Ukraine Kids

Tuesday May 31 - By Jessica Dexter

2011-06-01T13:17:00.000-07:00

Today we kept in mind a few verses from Exodus chapter four, verses 11-12. In this God reminds us that we do not have control over the way that things are on this earth. God knows that there are orphans among us that do not have parents. He knows that there are children who are not born with eyes, a hand, or legs. He knows that all of these things have a purpose and work together into His intricate plan for humanity, yet we do not see the purpose behind these things that are. These verses remind us how important it is to remember that God created the world and has everything under control and that He brings glory to His name in everything He does, even if we do not see it as well. Today the women played with the children that we met yesterday. We had a wonderful time reuniting with the children and we continued to share the love of Christ with them by loving on them and playing with them. It was much hotter today than yesterday because there was no breeze and we became tired much faster, but we still had a good time playing with the children. The children are so easily amused that it is easy for us to just play. The difficult part about interacting with them is when we try to speak to them or understand them. I don’t know much Ukrainian or Russian and they don’t know much English. However, Sasha pointed out this morning at the team meeting that we all understand one common language…Love. Some of the guys also came up to the children and played.

When the children came up to us, they smiled and hugged us and we felt that they loved us because we love them and spend time with them. Although I was in building 3, I was able to spend some time with the children in building 5. The children in building 5 are younger and were more quiet than the children in building 3, so we just played with them without saying many words. A few of the women decided to help the guys by painting a fence at building 5, which helped us experience what the guys were doing all day.

The guys worked hard all day long, including some time after dinner. The porch project is now finished, they prepared the ground to pour concrete tomorrow and they disposed of a lot of old play ground equipment.

Some Adventures In Kiev

2011-05-30T11:51:00.000-07:00

Our team has been in Ukraine now for three full days ... full of learning about each other, learning about God, learning about the Ukranian culture and history and how it influences our work with the orphans in Vorzel. Over the next few days and weeks our team will be sharing our stories on this blog, however, here are a few snapshots to get things started ...

Our team arriving at the airport in Kiev. Although we were tired, we were thankful for safe and easy flights, and happy to be greeted by our hosts from Almaz Church (and apparently Sasha was also happy to see us!).

A view of Kiev.

Eating at one of many food courts in Kiev. Kayla, Jessica D., David M., and Alyssa.

When we visited the Forced Famine Museum, we learned that theVorzel Orphanage was started to support starving orphans during that time.

Attending a Bible Study Conference at Almaz Church.

The team - sight-seeing in Kiev.

Kristal, Will, Robbie, Kenny, Alyssa, Jeanette, and one of our traslators, Slavic.

How to Learn Ukrainian: A Fast (Food) Tutorial

2011-05-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

Our team has been working very hard to learn the language (Russian and Ukranian) in order to effectively communicate with our hosts, translators, and the children. Of course, they are difficult languages with unfamiliar letters. As we work on learning the letters and sounding out words, one strategy that helps is identifying familiar words and terms. What better training ground than good old McDonalds! Check out these signs and try to read them yourself!

McFlurry

Beef Roll

Happy Meal

McMuffin

Latte and Americano

Now that you've mastered McDonalds, try to read the Ukranian words below at this Italian-style restaurant. Leave your guesses below. Answers tomorrow!

Let's Go To Work!

2011-05-30T10:54:00.001-07:00

Today was our first day at the orphanage.

The guys received their jobs last night and quickly got to work this morning after a brief team meeting and breakfast (we had scrambled eggs!!).

The gals split into teams last night and then arrived at the different buildings to eager kids ready to play. For those of us that were here last year, it is always interesting to see what kids are still here and here about the kids that were adopted over the last year. One girl Yasa has been here all 3 years that we have had a team in Vorzel. I think Yasa might have remembered us from last year. Within a few minutes of seeing her she came up to me and gave me a big hug!

The kids all seemed excited to play … whether it was blowing bubbles or punching a balloon, swinging on the swing set or sliding down the slide. They also really love having their pictures taken (and then looking at them … thank you digital cameras!!).

In the afternoon, most of the girls went back to the same orphanage (the guys kept working on their constructions project). I had the opportunity to go into building one where most of the severely disabled kids live. Interestingly, I intentionally did not go into the building last year because it was so hard seeing the kids the first year. But Sasha really wanted me to spend time with a certain boy (also named Sasha) who just had surgery on his hips and his legs are casted with a bar in between. Sasha led me into the room with kid Sasha. He was just sitting in his bed in the room all by himself. Sasha introduced me and then for the next 2 ½ hours I sat on the bed with Sasha reading, coloring, rolling a ball, playing playdough and tossing a balloon. He was SO happy and all I could think was “if I didn’t spend the afternoon with him … would he have just set in the room here all by himself?” I’m excited for our time tomorrow.

By the end of the day, the guys were tired (and a bit dirty!). Several of the projects were suppose to take 2 days and they finished this afternoon!
Tonight we are doing some team building activities however I think the American and Ukrainian teams are getting along pretty well already!!

May 29, 2011 in Ukraine

2011-05-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

"And I'm wondering: why isn't this a part of my life as a christian? I mean, it's THE BIBLE!"

...and it made me think.

I'm not quite sure how people usually eat meals in Ukraine, but I like the way a few of us have started taking them together. This morning, five of us ordered some "thin pancakes," each with a different topping or sauce. Though we didn't have a real lazy susan, it doesn't matter when you're with friends like these; we can pass them around the table by hand, thank you very much. Like Oles (pr. O-liss) put it, in his thick Indo-Ukrainian accent, "It's like the early church, where everyone holds everything in common, and no one covets the possessions." It's what God keeps reminding me here, most of half a world away. Even watching this game of UNO right in front of me reminds me of how united we are by universal languages like card games and love and Christ.

Oles (right) is a pretty insightful guy. Last night, a split-dead-even half-and-half Ukrainian-American group of us stayed up pretty late playing a game of his, "questions." Basically, everyone puts some questions in a hat, and then we go around drawing them out and answering.

"What's your favorite color?"

"Why are you here in Ukraine?"

"What would be the hardest thing to have God take from you?"

"Is it okay to access secular entertainment when there's so much work to be done for the kingdom?"

So pretty easy, casual questions. Maybe a little discussion, too. Oksanna (another awesome Ukrainian), translated everything (to Russian for the Ukrainians, to English for us Americans). That's no small order when people are addressing complex spiritual and theological ideas, in your second language. Mad props!

I'm not sure if you have heard Nicolay Skopich speak (at NLCF or at Almaz), but it's definitely something. This morning, he spoke about the importance of the word of God, and how it's much more central to our relationship with God than some of us, even devoted followers of Christ, often treat it. I mean, it's the Bible! I know I need to see life more through the lens of scripture. As it is written:

“I will put my law in their minds

and write it on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

No longer will they teach their neighbor,

or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’

because they will all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest,”

declares the LORD.

Sometimes verses like that sound really ethereal and nicely poetical, but it's uplifting to remember that those are the days we call down when we read these words of God, and obey them. That's going to be a good day, right Oles?

So, we wound our way through Kiev: the main street, a marketplace, a street for buying...uh...stuff. We ate, we came back, we checked out the orphanage. It's government run, and it doesn't seem very well supported, at least, by the state. Going through the rooms and looking at the playing areas for these children, it's pretty easy to pick out the ones Almaz has worked on thus far. Not to give a false sense of the condition of the complex (which, in some places, should be no place for children), but something no fewer than two married men remarked: "That bathroom is nicer than mine!"

That being said, while several areas have been built and fixed to a very high standard, there is still much work to be done. We'll be finishing one playground, starting another, completing a "sensory room" building, where disabled children can engage their hands and minds, and putting in a toilet. At least. Do you know what our God can do? DO YOU?

Standing around a concrete playpen (shown) in the early night, as faces become less distinct, I'm glad to be part of a church community, and part of a great Lord, that willingly engages those around the world. There are no barriers when God wants to move among His people. Not language, for He has already reversed the Babel. Not culture, for He has shown us the right way to live. Not evil, for He has overcome it all.

"Wherever he shows His face, the veil is taken away from the eyes, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

Grace and peace to you, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First Blog!

2011-05-16T06:36:00.000-07:00

Privyett!

I cannot believe that we will all be leaving in less than two weeks! I'm definitely getting pretty excited. Getting to this point started earlier this year. For some time I had felt God calling me to go on some missions trip. I did not know exactly where, but I knew I should go somewhere. Pretty soon, the opportunity came to go to Mississippi on a missions trip with our church, nlcf. I decided to go, and with the help and support of many, I had a great time and definitely felt the push to do more missions work. After the door closed to try and go to Honduras, the door opened to Ukraine and I walked towards it. I decided to go. Throughout the processes that came next, everything felt right. When the pastors from Almaz, our sister church in Ukraine, came to visit us at Virginia Tech, the stories and information they shared all felt right. Something inside, God, was insuring me that going on this trip was the right decision. That good feeling was encouragement for raising the needed support for the trip. I admit, raising support had its challenges, but as everyone kept telling me, if this was something God wanted for me, He would make it happen. Eventually the support came in, which was a weight off my shoulders.

Being home for a few days, I am beginning to think of what I need to pack from here and what all I need to get together. It feels crazy that all the prayer and work for this trip is about to come to fruition. I pray that I will have an open heart, ready for God to work in me and speak into me while I am over there. Since I feel this trip plays such an important part in my walk with God, I am looking for His next step.

In Christ,

David M.

Ukraine Facts

2011-05-09T18:35:00.000-07:00

What do you know about Ukraine? Brush up on the history, culture, and economy at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine

Fun Trivia: What are the colors of the Ukrainian flag and what do the colors represent?

T-shirt Fundraiser!!

2011-03-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

Purchase a t-shirt here to raise awareness and money for Ukrainian Orphans!! Limited quantity so order today (and pass the word!).

Front:

Back:

An invitation and an explanation: Why go to Ukraine?

2011-01-24T08:03:00.000-08:00

I hope many of you will consider going to Ukraine, or supporting the team who is going this Summer!

There are many reasons to serve. For me personally, the Ukraine Kids mission trip has helped me to more fully understand Jesus’ call of living an “up, in, and out” life.

Up: going on a mission trip was a real act of faith for me because I was intimidated by raising the money. In the process of humbling myself to ask for support, I allowed God to reveal his faithfulness through the generosity of others. If He’s put it on your heart to go, trust Him that He’ll provide the funds.

In: going on the trip allowed me to develop stronger friendships within the NLCF community. There’s something about traveling together and working together that really bonds people, especially when you are working toward a common mission.

Out: of course, it really is about the children. How can playing with children really be making a difference in the world? Well, it makes a difference in their world. It brings hope and love to lives who have little. Whether you will be building a wall or pushing a child on a swing, you will learn what James 1:27 means about “pure and genuine religion”. Answer the invitation of Jesus to go and care for orphans.

That’s why I’m going back.

Masha's Been Adopted!

2010-09-23T13:14:00.001-07:00

This beautiful girl with Down Syndrome has finally found her forever home! She was officially adopted on Sept. 8, 2010 by an American family. This is such exciting news because we have worked with this little girl two summers in a row, and she is featured in the video on this website from our trip in 2009.

Praise the Lord for such great news!

Faces from Ukraine

2010-09-04T09:28:00.000-07:00

Of course, it is these faces - the people we met, lived with, served with, and grew to love that truly marked our experience! Serving in Urkraine is more than going on a mission trip, it is joining into a community of people who love and care for orphans. It's taking Christ's words to heart, and seeking out what pure and genuine religion really means. Thanks to our friend Masha Levchenko taking such beautiful pictures that capture so many precious faces!

The American team and Ukrainian friends!

Places in Ukraine

2010-09-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about Ukraine this morning, and looking back through some of my pictures. I want to share a few pics of the places we were ... part of belonging to a community is sharing a sense of place. These places are the backdrop of our stories, and give context to our experience. There are so many images we could share, but these are just a few!

Kiev, Ukraine

Street vendors in Kiev

In Kiev, beautiful buildings in a rainbow of colors


Public transportation, crossing through an open city square

Amazing architectural details

Building 3, Vorzel Orphanage

Inside Building 3 - A little lamb resting on each tiny bed

The sanitorium where we stayed in Vorzel

We walked by this mosaic every day: "Health of nation - Wealth of country"

The Forced Famine Memorial

Larisa's Story:

2010-08-26T18:23:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons why I am writing this is to tell you about my trip back to my homeland Ukraine. Before I talk about that, let me tell you a little bit about myself. My Ukrainian name is Larisa and I am 16 years old. I was born in Kyiv, Ukraine and about 11 years ago I was living in an orphanage “Vorzel” in Ukraine. My biological parents had abandoned me at birth, and had given up their rights as my parents.

I vividly remember when I was 3 years old in my orphanage, and most everything that had happened from then on. I think one of the major reasons I remember so many details of my life in those early years stems from the enormous transition I went through, from living in the Ukraine to moving to the United States of America.

I have gone through quite a lot in my life, having faced many struggles when I was very little. If there is anything in my life that I have learned to value, it would be love. Love to me is like the air I breathe. I can’t live without it. Love is something that makes me feel that I am cared for, and that I will always have that person next to me who will never let me go, whether it be my family, my friends, or someone I will be in a relationship with.

One of my early memories from those days in Ukraine was not knowing what love was, or how it felt to be loved. Being so little and knowing that the only person I had in my life to depend on was myself is something a child should never have to think about. Coming to America and meeting my new family was a dramatic change for me. It took me awhile to understand that I had this wonderful family that was there to love me and support me. As I got older, I began to more deeply appreciate what my adopted parents have given me, how much they have changed my life, and the opportunities they have given me that I would never have been given had I remained in Ukraine.

I am currently in Ukraine as I write this. The first week I arrived here, I took a bus to go to an orphanage where I was once living many years ago. Coming back to my orphanage definitely caused a tremendous amount of emotions for me. It brought back a lot of memories from my childhood, from playing with the little kids outside on the playground, to sitting on the couch watching T.V. all together. The orphanage is separated by buildings in terms of the child’s health (Physically or mentally disabled and healthy kids). The whole reasoning for going there was to spend time with all the children playing with them, reaching to the children, and telling them about God.

I believe that having God in your life makes you realize not only who you are, but who God is. God has opened my life to whole new world having been here. I used to ask myself when I was little, “why is it that all these bad things are happening to me, and I feel like no one’s there to help me?” When in reality God has always been there.

About a week after being in Vorzel, I took a trip to a camp that was about 4 hours away from Kyiv, and that’s when everything hit me all at once, and everything I used to think had completely changed forever. The conditions of this place were mind blowing. Some of us go to sleep in a comfortable big bed, with enough sheets and covers to keep us warm throughout the night, and don’t consider it as the biggest thing in the world to be able to have. I got to sleep in a small single bed, with a mattress that was so thin you could feel the metal wires pressing up against your back, and that was considered to be lucky to have something holding up your mattress. I used the restroom outside, as for so many other people in this world who flush there toilets without even thinking, “what if my toilet didn’t flush”. I had to buy my water because the water there was not healthy to drink, and I drank every last drop of my water, as for most people who fill their cups of water and drink two gulps of it and dump the rest of it in their kitchen sink.

Do we as people take things for granted?

In this camp the age group varies from as young as 1 to 19 years old. You enter this camp thinking that these are just regular kids, some who are just bored, and others who don’t even want to be back at the same camp they were in last year, when in reality each and every one of those kids there has a story you don’t know about. Stories that will bring tears to your eyes, stories that will make you wish you could do something more for them, and most of all stories that will make you realize how lucky and more appreciative we as people should be towards what we have in life.

I woke up one morning and it was about 6 am, and I wasn’t feeling to great, but wasn’t feeling bad either. I guess you could say that’s a pretty typical reaction to have after having 4 hours of sleep, but anyway I walked to meet up with the rest of the group from the church, and had a good 30 minutes worshipping God. While I was listening to everyone’s prayers, something inside me hit that place in my heart and feeling the emotions of what the people around me were having including the ones I was feeling felt as if my chest was about to burst. I have not been able to cry like that in front of anyone in a very long time. I think that goes to show you how much this place changes you and how amazing these people are. That was the day I realized that God really is the bigger person, and that feeling you get when your crying is so strong, and it felt like I had so much inside me that needed to come out, to the point that I couldn’t even stay in that room. That was also the moment I realized that God never puts too much of something on our plates that we cannot handle. I may not always understand why he does what he does, but I know that I can trust him and that I need to hold on to my hope and faith no matter what happens.

I also had the wonderful honor of meeting some very genuinely nice people that I am beyond happy I got to build relationships with for the last two weeks. I wanted to let you guys know that it means a lot to me you all have been supporting me and helping me get through these rough past couple of weeks. God does indeed work in mysterious ways.

Throughout my whole life I have always tried to understand as much as I could about things that happened, and what I have come to realize is that there are some things in life we won’t ever be able to figure out no matter how hard we try to understand it. I have accepted the negative things in my life, and no longer see my past as something that haunts me, but as something that has only been supporting me all these years. Ever since I can remember, I have always been the person that loved to help in some way or another.

A dream I have is being able to tell teenagers about my story, and give them a different perspective on how I look at life. I want to help them understand from hearing my story that no matter what obstacles they may face in life, and no matter how many hard times they may go through in any given situation, that things always turn around and, in fact, do get better. I believe that life was intended to be imperfect for a reason. We all go through heartache and disappointment and those rough patches in our lives that really hurt. But who would we be if we did not go through these hardships, as well as the feelings they generated? We wouldn’t understand how it feels to lose a loved one, or to appreciate what we all have in our lives.

Life is the most beautiful gift that we were all given. Of course we make mistakes, and yes, we all have our bad days, but the positive and negative things in our lives balance each other out. God knows us more than we know ourselves, and coming here made me understand more of who I am, and where I come from. This has truly been a life changing experience, and is just the beginning to a new journey in my life.

Vorzel Team Pic and Continued Prayers

2010-07-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of the team of Americans and Ukrainians working this past week at the Orphanage in Vorzel. What an amazing group of people to share this experience with!

Please continue to pray for our team - Kati, Jeanette, Holly, and our new friend Larissa - who are serving this week with Almaz church at an outreach sports camp at another orphanage. In addition to conducting lessons, crafts, and games for younger kids, they will also have an opportunity to minister to older kids (up to age 18!). The living conditions at this camp are a little more ... rustic. Please pray for good health and safety, the opportunity to connect with the kids, and the opportunity to share the Gospel.

The team will return to Vorzel for a few days before returning home to the States on Saturday.

Vorzel Orphanage 2010, Ukraine

2010-07-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

Check out this awesome video put together by one of our friends from Almaz Church! How could you not fall in love with these beautiful faces!

Half the team is safely home!

2010-07-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report that four of us (myself, Erin, Michaela and Kerry) have returned to the US safely and WITHOUT incident this time! The trip over was quite an adventure, especially for Michaela and I who got separated from Erin and Kerry in Paris and missed our connection. Let me tell you, I am NOT a fan of Charles de Galle airport!! But God's hand was in it the whole time and He allowed us to have a very uneventful return trip home.

It's good to be home (ice! air conditioning! flushing the toilet paper! ice!) but also hard. I am missing Vorzel a lot, especially these faces!

Above is Yassa whom we worked with last year. It was amazing to see how much she has developed in a year's time!

This is Bagdon who has Down's Syndrome

Here's Sasha and Dima, who are brothers and may be adopted soon along with their older sister:

And this is Vika, who completely stole my heart...

How can you not love that face! I almost put her in my carry-on suitcase to take home with me :)

the Kids!

2010-07-21T05:22:00.000-07:00

Since Monday morning, we have been spending time with the kids. We have split off into 2 groups and in the morning one group goes to Building 3 and the other to Building 5 and then in the afternoon we switch. We get to spend about 2 to 2 1/2 hours with the kids each time. They get to excited to see us as we walk up the sidewalk to the front porch and when we leave they say "bye bye". It is so cute to hear them speaking English. (Of course, they are teaching us Ukrainian as well.) Much of our time is spent just playing, walking around the yard, looking at books, sliding, and swinging. Today we got out the tatoos which they loved. We have of course had our challenges with the language barrier but at the same time playing with the kids can also cross any language barrier.

We have 3 goals during our time playing with the kids.
1. To share with them about God so that they know even if their parents have left them there ... God will never leave them.
2. To help them get adopted thru praying for them, telling others about them, etc.
3. To help with their physical & mental development so that when meeting prospective adopted families they will be socialized and outgoing towards loving strangers.

The picture above is Lena (Helen) one of our translators and Anya.

Ukraine - We're Loving It!

2010-07-21T05:21:00.000-07:00

This post comes in the middle of our trip, but we wanted to share a little of our first few days in Ukraine. As with any international trip, there are always interesting stories to tell of traveling and the culture. These are just a few...

We left DC on Friday, July 17, and it was certainly an adventure. Our original plan was to take a flight to JFK and then a direct flight to Kiev. However, the plane we were supposed to depart on never made it to Dulles due to an "agent hitting the plane" with the skywalk accordian thing. Thankfully our Delta agent was in control, and more importantly God was in control. Our group was divided onto two seperate flights routed through Paris (insert Jeanette screaming "Paris!" in the middle of the airport) on Air France. The first group (Jeanette, Kati, Larissa, and Holly) were even upgraded to business class on their last leg! The second team (Kerry, Erin, Jess, and Michaela) had a little more of a challenge ... due to a very close connection in Paris and a very slow shuttle bus between terminals, the team was seperated and Jess and Michaela didn't make the connection! They made the next flight, however, and everyone was finally in Kiev. Our bags .... were not. Only one of the 16 checked bags arrived. The other bags were eventually located and delivered on Monday at 10:00 pm.

On Sunday we attended Almaz church in Kiev, where we were able to listen to the translated service through a headset. After church (about 2:00 pm) we took the metro into Kiev and ate at a delicious Ukrainian buffet. We then took a scenic boat-ride. Afterwards we stopped at McDonalds for icecream. While most of us avoid eating at McDonalds while in the States, a McDonalds in Ukraine means: a) airconditioning, b) a clean bathroom, c) berry McFlurries, and d) ice in our drinks. You could say we were loving it!

We are living in a sanitorium, or vacation estate in Vorzel that is within walking distance from the Orphanage. It is actually quite nice ... there are suites with several rooms, bathroom with toilet and shower, a working fridge, and 3 meals per day, featuring potatoes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is also a public radio that plays a variety of pop music from 8 am to 10 pm.

We are very much enjoying getting to know our Ukrainian friends and translators and excited to share more with you about our work in the orphanage!

Ukraine here we come!

2010-07-15T08:48:00.000-07:00

As we finish up our last minute packing, our team would like to say THANKS to our family and friends for your support, donations, encouragement, and prayers! We have been truly overwhelmed and humbled by your generosity in giving. We have maxed out our luggage limit, with bags filled with clothes, toys, books, and supplies for the children and caregivers at the orphanage.

While these items will certainly help meet physical needs, we pray that our time in Ukraine will also meet emotional and spiritual needs of the children and staff. We want to support, love, and encourage them, being examples of God's heart for His people.

Please pray for our team's safety, health, and, of course, opportunities to be servants and ministers of God's love.

just 13 days till we see these faces again!!

2010-07-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ukraine Team 2009

2010-06-22T12:30:00.000-07:00

Ukraine Team Summer 2009

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Cor. 4:6

why I'm going back!

2010-06-20T18:47:00.001-07:00

This time next month, I will be back in the Ukraine (yay!) for a 2-week missions trip to love on and play with orphans in Vorzel and Gordnya. As I reflect on my trip last year and look forward to what is to come ... here is my TOP 5 for why I'm returning to the Ukraine!

1. The kids! By far, the faces of the kids is what drives me to go back ... to be able to give these kids some one-on-one attention and love ... to share with them about Jesus' love for His children. My heart is filled with mixed emotions about seeing kids that I spent time with last year. While I'd love so much to see them again, I also hope that I don't because that would mean that they have been adopted.

2. The translators! My Ukrainian friends! So many good conversations, long walks around lakes, laughs over meals, and so much more. Yellow Blue Bus Guys!!

3. All the fresh cucumbers and tomatoes a girl could ask for! :)

4. Living out James 1.27 "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."

5. Opening myself up for what God wants for me on this trip.

originally posted on jotsbyjeanette:

Gordnya Video

2010-06-19T19:47:00.000-07:00

This is where a small group of us will be serving for week 2!

Ukraine Kids - Shopping List!

2010-06-18T06:07:00.000-07:00

Below is a the list of needed items that we are collecting to deliver to the kids and staff in the Vorzel and Gordnya Orphanages.

If you are a yardsale shopper ... if you find any of these items ... we'd love to bless the Ukraine kids and the orphanage staff with these items! All items except for the underwear can be used. If you have any questions or would like to arrange for pick-up or drop-off, please feel free to contact ukrainekids [at] nlcf [dot] net.
**The last day we will be collecting items is July 11, 2010.**

UKRAINE KIDS List!
- touch books (books that have fur, sandpaper, bumpy pages, smooth pages, etc.)
- music books (books that play music)
- mobiles (to hang above cribs)
- sensory toys (anything that engages any of the 5 senses)
- sound machines
- tights (all sizes up to age 6)
- tank tops (all sizes up to age 6)
- boys and girls underwear (all sizes up to age 6) **these items should be NEW**
- towels
- sports equipment for small kids (small basketball, small soccer ball)

Orphanage Staff List! (it is preferred that these items are new or like new ... the following items are given to the orphanage staff as gifts.)
- scarves
- umbrellas
- jewelry
- make-up & nail polish
- body soaps & lotions

BENEFIT YARD SALE - THANK YOU!!

2010-06-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

Whether you donated items, bought items, or helped us unload (a TON of) items ...
THANK YOU!!

The Yard Sale was a huge success and helped us raise over $650.00!!

THANK YOU!

Souvlaki Fundraiser - THANK YOU!

2010-05-27T10:08:00.000-07:00

Thank You to everyone who participated in the Souvlaki Fundraiser for the kids in Ukraine!!

Why Are There Orphans In Ukraine?

2010-05-16T18:12:00.000-07:00

An interesting question with a complicated answer. After all, we don't have orphanages in the US, so why does Ukraine (or any other country)? For Ukraine, there are several reasons:

1. When Ukraine was part of the USSR people were taught not to have children if they could not feed them, dress them properly, and provide them an education. Parents who could not provide these things for their children dropped them off at orphanages.

2. Ukraine has a high level of alcohol and substance abuse which either kills the parents, makes them abandon their children, or their children are taken away from them by the government.

3. The Ukrainian government provides financial support during the first three years of life for every child, totaling about $1500. Some people have children just to get the money, then drop them off at orphanages.

4. Abortions are expensive and raising a child is expensive. It costs about $200 per month to keep a child and the average salary is $100-200 per month. Many women simply abandon their newborn babies at the hospital right after they are born.

And the number of orphans is growing.

Adopting orphans from Ukraine is a difficult and expensive process for foreigners due to government corruption.

This is why we are going: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. ~James 1:27

Kids' Night Out Fundraiser - THANK YOU!

2010-05-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU to all the parents that dropped off their kids for the evening!! We had a GREAT time getting to know your kids!! We were able to raise $290 and some much needed items! THANK YOU!!

Dinner Fundraiser - Thank You

2010-05-13T19:50:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU to everyone who came out and supported our Borscht Fundraiser!! We hope you enjoyed a little taste of Ukraine. If you want to make this soup at home ... just google "Borscht".

Thanks again!

Chick-fil-A Fundraiser in Chantilly, VA

2010-05-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

Thank You to everyone who supported the Chick-fil-A Fundraiser and THANK YOU Chick-fil-A in Chantilly, VA for helping to make this event happen!