Just realized that we never posted this on the blog. It's kind of old news by now, but read anyway. :)
LEAVING A LEGACY – ALINA AND DASHA
We met 16-year-old twins, Alina and Dasha a year and a half ago at Pravdinska, just shortly after they had arrived at the orphanage. Their mother had passed away following a battle with cancer and they were placed in the orphanage system. Despite their pain and grief, there was an obvious hunger for relationship and a way to share their lives with people. At the Open Arms summer camp in June 2009, both Alina and Dasha found themselves a place at the orphanage, making friends and connecting with their team leaders. At the end of camp, both girls accepted Christ into their hearts and were filled with a new hunger – to share with everyone about their new relationship with God. Both girls would talk and ask questions about God as often as someone would listen.
It has been a blessing to watch them grow in their individual relationships with the Lord and see their passion for Him. God gave Open Arms the opportunity to help a beautiful Christian family get to know the girls before they even met, as they began the process of adopting the twins months ago. Just this month, Alina and Dasha were brought home into their new forever family. Before leaving, the girls seemed to have an even more fervent passion to share about God with their friends at the orphanage. It was important to them to leave behind a legacy of following Christ, even when life was hard in the orphanage. This summer, Alina and Dasha led two others at Pravdinska to the saving grace of knowing Jesus as their Savior. We are so thankful to have been a part of their lives while they were here in Ukraine! And we look forward continuing to watch them grow in their new home and family in America. We can’t wait to see what God will do in and through these strong and beautiful girls in the future.
GRADUATE RETREAT 2010
In June, Open Arms experienced a dream come true as we held a graduate retreat for orphans throughout the Sumy region. We are happy to report that it not did the retreat take place, but it also far exceeded our expectations. 16 graduates attended our 2 night, 3 day retreat on the river as a team of American and Ukrainian leaders poured out their hearts for these amazing kids. We were able to rent an actual camp that was opened specifically for our use. With a lake, volleyball court, and paddle boats it became the perfect location for fruitful fellowship.
There was much fun to be had, as we played games, roasted hot dogs, swam in the lake and introduced the kids to S’mores. The games were hilarious to watch as the kids really dove in and showed their competitive sides. Faces were covered in egg, taste tests took place, and so much more. Swimming in the lake was one of the favorite ways to pass time and the dock created great opportunities for the boys to show off, do flips and crazy stunts. Special moments included testimonies from the leaders as they shared what God was doing in their lives as well as great times of worship and singing. One of the favorite nights was when girls and boys were separated, which allowed for a more personal environment. Leaders were able to share about what it means to be a woman or man of God and the struggles men and women have in their relationships with God specifically.
This was our first graduate retreat but Lord willing it will not be our last. It reiterated the fact that these kids are in dire need of stable relationships and to know they are truly valued and loved. Thank you all who supported us to make this possible.
A FACE OF OPEN ARMS - VITALIK KUZMIN
Vitalik is an extraordinary kid who captures your heart with his freckled face and perfectly crooked smile. There is an honesty in his eyes that is remarkable considering the years of abuse and neglect he has faced in his life alone. Though Vitalik has 2 older brothers and an older sister, none of them ever knew him as they were taken into the orphanage system before Vitalik was even born. At the tender age of 4, Vitalik was forced to scavenge for his own food by any means as his parents spent their days too drunk to put food on the table. As he said, “it is hard to remember a single day where my parents weren’t so drunk that they were actually able to feed me.” As he began stealing food from the streets, he remembers the kind store workers who would allow him food without a beating. Beatings at home were also a common occurrence, but Vitalik refused to let the pain break his spirit. At the age of 6, abuse and neglect became apparent to neighbors and Vitalik was taken into the orphanage system. He eventually made his way to the Pravdinska Orphanage in 2007 where he quickly won over the hearts of the Open Arms team. He recently spent his summer in America with a family in California which only further proved Vitalik’s rare ability to connect, love, and interact. His affectionate hugs easily become a highlight for anyone who meets him. He dreams of becoming an architect, but most importantly, he wants to have a family he “supports and shows love to every day”.
Please join us in prayer for Vitalik’s future, his dreams, and the protection of his precious heart.
PROTECTION – FENCE PROJECT
Dusya and Sergei “graduated” from the Pravdinska Orphanage in 2006; shortly after, Dusya gave birth to their little girl Vala. The three members of the Shevchenko family have since become an integral part of Open Arms graduate ministry. After finishing his time at the Krasnapolye trade school for tile work, Sergei was granted property from the trade school through the government of Ukraine. Working to make this house a home has proven a difficult task as the walls literally crumble with the touch of your hand. A well exists nearby, but without water or gas, approaching winter is a foreboding reality. When asked how our recent missions’ team could help with their home construction, rather than asking for the convenience of gas or running water, Dusya and Sergei quickly responded with a request for a fence. Their home is shared with other neighbors and in the coming months a neighbor will be returning from prison after his stay there for murder. In order to bring a sense of protection and privacy for their family, the Open Arms team was able to spend time this summer through financial gifts from many at home to build a fence for this amazing family! Thank you to all who supported this endeavor!
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please Pray:
-That God would give us all we need to quickly complete our registration as a Ukrainian non-profit organization.
-For Sasha Pevniv in the Sambir Juvenile Colony. Pray for his strength in the last 5 months of his sentence and that we would be able to find a transitional program or mentor for him.
-That our financial needs would be met as we work to expand our ministry in Sumy.
-For the planning and carrying out of a winter graduate retreat: that kids would come, be challenged and see God’s love for them.
-For Dasha and Alina as they transition into their new family and home. That their legacy would continue both at Pravdinska and now in the US.
Open Arms Ukraine would like to thank everyone who helped support our graduate retreat, fence project, and juvenile prison program. Without your prayers, support, and encouragement the lives of these children would remain unreached. We are excited to share all that God has in store for this ministry and these precious children in the months ahead!
