I have been to Belorechenka many times and I know what the village and the orphanage there are like. I have never been to the village of Shchotove or the nearby city Antratsit, the administrative center of the district. I am a bit fascinated with geography and have spent some time trying to learn more about the village of Shchotove where 7 of the children are from. If this bores you, check back later for more interesting info!
Location:
As you can see, Shchotove is very near the border of Russia. Like Belorechenka, its main industry is coal mining. It is a village of about 4000 people, but only 9 miles from Antratsit with a population of 61, 000. Both Belorechenka and Shchotove are in the Lugansk region of Ukraine.
You can find some more information on Antratsit and see some photographs here: http://ukrainetrek.com/antratsit-city; you can see from photos of the village of Shchotove here: http://www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=48.174321&ln=39.113292&z=4&k=2.
I look forward to visiting Shchotove in October and getting to know the people there. Ira and Anton who we work with in Ukraine, along with Sasha, told us that the Director of the orphanage there was nice and friendly, and that the children were well behaved and polite. The orphanage does not receive much in the way of support. Some orphanages are supported my outside organization from within Ukraine or around the world. They might have computers for the children or flat screen TVs throughout the orphanages. Other orphanages, like the one in Shchotove, lack basic necessities. Ira and Anton took a package of copy paper and the workers there were ecstatic because they had not been able to afford to purchase their own paper. Likewise the Belorechenka orphanage lacks many basic necessities. We were involved several years ago with Reach Orphans with Hope, who installed a needed toilet and shower stall there.
As I have said before, our hosting program is more than a temporary vacation for these precious children. We intend to make every effort at establishing long-term relationships with these orphanages and working alongside fellow believers there in bringing humanitarian relief as well as a gospel witness into the region. I look forward to visiting Ukraine in October and dreaming bigger dreams.
As I have said before, our hosting program is more than a temporary vacation for these precious children. We intend to make every effort at establishing long-term relationships with these orphanages and working alongside fellow believers there in bringing humanitarian relief as well as a gospel witness into the region. I look forward to visiting Ukraine in October and dreaming bigger dreams.
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