Mission to Ukraine

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“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”- 2 Corinthians 5:7

And that is why, I am moving to Ukraine to serve as a missionary!

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Matthew Parkinson. Twice in the past year, I have had a chance to visit this beautiful country and volunteer alongside some amazing people. In both experiences, I learned about and saw the steadfast resilience of the Ukrainian people and how they rely upon their faith daily. In turn, it broke my heart each time I had to leave however, I knew one thing: I want to come back and serve.

After prayer, some time at home, and some meaningful talks with friends, I am taking this step in faith to serve for the next couple years as a school teacher in Ukraine. I do not take this step lightly but I do take it faithfully knowing this is where God is calling me and where He has put my heart for the coming years.

In this journey, I will be partnering the The Great Commission Foundation, RCE-Canada, and RCE-International along the way to build a network of supporters for this work.

What will I be Doing?

This coming year, I will be joining a school in Kyiv. As a Middle Years teacher, I will be responsible for teaching a variety of subjects including:

As the school is also a Christian school, my hope is to also build into student’s spiritual lives, teach them about the love of Christ, and support them in their own faith walks.

Other Hopes and Goals For the Next Year?

Grow in Faith and Trust in God

I believe that God will teach me alot about trusting in Him. As I spend the next year in Ukraine, I hope to grow deeper in my faith amidst the challenges that will be faced.

Develop and Refine Teaching Skills

I pray that God will give me the wisdom and knowledge to effectively lead and teach my students in the coming year.

Volunteer Alongside Other Organizations

I hope to continue volunteering with the organizations I worked with in the past such as Angels of the Front and Mothers Heart.

Get Involved Within the Local Church

I believe that God will lead me to an incredible church family to become connected with during my time in Ukraine. I look forward to growing within this community.

Learn About Intractable Conflict On the Ground

I hope to learn more about where people find hope in the midst of conflict by living and learning alongside. I believe that serving and teaching in Ukraine will provide a unique window into how we see conflict.

Graduate From My Master's Program

Alongside this new experience, I pray that God will give me the discipline to finish my thesis and share what I learn with others.

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.”-Proverbs 19:21

Ways You Can Support

Prayer

Prayer for safety as I head to Ukraine. More importantly prayer for wisdom and knowledge as i begin teaching. Prayer as well for New Generation School as they begin another year of learning and growing together and prayer for the students as they also continue to learn. And generally prayer for the situation in Ukraine, that the situation stabilizes and improves, and that peace prevails soon.
Giving

I am looking for people to financially partner with me in this next year of serving in Ukraine. If you feel called to partner in this way, you can head to https://thegc.org/ca/projects/rce-canada and give.(When giving, please make sure to note who you are giving to, as GCF collects for all RCE Canada missionaries).
Share With Others

Share with friends and family so that together we can build a strong support network through prayer and giving. Together, we can make an incredible impact in the lives of the children at New Generation School and also the lives of everyone around us.