February 14, 2020
Dearest friends and family,
It has been quite an amazing year filled with God’s blessings and so much joy. As many of you know, I graduated from college last May and got married in June. In August my husband, Cameron, and I went on our first mission trip together. It was Cam’s first mission trip and first time out of the country. He has been previously involved in doing ministry to homeless people in Fort Wayne with his parents, but this was a whole new experience for him. We had fun traveling internationally together. I enjoyed sharing my favorite things about airports and other traveling tips with him. ;) We met up with my parents in Ukraine because they were already there. For the first couple of days, I was able to show him where I grew up in Kyiv, my favorite foods, and teach him a few Russian words and phrases. Cam learns really quickly and has a very good accent.
Dearest friends and family,
It has been quite an amazing year filled with God’s blessings and so much joy. As many of you know, I graduated from college last May and got married in June. In August my husband, Cameron, and I went on our first mission trip together. It was Cam’s first mission trip and first time out of the country. He has been previously involved in doing ministry to homeless people in Fort Wayne with his parents, but this was a whole new experience for him. We had fun traveling internationally together. I enjoyed sharing my favorite things about airports and other traveling tips with him. ;) We met up with my parents in Ukraine because they were already there. For the first couple of days, I was able to show him where I grew up in Kyiv, my favorite foods, and teach him a few Russian words and phrases. Cam learns really quickly and has a very good accent.
After two days in Kyiv, my parents, Cam and I met up with our close friends, Oksana and Victor Pros (Kyiv) and Randy and Vickie Morris (Louisville, KY). We traveled to Chernihiv to see my biological family. Dad had planned a special evening for Cam and me and my Ukrainian family to celebrate our wedding/marriage since they couldn’t be there. My family loved meeting Cam, and I had fun translating back and forth between them. It was a sweet time and a very special memory for me.
The next day, we traveled to the village of Hornostaivka in Northern Ukraine where my oldest sister Nadia lives. It is located just a few miles from my own village that has died. This is the second year we have done a day camp in Nadia’s village. Cam and I were in charge of leading sports together. We played a lot of soccer and volleyball with the kids. Language was not much of a barrier for Cam and the children. It was fun to see him being able to communicate with the kids through his body language and pointing -- with my occasional help with words. The kids all LOVED Cam, and he loved them too. He did his best to embrace and love the Ukrainian culture, which made me feel incredibly loved by him. The village camp lasted for 3 days, and at the end it was hard to say goodbye. During the time, we enjoyed a big meal which my sister prepared for us in her home. It was the first time Nadia has ever cooked for us, and we were deeply touched by it. We took flowers to my mother’s grave, and I was able to show Cam the old village and house I lived in till I was around five years old. This was emotional for me! I was thankful that I could share such a significant part of myself with my husband that he would not otherwise have been able to fully understand. It was so good for him to see and experience a taste of my past.
The next day, we traveled to the village of Hornostaivka in Northern Ukraine where my oldest sister Nadia lives. It is located just a few miles from my own village that has died. This is the second year we have done a day camp in Nadia’s village. Cam and I were in charge of leading sports together. We played a lot of soccer and volleyball with the kids. Language was not much of a barrier for Cam and the children. It was fun to see him being able to communicate with the kids through his body language and pointing -- with my occasional help with words. The kids all LOVED Cam, and he loved them too. He did his best to embrace and love the Ukrainian culture, which made me feel incredibly loved by him. The village camp lasted for 3 days, and at the end it was hard to say goodbye. During the time, we enjoyed a big meal which my sister prepared for us in her home. It was the first time Nadia has ever cooked for us, and we were deeply touched by it. We took flowers to my mother’s grave, and I was able to show Cam the old village and house I lived in till I was around five years old. This was emotional for me! I was thankful that I could share such a significant part of myself with my husband that he would not otherwise have been able to fully understand. It was so good for him to see and experience a taste of my past.
After the village camp was over, we traveled back to Kyiv to pick up the rest of our American team and head to the other camp location where we conducted English Camp for kids in the Youth for Christ (YFC) Day Center ministries. Cam and I led an English class together. We had a lot of fun doing it, and we also learned a lot about when to lead and when to allow the other to lead. It makes me smile, thinking about how we are both strong personalities and are used to being in the role of leadership. Our class times got better over time, and we were bonding as a married couple. (We had only been married for 2 months.) On the first full day of camp, we had a devasting day when my sweet puppy died back home in America. She was so very dear to me, and for a time it was difficult to focus on our campers. The campers and other leaders showed me so much love and support, though, taking time to give me hugs and writing notes telling me how much they cared. Cam was hurting too, but he was so kind to me.
Every year it is hard to say goodbye to the kids. There’s a good chance we will never see them again since we try to minister to a new group of campers each year, but I do feel a great peace, knowing that they are going home with the godly YFC leaders that brought them to camp. Those leaders will be able to walk alongside them in life.
I want to thank all who sent me back to my family and my home country. I could not do this without you all loving me like this and supporting me to go back each year. I have seen the Lord use these trips to bring many kids into His family. As I share my faith with others, I grow in my own faith and in my love for God. Last summer, I was thrilled to see how much Cam flourished by going to Ukraine. It was an important opportunity for him to grow in his faith, as well, and he got to use his natural leadership skills. He loved on children and adults and experienced a different culture. He gained a better perspective in understanding God’s big heart for all the nations.
Cam and I can’t see into the future, but for this summer we are hoping to return to Ukraine. There are two of us this time, so the financial need is greater. If you can help us get there, we would greatly appreciate it. Thank you again for the YEARS of sending me back to Ukraine. In order to conduct this ministry, each of us needs to raise $3,500 support ($7,000 for both Cam & I). These funds will pay for our travel and 100% of the camp expenses, for the kids we serve do not come from families who can or even would pay for their children to go to camp. It would be an honor to have you invest in us and our ministry in Ukraine.
Gifts can be sent to the Youth for Christ International office, through whom this trip is being organized. The address is: Youth for Christ International, PO Box 4555, Englewood, CO 80155. You must also mention with the donation that it should be designated to Account #95071, Ukraine English Camp Missions Trip with a comment “Credit towards Cooper’s Missions trip.” You can also donate online by clicking the DONATE link on this page - and by writing in the comments section on the webpage "Towards Cooper's Missions Trip."
I am so thankful for each one of you who have supported me so graciously in previous years when I have ministered in Ukraine. Thank you for sending me “home” year after year, for praying for me, for reaching out to me, and for encouraging me spiritually. God has so blessed me, and in turn - others, through you.
Love,
Katya for both of us – Katya and Cam Cooper
485 Bonterra Blvd. Apt 105, Ft Wayne IN 46845
mannak@huntington.edu
Every year it is hard to say goodbye to the kids. There’s a good chance we will never see them again since we try to minister to a new group of campers each year, but I do feel a great peace, knowing that they are going home with the godly YFC leaders that brought them to camp. Those leaders will be able to walk alongside them in life.
I want to thank all who sent me back to my family and my home country. I could not do this without you all loving me like this and supporting me to go back each year. I have seen the Lord use these trips to bring many kids into His family. As I share my faith with others, I grow in my own faith and in my love for God. Last summer, I was thrilled to see how much Cam flourished by going to Ukraine. It was an important opportunity for him to grow in his faith, as well, and he got to use his natural leadership skills. He loved on children and adults and experienced a different culture. He gained a better perspective in understanding God’s big heart for all the nations.
Cam and I can’t see into the future, but for this summer we are hoping to return to Ukraine. There are two of us this time, so the financial need is greater. If you can help us get there, we would greatly appreciate it. Thank you again for the YEARS of sending me back to Ukraine. In order to conduct this ministry, each of us needs to raise $3,500 support ($7,000 for both Cam & I). These funds will pay for our travel and 100% of the camp expenses, for the kids we serve do not come from families who can or even would pay for their children to go to camp. It would be an honor to have you invest in us and our ministry in Ukraine.
Gifts can be sent to the Youth for Christ International office, through whom this trip is being organized. The address is: Youth for Christ International, PO Box 4555, Englewood, CO 80155. You must also mention with the donation that it should be designated to Account #95071, Ukraine English Camp Missions Trip with a comment “Credit towards Cooper’s Missions trip.” You can also donate online by clicking the DONATE link on this page - and by writing in the comments section on the webpage "Towards Cooper's Missions Trip."
I am so thankful for each one of you who have supported me so graciously in previous years when I have ministered in Ukraine. Thank you for sending me “home” year after year, for praying for me, for reaching out to me, and for encouraging me spiritually. God has so blessed me, and in turn - others, through you.
Love,
Katya for both of us – Katya and Cam Cooper
485 Bonterra Blvd. Apt 105, Ft Wayne IN 46845
mannak@huntington.edu
