“When you celebrate Christmas or New Year it is good to sit in a warm chair and watch TV with a plate of sandwiches”, - said one brother.
Deep snow, freezing weather, blocked roads and a bus with frozen diesel -- nothing was going to stop the 25 of us committed to giving a special Christmas camp to the orphans at Shpola for the 6th year in a row. We had good news to share so that children would take steps forward and come to know Jesus, our Savior who has been born.
Each morning started with children learning and reciting poems to earn a piece of candy. The volunteers were so many for this, that we had to assign three leaders to listen to the children in small groups. Then it was time for games. One had the impression of a herd of untamed horses -- all needing a strong hand to train them.
On the second day when we asked them to pray, there was a boy named Pasha, whose mother has died. How passionately he prayed. He thanked God for keeping his father alive and asked God to keep at least one parent alive to all the children in the world. When we studied the word of God, the children were surprised to learn that there were 10 people healed of leprosy and only 1 came back to thank Jesus. They were amazed too with the generosity of Zacchaeus. When talking about the prodigal son, they concluded, we should trust the Lord, but not ourselves.
I'm learning about Jesus
Andrey Kravtsov asked if he might become a Christian and prayed to repent of his sin. There is a lady in the Cherkassy church who prays for him. (Each of the orphans has a prayer partner.) She had asked me to visit her before the camp and told me: “I feel Andrey is a special boy”. He is now, special to God!
The orphanage has changed in many ways during the last 6 years of our work. Many repairs have been made to the dorms and children now have their own toys, books, gifts and keep everything in their own rooms. Now there is happiness.
On the last day of Christmas camp, Vic Jackopson brought Christmas cards, written by American and English people, toys, sweaters and woolen hats. Everyone was so excited and had a very merry Christmas. Greetings to all who pray for our ministry.
It is now several years since Hope Now handed over the various
ministries in Cape Town into local hands. However, Hope Now has
maintained responsibility for some of the former residents of Rainbow
House.
2010.09.01 For British volunteers Brenda Greenwood, Arthur Glinn and Phoebe Attrill and for Americans Val Lyman and Fred & Gery Hendon who are serving this week at Widows’ and Widowers’ Camp at Kompas Park.
2010.09.02 For Vic and Sue as they go on holiday for the next three weeks, that they will be rested and refreshed, to face their final month with Hope Now.
2010.09.03 For Trisha Jackopson-Hendy as she goes to the Isle of Wight to enthuse Islanders to attend the Medina Theatre for the Silver Jubilee concert.
2010.09.04 For Peter and Rosemary Pearson and Bernard and Wendy Downton as they fly out to Ukraine to help at next week’s Widows’ and Widowers’ Camp.
2010.09.05 For Alla Kostyunina, Frank and Lin Collier and the Kompas Park members of staff as they engage in the last camp of the summer season.
2010.09.06 On this Labor Day, for those that are blessed with employment both here in the USA and in Ukraine. That we may all truly be thankful to God for His provision, and we will labor for Him with a cheerful heart.
2010.09.07 For John Budgell and Brenda Greenwood as they prepare to take on the two key positions at the Southampton office on November 1st.
2010.09.08 For Dr Alexander Doreshenko and his team of health volunteers as they minister the gospel and heal the sick, via the Mobile Medical & Dental Unit.
2010.09.09 For the young people at Kornah House and Swindon House Pre-independence homes, as they settle into their studies.
2010.09.10 For the Spirit of the Lord to use this last day of the Widows’ and Widowers’ Camp to minister to the many needs of those attending.
2010.09.11 For the teachers and students as they commence a new year at the Cherkassy Center for Biblical Studies. Pray especially for the new post-graduate course.
2010.09.12 For the final arrangements for the Silver Jubilee tour so that tickets get sold and accommodation found for the team.
2010.09.13 For Margaret Ferguson as she guides the young people in Cape Town to secure places at universities or colleges, in preparation for independence.
2010.09.14 For those young people who are still waiting for sponsorships to start studies at university or to stay at our pre-independence homes.
2010.09.15 For Dee Ewart in her struggle with cancer and for husband Peter to be strong as he cares for her.
2010.09.16 For the children and young people in our care especially those who find school and discipline irksome.
2010.09.17 For those ex-prisoners who have become pastors and church planters to receive wisdom, insight and knowledge as they lead in their communities.
2010.09.18 For Vladimir Kuzin, Rector of the Hope Now Bible School and Valentina Kurat, the Secretary and teaching staff, as they seek to expand the school.
2010.09.19 For Alla Kostyunina as she writes her report and assessment of Kompas Park’s summer season and plans for the building of the new staff accommodation.
2010.09.20 For the Silver Jubilee fund to be supported so that Alla will be able to start building and complete the final phase of the Kompas Park development fund.
2010.09.21 For those children, young people and adults who experienced the touch of the Lord at Kompas Park, to be fervent and persevering in the faith.
2010.09.22 For Frank and Lin Collier as they return to Southampton after a busy summer at Kompas Park and make themselves ready for the Silver Jubilee Tour.
2010.09.23 For Vic and Sue as they return home from their holiday and for Cyndee Knight as she heads up the USA office after a busy summer season.
2010.09.24 For Anatolii Perepilitsa and Sasha Tarasenko as they preach in the prisons and minister to the ex-prisoners.
2010.09.25 For Misha Vishymeersky as he leads the Hope Now staff in Ukraine, that he may be given much wisdom to make good decisions and vision for the future.
2010.09.26 For Vic as he preaches today at Colwell, Isle of Wight and uses the time there to encourage people to attend the upcoming Silver Jubilee concerts.
2010.09.27 For Michael Quicke and David Coffey as they prepare to preach and lead at the Silver Jubilee Celebration at Chatsworth Baptist Church, West Norwood on Oct. 2.
2010.09.28 For the Board of Directors as they meet this evening and for Vic and Sue for whom this will be the last board meeting. Pray for wisdom and grace in everything.
2010.09.29 For the church planting and twinning program to be effective and new churches to be found, willing to twin with a church in Ukraine.
2010.09.30 For American supporters Bob and Patti McLeod, John Conner and Tim and Myles Thompson as they fly to the UK to participate in the Silver Jubilee tour.
