The One

It has been 10 weeks since the children went back to Ukraine.  I have had some communication with Tanya at Schotova, as well as the guardian, Vita.  Tanya is doing well and wants to come back to America.  I think she means for good.  Sasha K.  has already been adopted by a family here in the Birmingham area and now goes by the beautiful name of Eli Tucker.  Two families have submitted their dossiers to the SDA in Ukraine and are waiting on appointments so that they can ask  permission to adopt  Sasha S. and Valya.  Another family is in the middle of the homestudy process, seeking to adopt Zhenya.  It is my prayer that any of the others available for adoption will find families soon.

It is a sad fact of ministry to orphans that not all will find families.  We cannot understand why some do and some do not; we can just continue to minister to each one we meet.  I am reminded of a quote I read the other day:  The only thing you can do -  the only thing - is to try for the one who's in front of you.  Act as though this one....is the only person in the world - because to do otherwise is to lose that one, too. One at a time, that is all you can do. And you learn not to despair over all the ones you can't help, but only to do what you can."  Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander)

As we prepare to travel to Ukraine in 7 days, this is the cry of my heart:  Lord, may we do all that we can for those you place in front of us.  The bed-ridden child in the special needs orphanage; the Director who might have never met a Christ follower; the village child who still has parents but who is hungry and cold; the orphan graduate who is despairing of his future; the orphan who longs for a family; the “social orphan” who wants nothing more than to be returned to her “real” family.  No matter who we meet, may they feel like they were the most important person to us in that moment.   And may we have the opportunity to share with them their worth to the God of the universe.  

Its been a week

One week ago today, the children left Birmingham, headed back to Ukraine.  Many tears were shed that morning by both Ukrainians and Americans.  There were a few children who had family in Ukraine (not parents, but family) that they missed and wanted to tell about their experiences here; yet even those cried over leaving behind the new relationships they had found here.  There were some children who had no one in Ukraine to welcome them back.  A few of those simply asked "Can I stay here?"

One of the hardest things for me personally was saying good bye to a few of the kids who had made such transformations in their time here.  A boy who had arrived withdrawn, trying only to muster up a smile for the camera.  But in his last week here, outgoing and full of laughter, even translating our English to the other kids.  The girl who literally blossomed before our eyes, arriving as  shy and unsure of herself, leaving with self confidence and a sparkle in her eyes.

But despite the pain involved in saying goodbye,  our time together was precious and sovereignly ordained by God for each child and each American who helped, prayed, visited, chaperoned, and brought a meal.  I feel confident that each child heard the Gospel while here and trust that God will water the seeds planted and bring the fruit.  I am already looking forward to visiting these children and their orphanages in October.  I am already asking God how we can help water the seeds that were planted.

Four of the children that were here live in Belaroschenka and translator extraordinaire Anton had a camp already organized for their village.  Teams from American are traveling there this summer to share the Gospel and love on our 4 kids as well as other needy children in the village.  The other 6 children returned to Schotova where an American family was waiting to initiate the adoption process for one of them.  All 5 of the other children enjoyed their visit as well.  Now those 5 are in a government-sponsored camp for the rest of the summer.

I am thankful for technology; that we are able to see pictures of the kids at their orphanages and hear how they are doing.  I am thankful for partners in ministry that update their work there and give us the opportunity to participate.  Because of these blessings, we can correspond with the children and continue to build relationships with them, assuring them of God's love and presence.  Contact me if you, too, would like to send letters to the children that you met this summer.  Our investment in the lives of these children is an eternal one.

Sabrinya!

Every night for a month we gathered in this room for what became known as "sabrinya".  We discussed our experiences for that day and our plans for tomorrow.  And then the kids would ask for "the story".  The story was a snippet from the Word of God; we started at Genesis 1 their first night here; some hearing for the first time how sin entered the world and of God's promise of the Deliverer.  We contemplated the curse of sin, we read of God's wrath  being poured out on the Cross, and we ended last night in Revelation 22 with the hope of our eternal reign with Christ.  Sometimes the kids complained that the story was too short.  Sometimes they asked really good questions: "why will Jesus come again?"; "so we won't ALL go to heaven then?" In discussing the woman caught in adultery, they made their own connection between faith and repentance, suggesting that had the woman gone right back into her sinful lifestyle, she most likely did not really have faith.  Nightly, we thanked God for His blessings and we asked for faith to see and believe that Christ was our only way to God.  I had not planned a sabrinya for this morning.  But as we waited for time to load up in the van for the trip to the airport, Lena plopped down in the bean bag chair and with a heart full of memories and emotion, exclaimed "Sabrinya!" and then she burst into tears.  And so we prayed together one final time.  If you are a Christ follower, please pray for each of these precious children, that the Gospel they heard will bear fruit unto salvation.

Thanksgiving Continues

Yes, Marilyn Speakman heard about us through Erica Williams who met us at a conference in the spring.  Marilyn has done one of the most helpful things that anyone can do.  She has prayed for us and told others about us.  Their church, First Baptist of Pleasant Grove, loaned their bus for the airport trip.  They provided a day of fishing and they welcomed us to their church, giving us a few minutes to talk about who we are.  We have mande many new friends through Marilyn.

Olga McBride lives in Dothan.  She is originally from Russia and is a wonderful translator.  She has been driving from Dothan and spending weekdays here in Birmingham.  She goes home on the weekends, then is back on Monday morning.  Thank you, Michael, for sharing your wife with us.

To everyone who has brought meals, donated clothes, paid for outings, provided transportation, done root canals and fillings; to all of you who hugged the kids, tried out your Russian with them, made jewelry with them, swam with them:  you are awesome and God has used you in a mighty way.  Thank you from me, and from them.

Thanksgiving

Sometimes I hesitate to say thank you online because I am afraid I will leave someone out.  But today I am making a go at saying thanks to some people who have been indispensable the last 2 weeks; if I leave someone out, forgive me.  I am sure I will remember it in the middle of the night and not be able to sleep until I add you.

Terri Garver and her husband Andy have been able to raise funds for airline tickets as well as get us sponsors to all sorts of events.  Plus, Terri is willing to be my friend even though I boss her around.  At least she lets me think that I do that; I am not so sure.

Staci Hennesy has been managing the kitchen like a pro.  I had no idea beforehand she was going to be able to help us.  I don't know what I thought I was going to do without her.

Last night as I watched Rebekah Mote massage Vita's feet (Vita is the guardian), I was like "Thank you, God, for this servant's heart."  From massages to cleaning up the kitchen to bringing in fruit, she is a true blessing.

The first morning the kids were here, Michele Isbell drove 2 hours from Auburn to bring them borsch and then immediately drove 2 hours back because she had a prior commitment.  She has done that several times; once to loan me her 12- passenger van.

Micki Ray has been remodeling her kitchen for 8 months I think.  She signed up for multiple meals the first few days the kids were here, even before she had an oven installed.  We ate for at least a week because of her.

Marilyn Speakman.  Well, I have to stop now because I have to go shoo wet kids out of the house; but lets just say I am thankful for everyone who has given, who has visited, who has prayed.  I will tell yall about Marilyn at a later date.  

Thoughts on our time at the beach

The kids have enjoyed their time on the beach.  We are so grateful to the Kilpatricks for this time.  Just some random thoughts:
This is Katelyn Brock's last weekend with us.  She leaves for Ecuador on Tuesday to spend the rest of the summer with her family.  She has been a blessing and we will miss her.
Jenn and Mark Smith are a blessing and have done a remarkable job with their 4 Ukrainian children, all adopted at an older age.  They each have a servant's heart and poured love on the kids this weekend.  Taryn Kilpatrick asked a "random" worker at Walmart for a discount if any of the kids went slightly over their allotted gift card amount.  She said no; then showed up at Taryn's side and paid in full for one of the kids' purchases because her dad was from Ukraine and she wanted to give back.  Perfect timing as we discuss God's sovereignty and personal interaction in the lives of man.  Thank you, Alex.
Children are way pickier at shopping when its their own money.  We were in Walmart for 2 grueling hours.  Only 4 of them spend their full amount. The rest will go again in Birmingham.
While it is true that not all Christians are called to adopt, they are all called to visit.  Was reminded of that this weekend.  I was also reminded that those who are called to adopt, will be provided for financially by the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. 
The kids miss "home".  The one in Birmingham.  Bittersweet.

why bad things happen

Tonight Yura was in the kitchen asking for his nightly bowl of cereal.  We were talking and I asked him about his siblings?  How many do you have?  One brother.  How old is he?  16?  Is he still in school.  No.  He is in jail.  I was not expecting that.  I didn't know what to say.  He started to tear up.  I told him Roman brother had also been in jail and that I was sorry.  He quickly changed the subject.  We had just talked during "sabrainya" about why bad things happen.  That God is good and He loves us but when sin entered the world, bad things began to happen and they still happen to us.  I prayed for them that God would bring comfort to them when bad things happen.  But I don't want bad things to happen to them anymore.