God Provides

As we (Annie, Anika, and Melissa) prepared to go home for two months of fundraising and family time, we were plagued by the ever-pressing question: who is going to take care of everything while we are gone? More specifically, who is going to take care of the kids living in the Open Arms home in Sumy. God has blown us away with his provisions and rather than telling you myself about Mike's heart for these kids, I figured it would be better to hear it from the source himself.

To all,

            My name is Mike Loso and I have been called to serve Open Arms in a time of need. The Lord has opened up so many doors and worked miracles to make this possible. I came to Ukraine with a team of Americans for a summer camp in early July.  Before leaving for the summer camp we spent three days in the open arms apartment getting supplies and devotions ready for camp. In this time, the Lord started to build strong connections between me and the three boys who live here. The boys are Roman, Vova, and Sasha. Vlad is staying here now, so we have an apartment of 4 men and 1 kid, me being the kid of course. Throughout camp our bonds continued to grow and grow. God’s love is so amazing that no language could stop us from relating, connecting, being guys, and having a great time.  These boys are amazing people. I am blessed to be apart of their world. The Lord has given me a heart for children in general, but the connections growing in my heart seamed to be different.

            I believe the Lord has called me to stay with these boys because I know what its like to struggle in life. Be hurt, abandoned, lost, confused, angry, and seeking God's grace in a desperate way. The boys need an example of someone who has fallen in the mud and desperately asked the Lord for help. Annie, Anika, and Melissa are amazing example of Christ. They’re three of the most amazing believers I have even met and have done amazing things in these boys. I am not saying they don’t have examples, the boys need a man to relate to, an example of a man in a home setting. Hard when I called myself a kid earlier.  The boys have limited examples of a Christ fearing man, like Bogdan, their floor ball coach. They don’t have a view of a man’s personal relationship with the Lord on a day-to-day basis. A man they live with and see the growth of the relationship. When the girls told me the boys would be here by themselves when they went home until late September, my heart took a hit. I could see their faces.  Sad, confused, and lost. The boys wouldn’t be totally alone, but still. The girls and boys have established a great support group of believers in Sumy through their churches. The boys have made such great step forward. I felt for them to be left alone in the apartment would only allow the enemy another chance to sneak in and try to disrupt there progress and growth.

The whole camp and the rest of the trip God continued to tug and tug on my heart. I continued to pray and the Lord asked me to stay on one of my walks around the lake three days before I was supposed to leave for America. I will be staying until late August. In America the lord has slowed my life down, or even passed it. I was recently laid off and am living at home. So I really don’t have any attachments at home. I have full support from my family and friends. It’s great to look back and be able to understand the path the lord has you on. The lord has made this easy for me. Once the decision was made, I have not had any fear, doubt, regret, homesickness, or anything besides being in Sumy supporting these boys. That is truly the Lord’s work. This is a great time for my growth in the Lord. I am called here to be a part of these boy’s lives. So the Lord can improve all of our own personal relationship’s with him. That no matter where our journeys take us, the fellowship with our brothers and sisters is truly God’s heart beat. I am blessed to be here and so glad I heard the Lord's call.

Daniel 4:3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

We are so utterly grateful for Mike's willingness to listen to God's voice in his life! It is apparent that God has already used Mike in a huge way with Sasha, Roman, Vova and Vlad - dentist trips, floorball and sharing the truth of God's love and grace. We can't wait to keep sharing all the ways God uses these next weeks in all their lives! At the same time, plane tickets and living costs still exist for Mike and as we trust God to provide, we ask that you would consider partnering us in this time! Prayer, financial support, and encouragement - feel free to send it Mike's way as he walks in obedience! If you would like to give you can click the donate button and give through paypal or send a check to Open Arms Ukraine, PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580.

Mike, we can't lie, we kind of think you are awesome!