Presbyterian Church in Ireland - Mission Overseas - UKRAINE: Islandmagee member in Nagybereg for a year

2nd September 2009

Jenni Wolfe is a member of First Islandmagee and the first PCI member to serve in Ukraine under the auspices of Presbyterian Mission Overseas.

Jenni was a member of a team of mainly First Islandmagee members which, in 2008, went to Ukraine for two weeks to teach English and run Bible Studies at a summer camp.

This experience had a significant impact on Jenni, and, as she reflected on her time with the team in Ukraine, and discussed with leaders in First Islandmagee what she felt she had learnt through it all, she sensed God challenging her to consider returning to Nagybereg for a longer period.

At the same time, First Islandmagee's leaders learned from their friends in Ukraine that they were keen to have someone come from Ireland to teach English in their local school.

After prayerful consideration, and with the full support of First Islandmagee's minister, session and members, Jenni returned to Ukraine last month to commence a year of voluntary service at Nagyberegi Református Líceum (NBRL), the Reformed Church secondary school in the village of Nagybereg, which is located in Transcarpathia in southwestern Ukraine, close to Ukraine's borders with Hungary, Slovakia and Romania [see map].

While her primary task is to help with teaching English, Jenni will also be involved in supervising in the dorms and helping with a range of extracurricular activities.

Outside the school, Jenni hopes to be able to engage with the local community in a variety of ways, including help with outreach among the Roma (Gypsy) community; and in service to the elderly and those who are ill.

During the year she expects to also be involved in Christian service through Bible classes, and in children's and youth work.