All things work together for good

   Many of you know what happened with father of our brother Misha and Director of BOM.Many of you sent sweet encouragements and e-mails. Many of you hotly prayed and now pray. Many of your hearts and souls near the brother Misha in these difficult days of trials. And it is SO wonderful to know and see your Christ's love which is shown in acts. This is such blessing when many Christians uplift the prayers to the Lord and ask about His mercy, help or protection. All of us know as we depend on the Lord Jesus Christ. Our life and breath in His all-powerful and loving hands.He gives life and takes away...

But what blessing to live and enjoy life! To enjoy all delights of our surprising Creator here on the earth, to a small and surprising snowflake or a beautiful flower, an easy breeze or a solar heat, sea silence or all-powerful mountains. To rejoice of all little things in life that occur round you. And it brings the peace, rest and tenderness, such ease and freedom in soul. You just want to live! The Lord gave us all necessary in this life.

Friends, your prayers has heard!!! The Lord has given chance to live to one more person who was on the threshold of death. Nobody, even doctors didn't expect that the father of brother Misha will live! He is alive thanks to many YOUR prayers! He even has risen on his feet and has now started to eat well. Yes, he is still very weak and sick but he is alive! What can be more wonderful, when the person of cherished to your heart is alive? Our Lord is AWESOME God! Is not it a miracle?

But there is more to come. The second blessing which brother Misha has shared with us. The wife, one of his relatives, has accepted the Jesus Christ as personal Saviour, when he witnessed to her! What an awesome blessing!

Now we see as really "all things work together for good".

The First. If there was no this trial, nobody knows, when the son and the father would meet again. Our pastor couldn't visit him because of financial needs for a very long time.He prayed for a long time God give him chance to see his father.

The second. Before departure, our pastor Misha has read a place of Scripture:

"And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:
And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die." (Genesis 27-28)KJV

Also he asked us to pray that spirit of his father has revived as well as spirit of Jakob. That the Lord would prolong to him of years of life, if His will. And who knows, probably the father would go in eternity and without having said goodbye to the son...  But the Lord has made unexpected miracle! His spirit has revived at the sight and presence of his son!And he is alive! Is not it a great blessing?Wow!

The third. It would not be saved one more soul.What an awesome God we serve!

To the end of this week, our pastor should be here.So, we hope next week we will visit more our dear precious kids.

Thank you SO much for ALL your prayers and support!Thank you for all what you do for us and orphans as well.Thank you for your Christ love!May the Lord bless you!Much love to you all!

"The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. 

Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings." (Psalm 9: 9-11)

Something incredible

 I would love to share with you a story what happened with us last week.As usually we arrived to special orphanage to boys will have regular Bible lesson.The boys were so happy to see us! They excited so much by that, smiled, waved their hands etc.And we were happy not smaller to see them all. We are blessed so much  visit and spend time with them! We thanks God for each moment to be with boys and share love of Christ!We are blessed to see smiles on their faces, shine eyes, how they exciting by something and just happy! We are happy by that! :)

This time it was something incredible.We could not begin a meeting during some time because of behaviour of boys.Some boys did beat one other, some were agressive, some were screaming, in room was so much noisy.It was something horrible!!!!!!!
We could not continue fellowship with boys...When we calmed children they did not hear us.We had try to do everything we could to calm them.But nothing helped... :(  Really we lost courage and felt abashed. We were all overwhelmed and did not know what to do...We thought it will be awful meeting!We could not continue the meeting...

Please, remember this is orphanage for boys with special needs.Some of boys have psychical excitements. Sometimes they can be agressive, break up windows, furniture etc.

We understood we need the Lord.We had only one way, pray. Pray to God and beg Him to help us...
We began to pray and beg Jesus to help us.Please, God help us, we do not know what to do...Please, God we need you...Oh, God please...Everyone prayed in heart and pleaded God to help.

Do you know what? It is something incredible and amazing! God answered our prayers! Just in moment all boys were sitting quietly! We did not expect it and we were shocked! Really, they were sitting so quietly that it even scared us a little bit. Just a few minutes ago, they were screaming, made noise etc. And just in moment were so quiet!  Hallelujah!We were so glad and thanks God!It was something great and amazing!And to the end of meeting they were quiet!

This is not all yet. We felt as Holy Spirit guided the meeting with boys. The 8-10 boys asked Jesus to saved them! Hallelujah! More shock! We were amazed and overwhelmed!WOW!

We had small and older boys.And we had wonderful and such blessed time with kids!

As this time we told them story about Noah.We decided to show to them different animals. It was our object lesson. Also we could to tell them a little bit about different animals whom they do not know and never have seen.They were excited and liked that!

Also we learned with them a new song about Noah. As this song with movements, they had liked it much and enjoyed to sing it.

We had full class about 30-35 boys.We did not have much place, many boys were sitting on the floor. But it was nice.

And they listened the Bible story soooo quietly and attentively much, thanks to God!We were very glad by that and praised Jesus!

Here we played a game.Boys needed to answer on questions about Bible story about Noah and flood. And they did it real good!They liked to turned of circle here chose a question they wanted.And they could do it during long time.Just turned and twisted many times. :)))

Also they loved to place animals on ark.It was so funny!They enjoyed by that!

Here kids made a craft.They chose animal they wanted.We printed a lot of different animals.

They colored and place wooden stick inside, as this two-sided craft.They LOVED this craft!

It seems that this boy wore a narrow shoes what pressed on his toes and he has them crooked.

This sweet boy has 6 fingers on each hand.It remind me a one place of Scripture  2 Samuel 21:20

 "And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant."

But this boy is very kind and most of all joy that he received Jesus Christ as his Saviour.

When we finished Bible lesson children went to dining room for dinner.As there about 90 boys, they eat by several groups, not all together.In the beginning go to eat small after older.So until older boys waited, director Misha could to play by ball with several boys.It is sadly little we could not play with many of them.Because boys after dinner go for nap.Hope next time we will think up something.

 Smallest ones :)

Look at toys of this boy.It is all he has.Very sad.He finds lids somewhere and plays with it. Boys often tell us their wishes or dreams to have something to play. Older boys would like to have balls or any sport games. Smallest boys want to play by cars or any games etc.
Caretakers often tell us, often boys do not know what to do and they just wander on territory of orphanage. Sometimes they run away. Please, can you help come true of dreams these boys?..Thank you!

Annya with her new wheelchair!

Oh, my goodness what a blessed day we had today!Great,wonderful and amazing! We are so happy! Can not find words to describe what we feel! Just tears of happiness! Oh, how is good and mighty our lord Jesus! Only alive God worthy all glory and praise!  Only He can brings joy and make miracles!

We have such HUGE blessing but i will tell you in next post!
Right now i would like to share with you other one more blessing we have!We know many of you are waiting  pictures of Annya! :)

Today is special day to orphan Annya who prayed and asked the Lord to help her with wheelchair! God answered on her prayers! He brought her joy, happiness and sent her a new wheelchair!It is amazing! Oh, how she is happy! She is so exciting by it!

 All children, staff of orphanage and director were so exciting and happy for her!I want to cry because of it.Really.It is tears of happiness!We are so happy for Annya!She all time was thanking!
BUT!Dear Friends, it would not be happened without you! We are so grateful to you that you opened your hearts to help this poor girl to get a new wheelchair!Thank you to being such BIG blessing to her! Probably she never will meet you on the earth but she said she will REMEMBER YOU FOREVER and will pray for you! Is not amazing? Thank you to have changed life of Annya! May the Lord bless you!!!

"The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." Proverbs 11:25

 

                                    look at her how she is happy!

She was so excited that wanted to sit down by herself to her new wheelchair.

Annya says: "Spasibo! za vse spasibo!" Thank you!Thank you for everything!

           Director Misha is explaining how everything works.

         Almost all orphanage and staff was rejoicing with Annya!

Just picture for memory with some members of BOM team and other volunteers. :)

This is not all yet! God has blessed and we were able to bring icecream to all orphans!Oh, my goodness how they were glad!They jumped and screamed because of that, so much rejoicing!

Girls told us goodbye.No one did not want to leave us.:)

We are sooooo thankful  God`s blessings and His mercy to us!We praise Him for all His blessings and care of orphans!

Surprise!

We are so blessed and amazed how our Lord Jesus is mighty, good and great! We have all $350 to help Anna! WOW! Really we even did not expect that we will get all donations so fast and it came for a week! :) Praise the lord!
We are so grateful for all your donations to help Anna to have a new wheelchair! Thank you to show the God`s love to this orphan! Really we are thankful to you very and very much you opened your hearts to help this poor girl! She suffers so much and I can only imagine how Anna will be happy to get a new wheelchair! Oh, my goodness!

We hope to the end of this week to bring to Anna a new wheelchair, if God`s will! It is fantastic and great! What a blessing! We are so glad!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you very much on behalf of Anna!

Please, please, help Anna have a better life!

Anna walks by her lap and it hurt her much. She necessary kneecaps. Also a wheelchair which she uses is broken and too small in the sizes for her. The wheels are crooked and can not move.

Women - workers each time should carry Anna with wheelchair to help her. Can you imagine it, how it is heavy for Anna and workers? Doorsteps in buildings do not have special place for wheelchairs and it is more troubles for Annya.

Can you imagine your life in wheelchair, broken, too little size for you, it squeeze your body, crooked wheels, your back and knees are hurt all time because of it and you can do nothing with it?

She SUFFERS in this wheelchair, instead of enjoys. Each time we come to orphanage,  she ask us, Did you bring wheel chair for me? She almost crying when she understand we did not bring it for her...
We are not able to help...We can help Anna only with your helping.

Please, please can you help this girl to be happy? To help her to buy with good size and a suitable wheelchair for her.It cost $350.

We placed a chip-in for this special project to help Anna.We pray and hope Lord Jesus will touch your heart to help this poor orphan.She does not have any person who can help her.She hopes we will help. Trust me it is very heavy to see her eyes with full of tears hoping you will help...We all Christians, Church of Christ, we must to do something.Let`s show God love to this girl-orphan! It is our calling to help poor. Please, please, help Anna!...Each dollar and cent is appreciate!  We have only 10 days to help her! Please, help....

Look what we have!

Great! Great! Great! Many of you praying and God answers on prayers!He LOVES orphans even much more that we do! And He cares about them!

look what we have!God sent to us foam sheets big and small and also paper plates! These all things we can use for crafts with kiddos!

Do these crafts supplies necessary more for us?Of course! We have many kids who enjoy making crafts their hands!They LOVE much make crafts! Thank you! Oh how they will be happy to use it!

And also look at these boxes.Guess what is inside? Hmmm...

Ok.I will let you know our new blessing. We have full boxes of clothes, sandals and toys to children! Oh my goodness what a blessing we have! These all things are soooo beautiful! I can only imagine how children will be happy to receive these toys and clothes! WOW!

Thank you Corrie and Nina who care about orphans! HUGE thank you for God love to them and efforts to help!
God bless you all who support and care about orphans in Ukraine! Thank you to being blessings to those who lonely and abandoned!

"He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor." Proverbs 22:9

Last bell- ceremony

God is soooo good to us we could to visit 3 orphanages for one day!We were going to visit 2 orphanages but we have learned kids in third orphanage are going to home and we will not see them. It was special day to graduates and all other kids. It was special day, ceremony we call it Last bell.

The last bell - is a traditional ceremony in the schools of Ukraine and some other post-Soviet countries. The celebration is carried out just after all the studies were finished but before the final exams. The date usually falls on 25 May. But this year was on 27 May.  The pupils that are about to leave the school don the classic school uniform or formal dress; for the girls it has become customary since the 1990s to attire in the Soviet-style school uniform with white aprons and white bows in the hair. 

Every school or orphanage has their own tradition how to celebrate and conduct this ceremony.Some traditions are similar, some is different. Some traditions are still since post-Soviet time.

Here are some pictures and videos first orphanage we visited.

In the beginning of ceremony two 9 classes(grades)  came out and came along  to their place where they had to stay during all Last bell.

After that several pupils carried Ukrainian flag before all school.

Usually pupils receive a certificate of merit successful learning, helping workers in orphanage and many different merits during the ceremony.

                                            It is big privilege and honor for a pupil.

Also was a big blessing for our mission,  Director Misha could to speak to all pupils and all workers of orphanage about God, has read on the Bible. He gave them exhortation that all they  learned about God during all year,( what we trained them) children will carry it out in their life.

It was such BIG blessing, honor and privilege to us hear God`s Word in this time! Because many schools and orphanages have system since Soviet time and you will not hears God`s word on Last bell. It depends from the Director of orphanage. We were so glad Director of this orphanage,  let our Director Misha do it!

When Misha finished his exhortation our team presented gifts to graduates. They were surprised and happy to receive such gift!

                                Sasha presented to graduates little New Testaments.

Graduates made a present of flowers to sisters.How is sweet!

During the ceremony Last bell pupils also sing songs.

 Most of all is important a symbolic last school bell is rung, usually by a first-grader who learned successful during the year. It is big honor for him.

Graduates who leave orphanage.They were exciting in this day! Some of them were sure, they think they already "adult" and able to start own adult life. They are only 15-16 years old. Some of them were crying, because do not want to leave orphanage.They afraid and do not know what wait them in future...When you look at them, they are still children not prepared for a life, for future, not ready for many trials what they can meet. They are not protected in this life. Who knows what will happen with them soon...

They all visited Bible study and Bible lessons during many years. Many of them received Jesus Christ as their Saviour, some still no.But we hope the knowledge of God`s Word what they received until were in orphanage, they will remember and some day they will come to Jesus and give Him all their heart....That these God`s knowledge will help them in their life, will protect them from evil and inequity, will help do not make big  mistakes in their life, help them trust to Jesus and remember He loves them and cares about them.

Director of orphanage and workers told us, "you adorned our holiday." They were really thankful for gifts to graduates, as they receive nothing after leaving orphanage.But we know it would not be happened without you dear friends! Thank you to make Special Day in life of orphans to helping them! Thank you, you adorned their life!


We had bid farewell with kids and graduates, jumped into the van and were hurried up to another orphanage, where was beginning ceremony Last bell too.

                                                               Graduates

Many of them were crying...We have spoken with director of this orphanage.He let us know.It was very emotional day for graduates because many of them do not have place where to live, many of them have parents who do not care about them and did not see their children during many years. Children do not know where to go where to live, who will help them start them new "adult" life, who will help them get to their feet???

Graduates told their last thankful words to workers, director and teachers of orphanages. Many were crying...

In this orphanage we took all graduates to special place and Misha Director could to spoken with them and gave exhortation to them. He reminded them all they did hear during the year about God. It was a blessing several parents of graduates could to hear God`s Word too!

   After our communing our team presented to them gifts.All of them were exciting!

On picture is traditional Ukrainian bread on embroidered towel for big holiday. The tradition is in the end of any ceremony or any big holiday everyone break and eat this bread.We call it coroway.

It remind a time when Jesus had last supper with His disciples. He took bread, brake it and gave to His disciples. Who knows, maybe this ukrainian tradition is taken from the Bible too? :)

Director wanted much we stay for graduation. It is time last fellowship with orphans. Orphanage serve on table different kind of food for graduates. But we hurried to another orphanage.It was sad we could not stay but we did not have other way, because other orphans waited for us.

In third orphanage we were in small room. This day was beautiful and sunny so was very hot in this room.But we were happy we could to see all graduates!

Misha reminded them about God, Bible etc. Also we did let them know if they will have any troubles, they can call to us or come we will try to help as we can. We let them know that they are not alone in this world.

 

                                                    Exciting of gifts! :)

                                                Reading the Gospel tract

                                                 Picture for memory

In this orphanages are kids with special needs, age 3-8 years old. They live  separately from orphans of this orphanage. When we came back they saw us and start to wave their hands.They came to us closer and asked, will come we tomorrow? Oh dear, how they sweet! We answered to them, soon. We hope God will bless and we will visit these precious and sweet kids soon!We want to bring a joy to them, see their smiles and happy faces!

 We have talked  with director of this orphanage and have learned they have many and many needs. Director asked us to help with clothes, shoes or sandals for kids, diapies for small kids, school supplies (exercise books, pencils, pens etc), chemical things( soap, powdered laundry soap etc), sanitariness( tooth brush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap etc).

Also big need they have, they need paint to dye a floor in buildings of orphanage. It is one of the biggest orphanage where we minister. There are a lot of children. They need about 600 kilo paints. It is about $1000! It is big sum! We have to pray much God will help us we can help orphanage! Please, remember these needs in your prayers!

Also we have a blessing! Children of this orphanage go to summer camp for all summer time. Director let us visit them often there. We hope and pray God will help us visit these kids with special Bible program, how we do all time, will bring to them sweets and have wonderful time! Please, pray God will provide everything we need for it!Thank you!

We were so blessed to give gifts to orphans!But in same time we were upset. Because we saw only few parents who came to children... If you would see ceremony of Last bell in usually school, you would see many and many parents and relatives who came to rejoice with their child. But it was a big difference in orphanages, only several parents came to ceremony Last bell and will take to home their children.It heartbreaking to see and know it.It is heavy to see how abandoned these kids, they unwanted, they nobody do not need...

Also in one of orphanages which we visited in this day, a one girl was crying.When we asked her what happened, we have learned she did not want go to home because her father was drunk and he did not come to orphanage will take her to home. Also her mom left her and Nastya saw her when she was a small. Now Nastya is 13 years old.Oh how it terrible and painful!  It is heavy to write it, the lump is in my throat and tears began to act but we could to console and prayed with her about her trouble.We could to cry together with her. When we prayed, she cuddled much to me like birdling and did not want to let me go.
She is very sweet girl, she is faithful coming to Bible lessons when we come.Each orphans has their own heavy story... We can not help in many ways but we can pray and tell them about Jesus Who can give you comfort and piece in your heart.We trying to do everything we able to make sunny and happy life of orphans... Please, remember these orphans in your prayers.Thank you!

Dear Friends, we so appreciate your help with raising the Fundraising!  Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus to the orphans. Thank you to answer on God`s recall to help orphans and to being blessings for them! Thank you each one who helped us in our Special Project to graduates, and for your such big heart and kindness! Thank you for helping to bring a joy to kids and thank you to being a part of this wonderful ministry! We cherish your support and prayers! May the Lord bless each of you!

P.S. In a week we are going to graduates in one more orphanage.