"What do we need to pray about?" I asked him.
After listing the day-to-day concerns, he wiggled in closer to me and said,
"I want you to pray tonight. And Mama, don't forget the orphans."
I fought back tears as I pictured the boys and girls I met in Ukraine in the orphanages. Children who yearn for a mama who will snuggle on the couch with them. Children who are convinced that they have been forgotten.
Anderson has a tender heart toward the fatherless. He understands the importance of having a mama and daddy. I love to hear him pray for the orphans because he knows God hears. He has seen God provide for orphans.
And he does what he can to reach out to these children. He draws pictures to send to them.
(Anderson is the one in the green.)
He writes letters to them. He lets them know that they are not forgotten.
When you hear that there are over 100,000 orphans in Ukraine, the mind just races.Thousands of children left at orphanages by their families, or who ran to the orphanage for shelter from their abusive family.
Children whose hearts ache for something they've never known - stability, security, significance.
Love.
It is easy to get overwhelmed by this picture. It is easy to not do anything to help because
what can you do to change the situation of thousands of children. It is easy to think "What difference could one person make?"
"What can I do?" is exactly the question to ask.
A willing heart is a powerful tool in the hand of our mighty God. The needs are great. And so is our God.
Thankfully, God has an even bigger picture in mind as He calls people to help, to reach out to orphans. He isn't asking one person to change the situation of thousands of children. He is asking each person to be willing to be used by Him. And as He works through thousands of people in thousands of ways, the bigger picture will change.
How could God use you?
Some people are called to adopt. They feel it, they know it, and they step out to bring a child (or children) into their family. But they don't step out alone. Behind them are a team of people who pray for them, encourage them, help them financially. And everyone who is involved gets a front row seat to see God's might and power as He provides every need every step of the way to bring an orphan into a loving family.
But with over 100,000 children, many will not be adopted. What about them? What about their future?
Well, when they turn 16, they will "graduate" from the orphanage, which basically means that they are put out on the street with little preparation for life, no guidance, and no hope for the future.
While in Ukraine, I discovered that knowing English and Russian is a valuable skill. Translators and drivers are in demand. Our team would have been literally lost without them.
And while I was in Ukraine, out of the statistic of 100,000, God brought a group of boys into focus. These boys are 13-15 years old and they know their time to be on their own is getting closer. If these boys walk out of the orphanage knowing English, they walk out with a valuable skill that will open up more possilibities for work.
There is a tutor willing to work with these boys. The cost will be $20.00 per week for each boy.
After my trip, I brought home artwork painted by 3 children in one of the orphanages we visited.
This one was painted by a 7th grader.
A 6th grader painted this one.
And a 5th grader painted this one.
We are selling notecards made from this artwork to help raise money for the English lessons.
We would like to raise enough money to pay for lessons for these boys until they are either adopted or until they "graduate" from the orphanage at 16. It is amazing to think that efforts made on this side of the ocean could really impact the future of these 5 boys way over in Ukraine.
And I hope that every day that they have class with the tutor and every time they practice English, that they will know that they are not forgotten.
