From 4-8 August, seven UK doctors and medical students from Bristol and Cardiff joined 22 Ukrainians and three Russians at the Black Sea resort of Alupka, near Yalta, Ukraine. The resulting camp was a huge blessing to both visitors and hosts. Anna Yermoleyeva, the Ukrainian student who initiated and organised it, and Jocelyn Cherry, a member of the British team, give their personal perspectives.

New passion and vision

The first CMF camp in Ukraine was very special. Our visitors brought their God-given gifts of knowledge, experience, faith and even smiles to join us. I had to keep explaining that the strange people who didn't speak our language weren't American, but British. The reply was 'What's the difference?'

I think everybody found something that they really enjoyed. But I think the main prize of being on a team is to see changes in others' lives. The CMF team was wonderful individually, but more importantly they were a true team - united in aim and vision. This made the camp so wonderful. Each day was better than the last; one student said: 'Every day, every minute and every second brought new emotions and new decisions.' This was topped by the last evening. We didn't feel we were speaking different languages - it was the 'unity' seminar from the day before in action. Sweet brotherly fellowship, silly English (and Ukrainian) jokes, games, singing and love. It was the best ending for the camp.

I asked God for blessing and he gave it. There had been difficulties in organising the camp, but on that last evening I wanted it to go on and on! But we had to go back to our medical schools - to be salt and light there.

The camp is finished, but it birthed new passion, vision, and ideas in Ukrainian medics. All things are possible through Christ who strengthens us! This camp will change not only our friends at medical school, but will probably influence the whole of healthcare in Ukraine.

Anna Yermolayeva is a clinical student in Simferopol, Ukraine

Blessings I still experience

I always found the idea of CMF summer teams a bit weird - why go all that way to a Christian camp when I could go to one here? What could I contribute as a student?

When I tell God I won't do something he often challenges me to do it. And so it was; I found my heart gradually drawn to the trip. I decided to lay down two 'fleeces': i) my visa and new passport coming through in time, and ii) God covering the expense (as I couldn't). This was where the blessings began.

For me this trip was about how God changed and taught me, not about how I changed the camp! God taught us big lessons, to wait on him and his perfect timing. My visa arrived the day I was leaving. Money to cover the trip came in a surprise exam award and a generous unexpected cheque. God's timing is perfect but often requires us to hang in there despite feeling all is lost.

Friendships with Ukrainians quickly moved to a deep level of sharing. God graciously showed me that my ability to make friends cross culturally was a gift and not 'just because I talk a lot' as I had denigrated it! This equipped me for befriending some searching Chinese students back in Bristol - without this lesson I would have been hesitant, worried about miscommunication.

It was amazing to hear testimonies of God moving during communist times; of a border guard giving a confiscated Bible to a family who'd been praying for one - this really spoke to me of how disaster in our eyes is often hidden victory. I became so aware of how precious the time there was, how pressing the need to unite and encourage Christian doctors to impact for the kingdom, to evangelise whilst they (and we) still have freedom - and I had thought I could use my time better elsewhere!

It might sound like a painful experience, but trust me - it was good fun and relaxing, with a beautiful country, lovely people and blessings I am still experiencing. Do pray about whether you should go on a team this year - I can promise you'll get more than you give!

Jocelyn Cherry is a preclinical student in Bristol