Proposed Topic #1: retaliation?

" Topic: At one point I heard that some of the Ukrainian girl orphans were being transported on a particular ferry to Turkey to sold as sex slaves. My first thought was, why doesn't anyone blow up that boat? At what point is violence justified?"

This indeed is an interesting question. It depends on each persons individual morals: no two people see EXACTLY the same thing because no two people are EXACTLY the same. Therefore, what I will write in response will be purely MY opinion, and you may disagree. I do not mind. This will be a discussion post, so if you want to put your ideas out there, go ahead.

Now before we start, I will mention this: I love reading. You know, those heroic tales of amazing feats, possible only if you trained your whole life and the exact opportunity came up. I love imagining myself as some hero, winning the admiration of others and the love of my Jessica. I like video games, the ones where you have to go battle to save something or prevent something. I also like other games and books, but these tend to be my favorites. So from this, you might be able to see that I like to prove myself through actions.

Now, my response: No, I would not.

Some might think: "why bring up the first part then?" others: "you are wrong" while others still may agree.

If you want to skip to the simpler, less overly analysed answer, find and read between the separated part near the middle

Now, I am a strong believer in love. God shows us love all the time, and Jesus loved everyone he met it appeared. He healed many, raising even some from the dead. The story of Christ raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11. The story of Jairus' daughter from the dead in Mark 5:35-43.  He also healed lepers and sick, truly anyone, it would appear. He even, in Luke's account, heals the ear of a soldier arresting him (Luke 22:47-54). See also Matthew 9:18-26, John 9, Mark 2:1-12, Mark 1:40-45, Luke 17:11-19, Mark 5 John 21:25... As well as many other verses if you are not yet convinced. I for one, am convinced he loved people and helped them.

Now, since God loved them, he was not hurting them, or allowing them to stay in pain when they asked. However, in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul states that God has "given me a thorn in my flesh". In the passage, that I will allow you to read in your various translations and versions, Paul lets us know he is suffering , but not without reason. Paul states that God allows us to suffer as a reminder, and to prevent him from becoming conceited.

Now, the only argument I can find in the Bible that shows God being, say, violent, is when he upturns the market in the temple courts. this happens in Matthew 21:12 if you want to verify that what I am saying is true. He intentionally, brutally (from how I understand it), simply gets rid of anything marketable, setting them all free, upturning the cashier tables, sending people into a raging frenzy, some collecting the money, some running from frightened animals, some trying to catch the animals, people fighting. I can imagine the commotion going on... and it isn't very pretty either. Jesus knew what would happen, yet he did it anyways. Can you imagine? It would be like walking up to a concert, walking up to all the goods stands and trowing them around, with hundreds of dollars flying everywhere, and merchandise being scattered. A crazy thought is it not?

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SO. God does things knowing the consequences, but he seems to do loving acts, with repercussions we would never understand, way more often.

Can blowing up a boat fix the problem? No, probably not. Why? because they have money: they can buy more boats. What if they are in the boats when they blow up? Well, the WHOLE team will never be in the boat at once. Also, Jesus NEVER hurt a person physically. Think also: they will learn to be more cautious, buy a better boat, or several, pay more people off, perhaps kill some.

As much as I'd love to go in and blow the boat to bits myself, tear it apart by hand, ruin it, run it down, sabotage it, some days even kill the personnel, it is not right. I want to do this as much out of self valour as to help others.

"What if I could do it without a sense of self valour?" one may ask. Does it matter? Shall the outcome not be very similar? Shall they not learn?

Can we say with certainty that destroying the boat would make things better? We can say it might. Why not try? what else could happen? But what else CAN happen? things could get worse. MUCH worse. Did you think of this? Perhaps, but think on it hard.

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Love on the other hand, might make a difference. Loving the children, helping them off the streets, giving them a new life. Loving and teaching the parents, showing them that they need not repeat the lives of their parents. Loving and helping the police, showing them better ways from our own police and perhaps helping in investigations. Loving and helping victims, showing them that they can stand up and speak against. But here many might call me cray: Loving and caring for, nurturing and teaching, leading and forgiving the people COMMITTING the acts. Why do you think they are there? Because they care more about money than the lives of other people. Why? Well, I don't know! So why do you not ask? Because they are the bad guys!!! ARE THEY? or are WE, for not showing them the love of God in their times of trial and pain as children, for not teaching them better when they were orphaned, or left to fend for them selves. Were we not called to love those around us? you may answer that we do love those around us. DO we though. I don't mean do we TOLERATE the people around us, because toleration is not love. Caring for, talking to, complimenting and supporting, encouraging, spending time with, having their best interests at heart. That is love. Also, see these passages to compare a bit: Matthew 5:1-16 and 1 Corinthians 13.


How then shall we act in violence since it is partly due to us? "I don't live over there!" Yes, but a simple act of kindness could have changed someones life, and you never know where that could have led. Love is not always easy, but it is our way of life, and if it is not, reconsider a bit. think upon what what you really live for and how you show it.




I could go on, but this post has taken nearly two hours of my time and it is almost midnight. I hope this answer was satisfactory. You have a right to an opinion. So please, if you agree or disagree, please, let me know, post a comment, sent an email, I don't mind. But please do not feel as though I am thrusting this down your throat, I am simply trying to support the side I am on.


--Scott

Journal entry VII, Sunday

Okay... here I go...

21/08/11

Sorry about missing two days.

It's Sunday morning at about 7:45, London time.

So, on Friday, we had a superb breakfast. Nina really went out of her way for us. We went out and had piñatas and limbo contests for games. then, the drama/music presentation; very well done considering the amount of time to practice. The gift giving did not go so well. the gifts for the kids that boss Sergey brought in were all diverse. Therefore the kids wanted to choose and wanted what another had. Artum gave me one of his dinosaurs that he did not want; he wanted a "machina"; a car. Lunch was better. Here are two details for you: one, some kids only got to eat with us ~when they were eating lunch with us, no other time of the day~, and two, we ate almost all the adult chickens in the village. We later, as a team, packed and went to Nina's. Then she gave us a second lunch and the two Sergey's got to try the extra piñata. We received gifts; tea sets each, the ladies got an extra pitcher and the men got masses representing authority; Robert and Marks' were bigger. Oh! Lost the german knife and my Ukrainian knife helped alot with the piñatas.
Left Nina's to go to Hope House, had supper there, emailed a bit, then went to the black sea, Other Sergey had already left,  and Colleen felt she couldn't make the walk. So eleven of us made it to the water. Anya and I went out into the water a bit, but only I got wet past the knees and I immersed myself in the salt water. ~for it was my first time in naturally salty water~ Then, we played shta on the beach in the dark. Then Anya and I ran the way back to Hope House, about two kilometers. Then we talked as we waited for the others. Oh! I forgot to mention; I cried for like at least 20 minutes on-off in the van leaving Stepanovka.

Saturday, I got up at the same time Anya went for her run, but I did not know, it was about 6:AM. So I packed up and showered. Had breakfast and we headed out to the airport at 9:00. Anya and Maria came along to go house shopping. Lyena, Karina and Fiancé Sergey (strange change Sergey) all came as well to go to their appartments. Got to the airport and said goodbye, flew to Kyiv, then to London, got to our Hotel. On the flight to London, I spoke to a Ukrainian lady (looks 18 but is 27) for a while. Her name was Yulia (Julia) and she was the head of a private bank. In London, we went to a quaint little restaurant called White Horse. Very nice. And built in the early 1500's. No free Wifi at the hotel. went to bed.

Today, we got up, washed up, got on the bus (amazingly funny driver), got to the airport and we are eating at Gordon Ramsay's. Not much food, but good enough ~don't invite me to good food restaurants... I don't know how to appreciate it... Sorry Marina and Terry :/ ~. It's now about 10:30.

--Scott


That concludes my journal entries... if you have more ideas, please let me know, or comment. but in case you cannot get the comment to work, my e-mail is: scott.simpson.scythers@gmail.com

You may have noticed I talked much about Anya in particular... this is partially due to the fact that I am an introvert and love having few, but very close friends. She seemed like minded: slightly quieter, more reserved... Also, who knows, I might have had a small crush on her (why lie?) but I changed that feeling into little sister, and now big sister :P

Anyways, thanks all.

May God bless you :D

--Scott

Journal entry VI, Thursday

Alright, back into the game... two nights in a row. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas for the next topic once I finish my journal... which will be tomorrow if I type tomorrow. Once again, my e-mail is: scott.simpson.scythers@gmail.com If you have a topic to suggest, please have "blog topic" as you subject

18/08/11

Hi.

I am not excited to go home... I kinda want to cry. My team is my familly; this village, my job. Anya is my sister Sergey is my bud. We play together, pray together run together, eat together sleep together; all in all, the teams works together and does all together. ~sorry for the lack of commas that was how I had written it though~ The fact that the whole thing is for God and the team Christians ~meaning two facts: for God and that the team is composed of fellow Christians~ makes it harder to leave. Oh well.

Today, I got up, ate, then ran water games with Michelle. I felt tired and filled the water jugs instead of having to play as a team when the older boys were there. But as the teams went by, I played with them. Also, two men from the Church saw our games and also brought their own. They practically took over; for which Michelle and I were grateful ~I think Michelle was anyways~. We merely became the main attraction. Then, after the games, in the main room, Ann had me sit with her. Just us. Not sure if that's good or bad.

At lunch, I ate next to Anya, she says she's shy around boys. She promised me to eat candied carrots if I gave her the recipy. I will. ~and I did~

Karina is learning to play more ~perhaps she was finally relaxing a bit?~, Lyena stayed more or less the same, Marina is feeling better Michelle is my "mom" and Anya my "sister". Mark is a little less stressed, Terry is feeling more confident about her work, the Sergeys are more understanding of their groups, and the Netherlanders are still a great relief.

I noticed I lost my German knife. I hope to find it, but if not, so be it. I'll let God decide. ~ I never did find it.~

Falling asleep right here on the spot, lights on.

Finished the piñatas with the help of the interpreters, the whole group actually, except Marina, Colleen and Terry.

Oh before that, played with the kids at the park, tossed frisbys blew bubles talked to older boys through Anya and told them I do what I do for God. One played frisby with us.

Okay, super ~supper~ was a fiesta! we had home-made pizza, borsht, fudge and cookie sandwiches, and other great stuff. We gave Nina her maple syrop and a card and Vladmir received a study bible, in english. He said that that meant he has to study english ~and he said it honestly, that it was a sign~.

Played shta (what) and a group twister (foot tag).

Came here started to pack.

-night

-Scott Scott Simpson ~signed the second part~

okay... I looked over the left over entries... only on left. a long one for tomorrow...

Journal entry I, Saturday

Before I start, this is the unmodified version (letter for letter, errors included), aside from that which is specified in ~this, added information, such as removed parts in this post~. Also, this is, if it isn't obvious enough, MY point of view, at the date WRITTEN, not posted.

"
13/08/2011

Hi Syaoran! ~My journal has a name, so what?~

It's been a long time! ...~catching up on two years~...

I am mostly caught up. Now let me tell you about recently.

I'm in the Ukraine! I'm on a missions trip.
The reason I am here: I was touched by stories of child abuse and sex slaves. The Ukraine is a hotspot, so when I heard there was a team headed out here, I thought I'd go to the meetings... I didn't actually think I'd be here... I just thought I'd go to the meetings until I was told I couldn't go... but here I am! Over one year of planning, the team went from over 22 people 6 people... from Canada.

So what we are actually here for is to host a VBS, a vacation bible school. The four stations are music, crafts, sports and bible stories. The idea is to teach the children about God and keep them off the streets. There should be about 80-100 children by the end of the week. the camp will be in Stepanovka. We will stay there (here) until the camp is over then go back to Hope House in Odessa before going home.

So, what has happened so far? well, we traveled from Ottawa to Montreal, to Munic ~Munich~, to Kiev (Kyiv), to Odessa. From my residence to Hope House took 25 1/2 hours. In germany, I lost 100$ american, which is smaller than Canadian now, due to lack of attention on my part in the handing cash and returning change. ~see earlier post: Money Misfortune~ I have also spent too much on souvenirs (yesterday), but got great bargains. The team from canada consists of Terry watson, Mark and Michelle Bezanson, Colleen Taylor, Marina Mcewen, and myself. There are also 3 interpretters from hope house, one whom is getting married on the 24th of september, 2 Holish people, names (?), and two Serguys (one being the fiancé). Everyone has had a safe, God blessed trip.

Fun stuff. steps of stairs 192-293 = dispute (half step at the bottom. Touched an eagle; it bit my, but not hard and only because I provoked it ~trying to pet it... I had permission!~. I saw the Mother-in-law bridge where newly weds put locks as symbles of undying love. I am billited out with the Serguys and the two hollish men. It's nice. Borsht is okay, as is most of the food here. It has only been about 50hrs since arrival. I now have a notebook (laptop).

~this information might have been incorrect, but I'll transcribe it anyways~
There are 22 girls at Hope House and Lina and Carrie ~Kerry~ and Carole.
First step is doing well also, but they cannot renovate; they tried twice and finished and both buildings were taken by the government. They are currently on their 3rd building.

Okay, I G2G to bed.

It's like midnight and there is Church in the morning.

Goodnight Syaoran.

-Scott
"

So, they aren't ALL this long, but that was my first journal entry. Please read as an insight into my point of view, and not as concrete fact.

--Scott

Older kids (more like young men)

Back to inventing topics off the top of my head.

Well, on what I recall to be a Thursday -- Yeah, Thursday -- Anya and I went to the park, and I think Mark and Michelle were to meat us there shortly afterwards, (probably after a shower or something.). Anya and I had just finished a little run (little for her, little killer on me; the girl has some serious stamina!) and we sat down on the steps, the same place where I had my rain shower and Marina hurt herself. We talked briefly, and eventually, a few older boys came along, perhaps early twenties. They asked me questions, through Anya, as to why I was there, weather I did drugs, slept around, smoked or any of that. When Anya finished telling them I had not done any of these, the one who had asked seemed surprised, and his answer to that was something along the lines of: "how can you live like that?". I had Anya tell him that it was in Christ that I felt fulfilled and did not need any of these. I was still tired and overheating from my run with Anya, but we talked a bit, some kids arrived and somehow, it got around to my being asked to race them on their motorcycles (or motorscooters, not sure which it would be). I declined, but shortly afterwards, the younger boys on their pedal bikes said they'd race me on that. I won the race, and the boys were fairly impressed. later that day, the one who had done most of the talking, the one who had asked me how I can live this way, came over when M&M had arrived. He parked there and kind of watched for a bit. Seeing as Mark and a few kids and I were playing Frisbee, I did a tentative swing to show him I was going to toss it, he shook no but shortly after, I did toss it to him, and he caught it and returned it. Put his phone down and stayed there a bit, a few more passes and he was playing with us almost as enthusiastically as the 12 year-olds. It was cool, for sure. It looked as though he were trying to hid a smile at some points, and that was rewarding. We invited him to the camp tomorrow, but he didn't show up. But I do believe we have a slight bond between us, a young man who talked to a mid-teen out-lander. 

Well, hope that was interesting. Not sure I told anyone this story...

PS: I'm thinking of posting my Journal entries on here... Just wondering on if you are interested. if so, please leave a comment, or e-mail me at: scott.simpson.scythers@gmail.com and put Uky as subject (so I don't mix it up with my Ukraine team mail) and let me know if you would like me to post your comment for you, as I hear many are having difficulties posting comments...

--Scott

Going back? Why is that important?

Well, some people might say, okay, the kids know they are loved by God and by others, mission accomplished. Why go back?

If you are thinking this way, let me be more illustrative: A young man has fallen madly in love with a young lady and he does his best to impress her; he buys her flowers, takes her to the movies, treats her like the purest thing in the world, protects her, and so forth. Once as to their first date together is over, however, he changes completely and never does anything special; he has her pay her own meal, is strictly honest with her with no complements, no gifts, nothing.

Now, this girl has lived without all these previous things. In fact, it's how she always lives. Except that wonderful first date where she felt like she really meant something to someone. Then, that someone stopped making her feel special. Sure he treated her properly, but her friends could do THAT... Suddenly, she doesn't feel so special anymore.

Shortly afterwards, she refuses to go out with him anymore and even swears not to ever want to see his face again for the pain of disappointment had.

The analogy is this: the kids are the young lady. They were flattered that someone cared so much. The person that cared so much, in the analogy, is God. Where do WE fit in? We are the compliments, the support, the flowers. We are the friendship, the kindness, the generosity. We are the things that made them feel special.

In the story, the young man would not have carried on like this forever, like any married person may agree to. However, the young man needs to keep making her feel special, until she doesn't only FEEL it but she KNOWS it deep down, as well as not so deep down. This way, there is that well of love, pouring out from both. Sure things can be rocky, and the compliments slowly recede, but they never fully stop, else the relationship falls apart. Also, the young lady would eventually have returned the favor, if not even immediately.

These kids felt that love. If we abandon them now, they might very well feel even worse than before; for they had had false hope. Why wait since they do not come? Why love when none really love me? They merely pretend so that I go to Church, so that I will be one of them.


I hope this analogy has helped you understand more on why a second trip is needed. And a third. And a fourth.

--Scott

Why are kids on the street? (according to my limited knowledge)

So, this was another request, Sounds like a good one too, seeing as it IS the reason we were out there.

Alright, before I begin, this is from my limited knowledge; I do not live there, I do not know all, I did not do a study, I simply heard and saw a bit. This is what I learnt, more by word of mouth and without any real evidence. Let me put it this way: family values aren't the same as here; there is a large gap. Yes, here families aren't perfect either, might I add, but let's just take an average count, alright? Okay, now family ties aren't always as strong out in the villages as we might have here. The future of the family is a more desolate and there are parents, like here, who live much of their lives drunk, angry, secluded, high, and or many other things that don't particularly appeal to children... or anyone for that matter. Money isn't always easy either. Some kids at the camp got one meal a day, the one we served them. Also, there aren't as many kid help lines of that sort of thing, if any, like we have here. Seeing as they are in a village, many don't necessarily have a high education either yet, or plan to. Okay, what does this have to do with street kids and human trafficking? Well, you can see how this is not very appealing correct? Many of these kids agree. And hey! the city is civilized! THEY have money! THEY have televisions and electricity! THEY can BUY most of their food! And cinema's? You can see perhaps how this point of view, added to a hard life at home might bring the child/teen to run away... Often these kids end up on the street... or on the market. Why? because they have no money to make money! They have no friends, no help, live there illegally, what can they do? Go home? NEVER. The freedom is too much. These kids can get hooked on drugs, often do, or glue, or something.

Okay, so that's how they get THERE. now the question arises: "WHY in the world were you not helping THEM instead of hosting a silly Bible camp?". Well, as stated in a previous post, we were there on a preventative measure. There is a place called First Step, where street kids can go to get food and education first-aid, and help. This place is not a fabulous structure unfortunately. This is because the government has already confiscated two previous centers, right after renovations were complete.

Sorry for all the round about, sorry for a caps and stuff, but I think they help get the message through.

--Scott

Self needs.

Life is so simple. Eat, sleep/rest, poop, pee, breath, drink (water), and socialize.

Eating is necessary to nourish your body.
Do you nourish your body?

Sleep and rest to re-cooperate lost energy, to let your body heal and do the under cover work.
Do you let your body go into self-help mode?

Excrement and urine are self explanatory; empty your body of your junk.
Hopefully you do this.

Breathing is important to get oxygen into your body and carbon-dioxide out. It helps get your body stocked up on energy so the cells can do their stuff.
Do you let your body do it's stuff?

Drinking water refills you cells with water, this permits them to stay full and keep there shape and strength.
Does you body have enough infrastructure?

Socializing is important to keep our sanity in place. It helps us keep in form and thinking straight. Allows you to feel cared for. It allows you to care for others.
Do you allow yourself to stay sane?

There is one more thing we need. A sense of direction. This is something I left out in the first line because the people in the village of Stepanovka do not have this. There does not seem to be a desire to be better than the rest, to better yourself, but to have a bit of fun whilst surviving. Some of the kids there don't often get food, but they get it. But they lack direction.
What is this sense of direction? It can be many things, whether to have lots of money, land, friends, kids, companies, food, muscle, beauty. Or it can be God. Which one comes out as the winner? When you die, do you keep your possessions? Do you think money can save you? Or friends? God is the one who wins all. He shall do as he wills. He loves everyone.

What else do we need to live? Did you really know you need other people to survive? Without other people, you are likely to go insane, to cave in, lose a point in life, suicide, or simply stop trying. But Above that, is a need for God. Without or with God, your body will die. But you chose whether or not your spirit lives on. You decide.

Check out this song if you want: "You Decide" by Fireflight.

A truth revealed

This is a very obvious thing once said, yet only truly believed once experienced: Family is determined by the ones who care, not by your blood. Yes I have a good family at home, yes we all care for each other, but we also live around each other, not WITH each other. We ask each other how your day went without fully expecting a full answer, we call each other to eat at the table, yet it is only the parents who generally talk. We check our Facebook, play on the Wii, fiddle with the phones, and yes, post blogs. Yet we are right there to support each other! we are right there to talk, play, and enjoy, yet we don't. Why? Laziness? Fear that someone might tick another off? Not enough time synchronized? Then what? More? Less? why do we tend to not fully live a family life, here in North America, out in the Ukraine, or anywhere in the world? Alright, there are good/near perfect families, especially on the surface, but how many? And what does it mean?

As the team went to the Ukraine, we went as fellow Church members that knew each others names... that's about all, seen Marina at youth, since she is a leader. Terry used to help with Awana (there isn't one this year). Mark and Michelle were friends that my family visited on rare occasions. Coleen was one of the members in the Church that liked to hug people. And I was the singer's and drummer's boy, so people knew me.

On the trip... no before that. at the meetings, we learnt to open up to each other more and more and learnt some of the others quirks and aptitudes. On the trip, we would, logically, watch the luggage as the rest of the team would go to the washroom, taking turns watching. We helped each other carry luggage. And we arrived.  We met some more of the team and we got closer to each other. We slept in the same room as some people we barely knew, what do you expect? My room mate, one of the Sergiys, helped me learnt Russian and would occasionally REFUSE to speak to me in English for a while as he spoke full blast Russian. It sure helped me as I was the furthest into the Russian among the Canadians. Mark was the big leader of the team, the father figure we turned to with a good deal of our questions, and he did his best, usually getting us just what was needed. Michelle was the mother figure, making sure we were alright, worrying just enough that it wasn't annoying. Coleen was the babushka, the grandmother of the group, she tended to make the ladies laugh without intending to and then say that they giggled like little girls and say "here they go again!". Terry was the one ready to lend a hand, but the more introvert sister of the family. Marina was the older, but not eldest sister. She helped out and kept us there and gave bits of advice, ready to tell you how she felt and fun. She was also my legal guardian. Sergiy was the older brother figure that helped us out, especially linguistically. Lyena-Sergiy were the funny couple (who is from outside of the family? who knows? :P) that were slightly removed from the group and stuck together, talking. Karina was our educated silent sister, serious and fun when an organized game was in place. Anya was the little sister that we all watched out for, even though she didn't need watching :P like the baby of the family. Gertien was the timid cousin that was a great hand and funny :D also very helpful with languages. Robert was our uncle figure ready to help us and wise with his years, yet so very capable.

We all spent time together, we supported each other, prayed for each other, laughed with each other, sang with each other, accepted help from others and so on. We were just a real family... now this was one week though... One month may have been different, but we still refer to some of each other by these names still.