were astonished at first glance. It looks like a government building complete with concrete, tile, metal doors, etc. Women wondered around in robes and slippers (even went outside to the market next door). We met with the doctor who gave epidurals.

He asked what we would like to see that day!    Tierney was bold and asked for the biggie:   "We would like to see a
c-section!" And guess what?! We saw a live c-section! We didn't have to scrub up. We were only told to put on a blue disposable cape, and some protective shoe wraps. Nothing else! We did put on a face mask for sterilization purposes. What a joke. The window was open in the primitive room with archaic tools and equipment. There were about 8 people in the room with me and Anne and Tierney included. We stood at the bottom of the operation table and viewed the procedure from start to finish. WOW - we were amazed. The women was horribly treated, in our eyes, but was normal for their culture. I cannot even go into details it was so sad.

We also got to see some local attractions like a cathedral (Orthodox) which was the 4th largest one in the Ukraine. Beautiful building... such elaboration, beyond being able to explain. It was interesting to say the least. We also saw the "Independence Square" area - downtown, fancy. It was all lit up and amazing. Anne took us out to eat at a nice little cafe after a conference we had that day.

We stayed with a young couple (only married two months) and they were so cute. Their apartments are very small there, very old and in need of much repair. The apartment high rises are old and it is where many must live because they cannot afford houses. The apartments are expensive as well so many families live together there.

Tierney and Doran with Natasha and Uri (the couple we stayed with in Kiev)
Anne Sokol and her two little girls.
Tierney and Doran stayed at their apartment.

There were many opportunities that we were blessed to have but do not have room to write about.  It was a hard trip – my first overseas venture and my first mission trip. I was so thankful to God to have an opportunity to share His design for women of the Ukraine. It takes a while to digest and let it all sink in (all the while catching up with normal home duties). My heart goes out to those women as well as to Anne who diligently works to make the communities have better birth options and knowledge.

I want to thank each and every person or entity that donated funds for this trip! It would have not happened without financial help from so many wonderful people. It was all possible ONLY because people believe in Blessing God’s Way and its mission to educate, support and encourage women to celebrate God’s great gift to them as women. The phases of womanhood and our cycles are truly blessings to us, God’s way!

In His service, Doran Richards
Founder, Blessing God's Way

Tierney Dovan, CPM dong a prenatal  before the talks.
She is listening to a woman's first baby that is only about 13 weeks with the doppler.
The woman cried she was so thrilled at the sound of her baby's heartbeat.  It was amazing.
They don't do prenatals much in Cherkasy, so this was all new to them.

Two Ukraine women who experienced what a Celebration of Pregnancy gathering was like.
Nadya was giving one woman a foot wash/massage.
Nadya’s daughters were fixing the ladies hair with fresh flowers as Doran explained the concept.

After the conference in Kiev. The ladies accompanied them to a McDonald’s to compare theirs with ours in the states. They were told, informed, that they had to pay for their ketchup!!! Julia, Natasha, Doran, Victoria, Tierney, Olya and Anne.

A young lady who volunteered at Kiev conference for a Celebration of Pregnancy.
She kept saying how blessed she was for this to be done and how it helped her.

Everyone lined up to give this young expecting Mamma “blessings from the heart” even though they didn’t know her before this day. They were so sweet and sincerely praying for her and her experience.