The success of the Hope Now pre-independence homes cannot be overstated. Once again the organization has developed a model, as it did with its cottage homes and fostering projects, which is now replicated throughout Ukraine and even in other CIS countries. However, the homes are too small to accommodate all the orphans who leave the institutions without a home to go to. In September, Pasha and Vanya from Shpola orphanage wanted to enter Cornah House but there was no room for them. Larissa Vovk, who is responsible for our for work among the children at risk, decided that Pavel should come to live with her but that Vanya would have to go into a state dormitory. She managed to get both boys into trade school. However, a sponsor came forward for both boys so she decided to take them both into her own apartment home. She says both boys have settled and are doing well.
Every Tuesday the young men and women from the pre-independence homes meet at Alpha House for Bible Study so I was asked to visit them recently to talk about marriage and families. I was delighted to see both Pasha and Vanya there taking full part with everyone else. Of course, they need training, especially in how to budget and handle money appropriately, which means that they must also have the freedom to make mistakes. Bear in mind, they have never had anything to call their own until now. Larissa tells how they wisely spent the first money they were given on clothes but they then spent money on mobile phones. I'll let Larissa tell it for herself. "They were very enthusiastic, as soon as the classes finished, they ran to the shop to buy them. The boys laughed with joy, holding the phones in their hands. Who will they phone? The boys are orphans! But that was what they wanted to have. Almost dancing they went out of the shop but within 50 meters big, strong, strangers stopped and bullied them and demanded to have the phones they had just bought. Vanya desperately ran away but Pasha was taken to a yard, beaten and his new shiny mobile phone taken away. When they told us about this at Bible study time, we expressed our regret and gave some advice. We asked about the value of mobile phone for them. 'I felt myself a man', - said Vanya, who managed to save his. Pasha said: 'I don't need it'. At the end of the class, Marina ran to Swindon House and brought her old mobile phone and gave it to Pasha. One could read in his eye that he also wanted to feel like a man. We study the Word of God for two months together. I hope the boys will understand soon, it's not a mobile phone that makes a man a man". Indeed it's not. But who of us will deny that we too sometimes get our values mixed? Is not the current economic crisis a direct result of individuals, institutions and governments ignoring the basic tenets of fiscal prudence? Who will dare tell a 16 year old orphan who has never had to handle money in his life, that buying a mobile phone is less appropriate than a government that is willing to take a country into unimagined debt in order to get its citizens to go out and spend, spend, spend on things worth much less than mobile phones? Maybe Pasha and Vanya will have served us well if their story causes us to stop and ask whether our own values are any better.
The Bible and not least of all Jesus has much to say about money and how we handle it. Certainly, we at Hope Now recognize our responsibility to be good stewards of all you entrust to our keeping for the people of Ukraine. 2009 is uncharted water and yet we dare to believe that this letter from a retired minister reflects the thoughts of many. "I already support several children's charities and am now retired. I have to limit the gifts I can make. However, next year,I will make a donation to this excellent and worthy charity. May God very richly bless all you do. I really enjoyed last night's (Kolo Sertcya) concert, a brilliant performance; and praise God for its work and witness. A great uplift for a nearly 80 year old!". Likewise, we praise God for all of our partners. And wish for you all a very Happy and blessed New Year.
Imagine driving over 2,000 miles zigzagging across the country, over a 3 week period - complete with 5 teenagers and …Vic! This year's Hope Now USA Tour will be here before I know it.
When Dima, with his two older sisters, came into the care of the Hope Now foster program he was just two years old. He had been rescued from an ugly situation but came into the home of Vladimir and Larissa Kusin.
Alina Zalygina suffered terrible burns in a house fire when she was just 2 years old. Her alcoholic mother, the cause of the fire, had her parental rights taken away...
2010.03.01 For Ukraine, and her new president, Victor Yanakovych. Pray that he will be just and lead the country into a new era of peace with both Russia and Europe.
2010.03.02 For Vic and Sue as they spend the week in Memphis, TN, where they will share their experiences of ministry in Ukraine as they attend FEC's Mission Conference and celebrate the church's 75th Anniversary.
2010.03.03 For Dee Ewart, a Hope Now UK Director, as she undergoes cancer testing, that the doctors may be guided to the correct diagnosis and treatment.
2010.03.04 For Anatolii Perepilitsa and Sasha Tarasenko as they lead the outreach to prisons and for sufficient funds to come in for the creation of a counselling and rehabilitation suite at the prison church.
2010.03.05 For CHRIST, OUR HOPE MISSION preparations and for the protection of evangelist Stanislav Gruntkovsky from the attack of the evil one.
2010.03.06 For Cyndee Knight as she directs the US office and for the faithful US board members as they make plans for the US base of supporters and prayer partners.
2010.03.07 For Jon Budgell and Brenda Greenwood as they continue to hold the fort in the Southampton office.
2010.03.08 For Frank and Lin Collier and Alla Kostyunina as they work out the implications of the new Child Protection Policy and prepare for the summer at Kompas Park.
2010.03.09 For Vic and Sue as they fly home and take a few days off to rest after a busy schedule of activities in the USA.
2010.03.10 For the young people in our pre-independence homes as they grapple with studies and the practicalities of looking after themselves and the homes.
2010.03.11 For the students of the Bible school as they begin to look forward to their future ministries in the churches of Cherkassy and beyond.
2010.03.12 For Valerie Reddaway as she oversees the church planting and twinning programs and hands more and more responsibility over to the staff in Ukraine.
2010.03.13 For the planning of the Fresh Start for Children, orphans camping fortnight and for sufficient funds to host it at Kompas Park.
2010.03.14 For Vic as he preaches today at Castlehold Baptist Church in Newport, Isle of Wight.
2010.03.15 For Margaret Ferguson and the trustees as they oversee the education of the young people in South Africa.
2010.03.16 For Misha Vishymeersky as he leads the team in Ukraine and makes preparations for the Silver Jubilee Celebrations in June.
2010.03.17 For Larissa Vovk in her essential work as Child Care Officer for Hope Now in Ukraine.
2010.03.18 For Alexander Doreshenko as he and his team of doctors, nurses and dentists visit the villages of Kirovograd to give primary care and preach the gospel.
2010.03.19 For Vic as he speaks this evening at the Christian Viewpoint for women in Worthing this evening.
2010.03.20 For Vic as he speaks at an evangelistic breakfast for men in Yeovil and goes on to Taunton to visit old friends.
2010.03.21 For Vic as he preaches at Martock Christian Fellowship this morning and looks forward to a day of rest tomorrow.
2010.03.22 For the students who are sponsored by Hope Now, that they will be a constant source of witness for Christ on the campuses of Ukraine.
2010.03.23 For Vic as he travels today to Ukraine to meet with the planning committee for CHRIST, OUR HOPE MISSION and the Extreme Water camp.
2010.03.24 For the teachers and adminstrator of the Bible School as they faithfully serve the students alongside their other multitude of responsibilities.
2010.03.25 For the government of Ukraine to serve the people with dignity and honor and to create a climate of freedom and responsibility for all her people.
2010.03.26 For those Ukrainian, Christian, young men who have set up businesses in Ukraine and now employ young people who might otherwise have had to go to Kyiv or further for work.
2010.03.27 For the pastors in Cherkassy to give leadership to their churches in preparing for CHRIST, OUR HOPE MISSION.
2010.03.28 For the directors and staff in orphanages who look after their children with love and dedication as they prepare them for life beyond the institution.
2010.03.29 For those of our prayer partners who have lost their jobs that they may soon find work and receive from God's overflowing grace.
2010.03.30 For Vic as he travels home and that the plans he and others have made for the summer will bear much fruit for the kingdom of God.
2010.03.31 For the good health of our workers in Ukraine, most especially Misha and Leyna, who carry such a weight of responsibility.
