Hope Now homes are scattered throughout the Cherkassy region. Over the next three months we shall eavesdrop on one of these families in Ruska Poliana. (Russian Valley) Soon, Diana, Vlad, Anatolii and Vic will be ready for University or trade school but without Hope Now sponsors it is unlikely to happen.
In 1996, I married my Alyona. A year later came our first born, whom we called Vic, after Vic Jackopson, the pastor and missionary who married us. Then came Benjamin and Timothy. We did want to have a daughter but it was God's plan to answer our prayers with a very special daughter. When we first came into an orphanage there were dozens of hands stretched out to be chosen. Nothing was clear to us first. But then we understood everything. Our part was done. At least one child could be rescued from cold and hunger.
So it was that Lyuda came into our family from Mykhailivka Orphanage. There followed many tears, joy, cares and disappointments. But, though she has now left our family to be an independent adult, our hearts still ache for her. We draw strength from Romans 8:28 that all things work together for good and that the seed we have sown in her heart will in His time grow to fruit. Once again we started looking for a girl who needed love and a family, whom we could love and raise to be a clear vessel for the Lord. When we met Diana, we learned that she had a brother and that brother had a friend. As they wanted not to be separated from each other because they had always been together we took our long awaited daughter Diana, plus Vlad and Anatolii.
Through many prayers and thankfulness to the Lord who has seen us through many difficulties, we have experienced the baptism of our dear daughter and rejoiced at Vlad's coming to faith.
Last April, we welcomed Anatolii's brother Ivan into our family from Shpola orphanage. He is a lively, joyous, kind young man and is now enrolled in the Cherkassy Trade College to become a mechanic.
Together as a family, we meditate on God's Word, sing in the church choir at Ruska Poliana and even sing as a group. When we studied Second Timothy last autumn, they were full of questions. Now we study First Corinthians. Over the New Year and Christmas they were all to be seen acting as wise man and shepherds. Vlad now studies to become an engineer at the church sound desk and, praise the Lord, is preparing to be baptised. All are reliable sons and daughter around the house.
When people ask, "Sergey, what do you do with them? How do you feed them? They eat their own weight!" I answer, "we work together, so that we have enough to share with others who don't have enough themselves. We raise them, love them and praise God together." So with some help from Hope Now, Ivan (18) is part way through his studies. We pray that God will touch his heart and use him in ministry. Diana, Vlad and Anatolii are now 17. Soon Diana hopes to study medicine to care for people's health. She hopes and prays for a good Christian husband and to have many children; if not her own then orphans so that she can do for others what has been done for her.
Diana's twin, Vlad, wants to become a carpenter like me, so that we can work together like that carpenter from Nazareth. Anatolii dreams to study English so that he can be Vic Jackopson's interpreter, while our son Vic, longs to continue studying music when he graduates from school this year, having already become a good pianist. He loves to write songs and drama and says his favourite hymn is "How Great Thou Art". (Written by Stuart Hine while he was a missionary in Ukraine)
Benjamin goes slowly but surely in his study. He is a good student at school and plays guitar with Vic in church every Sunday.
Timothy (Tima) is the youngest. He loves everybody, especially Diana. He cannot go to bed before he kisses his mum and dad. He loves animals very much, especially dinosaurs. Samaritan's Purse sent shoeboxes as gifts at Christmas. Before they were given, Timothy prayed, "God thank you that my birthday is at Christmas. Please make is possible for a box to contain a dinosaur (at least a little one) and give that box to me." Can you imagine, he opens a box and finds a dinosaur? There were no bounds for joy, and not just for Timothy but also for all of us. "See, how God answers the prayers of little ones," commented Tima. That was the most precious gift given by God. Praise Him. Praise God for the tears that we had yesterday, for joy that we have today, for strengthening our faith, for answering our prayers, for filling my quiver with sons, when I asked Him for a daughter.
This is how we live, rejoice, and bring up our children in a wonderful place that God's hand created, Ruska Poliana. Praise is to our great God for the abundant daily grace and blessings He pours out. He loves us with eternal love and sends His blessings at all times. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father that He has shown me His grace, given me a chance to repent and to know His truth.
He has given me a wonderful wife and big friendly family. I came into God's family when I was 16 and then started praying for the family I dreamed about. God has answered my faith and my prayers.
As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Jos.24:15)
Early in March this year Larisa organised a day of family sports and games. This was the second season of the games which was organised with different families. The aim was to show the authority of the father, to help to solve conflicts, to meet new families and to make new friends.
When we celebrate the fact that many homeless and orphan children have
been given new homes, we may overlook the impact this can have on the
existing natural biological children in a family.
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
