Hope Now cottage 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. Although 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 2 Timothy last autumn, they were full of questions. Now we study 1 Corinthians. Over Christmas and New Year they were all acting like wise men and shepherds. Vlad now studies to become an engineer at the church sound desk and, praise the Lord, is preparing to be baptized. 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 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 favorite 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 Mom 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)
Dear Hope Now, Thank you very much for hosting the Fresh Start Summer Program at
Kompas Park. Your generosity enabled us to organize many summer
activities for 75 orphans, in a continuation of your Fresh Start for
Children Education Program.
The authorities in Prison 62 have turned to Hope Now for help. Nine
years ago when Hope Now built a church inside the prison it included,
to the rear of the building, an education wing.
