Fourteen-year-old Anya was brought to the Rescue Shelter, as she didn’t want to live or study in an internat. Her parents had died but she had two aunts who visited her. She impressed all in the Rescue Shelter with how she could play the piano, not reading music she just played by ear - there were always children around her. Some visitors who came from the UK met her at the Shelter and still keep her in their prayers.
Anya went to school, and music school, as the teachers were impressed with her musical talents, although average in other subjects. We hoped to enter her into the Music College after school - she had a promising future, but suddenly everything changed. Study in a city school appeared to be very difficult for her and she seemed to lose the will to study. She used to go to a music school, but then she used the money intended for her tuition for other things. She started to drink and smoke, and her aunt wanted to help her to retain her flat and registered her for foster care, but that didn’t help.
Anya then turned 18, and along with freedom came doubtful acquaintances, followed by the birth of a son. She lost her parental rights and her aunt now fosters the child. Anya claimed her rights for the flat, but then lost them due to non-payment. She co-habited with Vadim for a few years, and this resulted in two children, Yulia (now 5) and Maxim (now 4). Anya then got seriously ill, and we helped her with expensive medicine. Her children were taken to an orphanage, and there was the danger that she would permanently lose them.
At this difficult time her English Sponsor visited, and Anya was found to be living in a remote village, in a house without heat or electricity. Her partner had left to search for a job, she was alone again. We took Anya to the orphanage where her children were living. Four year old Maxim embraced her tightly and cried, whilst 5 year old Yulia timidly smiled. We had 30 minutes for the visit. Staff at the orphanage told Anya off for not visiting more regularly and that a decision had been made to deprive her of parental rights, yet little Yulia persistently said that Anya was her mum.
The conditions in the orphanage are wonderful, whereas Anya’s house is not suitable for the children. We do everything possible to help Anya and the children, but we do ask your prayer support for her, in the hope that one day the family will be reunited.
During a visit to one of the villages we heard of the plight of a young
pastor who was desperately trying to run a small church and find a home
for his family.
01.05.2012 Pray for the music group Zozulenka, and their teacher Natalya, as they busily practice for their return tour here in November
02.05.2012 Pray for preparations that are being made for the cycle tour this summer, and for opportunities for the participants to share their faith as they cycle around the villages
03.05.2012 Pray for Brenda and Ksenya as they speak today at the meeting of the Oasis Group at Locks Heath Church
04.05.2012 Pray for Jon and Ali as they attend the Baptist Assembly annual meeting in London until 7th
05.05.2012 Pray for our students at Universities and Colleges as they complete their studies for this semester and take their end of year exams
06.05.2012 Pray for all those who receive food packages through the feeding programme, that no needy person/family is overlooked
07.05.2012 Pray for David John as he completes his preparations for the teaching sessions at the Pastor’s Conference next week
08.05.2012 Pray that we will have full teams of volunteers for all the camps that will take place this summer at Kompas Park
09.05.2012 Pray for the young people from Rainbow House in South Africa, and for Margaret Ferguson as she supports them in their studies
10.05.2012 Pray for the work of the mobile medical unit, and for Dr Doreshenko to fully recover following his recent illnesses
11.05.2012 Pray for the ongoing support of the Mission Fund, which undergirds all the various projects that we have, that adequate funds will be received each month
12.05.2012 Pray for Larisa and the work she does with the family support group, which encourages mutual sharing and prayer
13.05.2012 Pray that the Humanitarian Aid system that we use to send money to Ukraine becomes quicker and more efficient
14.05.2012 Pray for Anastasia Vovk as she plans camps in various villages around Cherkassy, and pray she finds a team of helpers to assist her
15.05.2012 Pray for safety in travel for Jon, David Reddaway and David John as they travel to Ukraine for the Bible School Graduation and for Ksenya as she returns to Ukraine to help Alla at Kompas Park
16.05.2012 Pray for the ongoing work of Cherkassy’s first sheltered accommodation, especially now plans to renovate the house have been drawn up and the costing received
17.05.2012 Pray for the Church twinning programme, that more UK Churches will offer to twin with a Ukrainian Church for mutual support and encouragement
18.05.2012 Remember before God all our children in cottage homes, thanking God for the security and love they receive from their foster parents as they grow up in these Christian families
19.05.2012 Pray for the work party travelling to Ukraine today, to prepare Kompas Park for the summer season
20.05.2012 As Jon, David and David return to the UK, pray for the newly graduated students as they take up their responsibilities back in their churches
21.05.2012 Pray for the children in the orphanages we support, and for Larisa and Misha as they oversee our work in them
22.05.2012 Give thanks for all our volunteers who come in and help with the monthly mail out, and do other jobs so willingly, often without being asked
23.05.2012 Pray for Jon and Ali to be refreshed as they take some time off together and have a break
24.05.2012 Pray for ex-prisoners who are now leading churches and serving in their communities that they will be faithful to what God has called them to do
25.05.2012 Pray for the young people in our pre-independence homes, that they grow in confidence as they study and plan for their future
26.05.2012 Pray for Vika Lavrenko and Stanislav Dyachenko, sponsored children who celebrate their birthdays today, also for the quiz at Ashley BC this evening in support of our work
27.05.2012 Thank God for our Board of Directors, whose support of the work of Hope is so encouraging; pray especially for the two new Directors to become more familiar with Board matters.
28.05.2012 Pray for Alla Kostyunina and her team as they prepare in detail for the planned camp activities at Kompas Park during the summer
29.05.2012 Pray for Misha in
all the work he does at Alpha House and in the Ukrainian Office of Hope Now; pray also for the plans he and Lena have in using Alpha House as a summer day camp in August
30.05.2012 Pray for Vlad Serdyuk, one of
our sponsored children, as he celebrates his birthday today
31.05.2012 Pray for Cyndee and Darrel Knight and the Hope Now supporters in America, especially in their plans to visit Kompas Park this summer
