This morning brings sadness, relief, and joy to have finished such an incredible journey here in Ukraine. Yesterday morning we were able to go to the SOS mission house again for a day of yard work and repairing of their fitness equipment. The mission house has large grounds but they were were cluttered with broken bottles, trash, and rocks. I am proud to say that over a day and halfr we cleared the entire area and it is now clean and usable for any outdoor activities. God gave us another cooler than normal day to work outside and we were thankful.
Yesterday afternoon we were honoured quests at a transition home (Martin’s House) where they took what little food they had, prepared it, and served it to us before they ate. You could see the pride on their faces as we ate the wonderful soup (Borsht) and enjoyed the meats, bread and cheeses that accompanied it. The small house originally started for unwed mothers, but has become an emergency or rescue home for orphans in need. The home is overcrowded, in need of repair, and in a very poor area of town, yet a little light shines in this home for desperate orphans. Humbling.............
The evening was a blast! We were able to take the kids from the mission house and other orphans to an ice skating rink and to dinner before we said our goodbyes. We’ve bonded with the kids and they laughed so much as they watched many of us (including me!) struggle to ice skate for the first time.
There were many moments this week where I felt like we were watching a “family” form. What incredible God moments! Our team has been wonderful and so loving to the people here! I would like to give a shout out to our team:
THANK YOU team:
Anne – You truly are loving, kind and the picture queen! Thanks for being our photographer!
Ernie – You are the icon for Ukraine! You are a workhorse and true model of being a team member!
Yulia – Our fabulous interpreter and comic! We appreciated your humour and hard work this week!
Zhayne – Our muscle man and true inspiration of what God can do in an orphans life!
Karol – Our Babushca momma – the mother of Ukrainian orphans and Godly example of how “one lays down his life for another.”
“Nancy” Taylor – Your hard work, sacrifice, and heart for the kids was inspiring. Your Mary Kay was a hit with the girls!!
Cole – You have the most wonderful and unique heart for the Lord for your age!! There is NO doubt God has GREAT plans for your young life! Thanks for loving SO much on these kids!
April – Your desire and ability to dream for a better life for these kids is touching! You are a trooper, hard-working, and SO fun to be around!
Finally.....
Steve – My sweet husband......You are an incredible leader, encourager, and planner! Thanks for all your hard work, love and sacrifice to help make this trip possible! A special thanks for watching our money so closely so that we could give SO much back to the mission here!
Thank to our Lord for HIS love, mercy, and grace to us all. I close with this verse and ask for continued prayers daily for Max, Ben, and Nancy as they work in the trenches fighting for the souls of these Ukrainian orphans. This verse says it all:
James 1:27
New International Version (NIV)
27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Pray for our journey home, it begins today.
Angie and the Ukrainiacs
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