November 8, 2012

Thanks to one orphaned girl, many children received Bibles

 I am so sorry, did not blog for some days.I know that many of you wait each update and it`s such encouragement for us.We have been busy as always.Also I was sick a little.But nothing serious, only caught a cold and my muscles of a back had hurt so much that I could not do something physically.Now everything is well.Praise God!
 So, I can blog again and I`m very excited! :)
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Do you see so many kiddies?No, this is not an orphanage. :) I`m very exciting to share with you an awesome blessing and amazing day we had recently.
 It is interesting to see it, how God acts and uses people for His glory. I with such joy wish to tell you as thanks to one orphaned girl, many children received wonderful book, the Bible.

The matter is that an organization the Ukrainian Bible Society wished to distribute children's Bibles to orphans in orphanages. As to orphanages to get sometimes not simply and permission of the directors and many other operations is necessary. Then they asked BOM about it. Certainly, we were happy that our dear children would receive free of charge Bibles! But disappointment comprehended  because children in orphanages (those who can read) went home on autumn vacation.In one of orphanages now is quarantine. Children are sick with chicken pox. Poor kids. :(  And for other reasons we could not go to some orphanages.  Then we suggested to visit children in local children's sanatorium.

Sanatorium — treatment- prophylactic institution in which for treatment use mainly natural factors in a combination to physiotherapy exercises, physiotherapy and a balanced diet in case of observance of a certain mode of treatment and rest.

This sanatorium for tuberculosis prevention. If doctors noted, something wrong in an organism of the child, the weakened immune system that is subject to risk of a disease of tuberculosis etc. They send the child for treatment in hospital if needed or to this sanatorium.
So it is children's against - tubercular sanatorium (TB sanatorium).

From the left to the right is translator Tanya from Bible Society, sister Nita from America and the brother Bernt from Norway.
Children had possibility to look at puppet show that presented the Bible scene about our sinful hearts and about importance to find a place for Jesus there.
Brother Misha spoke to children about importance of reconcilement with Jesus Christ and what He made for us.
And at the end of wonderful meeting all children received a surprising gift. It is the Bible! All were very glad!
BOM helped to distribute it with such big pleasure.

The smallest ones, which aren't able to read yet, received small gifts, where there were sweets and school supplies.

It was awesome blessing that 80 kids from poor families could receive such remarkable gifts!
We were so glad that God used BOM to help these all precious children to hear and recieve God`s word.
Brother Misha with orphans and with children from families.

We had such amazing meeting with children and the sanatorium administration so warmly invited BOM come and continue to visit these children. May be God opens one more door? But when we can do it?...

You can ask how we got to this sanatorium? :)
The matter is that since summer one of orphans was in this institution as her family didn't wish to see her at house on summer vacations.The father of this sweet girl even started to threaten the director of an orphanage. "If you don't take away her, I  will kick her out on the street or I will bind to a tree and I will leave her in the wood".

 That this child wouldn't remain on the street, the director of a orphanage was stimulated to place her in this sanatorium. When we learned about this poor lovely girl Nastya, we started to visit her there.She felt alone there and stressful, she felt bored and unwanted. You would see HOW she flew to us when we came to her the first time! Sometimes she rang and with tears, begged us. "Please, come to me. I already can't any more!" 

 One wonderful family sponsors her and those gifts that sent to her, sweet lovely notes with Bible verses, there was such surprising encouragement for her and a consolation that she is not one and she is loved. If parents left her and don't care, don't want to see her and to them her destiny is indifferent. So there are those to whom her destiny and life isn't indifferent who prays and cherishes her in the hearts and daily prayers.

Nastya fell in love with the sponsors and calls them her dear family. It is surprising how sometimes the Lord connects hearts of people at distance of  thousands and  thousands kilometers! There is a thin thread for which there are no barriers, mountains and oceans, it is a thread named God's love in the hearts of the born again Christians.

For a long time training in orphanages began and Nastya received medical treatment long ago. We couldn't understand in any way, why she still in this sanatorium? why she don't take away, she shall be already in the orphanage. She very much missed her "home". And many other questions were twisted in the head.Why? Why she is still there in this institution and so suffers emotionally?..

But that day when many children from poor families could receive Bibles and hear the Gospel, we understood why. Thanks to this poor girl, thanks to her stay there, thanks to meetings with her, 80 children received the most expensive gift. It is surprising how God acts! In 1 day after this meeting with these sweet children, Nastya was taken away into the orphanage! She is already no more in this institution. Literally after our meeting there!It`s awesome blessing!!!Our Lord Jesus is so good!

But there is more to come. Probably for some dear souls only the beginning...

Do you see these 2 beautiful teen girls?Marina is in white jacket on the left and Oksana is the friend and her classmate.We met them in the same sanatorium when had the meeting with children. Both of them are orphans and are in the same orphanage where there I was many years ago... I was surprised partly.
 Sometimes I recall this orphanage as a gray gloomy and terrible building... Always it reminded me a prison. Sometimes it seems to me that it there was the most awful orphanage what I knew for that time. My last years were simply terrible and awful there. I couldn't wait when I will end and I can avoid everything that afflicted and humiliated me. And during same time it was terrible. It is terrible that you alone, are  unprotected and nobody will help you...

But HOW I was surprised that Marina accepted Jesus Christ a few years ago at our meeting in a TB hospital and today she is faithful Christian, loving the Lord Jesus with all her heart!

"I remember you". Having silently approached to us and having modestly told the lovely girl. "I remember when you came to us to TB hospital and told about God".
"What!?" I am shocked asked her."Do you still remember all our meetings?"Yes, she replied. "Do you still remember what we told you and showed in the Bible, how we learned Bible verses, songs etc?" Yes, lovely smiling, replied Marina.
Oh, my goodness!It`s AMAZING meeting!!!I could not believe to hear it!God, you are awesome!!!

Rejoicing I huged her and I was sooooo happy to this surprising meeting!

Having come home I started to look for with interest  long ago the forgotten pictures. And I found! I was so glad that on pictures Marina's face clearly was visible and I found its and recalled her partly. One of the reasons why I store all pictures! :) Only it is sad that for years earlier we had no camera. And many memories are stored only in our memory and our hearts.
But I was so happy that found dozen pictures where Marina was rather well visible.
Here are several.

Marina accepted Jesus Christ!She so grew since then! She was 12 years old here.I think it will be such sweet memory picture to her. :)
The matter is that in 2008 in addition to orphanages and orphans, we had a service in the children`s TB hospital. We visited children and had wonderful meetings with them telling them about Jesus Christ.Kids all time waited with such joy. Hospital administration always waited for us hospitably and there doors always were open. We had meetings only on the street. Indoors to us didn't permit, there was a risk to fall ill with tuberculosis. Did you know that Ukraine takes the first places in a tuberculosis disease in Eastern Europe? The majority of the diseased, is people in prisons and homeless.In Ukraine there is a obligation, each Ukrainian is obliged to pass photoroentgenography every year. The risk to get sick with tuberculosis was and is here but it in control.And God protected us always. :)

Holding meetings with children we even couldn't think that there could be orphaned children.We could not think that we can meet them and they will remember us and what we told them.It`s such wonderful blessing!

Marina is at orphanage since childhood.Her brother is in other orphanage and she miss him a lot. She never saw her father and mother  is in alcohol abuse.But this sweet girl prays for her mother and believe God will change her life.
 So, now we visit these two wonderful souls in this sanatorium and we visit, while they will be there. From that day we became friends and they are lovely girls who look for fellowship, friendship and support is necessary to them. ;)

We had such blessed and amazing day at that time!!!!!!!!God is sooooo good and surprising!!!!


3 comments:

  1. ~*~Praise God!~*~
    What a great post. :) It's so good to see the children receive the Bibles and to read the stories about these girls. It gives those of us who are not from the Ukraine an insight to the lives of these children.
    I hope you continue to feel better.
    *Warm Hugs From USA*

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  2. This is such a beautiful post, Alla! Your words touched us so deeply. We love you so much! Love, Courtney

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  3. I'm glad you're feeling better - you do so much for others, just remember to take good care of yourself, too!

    How wonderful to reconnect with Marina and to learn that she's doing well and has fond memories of you. That's such a blessing...

    Thanks for the updates - so glad you were able to share "the good news" with these children! I pray that all of them, particularly Nastya, will have better health and more happiness in their lives. Your gifts of Bibles will help that come about.

    Susan in Ky
    Cousin to 2 from EE

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As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. Proverbs 25:25