My story starts more than 17 years ago when I first met Vic Jackopson; this was when he first started coming to Ukraine. Vic was one of the first foreigners I ever met. At that time Ukraine had only just got it’s independence and the gates for people from abroad had only just begun to open. Although I learned English at school, up until that point I didn’t believe I would ever find a use for it. I was excited that I received an opportunity to practice it, especially in the summers when Hope Now was running childrens camps. I was especially delighted to learn that Hope Now set up free English classes for all who wanted to learn English. I took the opportunity to improve my English which helped me a lot in my future life.
When I was in my final year at school I didn’t know what I was going to do next. Although I wanted to continue studying at a university I didn’t have any hopes for it because my mother couldn’t pay the fees. Hope Now stepped in and offered to pay for my education. By then a student sponsorship program had been established by Hope Now to help Christian students to get an education. For many years Christians had not been allowed into universities, this meant that Christians would rarely be able to get good jobs. With great pleasure I started my course in IT and design and 5 years later graduated with straight “A”s.
On my second year at university I was offered a part time job at the Ukrainian office of Hope Now, which I gladly accepted. I was looking after family sponsorships, the student sponsorship programme and I worked with young people at the summer camps.
After I graduated from university Vic invited me to come and work at the Hope Now office in England for two years. Other than it being a good opportunity to meet many Hope Now supporters and see how Hope Now operates in the UK, it also gave me a good opportunity to practice something I learned at university. I concentrated on the monthly newsletter and the Hope Now website. It was a blessing for me to meet Vic and work for Hope Now, I gained a lot of experience which I wouldn’t have received otherwise, but I knew that many young people back in Ukraine haven’t had the chance I had and it was my great desire to do something about it.
I came up with an idea that I could help other young people by teaching them what I knew and if we were to get people interested in our services then this would provide jobs for young Ukrainians. I shared this idea with Vic and he was very supportive. I came back to Ukraine and set up a company. Our first client was, as you may guess – Hope Now. I continued working with Hope Now on all the design projects. Hope Now was so generous to offer me free advertising in the monthly newsletter. Our initiative has raised some interest among Hope Now readers, people responded and after 4 months of starting the company with just myself being in it I had more work then I could handle on my own and I employed 2 more young people. Most people in Ukraine are not rich; it wasn’t common for businesses and individuals to support charity. However, a key decision was made that we will support Hope Now’s work in Ukraine on a regular basis. Hope Now has invested a lot into the lives of young people in Ukraine, both physically and spiritually and it was not only a way to show our gratitude, but also would encourage other Ukrainians to find ways to support those who are in need, either through charities like Hope Now or directly.
After 4 years of running my small company we now have 10 young people working full time, doing projects for companies and individuals from around the world, learning something every day, getting the experience they might not have received in a different place.
This has been a great journey for me from the place when I had very little hope and future to the point where I can help other young people to start their career in design and web development and receive the skills that will enable them to support themselves in their future life, all thanks to Gods intervention He has made in my life through the work of Vic Jackopson and Hope Now.
As the summer season at Kompas Park draws to a close with the September
widows’ and widowers’ camps, this seems a good time to say thank you to
our wonderful staff.
In hindsight, I did not know what I was committing us to. To frame this
statement, let me say that our young family has been immersing
ourselves more deeply into mission opportunities each of the past
several years.
How do you measure success? No doubt there are many different answers to
that question. But when it comes down to how do you manage success at a
Bible School, there are two indicators.
01.02.2012 Pray for Alla, Lena, Ksenya and the team presently working in Calcutta for another two weeks with Tear Fund projects
02.02.2012 Pray that the Mission Fund, which undergirds all that is done both here and in Ukraine, will have the finances to meet all our obligations
03.02.2012 Pray for all the older people that came to our Christmas party in Cherkiassy, that the Lord will bless them whatever their situation or background
04.02.2012 Pray for those who had a well installed last year, that as they share their water they will get opportunities to share their faith also
05.02.2012 Pray for all those who are attending the Bible School that they can give adequate time to studying, working and being with their families
06.02.2012 For all the foster parents of children supported by Hope Now, that they will have patience as they have to deal with problems that occur from time to time
07.02.2012 Our auditors visit the Southampton offices today to audit our accounts – pray that all will be in order as figures are checked
08.02.2012 Give thanks for all the volunteers that come into the office and give of their time so sacrificially, doing jobs at times without even being asked
09.02.2012 Pray for Frank and Lin as they plan for the summer at Kompas Park, and visit churches to speak about the varying areas of service possible
10.02.2012 Pray for Misha and all the staff at the Ukraine office as they consider all the requests from those asking for help
11.02.2012 Pray that all the plans for the Annual Weekend Away next month will come together well, and that people will register early while rooms are still available
12.02.2012 Pray for Alla Kostyunina, Director of Kompas Park, that she will be given wisdom in her decisions and management of the Park
13.02.2012 Give thanks that the young people in South Africa are doing well with their education, and pray for wisdom for Margaret Ferguson as she guides and directs them
14.02.2012 On this St Valentine’s Day, pray for the students we support who are in relationships, that they will be sensible and keep up their studies
15.02.2012 Pray for David and Valerie Reddaway as they oversee the Bible School, and the Church planting and twinning programme
16.02.2012 Pray for Jon as he attends a Men Meet meeting in Milford on Sea this evening
17.02.2012 Pray for Jon and Ali as they travel to Buckinghamshire to attend the Vetinerary Christian Conference this weekend
18.02.2012 Pray for Maria Shevchuki of Kuchkivka village as she celebrates her 86th birthday today
19.02.2012 Pray for the Directors and Staff of Orphanages we are involved with, that they will look after their children with love and dedication
20.02.2012 Pray for the young girls in Swindon House, and boys in Cornah House as they learn new skills which will prepare them for their futures
21.02.2012 Pray for Jon in his many responsibilities, that he will have wisdom in each decision that he has to make
22.02.2012 Pray for Lidia Savelieva and her vision of a sheltered home for older people to be realised, and pray for finances to come in for this project
23.02.2012 For Larisa Vovk in her work of overseeing the work being done with children in the orphanages and cottage homes
24.02.2012 Pray for Jon and Ali as they travel to Carlisle for the Northern Vet’s Christian Conference
25.02.2012 Pray for Cyndee and Darrell Knight and the work they do in the American Office for Kompas Park
26.02.2012 Pray for the Food Programme in Ukraine, especially through this winter time, that all those in need will receive help and no-one will be overlooked
27.02.2012 Pray for Vitaly and Ludmila Sidenko in their work with the African Students at 2nd Baptist Church, and Ludmila’s work with the deaf community at the same church
28.02.2012 Pray that we may be able to assemble a team of dentists and nurses to treat the children in the internats
29.02.2012 Give thanks for all our supporters who pray regularly for the work of Hope Now, and give sacrificially month upon month – pray the Lord will bless them as they bless the people of Ukraine
