Another hosting program comes to an end. The pool towels are folded and stored
away. Beds are stripped and sheets are
being washed. The kitchen is clean. And yet the quiet is deafening. The emptiness is strange and
uncomfortable. The memories, sweet and
yet raw. I will attempt to share a few random memories that I hope capture the spirit of our annual hosting of Ukrainian children,
orphaned and alone, through no fault of their own.
The first few days the children were here, they were quiet
during sabraniye; staring at me with unfamiliar eyes. (Sabraniye is Russian for “gathering” and is
what we call our nightly Bible study time. The photo above is of our last sabraniye).
It did not take long before the children began interacting: sharing prayer
requests, asking questions, joking, speaking longingly of their hopes and
dreams. At one point my heart overflowed with joy when one boy, who had
previously said he did not believe in God, asked for a Bible to read along
during the lesson. I delighted in their
retention of what was begin taught; and I laughed on the last night when a
previously shy boy sat in my chair and began conducting his own sabraniye, complete with my usual comments and questions.
One night we talked about treasures here on earth and how
they did not compare to the treasure of Christ.
I started this discussion by asking what they longed for in this world
more than anything. None of these
impoverished children said money, cars, or fame. They wished only for a family. My husband and I are blessed
financially. If money could make them
happy; satisfy their deepest desire, then I could, and would, give it. But I can’t provide them all a family. Only God can do that. And only God can reveal to them that even a
family will not ultimately satisfy. They
need Christ. And yet my heart aches that they must return to a place where
there is no one to lead them there.
One of our translators who lives here in America is an
orphan who has a student visa and is in college in the US. After spending a few days around me and Jay,
she remarked “I wish I could be a kid again (pause). A kid with a family. It must be so nice just to say ‘Mom, I need
something’ and you are right there.” We
take for granted all the many blessings we have. A home. A family. I was asking one of our boys about his
life. He focused in on how long he had
been in the orphanage. He is 15. He has been in the orphanage for 9
years. “longer than anyone else” he
pointed out. He told me how long each of
the other kids had been there; repeated he had been there the longest, and then
he laid his head on the table, covering his face with his arms.
One Sunday, a young
man adopted from Ukraine about 6 years ago, shared his testimony with the
kids. There was not a dry eye among the
Americans or the Ukrainian children as he shared about his life in Ukraine; his
problems after adoption; and his recent transformation by Christ. The children hung on his every word and in
the end, I pray, found hope.
I don’t do statistics.
But right here in our little group, whether it be with the kids
themselves or their friends and extended families back in Ukraine, we see teen
pregnancy, cutting, abuse, prison. Sin
has ruined our world. It has ruined the
lives of these 19 children. In Ukraine,
America, Africa, Haiti, the harvest is plentiful. I thank God for the few harvesters He has
sent into my home these last 21 days.
These children have experienced love.
And each of them has heard the gospel.
They have been hugged, fed,
pampered. I am thankful for
visitors from Iowa, Mississippi, and Colorado.
I appreciate the churches and businesses who have sponsored meals and
activities. And yet sometimes I cry
because of the greatness of the harvest and the scarcity of workers. And yet in all these things, I know that we
are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us.
In 2 days, a team of 13 of us, most of whom just spent the last 21 days with GtU, will board a plane to spend a month in Ukraine. While there, we will share the love of Christ with impoverished village children. We will once again play, hug, laugh and share what it means to follow Christ. And then, as is always the case, we will tearfully say goodbye, longing in our hearts for the day when sadness, poverty, alcoholism, and orphanages will all cease. Lord Jesus, come quickly.
