THE GREENHOUSE
An Intense Cross-Cultural "Missionary Training Mentorship"
Summer 2026 in L'viv, Ukraine
What is the Greenhouse?
GREENHOUSE OVERVIEW
- MTW’s longest running mentored missionary training program
- RUF Global site with on-site RUF campus minister
- Cross Cultural community of missionaries committed to care and train the interns
- Hands on ministry that can be accomplished in English language
- Intentional and personal mentored care for each intern
- The learning occurs in community through discussion, lecture and common meals together
- The Greenhouse is a five week program: June 12th - July 17th, 2026.
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The Greenhouse is an intentional community seeking to train and mentor those who seek to use their gifts in God's global mission. Through discussion and an interactive format each intern is trained and mentored in mission, gifts, calling, cross cultural dynamics, evangelism and how Christianity relates to all of culture. Each intern will be active in engaging with various local ministries like University, Children, Teen, ESL or Mercy. The goal of The Greenhouse is to equip the interns for ministry by helping them understand who they are in Christ. The overflow of this understanding is what fuels ministry and mission. Interns will participate in daily teaching, mentoring and devotional sessions and participate in the established local ministries in L'viv. In L'viv interns will work with the local RUF global ministry and help with a summer English camp in the Carpathian Mountains.
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Click here to fill out an application for The Greenhouse.
(This will direct you to the MTW Short Term Missions application. Please specify "The Greenhouse" in L'viv as your first choice for location.)
(This will direct you to the MTW Short Term Missions application. Please specify "The Greenhouse" in L'viv as your first choice for location.)
ROLE OF THE INTERN
The question most often asked is, “What will I be doing in the Greenhouse?” It is often difficult to pin down exactly because of the fact that much of the work will come about only after the ingredients of the individual interns are put in; but, as past participants suggest, come ready to serve. The Greenhouse wants to put focus not upon “doing” ministry, but upon “being” a child of God in Christ. This does not mean that there will not be plenty of activity.
University Ministry and ESL: Interns will be helping to make and develop relationships with university students within the already established university ministry of the team. Building Christ-centered relationships is a large part of the summer. Still, applicants will likely learn more about themselves, “who they are”, rather than “what they will do.” This means the intern should expect to be challenged to learn, grow, develop, and mature as much, if not more, than they should expect to “do”.
Mountain English Camp: The L'viv interns will take part in the planning and execution of the Mountain English Camp set in the Carpathian Mountains. The camp will host approximately 60 Ukrainian university students who are eager for interaction about language, Bible, sports, hobbies and crafts. The relationships made at the camp will make up a large part of the interns follow up strategy after the camp.
The interns’ main task is to serve, learn and be teachable. This will happen in the context of daily, morning devotion, class time teaching as well as afternoon cultural events. The intern will also spend a substantial amount of time with English speaking Ukrainian young adults. This allows the Americans to move and work in the culture despite the language barrier and to get a first hand experience with Ukrainian life.
University Ministry and ESL: Interns will be helping to make and develop relationships with university students within the already established university ministry of the team. Building Christ-centered relationships is a large part of the summer. Still, applicants will likely learn more about themselves, “who they are”, rather than “what they will do.” This means the intern should expect to be challenged to learn, grow, develop, and mature as much, if not more, than they should expect to “do”.
Mountain English Camp: The L'viv interns will take part in the planning and execution of the Mountain English Camp set in the Carpathian Mountains. The camp will host approximately 60 Ukrainian university students who are eager for interaction about language, Bible, sports, hobbies and crafts. The relationships made at the camp will make up a large part of the interns follow up strategy after the camp.
The interns’ main task is to serve, learn and be teachable. This will happen in the context of daily, morning devotion, class time teaching as well as afternoon cultural events. The intern will also spend a substantial amount of time with English speaking Ukrainian young adults. This allows the Americans to move and work in the culture despite the language barrier and to get a first hand experience with Ukrainian life.
OTHER INFO
What qualifications are necessary?
The Greenhouse is looking for teachable, mature people with leadership ability who have an interest in foreign ministry, who are up for intense training, and who have an adventuresome attitude. You must have completed at least two years of university or be 20 years of age.
What are the living arrangements for the interns?
Interns will live with other interns in their own apartments. These apartments will be secure and have water and electricity.
What is the size of The Greenhouse?
Interns should expect to work on a close team of 3-12 Americans.
What are the dates of The Greenhouse Internship?
June 12th – July 17th
Visa and Immunization Requirements:
A visa is not required for travel to Ukraine or Poland.
The following immunizations are recommended for Ukraine and Poland: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and a current Tetanus. Please check with the CDC and your doctor about other immunizations that they would recommend.
APPLY NOW!
Click here to fill out an application for The Greenhouse.
(This will direct you to the MTW Short Term Missions application. Please specify "Greenhouse" in L'viv, Ukraine)
Questions?
See our list of FAQs at the bottom of this page.
If you have additional questions, email Doug Shepherd, Director of The Greenhouse, at [email protected]
The Greenhouse is looking for teachable, mature people with leadership ability who have an interest in foreign ministry, who are up for intense training, and who have an adventuresome attitude. You must have completed at least two years of university or be 20 years of age.
What are the living arrangements for the interns?
Interns will live with other interns in their own apartments. These apartments will be secure and have water and electricity.
What is the size of The Greenhouse?
Interns should expect to work on a close team of 3-12 Americans.
What are the dates of The Greenhouse Internship?
June 12th – July 17th
Visa and Immunization Requirements:
A visa is not required for travel to Ukraine or Poland.
The following immunizations are recommended for Ukraine and Poland: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and a current Tetanus. Please check with the CDC and your doctor about other immunizations that they would recommend.
APPLY NOW!
Click here to fill out an application for The Greenhouse.
(This will direct you to the MTW Short Term Missions application. Please specify "Greenhouse" in L'viv, Ukraine)
Questions?
See our list of FAQs at the bottom of this page.
If you have additional questions, email Doug Shepherd, Director of The Greenhouse, at [email protected]
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LVIV, UKRAINE
Located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, Ukraine is in many ways, the dividing point between the east and the west. L'viv is the largest and most influential city in Western Ukraine. The metro population includes over 1 million people. It is often viewed as the vanguard of Ethnic Ukrainian Identity as well as "more European" by other Ukrainians. It is located just north of the Carpathian Mountains and a close train ride from Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. The language spoken there is Ukrainian. In the summer time, the city comes alive with outdoor cafes and tourists while the multiple parks and nearby mountains become a favorite spot, especially among university students.
FAQ's
Here are some common asked questions asked about life and work in Ukraine. The main barriers that keep most people from engaging in cross-cultural work are raising finances, language and proximity to family. See "overcoming main barriers" below to address these issues.
What if I am not good at languages?
If you're not good at languages you probably mean "taking a language" like in high school or college. There are many different ways of learning a language and we should use many methods rather than only thinking of one book in a classroom setting. You have already learned one language and you did ok learning that one. There are people who are gifted with languages and then there are the rest of us who must work hard but also smart. Team Lviv seeks to work out a personal and reasonable language acquisition strategy for each team member that employs multiple methods. Language learning is still hard and takes time but it should never be boring or disconnected from the people and culture. The reason we are seeking to learn language is to know locals (Ukrainians ) and their culture better. You might not be fluent in a year but you will know people and the culture better as you acquire the language. Each person learns at their rate and does not allow language to be the excuse that keeps us from serving Ukrainians.
What would I do if I was on the team? How can I be used?
We do not staff to positions. We take into account where we are in our church plant strategy and then take into account your gifts, sense of calling and history. It is through this dialogue that we work out how you are to engage in the church plant work.
IS L’VIV SAFE? IS IT SAFE TO SEND MY CHILD TO UKRAINE?
The short answer is YES, it is safe to travel to L’viv.
If you are looking for a longer answer: Right now, the country of Ukraine is fighting a border war with Russia in the far eastern part of the country. This is tragic for the nation as a whole, HOWEVER it has not impacted safety in L’viv or made travel more dangerous. The conflict is fairly limited to a small part of the country nearly 850 miles from the city. (For perspective, Texas is 660 miles wide, while the conflict in eastern Ukraine is 850 miles from L’viv.) Outside of this area, life and travel is perfectly safe, although travel always requires wisdom, as does day-to-day life in an urban environment. Our entire team feels that the region and specifically the city of L’viv is safe not only for us (a team consisting of a single woman and several families with a multiple children between the ages of 0 and 17), but also for any travelers and interns. Moreover, during the past 20 years, we have worked with over 100 short-term interns, and we consider it a privilege to get to know each and every one of them. Rest assured that we take the care and oversight of our interns seriously, and are committed to ensuring their safety throughout their time in Ukraine.
If you still have questions about safety or about life in L’viv please feel free to contact Doug Shepherd.
Thank you for considering serving with us in L’viv!
If you are looking for a longer answer: Right now, the country of Ukraine is fighting a border war with Russia in the far eastern part of the country. This is tragic for the nation as a whole, HOWEVER it has not impacted safety in L’viv or made travel more dangerous. The conflict is fairly limited to a small part of the country nearly 850 miles from the city. (For perspective, Texas is 660 miles wide, while the conflict in eastern Ukraine is 850 miles from L’viv.) Outside of this area, life and travel is perfectly safe, although travel always requires wisdom, as does day-to-day life in an urban environment. Our entire team feels that the region and specifically the city of L’viv is safe not only for us (a team consisting of a single woman and several families with a multiple children between the ages of 0 and 17), but also for any travelers and interns. Moreover, during the past 20 years, we have worked with over 100 short-term interns, and we consider it a privilege to get to know each and every one of them. Rest assured that we take the care and oversight of our interns seriously, and are committed to ensuring their safety throughout their time in Ukraine.
If you still have questions about safety or about life in L’viv please feel free to contact Doug Shepherd.
Thank you for considering serving with us in L’viv!
What is a normal day like?
There is not a "normal" day and answering this would depend on many variables.
What is daily life like?
Awesome.
How to overcome MAIN BARRIERS?
The key components in serving here are the ability to have a servant and learners attitude while humbly respecting the culture and engaging in life in Ukraine. This engagement in life will mean both learning new rules and playing by new rules in a way that is respectful and humble. The main barriers to service here are:
1). Never getting here due to fear of language and raising support. This is overcome by seeing that these are real challenges but flimsy when weighed against God's call to His mission.
2). Attitude. There will be little work done in Ukraine that is done from a prideful, arrogant and expert posture. This is overcome by seeing that we are still being transformed by God as He uses us in His work. We must also see that as outsiders in a culture we must learn and understand the people, struggles and questions before seeking to provide help or answers.
1). Never getting here due to fear of language and raising support. This is overcome by seeing that these are real challenges but flimsy when weighed against God's call to His mission.
2). Attitude. There will be little work done in Ukraine that is done from a prideful, arrogant and expert posture. This is overcome by seeing that we are still being transformed by God as He uses us in His work. We must also see that as outsiders in a culture we must learn and understand the people, struggles and questions before seeking to provide help or answers.
WHAT IS THE MEDICAL CARE LIKE?
Ukraine: The first line of defense is our own doctors online who have made themselves available for any questions. Most drugs can be bought without a prescription. In the city there are specialists in the cities multiple hospitals. There is also a private clinic (24 hour) on the edge of town. In case there is an extraordinary medical problem there is an evacuation service/insurance that each team member is enrolled in. The point of service would then be Vienna, Austria.
What about Safety? Why serve the church during a time of war?
Why an Internship in Ukraine?
Even in the midst of war, the church in Lviv is caring for people in their darkest hour. MTW, together with the local church, is ministering to children, students, and adults who face the daily realities of Russia’s invasion.
Interns will have a unique opportunity to:
- Serve young university students seeking hope and encouragement.
- Share the love of Christ through presence, relationships, and activities.
- Join a 5-week internship focused on learning about and demonstrating the Gospel to the next generation of Ukrainians.
Parent to Parent – Common Questions
Is Lviv safe?
- Yes. Statistically, Lviv is safer than all major U.S. cities however how are we to be wise?
- Our families live here with our own children.
- We follow clear safety protocols in case of emergency.
- Lviv is a vibrant western city, just 60 miles from Poland.
- Daily life continues—cafés, schools, and parks are open.
- The main reminders of war are the somber expressions of people and the occasional air raid siren.
- We closely monitor official warnings and respond quickly.
- Each apartment has access to a shelter.
- Vehicles are ready for evacuation if needed.
- No place is without risk Ukraine included. Eastern Ukraine is a high risk zone due to the front lines and near constant attack from the Russian invaders. Lviv, in the far west, is far from the front lines and these high risks. Our risks when they come are from the air. All of these come with a warning system. When there is an air raid we respond by seeking shelter. These shelters or approved shelter locations are throughout the city and often within the apartment complexes.
- Yes. Teams and interns have safely traveled to Lviv since the 2022 invasion.
- Visitors arrive through Poland and serve in western Ukraine at VBS, camps, university ministry and church events.
The Opportunity
Though Russia’s invasion began in 2014 and escalated in 2022, God has providentially allowed ministry in Lviv to continue. Interns are invited to step into this moment to love and serve alongside the church, bringing hope to a generation marked by suffering.
Parents
It is a delight to host your son or daughter for the summer. We will treat them as our own and will look out for their safety and well-being.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Doug Shepherd at
[email protected]
Doug is the MTW–L’viv Team Leader.
Doug Shepherd, the Greenhouse director, talks about his call to missions in Ukraine.
