Hidden from father

A week ago we were looking for a 15 year old girl. Olya graduated from boarding school this year. Her father drinks, beats mother and kids, humiliates them, abuse, threatens. He even tried to kidnepped Olya and blackmail her mother! Can you imagine what the poor girl feels?! It is impossible to describe all the horror that this poor family has experienced and endures! They hide in a wild and remote from civilization village in a very old house, where the roof leaks and mosquitoes "eat" you! We have millions of them this year! In a village where there is no school for children, no a kindergarten, where there is no work, mobile phone works with difficulty in certain places.

 The medical first-aid station is closed and it is noticeable that it has not been working for a very long time. So, if you feel bad, you have to die there...

  There are very few families. About 70% of abandoned houses. Transportation does not go there. You have to walk more than an hour to the nearest village to catch some kind of transport.

 There is no store in the village either. People in the village say that the "store" comes 2-3 times a week and brings them some food. The "store", this is vehicle what brings groceries and it stays about 30 minutes. And then goes to the next village. If you did not have time to buy bread or what you need, you will wait two more days when the vehicle comes again.

  The kids wanted ice cream. But ice cream will be in a few days, maybe... :( It is not difficult to imagine the state of perishable products, when there is no refrigerator in the car and today it is 35 degrees of heat outdoors...

  Olya is very scared, along with her mother and her smaller sister and brothers.She looks lost :( When we gave money for groceries. You should have seen how mother and children were happy! ♥ She thanked heartily and was ready to cry... After all, they had only 150 uah($6.00) for living! Their family receives child care in the amount of $150 per month. At one time they received $65 per month for 4 children.

Olga's younger brother was very pleased that he drove the car! ;0)

“Then Jesus told them this parable: ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent’” (Luke 15:3-7).

The parable of the lost sheep offers an extraordinary glimpse of heavenly emotions. The shepherd calls his friends and neighbors together, saying, “Rejoice with me.” The rescue of the lost sheep was a cause for proclamation and celebration.

We traveled many hundreds of kilometers and villages to find Olya! We drove from village to another wild and lost village asking people. It was crazy! Mother hides a new place of settlement for fear that their father did not find and kill them! Olga`s mother was greatly surprised how we have found them! The Lord miraculously blessed us and could find sweet gilr! Olga is so happy she is safe today and could stay with us for a while! We were very happy, rejoiced and celebrated in our hearts, when we found Olga, like shepherd a lost sheep! :)

Roads where we often have to drive

This is WHY!

   How would you feel while living in this house? What would you think when you sleep on a dirty and broken bed? What would you do, if you are often hungry? 

  When we arrived and entered this terrible house, it was a HUGE shock! Dirt, the smell of cigarettes and alcohol, the stench, the dark and old house that is about to fall... All this terrifies and the question arises. Do people live here???

  We knew that Sveta was living in terrible conditions, but we had no idea that they were so terrible. Huge shock and silence! I began to understand the young lady much better, why there are some difficulties in everyday life and behavior. Our hearts were absolutely broken when we saw where she grew up or sometimes she came to visit her parents and smaller siblings. I stood silently for a long time and was ready to cry.

  Children seemed to be ok with this... Because they are used to this life and have not seen anything better in life... :( I`m typing and my eyes are full of tears. My heart is heavy... I do not find words to explain this whole nightmare...

Yes, they sleep on this bed

 

  Do you see a small sandwich and a half orange on the table? Natasha, who is 14 and graduated orphanage this year. She brought the food from the orphanage. The poor girl knew that there was no food at home ...

Here is sleeping 13 year old Vova. Yes, on this terrible and dirty couch, without a bedding,without a warm blanket and a soft pillow and probably full of lice and bedbugs.Can you imagine how cold it is in winter?

There is no electricity in the house

These leaky and horrible doors lead to the street.

The support inside the house so that the ceiling does not fall down on head

A rotting ceiling that can collapse at any time...

Seeing all this nightmare and danger in which children live, we simply could not leave them there!!!

  Parents drink for a long time and absolutely do not care about these beautiful kids...By court decision, they should be deprived of parental rights in several months.

 Children will live until the end of the summer with us. When they officially become orphans (on paper), the state will decide their further fate.

  Kids were so excited to be out of home! You would see how Sveta laughed and was so joyful her younger sister and brother are with her!

Brother Misha taught Vova how to use a fork...

And what kids don`t like icecream? :)

  When we started to wash all their clothes that they took with them. It broke my heart that the clothes were in the same condition as the house. Everything looked like trash and there wasn’t anything to be washed because the clothes were very worn out. Therefore, we are forced to buy these lovely souls ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING!

  This is the reason WHY children get to orphanages! Poverty, hunger, hopelessness, alcoholism, abandoned, violence and much more... They survive! This is the reason WHY we attend orphanages. This is the reason WHY we support graduates. This is the reason why BOM supports poor families. And this WHY your support and prayers are so cherished!

  Today, these lovely children are safe, sleeping on clean beds, taking a shower every day, their bellies are full, they spend time together, laugh, play. We study the Bible daily. It was funny when one of the girls began to eat and Natasha said. "Wait! We did not pray yet!" And they live only a few days with us! They quickly learn new things and are so sweet! :)

  But most importantly, they are surrounded by love and care. We are so blessed to take care of them! We do not know what will happen to these kids. We ask you to support us in prayers, please. Pray God to give us wisdom, strength and patience. Pray God to change their minds and precious hearts. They are absolutely  immature and such children! Pray for God to take care of their needs. They have some health problems and we will need time and funds to help these sweet souls. We need take them to a dentist. Also Natasha is 14, but she is so very tiny as a 9-year-old girl! We need to help her body to grow. And many other worries. We need the mercy of God... Thank you so much for your care and love! Your prayers mean a lot for us!!! ♥♥♥ God is so good as always! We love you all!!! :)

God sets the lonely in families (part 2)

  Last year, when we first took teenagers to the Carpathian mountains. We were very worried, there were a lot of difficulties and experiences. But God blessed in an incredible way! And it was one of the best trips!!! During the week while we were living with the children together, God began to work with my heart. Knowing the horrible stories from the life of children, it overwhelmed my heart even more knowing what awaits them outside the orphanage... The more I prayed, the more and more God gave me the desire to take several girls into my family to help, protect, teach them life skills and surround them with care and love. I knew it would not be easy... Perhaps even harder than I could imagine. I knew that I would spend more than one night in tears and that more than once my heart would be broken. But the heart pain for these abandoned and defenseless girls was stronger. Stronger than me. Love and incredible desire was beyond my strength. 

 My greatest fear was. Can girls get along with a special girl? Will I not be a witness to insults and strife? Can I handle it? How will Masha feel? and so on...

 I forgot many details of life in the orphanage. But when the girls started living with us and doing some things. My brain turned on in a moment and I remembered that we did the same thing at the orphanage! Wow! At some point, it became shocking to me and scared a little! I was even confused for a moment by suddenness. That I do not remember much, but my brain remembers! I thank Jesus that He set me free and healed my heart!What a mighty God we serve!

The girls are sweet and very different ...

 Luba, brave and confident in herself, at first glance, was very worried and afraid to live in a students dorm ... When she heard that she could live with us, the girl burst into tears...

For one of the girls we were told that she was a difficult teenager. I decided to try and prayed that the Lord would give me the opportunity to try to help this beautiful young lady, to do everything in my power. "Even if she lives several months and go, I will be grateful to You my Lord", I prayed. My heart was broken.We know her from 4 years old, when she was in the Children`s House, which BOM also supports.

Lyuba at Children`s House

Lyuba at the orphaange

On the first day of trade school, it turned out that the administration had "forgotten" Luba to add to the list of students who had to live in dorm and there was no place there. Coincidence? I do not think so! God already knew and prepared a place for her! If people forget, but not God! God has a place for orphaned child!

  Sveta had a similar situation, problems with the settlement in the domitory. She was very frightened, confused and defenseless ... Again an random event? God has no random events! He had already prepared a place for her also! When she officially (according to the documents of the trade school) came to our home. You would see her! She became so happy, joyful and even more talkative!We could not believe our eyes!

"God sets the lonely in families..." (Psalm 68:5)

 Girls live for almost a year with us.This is what Lyuba says:

•  During these years you have replaced my parents.

• You support me very much, both emotionally and physically. I learned a lot from you.

• I changed a lot for the better while living with you. Everyone noticed and is talking about it. I became softer, generous and grateful. You taught me a lot to appreciate what I have. In spite of some difficulty, you need to love what you have, that I live, I have my arms, legs and so on ...

•   During this year, when I live with you, I do not remember when I was crying. I was more pleased and more joyful!

• I saw a lot, and learned a lot about what I did not know before. I also learned a lot about God. Since our guests at the orphanage told only about the creation of the earth and nothing else.

• I learned that God is not only there in the Heaven, but always near. He represents Himself through someone when trouble comes. When it's hard for me, I always turn to God and He helps me. I used to think that God created everything and just watched us. Now I know more about Him. I did not even imagine that He would act so fast in my life!

• Without you, I would not find a job and get into trouble. Thank you for the help!(Lyuba is going to work soon during summer time).

•   If I lived in a dorm, then I do not know what would happened with me... I have no idea. But I see how girls survive in the dorm.

•   I have no one to share my worries as mom and dad are constantly drinking alcohol. And you are always near me and constantly support me! You are always with me when something is wrong.You became like mom for me.

Love heals broken hearts!!! ♥♥♥

The other girl was very reserved, rarely spoke, only briefly answering questions. She always looked sad and with her head down. Sveta has very low self-esteem, uncertainty...At the boarding school, she had little contact with anyone and rarely was friends with someone. Sveta did not know what she wants from life, did not know what she liked or what she loved, there were no desires or dreams. :( She looked like a small cute snail that hid and was afraid to lean out.

Children who grow up in secluded places and are isolated from the world cannot see anything. When they finish an orphanage, it is difficult for them to adapt and face various difficulties. Very often graduates of orphanages are 5-10 years behind their peers and often immature. Sveta is such a sweet girl. God gave the desire to take her into our family, teach life skills and protect against all dangers. Once, when we gave her money for her needs (for a bus ticket to school and other needs). She burst into tears ... and revealed her precious heart about her personal experiences at her family...

Over time, Sveta began to unfold more. Talk more and even laugh! Today, every day you can hear this children's light-hearted laugh in our house! She found friends and became much more confident in herself. She began to defend for herself and to assert her rights. The girl began to study better in school and in her free time to practice her favorite needlework. When she hears words of encouragement, you would see her shining eyes!Sweet girl...

Looking at her, I see myself in childhood, with low self-esteem and many other problems. She still has a lot of problems. But we see huge changes in her life and behavior! This gives us tremendous hope! We pray that Jesus saved her and healed her broken heart!♥

Sveta is studying for cooker in a trade school

  Both girls became wonderful friends. Once Lyuba said: "I never thought that we would be friends with Sveta! After all, in the orphanage, we were not friends at all!" :) When she hugs, she keeps you for a few minutes without letting go. ♥

The girls learned to cook pizza

   Children came from very difficult families, where they were deprived of childhood. :( The girls had to go through and see a lot of things ... Orphanage, a shelter for children and a lot of terrible moments both in the families and in the boarding school. Insult, humiliation, ridicule, indifference, loneliness, abandonment, helplessness, drunkenness of parents, tears, fear, hunger and many, many other things.

 And you know what? God turned my greatest fear into a blessing!They became best friends with Masha! :) They protect her when necessary, help, have fun and more. And they even fight together against me and Oksana! Haha

Yes, we have difficulties ... Big and small. It is not easy to be a mom of teenagers with a broken heart and soul. I realized that I, as a mother, need to learn a lot more, very, very much! Every day I learn something new... Every day I learn to depend on Christ, needing His wisdom, patience, and strength. We need a lot of prayer, love and patience ...

Lyuba often remembers and is delighted that we remember and support her from the very childhood.Once a few months later living with us, she asked:" Maybe you adopt me?" And Sveta. "Yes! Yes! And me too!" This is impossible by the law of Ukraine. And I always tell girls that I adopted them in my heart. ♥♥♥We are very attached to each other and love them dearly! We are feeling blessed to support and love them! They stole my heart...

 So, our small family is growing ♥ :) God is doing AMAZING things!

Please, pray for the hearts of these beautiful young ladies! God cover their needs.So that they entrust their lives to Jesus Christ! That He changed their minds and healed broken hearts. So that in Him they find salvation, comfort and peace in hearts. Thank you so much! ♥

His faithful hand upon them

Few days ago we visited our treasures, boys with special needs in mental institution. Brought a blessings, diapers and baby formula, we had a wonderful time with boys and caretakers too.Everyone was very glad!

Few more boys were transferred there again...Some from the baby house but others due to the war in East of Ukraine. Parents fled but can not take care of their kids.They left them there.How sad and disappointingly...So more abandoned precious kiddies in crib, who need tender care and love.

Our caretakers are doing wonderful.

But staff started to speak again about the great need of more caretakers.We understood that we must to do something.Do something for the boys! As the need is really, really huge, Friends. Only an one sweet boy need to feed about 1,5 hours. He has a trouble with digesting food. But there so many more, who need a help!

Due to the economic and political situations in Ukraine. Director of the mental institution was forced to cut several employees for orders of local authorities. This means that in institution less caretakers, who would take care about the boys.

We planned to hire one more caretaker. But a little later. We understood that boys can not wait. As every day matters! We should help these precious souls. We had funds only for several months. So, we decided do it with a faith that Lord will supply the rest of funds. We decided to hire one more caretaker and continue pray that the Lord will bless to help these treasures. It was not easy decision for us. But our hearts are sad,  broken and hurt for these boys.

Do you know what?! God is so good!!!! He has provided all needed funds and we can hire one more caretaker for whole year!This is awesome blessing! Because He is marvelous and good. Because He loves them. Because His faithful hand upon them. Amazing!We are so happy!

Would you, please pray together with us God will help find a woman with a kind and a loving heart to these boys? Who tenderly would be taking care of them and be "their" mother.Thank you!

"Mama I`m gonna kill you"

People often ask. How children live in orphanages? What they do there? What do they feel? What do they dream of? Why children run away from orphanages? Why such a horrible statistic is that 10% of children commit suicide after leaving orphanages? and many others.

This is not a Christian but a documentary film "Mama I`m gonna kill you", made in one of the orphanages Russia, shows very well the lives of children in the orphanage, their dreams and feelings...

Terrible! But it is heartbreaking truth is what we are seeing in orphanages...

Maybe this film will help you understand, WHY your support is SO important to us, especially prayers. And we apreciate it VERY much.Why BOM team , brings Good News to the poor orphans. Since only Jesus Christ can heal these broken and wounded hearts. As God healed hearts of BOM team, who were former orphans. 

Maybe this film will help you to understand the lives of children in orphanages, their feelings and WHY their hearts are often bitter. Why, need YEARS to heal their children's hearts and distressed precious souls.

(Psalm 27:10) KJV "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up". 

Some moments reminded me of a past life in orphanages, where I spent many years... This movie is impossible to watch without tears...

The film on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu03J1svd-c

Visit of students

Do you remember these sweet guys, who had absolutely nothing for winter season and whom, you blessed recently by winter clothes? BOM continue to support them.It is big pleasure for us, to care about their needs, showing God's love.

We were able to visit them at this time and had such great fellowship, sharing the God`s love.We taught them how to live justly, what Bible says and much more.They were so happy to see us!We were happy not smaller. :)

Other boys could to be with also.We had super wonderful time!

At the end we blessed them with food, which we brought specific for them. You would see how these precious guys were happy and how they rejoiced! In prayer they warmly thanked God for those people, who remember them, care of them and for food what the Lord sent, because they had absolutely NOTHING...It touched our hearts to the soul depth.

 The dormitory, where they live is very and very poor.There are a lot of furniture are broken.The one shower is for many and many people.The restroom  has not lock.When you go there, someone have to help you to guard of the door that no one would not go, while you are there.One kitchen is for many people.Boys cook in their room. The little electric stove they put on the window or on the chair in the middle of their room, when they cook.

Here they dry of  their  the washed clothes.

But the most us struck, that the majority of children wear  very worn out clothes and shoes, which are with holes and many children look as street children... The majority of all children there from orphanages, which we visit. They all remember and were very glad to see us. Heart become clenches seeing these children of the hungry, undressed, poor and abandoned. They began to smoke, drink alcohol, wander on streets, live amoral life...Some teens do not know why they study there, some have no goal in life, some do not know why they live and what they will  be do after graduation of the trade school. My heart aches, seeing of these lonely children.They are only 15-18 years old. Very soon they will be on street again...They suffer and they all want come back to the orphanages, where they felt safety. 

Seeing this reality and hearing their thoughts, they look like nestlings not outspread their wings and not ready still to leave the nest.

But they very much would like the fellowship and someone who would love and edified them. They as baby birds in a nest, opened a mouth and are ready that their mother fed them. If only she brought food. They very much thirst for communication, as the person a thirsty of water in the dry desert. Their hearts and souls are devastated.

The idea came to our minds and hearts to come to all children, who wish to study the Bible and to hear the Gospel. To teach them what in our forces. The idea to bring together them in the big room of dormitory, where there is more place and all wishing can come. We asked permissions. And the teacher of a dormitory allowed us! What a wonderful blessing! 

Our desire to give them water of life that will give to drink for their thirsty souls. Our prayer and the purpose to give them spiritual bread and to feed their hungry souls. We at all don't know when we will be able to do it and how. But the desire and big need is. That to warn these children and to give them hope. To show them that there is a sense in life and someone loves them.

Will you pray, please that God would organize everything, gave the chance and blessed?We don't know when, we don't know how, we know nothing... But there is a big desire, huge need and opportunity.

Also there is a desire to help some children (to those, who needs) with clothes and shoes. If you have opportunity and desire to send clothes or somehow to help. We would be very happy to help these children. Clothes and footwear can be not new, but washed and suitable still. The sizes necessary for teenagers, girls and boys. If you are not able to help.Will you pray please,  God provide for this need?

Also this day we could visit girls in a orphanage, Oksana and Marina, who were in TB sanatorium before.Oh, how they were happy! We bring them sweets and fruits they love, apples and bananas. :) We thank God for the opportunity to see them again.They both are such sweet girls!

With pure joy in our hearts and happiness we came back to home.God is so good!

But worries do not leave our minds and hearts. Thoughts about teenagers in trade school, who necessary a care, support and just love.God`s love, what can lead them to the salvation of their souls, give them hope and peace in hearts.

About Daniel

We were able to tell Bible story last week to other sweet ones, the next day after visiting the orphanage.The day was frosty and cold some.Same as the day before.But we had amazing meeting with kids!We did not see them so long and missed them so much!Some children having seen us, huged us with such force that caused us physical pain. Yes, they can. They express so their love. :)

Some children are sick and could not be with us.So sad. But the class was full of small ones.It was such a big joy to see them all!

We learned that about 5 new small children came to this orphanage.So sad to see the abandoned little precious souls.So heartbreaking to know their stories and how they suffered being at home with their parents, hungry and not having necessary clothes.How parents does not care about them but spending all days long with vodka...How these sweethearts were affected from child abuse...

But here we are BOM team to show the love of Christ, give hope and pray God would heal the afflicted heart...

We pray God protect these children and through God`s word they will hear and see Jesus loves them.Once, this Bible verse touched my heart so deeply and forever. "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up".Psalm 27:10 Hope it would touch their hearts also...

When we sang a song, Nadya taught a fine object lesson before Bible history about Daniel. As an umbrella protects us from rain and snow, so the Lord protects those who is faithful to Him.

Then we played a game, "Pin the tail on the lion".The one, who gave the correct answer on a question, had the right to pin a tail. Also the one, who sits silently and listens attentively. All children very much want to participate and sometimes is noisy because of it. Such way we induce them to discipline. And it works! Not every time of course.But most.You would see how they silently did sit this time, when wanted to play. 

Such happy face :)

In the end of meeting the kiddies made a craft, the lion with Bible verse  "But the salvation of the righteous [is] of the LORD: [he is] their strength in the time of trouble". Psalm 37:39

Brother Misha helps to children as all time.

We are so blessed to have some foam sheets!Thank you so much, who blessed us with it!Here it is very expensive and we never would not able to buy.

We made holes there that children could stretch a thread and make a mane to lion. The 1440 holes, it is a lot of! Oh!It took us several days to do it. :) Then children cut out a snout of lion and pasted wiggle eyes. And the head was connected by the brads. Thus the head of a lion can spin. Children were delighted and so excited! Even older children came into to do the craft."Oh, give me please, I would like to do the same!"

So, here are sweet boys with their lions

Can not wait the meeting with kids at this Saturday, if the Lord will allow.We prepare something special to them and I`m so excited!  :)

Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalm 37:3-4

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!!!!