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!