Alisa’s Story

Ukraine

When sixteen-year-old Alisa arrived at Camp Maximum in Ukraine last summer, she carried the weight of loss no young person should bear. Her father had been killed in the war. Her closest friends had moved abroad, and school was often interrupted by air-raid sirens. Life had become a pattern of fear and silence.

Through her local church, Alisa learned about camp, and thanks to generous donors, she was able to attend for the first time. The week was filled with games, laughter, and community—yet what touched her most was the evening chapel. Singing about God’s love and studying His Word, she discovered that Scripture is alive and speaks directly to life today.

“Camp gave me more than good memories; it opened my heart,” Alisa shared. “Even in war, I realized, God never leaves us. He sends people who care and who open doors we could never open ourselves.”

By the end of camp, Alisa had found something she thought she’d lost forever—trust. Her faith began to take root again, and fear gave way to a quiet peace.

Today, even as the war continues, Alisa carries that hope with her. As a first-year medical student, she is learning to live with courage and compassion, trusting that the same God who met her at camp is still writing her story, one day at a time.

Please join us in praying for Alisa and for Camp Maximum, as they continue to bring light and love to young people in Ukraine.