Dobre deen – good day – to all of our friends and supporters from the Ukraine mission team, Bruce Elliott (leader), Sarah Overbey (Bruce and Anne’s daughter, translator, program director, and invaluable guide), George Kenney and Duane Horning.
In July 2013 we spent 10 days in the Ukraine, in Kiev, and rural areas in the northern part of the country. Our time here has been thrilling, eye-opening and heart rendering. Much more will be reported. But for now we can say that we have seen both miraculous success of ministry to abused, abandoned or orphaned children, and the great need and work there is still to do.
One short story. Sasha was a fearless and petulant leader of a street gang. She was six years old. Her sisters were all prostitutes, and today all of them and her mother are dead. By age 8 the ministry under Ezra International and Father’s House had persuaded Sasha to come live in Father’s House rather than follow her family’s pattern. There she thrived. Today she is 28 years old, married, and mother to Timothy, 2 years old. Sasha and her husband love the Lord, and are building a house just a few blocks from Father’s House were she grew up.
There are lots more Sashas. We met, held and played with scores of them, from infants to 16 year olds. Virtually all of them are at risk and from homes, to the extent they exist at all, characterized by alcoholism, drug abuse, child abuse, neglect and abandonment, and prostitution. It is hard to ponder their plight without weeping.
We have had the privilege of participating first hand in three branches of the ministry:
1. Children’s Rescue Team – This is a staff of five skilled workers to reach out to children at risk, primarily in Kiev. The staff are essentially private case workers relied upon by the government to work with families and manage cases of children at risk. There are no government workers in that position.
Referrals come from the police, neighbors and others. The first priority is to keep the children with their parents if it is safe and feasible to do so. This includes frequent contact and home visits. We went on two of these home visits, with the parents’ prior permission. The families lived in squalor, with virtually no resources. There was marked evidence of substance abuse.
We spent a morning with kids in the government’s facility for kids the government has removed from their homes, “Myakoskova.” We played games, did crafts and shared stories. Most of the kids were so warm and responsive that it was easy to forget about the reason they were there. But for some of the others the pain was heavy and evident. In every case, we had the joy of feeling a connection and blessing with the kids, even if it was brief.
This ministry is expanding to women in prison with young children. We had the privilege of visiting the prison, and speaking with and praying for two of the women.
2. Father’s House – this is a separate ministry that has grown out of the Children’s Rescue Team. It is an orphanage for 76 children, with two parts. The first part is a group home for about 40 kids newly off the street. They spend the summer at camp (so we did not see them on this visit), and nine winter months at the Father’s House facility in Kiev.
The second part is about a series of apartments, each staffed with a married couple, and up to 8 kids. The kids live in this setting for 1 to 2 years. The purpose is to prepare them for adoption by modeling a family structure that they may have never known. We had the privilege of spending time with one family. The youngest, a boy named Nikita, age 2, is HIV positive.
For photos click here.
3. Rescue Mission to Northern Ukraine – This is where we spent most of our time. We camped for five nights and four days with amazing kids, a little rain, a few mosquitoes, and not much of a bathroom. The different creature comforts were nothing compared to the joy of extended time playing with and getting to know these fabulous kids, most of whom are from seriously at risk home environments.
The number of kids present fluctuated from about 15 to more than 30 from day-to-day. We played games, did crafts, swung swings, face painted, hosted a carnival, laughed, swam in the river, played soccer and basketball, and generally were campers with the kids. We saw remarkable transformation in many of the kids, some of whom were sullen and withdrawn, to engaged, responsive and smiling. The last night was a precious and powerful time of prayer for each of the kids. Then they turned the tables and prayed for us!
For photos of the camp click here.
This trip has opened our eyes to the tremendous need that exists, has connected us to many amazing, godly people who are engaged in meeting that need, and set the wheels turning for how God intends for this ministry reach even more hurting kids and their families.
The ministry that started to street kids in Kiev is now expanding to the rest of the Ukraine. It has even spawned a movement started as “Kiev Without Orphans,” which has become a “World Without Orphans” reaching 20 countries, and still expanding.
The need is great. God has done great things. There is much more to do.