MINISTRY VAN

For the past 5 1/2 years, the Open Arms team has relied on public transportation to get around here in Ukraine. It has worked... well enough, but it is high time for a change! Y'all, it is time to buy a VAN!!! 

Ministry has continued to grow over the years and with growth brings about new needs. The sheer inefficiency of public transportation is slowing down what we believe God is ready to do. Here's a little example of what a car could do for our team:

Current situation - Let's take a trip to visit kids in the village of Mezanivka - sweet! Walk to the bus stop. Get on a bus to the actual bus station. 40 minutes later, you get to buy your bus ticket. Wait 15 minutes for the next bus. Take that bus for an hour to Kransapolye. Wait 15 minutes for the next bus. Take that bus for 30 minutes to Mezinivka. Get off at the bus stop, walk 15 minutes into the village. Visit the kids for a bit, but the last bus out is at 4:20 so you'd best head out or you'll be stuck all night. Let's be real, you don't want to be stuck in Mezinivka. 

Future situation - Let's take a trip to visit kids in the village of Mezanivka - sweet! Team walks down to the car. Gets in. Drives 40 minutes to the kids houses. Stay until ministry is done for the day. 

We can NOT wait to spend more time doing ministry and less time traveling, but we need your help to make this happen. 

A pastor in our city is selling a Mercedes Vito. It's a beauty.

We have $8000 to go towards this car, but we need $9000 to purchase and $1500 more to pay for the year's insurance. So, we are in need of $2500 more for this to be a done deal. 

ANY AMOUNT gets us closer to the goal. $5. $500. Whatever is on your heart to give can bring about some amazing ministry! 

We're excited. 

Here's a link so giving can be ultra simple:

Or feel free to send checks to Open Arms Ukraine, PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580. 

SP - A BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY

Today's post comes to you from the heart of Sasha Pevniv (aka SP). We were recently able to take a trip back to the juvenile detention center in Sambir (where he spent 3 years) for him to continue his healing process. Read and be encouraged. Our God writes beautiful stories. 

Hello.

It has almost been 3 years since I got out of prison. It hasn't been easy to talk about it and I wasn't very comfortable when people asked me questions. When I was in prison, I didn't know God very well. I always thought about, you could even say, I always dreamed that after I got out, I would go back to the the guy who always had me beat; who had been out to get me all those years in prison. He did things to make me stay longer even  though I always did my work, even beyond what I was asked. 

When I got out, I started to know God more and more everyday. I understood that what I wanted to do wasn't what God would want me to do. And so I thought "if I never go back there, everything will be ok." At first, this didn't seem too bad. But, I still always want to ask him "why?" But anytime I thought of that question, I just wanted to beat him.

God helped me deal with all of those thoughts and told me that I should just go there. I went with the Open Arms Team (the same team who came to visit me every month in prison) - it was such a long trip! I realized how much God loves me; I went to Sambir one time and I was tired from just the trip there. The girls came to visit me every month for 3 years and 3 months. Honestly, I don't even I can't even put into words how I feel. Thank you, God, for my new family. 

So, we arrived in Sambir and walked up to the prison. I absolutely did not want to see Roman Bogdanovich, he’s the one that used to beat me. I saw Grigory Mikolaevich [the librarian] and walked up to talk to him. And while I was talking to him, Roman Bogdanovich walked up. We were all talking together, laughing, and I didn’t even ask him "why" he did what he did. And I don’t know why I didn’t ask him, but I think that’s what God wanted. Now, it doesn't feel so bad. After that, girls took me on a tour of the city and I liked it.

From then...

Till now... 

T-GIVING: A MONTH OF GIVING THANKS

That's right - we want to take this fine month of November to say THANK YOU for all the ways you help keep ministry happening here in Ukraine. So, for every donation of $20 or more we receive this month, we would love send an amazing Open Arms T-shirt to you as our way of saying: "We think you are amazing". Wear it with pride and share the Open Arms love with those around you.

You can mail checks to Open Arms Ukraine (PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580) and put in a little note with your T-shirt size and address. 

Or just click the handy-dandy donate button below to give online:

You can add a note with your T-shirt size and address or send a quick email to: OpenArmsMinistry@gmail.com.

Child sizes (S,M,L,XL) and unisex adult sizes (S,M,L,XL) available! Get them before the run out! 

And, again, THANK YOU for helping us share God's love with the beautiful children of Ukraine. 

FALL GRAD CAMP 2013

We are so excited to be just a day away from this year's Fall Grad Camp! We are currently in the midst of final preparations and are incredibly thankful that camp was sponsored by the So-Cal Silent Auction that took place in September (thanks to everyone who was involved!).

The 3-day camp will be full of games, crafts, skits, Bible lessons, group discussions, worship, and so much lovin'! Along with all of that, Fall Grad Camp has an extra-exciting aspect because for the most recent orphanage graduates, it is their first chance to experience post-orphanage ministry with Open Arms. This is a huge opportunity for us to make a deep connection with them now that they are at trade schools and embrace them fully into all that Grad Ministry has to offer.

Join us in prayer for all that God has in store this weekend (October 11-13) as we take these kids to our favorite camp location outside Sumy. Things to pray for...

• Vova (our amazing Ukrainian speaker): that he will be empowered to share with the grads about how God's power can drive out all fear in our lives
• New grads: that we will be able to contact each of them and help them make their way to camp
• Open Hearts: that the grads' hearts will be vulnerable and that God's Word would impact them fully
• Safety, travels, team, and more! 

We can't wait to come back and tell you all about the goodness that we know will take place! 

HEARTS OF GRATITUDE

We have been so grateful for the support we've received recently through stateside fundraisers. These events are crucial for the continuation of the ministry we do here in Ukraine. Thank you to those who joined us - you have played a huge part in sustaining the work of Open Arms this year.

from Chelsea Rollins...

SILENT AUCTION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

On September 8th, all the hard work that went into planning a fundraiser event finally came together as over 50 people gathered to show their support for Open Arms. So many people were involved in order to make this a success. Items were donated and bid on for a silent auction, food was prepared, information about Open Arms was displayed, and games and a photo booth were ready for the kids! It was a hot but fun afternoon of fellowship with family, friends, and supporters of Open Arms. Thank you so much to everyone who was involved in one way or another! Your generosity, prayers, and support are such an encouragement to the Open Arms team. We could not do what we do without you!

from Annie Carbonaro...

"DINNER FOR GOOD" IN THE BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA

Last week marked the Second Annual Dinner for Good in the Bay Area and the night was sweet indeed! The vision of the night is to bring together community, utilizing the gifts and talents of the body of Christ and doing it all to support a bigger cause. That vision came together in a simply beautiful way as Paul Keim (Smalltown Society) and friends (Tammy & The Silverspoons) showed off their mad musical skills while all who attended enjoyed the ridiculously amazing dishes of braised pork and more by Spencer Huey (Salt House) with the help of his rockstar sidekick Kensey Vold. And please, let us not forget the fruit tartlets that topped off the night by the always-fabulous Cortney Marcus and Cathy Keim (Petal and Posie Cakes). All of this was captured by the ever-so-talented Cathy Breslow (Breslow Imaging DfG album here). Open Arms was hugely blessed by all who gave of their gifts, time, and finances to make this night so great! THANK YOU! Now, we're not sure how we will top this year's Dinner for Good, but we've got a year to make it happen. Be on the look-out!





from Melissa Keane...

FIRST ANNUAL OAU WALK IN THE BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA

On Saturday, September 14th, we had our first annual OAU Walk. Whenever you do anything for the first time, it turns into a lesson for how to do it the next time. We learned a lot and are already excited for next year. Thank you so much to those who came out and for those of you who couldn't come but supported anyway. We had a fun time showing off our awesome t-shirts while walking around Concord, California. A special thanks goes to Angie Lagusis and Konni Stalica for putting on the walk. OAU is truly so thankful for your support.

THE HEART'S DEEPEST NEED

from the heart of Melissa Keane...

Ivan is one of the newest additions to the ministry of Open Arms. He came from a different orphanage than the one we typically work with and just graduated from trade school. When one of our other grads invited him to one of our Wednesday meetings, Ivan started coming and we had the pleasure of getting to know him. You could tell he was looking for a safe place to just belong and enjoy relationships. Ivan seems to have some fetal alcohol issues and it's obvious that he's been made fun of his whole life. Despite this, you will always see the biggest smile on his face. We had been inviting Ivan over to the Open Arms apartment from time to time but one day he just stopped by unannounced. Once he came inside, it was obvious that he was hungry and just needed some people to love on him and listen to the events of his day. I love that God brought Ivan into our lives so that we could be a help and source of love to him. I'm so excited to see what God is going to do in his life. 

TAKE STRIDES TO BRING HOPE

If you haven't heard, we've got some exciting news: September 14th will mark our first annual Open Arms Ukraine Walk! This is a great way to get your family and friends together for a fun day while supporting a great cause. All proceeds go straight into helping orphans in Ukraine find hope and love!

The event will include a 2-mile walk, games, photo booth, bake sale, and so much more! 

So, save the date. Sign up. And walk for a good cause!

Where: Ygnacio Valley Christian School 
(4977 Concord Blvd, Concord, CA)
When: September 14th at 9am

Follow THIS LINK to get registered* today!
(Registration includes a t-shirt.)

If you would like to volunteer for the event or need more information, feel free to contact Melissa Keane at melissajanell@gmail.com.

OPEN ARMS UKRAINE FUNDRAISING WALK

Saturday, September 14th, 2013 

at Ygnacio Valley Christian School in Concord, CA.

Registration begins at 8:30am

The walk begins at 9:00am

$25 for adults, $10 for kids, or $45 for a team of two.

Be sure to register for this amazing event! All proceeds go to help ministry in Ukraine! Click on the links below to register and send your registration information to MelissaOAU@gmail.com
Name:
Email:
Phone number (please indicate if text is available):
Number of registrants:
Shirt sizes:

Registration includes a t-shirt for each participant that will be presented at the walk.
Parking is limited, so consider carpool if possible. Wear comfortable shoes and cool clothing. Water and food will be available for purchase at the event. Can't wait to walk alongside you!

To register an adult click here:

To register a child click here:

If you are interested in volunteering (spread the word, donate food items, baked goods, or help work a booth) send an email MelissaOAU@gmail.com.

If you are interested in donating to the walk without registration, click here:

A SPECIAL COFFEE DATE

From the heart of Anika Bachle...

The lovely Dusya Sityuk is a 24 year old mom of 2 crazy, beautiful little kids named Vala and Andre. (Andre also happens to be my godson and may be the cutest little boy alive. It's true. I'm not biased at all.) Dus and her family live in the village of Ivanivka where Dusya has no toilet, no bath or shower, no oven, no stove, no washing machine, and uses a bucket on a rope to pull her water from a well in her front yard. She works so hard to take care of her family and the poor girl never gets a break! We were so excited to get her to Sumy where we had 2 days of much needed girl time with her. 

It was so good to see her just relax a bit! We took her out to coffee and just laughed and reminisced about her younger days at the orphanage when she would break dance. We talked about the days when we barely understood each other because we didn't speak each others' languages. At some point, the conversation turned to her life before the orphanage. She shared about her little brother Losha, a baby she took care of as a child herself until they were taken by the authorities and separated into different orphanages. She has looked for him for years and still hasn't been able to find him. I pray that God leads them to each other again, be it sooner or later, and that He restores that sibling bond that was so strong when she was less than 9.

While the conversation was filled with tears, I am so thankful that Dus was able to have the time to rest, remember, laugh, cry, and just be who she is. I am incredibly blessed to know her and be considered part of her family. Her kids are amazing and she works relentlessly and sacrifices so much to give them the childhood she never had. Never having seen a good mom, I don't know how she is so wonderful. I wish you all could meet her! I am so glad for the support we receive that allows me and my team to continue to know and serve this beautiful woman. 

ONE TRUE, FAITHFUL, AND CONSISTENT LOVE

From the heart of Chelsea Rollins...

This Summer was my first time ever being part of an Orphanage camp at Pravda. It was a very different transition going from a week with our grads to four days with the youngest group at the orphanage. It had it's challenges, but there were so many kids in my group that absolutely captured my heart. One little boy in particular was Dima. Dima is seven years old and has the sweetest little face and demeanor. Even though our words were few, we still bonded. Anytime we were sitting down he would lay across my lap and I would scratch his back and just pray for him. It was one of my favorite parts of every day. About a week after camp we went to visit some of the kids at Revesnik, which is a camp near Sumy that the kids are sent to in the Summer.When we arrived, Dima wiggled his way through all of the kids and gave me the tightest hug and just repeated over and over how he didn't think I would come see him again. It broke my heart to hear him say this and to realize how many people come and go from his life. He so desires to be loved, like anyone really, but unfortunately he has faced so much trauma, neglect, and disappointment in his short life. My time with Dima reminded me how much these kids long for consistent love and how they are looking for someone they can trust and depend on. I wish I could be that person for Dima and bring him into my own family but I can't. However, I am encouraged by the fact that I can pray for him and introduce him to the one true, faithful, and consistent love I know, Jesus Christ.  

SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS

The past few months have been amazing here in Ukraine - ministry has kept our hands so full that we have been waiting for a moment to share some of the big highlights that took place! From orphanage programming to weekly grad meetings, orphanage graduation to summer camp, God has been working in a big way!

GRAD CAMP

Summer camp is a highlight of the year for everyone involved! This year's grad camp marked our 8th camp with kids who have already graduated out of the orphanage system. God has been so utterly gracious bringing us to this point and our 6 days in the woods were a beautiful time once again! 

Most days consist of Bible lessons, swimming, games, and fellowship. This year's bonfire turned into a sing-off while some nights turned into a dance party after meetings and games were done. There was an amazing freedom among the group that cultivated a really special time for all of us involved. 

In the midst of the usual activities, we brought in some new features including the addition of a film festival. A few hours each day were designated to scripting, creating, filming and editing each team's movies that would be presented the final night of camp at a "film festival" which included popcorn, cookies, and an award ceremony. The kids (and leaders) took to the idea more than we even anticipated and turned out two amazing films! Check them out here:

From Sunrise to Sunset

Coming Home

ORPHANAGE CAMP

And... we are BACK! That is how it felt to receive this amazing gift to be back in the orphanage running a full summer camp. 3 years ago the plans were made, the program ready, and a team on the way to spend 14 days with the kids at the Pravdinska orphanage when the orphanage director pulled out last minute. Shortly after, she pushed us out of running ministry at the orphanage altogether. We may never understand the reasoning behind all of it, but God kept those children on our hearts over the years and our relationships with them strong through meetings on the sport's field and cheering them on at events in the city. 

With time, we were able to build a good relationship once again, but were blown away at the opportunity to bring God's love in such a real way this summer. The kid's excitement was contagious as we arrived. Bible lessons, games, bonfires, a birthday party, swimming - the days were packed and we are thrilled to be back in the place where this ministry began!

GRADUATION - From the Heart of Annie Carbonaro

Eight years ago, I met a group of first graders who were some of the cutest kids I'd ever seen. Never did I  

anticipate to walk with them over the years through their time at the orphanage. I watched some find families and others be taken away from theirs. After we were no longer working with the orphanage, these were the kids that would sit for hours outside in the cold just to spend time with us when we came to visit. Through so many circumstances, events, birthdays, and moments, this class of kids stole my heart completely. Having the opportunity to be back in the orphanage on their graduation day is a gift I will never forget! We arrived early to help the girls get ready, clapped and cheered as they danced and sang, and then finished off the night with so much food accompanied by a dance party that will go down in the history books. I have loved watching these kids grow up and still can't believe they are heading out of the orphanage come September 1st. It makes me all the more thankful for the heart of vision of Open Arms to continue in ministry with these kids beyond the orphanage walls. As for now, I will continue to relive that beautiful day and thank God for 8 years will some of the most amazing kids on the planet.

HIGHLIGHT: IVAN

Ivan has been attending our weekly meetings in Sumy through a connection with one of our Pravda grads. We were so excited to get the solid time with him at summer camp and it has provided the foundation to come alongside Ivan in a much bigger way as he just finished his time at trade school. He grew up in an orphanage and suffers from some developmental issues that make him an easy target for others. We were so thankful to deepen our connection with Ivan and provide a safe environment for him to be his joyful, loving self!

THANK YOU

With each event and connection to a new kid, our gratitude grows for all the support we receive from all of you. Without the continual encouragement, prayers, and financial contributions, grad camp, orphanage camp, graduation celebrations, dresses, hygiene items, doctor visits - would never take place. So, from the bottom of our hearts: THANK YOU! 

IT'S COMING!

Orphanage Summer Camp 2013 is so close we can almost taste it! The beauty of this camp lies in the fact that we have waited 4 years for these doors to be open to us once more. We are so excited to utilize this time with the children of the Pravdinska Orphanage.

Open Arms began 8 summers ago with a summer camp at this very orphanage. It was a defining factor of our ministry's foundation, but over 3 years ago the orphanage director shut out all organizations from working with the children. We were devastated, but God has continued to move over the years.

Through rendezvous on the orphanage sports fields to meeting up with the kids at events in Sumy, our relationships remained intact and we slowly made our way back into the good graces of the orphanage director. 

We never dreamed she would open the doors so widely at this point, BUT the opportunity is HERE! As we've had very little time to pull together programming, Ukrainian volunteers, and the necessary supplies - we definitely need your help to make this happen!

The goal: $1000.

One Week.

50 children.

Games, Bible Lessons, Special events, birthday celebrations, and a whole lot of lovin'.

Be a part in making this happen.

$10 or $500 - every little bit helps us reach the goal to bring God's love into an orphanage full of children who are desperate to experience it. 

Give online here:

Or send checks to Open Arms Ukraine PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580 - with a note "orphanage camp" enclosed. 

PRAY

Open Hearts

Necessary funds

Ukrainian volunteers

And a program directed by God's love for these children

And...

BE EXCITED because

IT'S COMING!!!!! 

COUNTDOWN TO GRAD CAMP

And... we are BACK! The past week has been a whirlwind - from orphanage graduation and ministry programs, to Grad Camp preparation - and we've missed you all! 

We know it may seem like we have been asking for a lot lately, but God is moving in huge ways here in the lives of these kids and we are excited to share this journey with you. Thank you for your continued love and support as we are presented with incredible ministry opportunities!

Orphanage Graduate Camp is a massive part of our ministry to the kids who have already finished the 9th grade at the orphanage and are spread throughout the region. It gives us the chance to bring them all together and pour out so much love, speak God's truth, and invest in their young lives for 6 solid days.

Some of you may have gone to summer camp as a kid, some of you may even be working on sending your own children to camp this summer. But for the orphans we work with, this is a privilege they have never known before. For the orphanage graduates who have attended some of our previous camps and retreats, summer camp has now become a big highlight.

The cost of camp is not crazy, but it is significant enough that we need your help in order to make camp happen. $100 covers one camper with transportation, food, lodging, and all of the supplies required to make camp a great time. We are are currently 8 sponsors away from our goal of having 25 campers and 5 Ukrainian workers fully covered. Even if you can only give $25, become a partial sponsor; every little bit gets us closer to the mark!

We understand that everyone is not able to give financially, but your prayers play as much of a part in this camp! So, we thank you in advance for your willingness to give, your committed prayers, and your encouragement that keeps us going over here!

JOIN US IN THE MAD RUSH!

During a recent conversation with the Pravdinska Orphanage director about our ministry there, the doors flew open for a chance to run a summer camp! We couldn't help but be so excited as this is something we have been fighting for since our last camp at the orphanage (4 years ago). 

Time is running short to get everything together: paperwork for permission, programming, supplies and funds.

This is how you can be a part of it all:

- PRAY

- GIVE (click to be directed to our online donation page)

It's that simple! Pray for the doors to remain open and for our documents to get approved in record time (we are hoping to run camp NEXT WEEK)! Pray that the kids, teachers, and director will have open hearts! Pray that our team will stay strong and united with a clear vision directed by God. 

Give financial support to help us run the 4-day program - this money goes directly into crafts, games, and supplies to help create an amazing time for the kids.

Here are some of the camp highlights that we look forward to: 

• Birthday Party - Celebrating each of the kids with a party filled with special snacks, hygiene packs, music, and birthday games!

• Bonfire Night - S'mores, music, talent show and all kinds of campfire fun.

• Water Wars - Water games for days! We'll escape the heat and have an amazing time.

Our days will be packed from start to finish with Bible Lessons, group discussions, crafts, games, group meetings, sports, and sharing God's love in as many ways as we can!

Although approval from the department has not been officially received, we are forging ahead in faith and ask you to do the same! If you do choose to give, please know that the funds will be saved for day programs at the orphanage and general funds for ministering to these beautiful children (birthdays and more).

Regardless of whether you can give or not, we so value your prayers and can't wait to share with you all that God does in and through this amazing opportunity!

RISE TO THE CHALLENGE: SUMMER CAMP 2013

We are so excited to announce this year's Summer Camp - Rise to the Challenge - for our orphanage graduates. Our heart for this event runs deep, as Open Arms began with a summer camp 8 years ago. The days in the sun, swimming in the river, playing games, and discussing God's word have become an integral part of ministry with these children who are struggling to manage life outside of the orphanage.  

Our leaders are ready, games are planned, but now we need your help. 

THE COST, PER GRADUATE, TO ATTEND SUMMER CAMP IS $100.

This includes everything: food, transportation, lodging, and so many extra details. We need sponsors for 25 kids as well as 5 Ukrainian volunteers who give their time to minister to these broken children. 

If it is on your heart to give, you can do so by clicking on the Donate button below.

Or, simply send a check to Open Arms Ukraine at PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580 with a note "summer camp sponsorship" attached. If you are only able to give some, partial sponsorships are more than welcome and make a huge difference. 

Camp wouldn't be possible without you! From all of us at Open Arms as well as the kids in our ministry -
THANK YOU! We are so excited for all that God is going to do through this camp.

CHANGE FOR A FIVE

Just $5 can help bring big change to the lives of orphans in Ukraine.

Here in America, $5 can't get you much: a coffee drink, a gallon of gas, a couple songs on iTunes... But in Ukraine, $5 can provide bus fare for 20 kids to get to the Open Arms weekly Grad Meeting. $5 can buy train tickets to the orphanage for the Open Arms team. $5 can provide snacks and tea for a Girls Ministry meeting. 

$5 can bring about huge change in the lives of the children we work with.

So, we challenge you to join in this movement for change with a monthly gift of $5. The goal is simple: 100 people committed to $5 per month to keep bringing hope to orphans in Ukraine.

 Are you in? 

5 : $5.00 USD - monthly 10 : $10.00 USD - monthly 25 : $25.00 USD - monthly 50 : $50.00 USD - monthly 100 : $100.00 USD - monthly

BABY GIRL SASHA

I have a little brother here in Ukraine named Yura. In terms of blood, we are not related, but by all means, he is very much my little brother. About nine months ago, he was sitting in our apartment and just blurted out that he had gotten his girlfriend pregnant. You can imagine my shock. From that moment until now, a lot has happened. Yura and his girlfriend went through a breakup and had stopped communicating with each other. This weighed heavy on my heart as I so wanted this little baby to have a mother and a father. I was afraid that Yura was going to make a decision to not be in the baby's life; a decision I knew he would always regret.

I am so happy to say that I recently had the incredible opportunity to meet Yura's baby girl. I had never met the mother (who is 17) but we had been in contact a little when she and Yura were dating. She then contacted me again when she knew she was pregnant and he wanted out. I had some things I wanted to send her - some clothes and diapers - just to help out since I knew he wasn't going to. But then she contacted me and asked me if I wanted to come to the baptism. I was in shock, but so honored. Anika, Chelsea, Sasha, and I made the two-hour bus ride to meet them and I'm so glad we did. I instantly fell in love with baby Sasha, my newest little Ukrainian niece. She is just perfect (I am biased, of course!). I had no idea what would come out of this situation but I hoped and prayed it would end with Sasha having a mother and father who love her.

After this first meeting, I prayed that Yura's heart would change and he would find the courage to be the amazing dad I know he can be. Just a few days after meeting his daughter I was talking to him about the situation and not feeling like I was getting anywhere. I felt discouraged. So you can imagine my surprise when I saw the next day that he had posted pictures of his daughter on social media and that he had been in contact with baby Sasha's mother. That was on Wednesday.



That following Saturday, through a strange turn of events, Sasha and her mother came and stayed with us in Sumy. It was so amazing to witness Yura meeting his daughter and absolutely falling in love with her. He would not put her down during the entire visit. After Sasha and her mother went home, Yura couldn't stop talking about his little girl or looking at her pictures. I know this is a sticky situation but I am going to keep praying that this little girl has a mom and dad who are both a part of her life. Will you join me?

Melissa Keane
MelissaOAU@gmail.com

THIS ONE'S FOR THE GIRLS

It has been on all of our hearts for quite some time to start up a Girls Ministry as a new branch of our Grad Outreach. So often, after leaving the orphanage, the girls are a hard group to reach. They distance themselves and we lose contact with them. The statistics for girls are just as startling as they are for the boys; it has been found that 60% of orphaned girls will turn to prostitution as a means of survival. Because of this, our desire to reach these girls with love and hope is strong. We want to be able to connect with them on a deeper level and show them the value and worth that they carry.

Recently, a group of girls have been coming to our weekly Grad Meetings and have attended a couple of our Grad Camps. We feel that this is exactly the group of girls that God wants us to pour into on a weekly basis. We have met together twice so far; once for a fun outing of bowling and once at our new apartment for tea. Both were great times, filled with laughter and new memories. Only a few girls have come each time, but we are excited to see where God will take this ministry.


As we begin to develop the Girls Ministry, we ask that you join us in prayer. Please be praying:

• for guidance as we continue to develop this ministry,
• that the girls who come to our weekly gatherings will have open hearts to what we will be sharing, and
• that our weekly gatherings and activities will be places where these young women will experience love and encouragement.

We are so thrilled that God has brought this ministry to fruition. Thank you for being excited with us in this!

TRUE LOVE GRAD RETREAT RECAP

OUR VALENTINE’S WEEKEND RETREAT WAS A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON THE THEME OF TRUE LOVE, FOCUSING ON THE NATURE OF LOVE ITSELF, GOD’S LOVE, RELATIONSHIPS, AS WELL AS SEX AND HIV/AIDS. AS ALWAYS, THIS RETREAT WAS ALSO AN OPPOTUNITY TO COVER EACH OF THESE KIDS IN LOVE. IT WAS SUCH A SUCCESSFUL WEEKEND - PLEASE READ ON TO LEARN MORE!

This was the first winter retreat we have ever done with the orphanage graduates and we couldn’t be happier with how the weekend went. With Valentine’s Day so fresh in their minds, our True Love topic couldn’t have come at a better time. From the first lesson, the kids were engaged and eager to participate in the group discussions. Our speaker, Vova, recently moved to L’viv (many hours away by train) and so were beyond excited when God provided a way for us to bring Vova back for camp. It was clear the kids missed him and were ready to listen to what he had to say. The three main discussions were:
What is true love?, Love and Relationships, and Sex and HIV/AIDS. Vova commented that the kids really responded to the directness and that no one had really been that direct with them in these topics before.

The rest of camp was filled with sports, crafts, and plenty of games. We even introduced them to the game of Bunco which was a huge hit among the kids! 

On the last night we got to surprise the kids with a Valentine’s Day themed party. They came back from dinner to a room decorated with tables of fun treats, drinks, and a photobooth to top it all off. The kids spent hours dressing up with funny accessories, choosing different poses to take pictures as big groups, small groups, and nice solo shots as well. We kicked off a Wii dance competition that left everyone’s stomachs hurting from laughing so hard. We ended the night with a movie on the projector, eating the rest of the junk food, and just hanging out. Many fun memories were made!

GRADUATE HIGHLIGHT: LILYA

We first met Lilya at our 2012 Fall Retreat. She grew up at the Romney Orphanage and was connected to us through one of our Ukrainian volunteers. Lilya is currently studying at a trade school in Sumy and we are so thankful God brought her our way. Lilya is absolutely full of energy and loves to laugh. She has a unique perspective on life and stands strong in who she is. We quickly bonded with her and she’s been a regular at our Wednesday night meetings.

Lilya had planned to leave us early Saturday morning (a day before the retreat would conclude) so she could spend the rest of the weekend with her boyfriend. Before leaving, she asked us what else was in store for the retreat. It was clear that she was looking for a reason to stay. We were able to lure her in with our “surprise” that would be awaiting Saturday night and we are so thankful she stayed! She was attentive in the meetings and it was apparent Lilya needed to be a part of the discussions about love, dating, and sex. She even thanked Vova at the end of the final discussion for being so direct with them. We are so excited for the ways God moved in Lilya’s heart over the course of the True Love Retreat and we ask that you join us in prayer that God will continue to speak to her about His love and her worth in Him. 

SASHA PEVNIV: A LEADER ON THE RISE

Over the years, it has been a complete blessing to watch Sasha Pivnev grow and change as he navigates his way into adulthood. Currently, he is attending leadership meetings at our church in Sumy, participating in a weekly Bible Study with some of the other grad boys, and is being mentored by one of the men from church. While our American team was home over Christmas, he was busy running our mid-week grad meetings and reaching out to more kids as the group continues to grow. 

It has become very apparent that Sasha is a leader among the other kids. He even played an integral role in camp planning and logistics. It has been an honor for us to be involved in of Sasha’s journey and we look forward to sharing with you all how God will continue to use him in our ministry and in the lives of so many. 

THANK YOU!

The reality is, this camp could not have existed without the help, support, and encouragement of so many of you. Your prayers were deeply felt as we reached out to these broken children with the truth of God’s love for them. Thank you to everyone who sponsored our kids and provided candy-grams! Not only were the kids thrilled to have the opportunity to come to our True Love Retreat, but they were also so excited to find the notes, candy, and hygiene items awaiting them on their beds the first night. Every aspect of your support allows us to continue to minister to the children here, and we can never express just how deeply thankful we are.

TRUE LOVE: VALENTINE'S GRAD RETREAT

Camps are a huge part of our ministry to orphanage graduates here at Open Arms. This past year we held three camps for the grads and are so excited for the addition of a Valentine's Weekend Retreat! Here's some of the information of what the retreat will hold and how you can be a part of it!

True Love is an incredibly difficult concept for orphans to grasp. They have been abandoned, abused, and rejected by the very people that were supposed to love and care for them. With Valentine’s Day approaching we thought it would be a great opportunity to share with them about the True Love that awaits them from their Heavenly Father. For most of these children, love is utterly confused with sex. Ukraine is an oversexed country. The orphans are exposed to it at a very young age and become increasingly desensitized to the topic as they grow older. In light of this reality, we feel the need to take some focused time to educate them on things such HIV, AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases. Their ignorance puts them in danger and they deserve to understand the truth of what they are doing physically and emotionally. We believe in God's best for them and will be bringing that truth to the table with discussions on abstinence and waiting for the love God has in store for each of their lives.  

We couldn't be more excited about the addition of this retreat in our yearly camp schedule! Not only will we be sharing these important topics but we will be spending our days pouring out God's love into their lives. On top of the discussions and lessons, the days will be filled with good food, games, crafts and so much more. All of it will be topped off with a special dinner on the final night with a chance for the kids to dress up and be served by our Open Arms staff as they enjoy a "fancy" meal and dessert with their friends. We can't wait to share with you about all that takes place!

Now, here is how you can be involved...

The cost per child will be $50, which includes transportation, food, lodging, and every other aspect that the retreat involves. You also have the option of adding a "candy-gram" to your sponsorship for $10. This will include a bag of special candy, Bible verses, and a card letting the grad know that they are being prayed for by you here in the states throughout the retreat. You can choose to do one or the other, or both! 

Partial sponsorships are also a huge gift to our team and these amazing kids.

If you would like to be a part of this year's True Love Retreat by sponsoring an orphanage graduate to attend and/or by sending a candy-gram, click HERE to be redirected to our donation page.

Be checking back for highlights, bios, and more as the retreat unfolds!