I have so many to tell you here! I`m rejoice and glorify God but in same time feeling heartbreaking during last few days.
Several days ago we visited one more orphanage and had an AMAZING last meeting with graduating orphans! God has been so good!
They asked so many biblical questions. We gave reply what Bible says. Ah! We would spend whole days with these sweet teens to answer for all their questions! It was such a wonderful time.
In the end of meeting 3 young men accepted Jesus Christ!It's so great and such an astonishing blessing!!!Praise God!!!!
Then we gave Bibles.
Oh! We did not give them the rest of gifts as the director of the orphanage officially invited BOM and asked us to do this on the Last Bell. Ok. No problem :) So, 31 May we will meet these kids again on the Last Bell.
Next day we went to other orphanage.
When we only arrived, one of the employees of the administration, said. They will not come to the meeting and will not listen you. They need anything, they nothing interesting, they are interested only do evil, destroy everything etc.I remember how administration of the trade school told us how 'bad' are students, who came from orphanages. And what an incredible meeting we had!We knew it is not truth and went to invite personally for the meeting.
It's absolutely breaks heart to listen about bad behaviour of the teens. What they do, how often get in troubles, police often comes to orphanage and much more. But we know the truth! They are not SO terribly how staff of the orphanage says! If staff humiliates them in front of all, calls them bad names, deride, can beat, say they have no future, their future only jail or life on the street . How these kids will behave??? What do you think they feel and think? They are abandoned by their parents, lonely, feeling depressed, unloved, uncared. They think that all world hates them! Their hearts scream about justice. They often ask, why? Why me? Why all hate me and ignore?
Than more we come, more we hear and see. More we understand we must pray for staff of orphanages! Because they have huge influence on orphans. That is not surprise why so many orphans get in jail, kill, steal, commit suicide...
Recently teenagers from this orphanage visited a prison. Police and orphanage administration hoped it might inspire fear and stop some from lawlessness. After returning to orphanage these kids said. "In prison better than in an institution and we'll be back there". Imagine, what these poor souls are going through and feel, if they think that the prison is better! I believe they do not want get there. But their hearts ache and are broken... They do not see the meaning of life and feel depressed...They as all kids want that someone just UNDERSTAND and LOVE them!
Oh, how I wish hug them all and cry together. To cry about their feelings and hurts, about aches and sorrows...It is SO hurtful, friends. That society does not accept them but ignores...
Do you know what? The two of graduating orphans are already in jail!Many of them have run away from the orphanage and do not wish come back any more!The police catches them and brings back. But in 1-2 weeks they run away again...
Oh, my!What we can do?!My eyes filled with tears. I can not describe and convey the pain that I feel about them...So, so heartbreaking...My heart is heavy with sorrow.
But through these sorrows and sad moments God shows us His beauty...His grace is amazing and love astonishing!!!
Do you know what? All teens, who were present at the orphanage at that moment. They came! And we had AMAZING meeting!All these sweet kids listened attentively testimony Andrew about how he turned to Christ.They all are so precious and so smart! They all took part during the meeting and had such a wonderful fellowship!!!
Throughout the meeting, watching them, which are a lovely, beautiful and smart guys. It boggles the mind. Why are they so "bad" in the eyes of orphanage workers? :(
At the end of the meeting a few guys have expressed their desire to receive Christ, but ashamed ... or their classmates or the teacher, who sat at the meeting ... or for any other reason. But we felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and that they wanted to do it ... But God knows their hearts and minds. Brother Misha said that they can do it at any other place or time ...as Bible says.
After the meeting, one of the administrative workers was greatly surprised that the teens sat and behaved so quiet. She said, "I do not know what you did with them, but I am impressed by their behavior! Please come more often!"
But we know that Holy Spirit was present there :)
About 10 gifts were left as the teens ran from the orphanage ... :( We will leave them for graduates next year.
As we drove away from the orphanage to the van ran these precious kiddies waving their hands. They ran up and excitedly asked. "When you come to us? Please! Come to us!"
Awww! Aren't they sweetheart? Look at these cute faces! Aren`t they treasure?! Melts my heart...♥
One of the graduates asked to pick him up to a certain place that then would go home.
On the way we visited a small private zoo. Everyone can come and feed animals there.
Lyosha, a graduator, liked to feed animals and had fun.
So beautiful.
How amazing colors and creation of God!
Then on the way home, close to the orphanage, these children saw our van and started waving arms and shouting for joy.
That day was a very strong hurricane, threw a lot of trees, were cut off electric wires. There was no electricity, even in orphanage. The chefs had to cook to eat outside, on the special equipment stove.
These days go by torrential rains and water is very rose in rivers. In the West of Ukraine, the rivers flooded homes. Thousands of people stayed on the street.
The water is still very cold. But do kids like to wait? :) So orphans bathed in a small rivulet that could go before forded. Seeing us, wet, shivering, some already with blue lips, they joyfully ran that would greet us. And as always ask. "When you come to us? Please! We are asking you! Come to us!"
Oh, how beautiful and lovely are these souls! Tell me, HOW these sweet faces can be "bad" kids? They are TREASURE and SO beautiful! ♥
Leave these sweetheart children is so hard!
Then we had a little picnic in this amazingly beautiful place.
Lyosha all this time was still with us and kept saying how sorry we were not on the way with him, but we need go in the other direction.He is so nice and communicative guy.
Heaven rejoiced in this day and the angels sang because Lyosha accepted Christ! How is great joy and a wonderful blessing!!!!
We do not know but we hope that we will see him...He looked so happy but it was sad to leave him.We dropped him off to the place he needed and then he was gone...
On the way we saw this beauty of God`s creation.
Would you, please, pray God heal all these broken hearts of orphans? That they will find love, understanding and justice in Jesus Christ. That they will see beauty of His love in their lives and Father of fatherless protect them and saved them.Thank you!Your prayers mean a lot!
I am praying for all these young lives that you touched, especially Lyosha and the other teens whose "caregivers" spoke of so disparagingly - praying with tears in my eyes. I hope the Christ-like example set by BOM during your visit and these teens' warm response will soften the hearts and open the eyes of those who are supposed to care for these young people, who have endured so much already.
ReplyDeleteAnd I hope you can keep in touch with Lyosha - that last picture of him, waving happily with his gifts - just about all he has in this world - is so moving, as are your words: ..."and then he was gone". There are so many young people like him in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world - thank you for loving and caring for them.
Susan in Kentucky
Cousin to 2 teens from EE
Thank you, Susan, for encouraging comment and prayers for all these young lives.
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