Armenian Hospitality

I was privileged to travel to the beautiful country of Armenia during the first part of September.  Armenia has been a hub of Orphan’s Promise projects for the past several years, and yet I’d never had a chance to view them first hand--until now!  Armenia is famous in the Eurasia world for the welcoming arms and hospitality...and I can say that is what I experienced on every turn.  

Armenia is a tiny country bordering Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iran and boasts deep Christian roots, as it was the first nation in the world to adopt Christianity (301 AD).  It also boasts amazing views of Mt. Ararat—where is where the Bible records that Noah landed the Ark.

Mt. Ararat

Yet Armenia is also a country still struggling its way out of poverty and hardship, after the devastating 1988 earthquake, which claimed over 30,000 lives.  With a poor economy and a high cost of living, 35% of families are living below the poverty line and struggle to provide a future for their children.  Learning to speak English or learning to use a computer are considered a luxury and yet these are the very skills that would grant them better opportunities in life.

So I was very excited to see the projects that we are sponsoring that are making a difference in the lives of hundreds of kids.  I was able to visit our 4 training centers that OP is sponsoring and my team also held a 2-day training of all of our staff working with the kids there.  Bringing them more strategy for how to reach the kids effectively and teaching how to use our life skills curriculum. 

Armenian Orphan's Promise team at 2-day training

 

with kids at one of our centers

Beautiful brown eyes greeted me at each of the centers I visited and one thing was evident in the eyes of all who I saw—they were eager to learn and so grateful for the opportunity they’d been given.   Most of the children we are working with are from poor and broken families. They live at home, but often in dysfunctional situations and have very little chance at receiving a good education.  Thanks to these training centers, this is changing!

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.”  I truly feel that this is what these schools are doing.  Through education, the teachers are pouring living water into areas that have been void of outside resources.  I saw hope is in the eyes of these children. 

What impressed me the most about our work being done in Armenia is that it is done in connection with the local church.  As a result, the kids are coming to our centers, developing relationships with our team, meeting Jesus, and then getting plugged in with a church where they are growing and being discipled.  The kids are even bringing their parents to church with them and as a result their parents are meeting Jesus!

It was a sweet sweet time in Armenia (not to mention a tasty one at that!)…a time I will not soon forget!

 

  

Why Camp Matters

Throughout my time in Ukraine our ministry (Orphan's Promise) has been privileged to be involved in dozens of summer camps. When I stop and count them the number actually adds up to 16 camps that I've participated in.  Wow...now I'm starting to feel old. Probably because the kids stay in the same age range....its just us volunteers that get older!

Each summer brings with it new challenges and new faces (and some familiar ones too). Faces that then become names we learn and names that become stories of individual lives.  Individuals who have lived through an immense amount of pain and loss in their 14-18 years of living.

On the first day of the camp, kids from 3 different orphanages unloaded the bus and were instructed to divide into groups of 3 people so that we could then form teams (we figured if they were at least with 2 of their favorite friends they couldn't get mad at us for then mixing them with kids from the other orphanages).  As they began to divide into groups I began to have flash backs to my worst days of High School. The days when you saw the 'cool' kids picking one another and the not as cool kids shoved to the other side. (Repressed memories-- I know).

Cringe.
Some things are universal I guess.

As this popularity contest was happening and some kids were quickly grasping their bosom buddies, my eyes settled on one girl - the girl who looked lost among the mass of teens, the girl who clearly didn’t have friends to partner with. 

There she stood, all alone, wondering who would pick her and where she would end up.  My heart broke for her and I knew right then and there that we would become friends that week.

Later that day I would learn her name was Oksana and she was 16-years-old.  Throughout the week I learned pieces of her story. Orphaned at 12, abandoned by relatives, placed in a foster family and eventually in the orphanage.  It was clear that Oksana was a survivor. 



As the days of the camp went by Oksana came out of her shell and truly began to take in all she was learning.  Such a delightful girl! After a few days she was already on stage, helping lead the worship sessions.  Then in a prayer time with her leader, Oksana prayed to receive Jesus as her savior. (YEAH!) 
 
On the last day I asked Oksana if she’d mind sharing some of the things that were the most meaningful to her while at the camp ---things that I'd be able to share with others.  I was so touched by the eloquence of her own words, so I'll let her speak for herself:

“I can’t even express in words everything I want to say,” she said. “It felt like I was home here. Thanks to this camp I’ve gotten closer to God and I’ve gained information I know I’ll need for the future.  I think everyone has taken something away from this camp.  I’ve learned about gratitude and forgiveness here. In some ways I feel like God restored me to who I was before.”   

Sometimes I wonder if there is a point in continuing these summer out reaches, as many of the kids can seem so closed off to what we have to share.  But Oksana's words encourage me that God has us exactly where he needs us, and for that I'm grateful.

*This camp was made possible thanks to the ministries of CBN/Orphan's Promise, Emmanuel and Agape in Kherson.  Thanks to all who partner with these GREAT organizations! :)

Saying Goodbyes..

Well all of our Ukrainian kiddos made it safe and sound back to their home-land (And I lived to write about it!).  It was a bitter sweet day watching all the kids say goodbye in Seattle as they parted with their host families--there were not many dry eyes to be seen.  But I have no doubt that it was worth it.  These kids gained amazing experiences, heard about Jesus in their own language, were shown how a healthy family can operate and were shown unconditional love.  Some people question hosting programs and say it isn't right to let kids gain attachment- but I think the opposite is true--why not give them the chance to have these experiences and give them connections with loving adults? I know that each and everyone of these kids was grateful to have been given this opportunity. And for those who will not be adopted, we now get to be their strongest advocates. 

The night before we left we had a beautiful farewell dinner at our church, where the kids served up some yummy Ukrainian food for all our guests.  From donors, to host families to friends, we had a full house and a sweet evening sharing about the past month and what the hosting had meant for both the kids and the families. It truly took a community to make this hosting project happen and it was a wonderful night to celebrate what God has done.

 Here are a few more shots from the final week- where we spent the day at a park...

So I've just barely landed in Ukraine and now I'm packing my bags again!  Off to help put on a camp for 45 orphans in the Kherson region.  Should be a busy couple weeks ahead.  Please be praying for our team as we will be working with the youth in the coming days ahead-- namely for open doors and for open hearts!

3 weeks down- one to go!

I'm always amazed at how fast the summer goes by when these kiddos from Ukraine are here in the US.  The past 2 years the Window to Hope project only hosted the kids for 3 weeks, which felt a bit short- so we opted for a week longer program this year.- So now we are at the beginning of August- 3 weeks are down and one week remains!  Where did all the time go?  We've been busy though...no doubt. And the kids have been doing great.

Here is some of what we've been up to during our stay in the beautiful Pacific Northwest...

One week to go!

Homeward bound...with 9 little friends :)

This year marks the 3rd year of helping to organize a hosting trip in partnership with Window to Hope- a hosting program a friend of mine and I started at my home church in Washington.

This year we will be bringing 9 kids-- all of who arrived in Kiev today!  We head to Seattle tomorrow where we will be for the next 4 weeks staying in host families.  (My host family just happens to me named 'mom and dad' :))  It is truly a privileged to get to bring these kids home with me as it is not only a chance for the kids to experience another culture and the love of a family, but it exposes these families to the needs of orphans world wide.   God has done some amazing things through this program already and I can't wait to see what He will do this year.

From the moment the kids got off the train today they were a buzz with more questions about what America will be like. 

My favorite conversation of the morning was with our youngest traveler, Pasha:

Pasha:  So you'll be with us on the plane tomorrow, right?
Me:  Yes, Of course
Pasha:  So you know how to speak American?
Me:  Yes, Of course I do.
Pasha: Wow! So you know a lot of words then?
Me:  Yes...a lot of words....
Pasha:  Wow...

I found it very endearing that he was surprised that the American spoke 'American' :)  It seemed like I may have earned some points for being 'smart!' :)

We had fun exploring the city center, playing in the fountains and visiting a children's museum.  And then where better to finish the day???

McDonalds.

They're choice.

So I guess their first McDonald's experience won't have to be in America afterall! :)

Stay tuned for more news in the coming weeks! 

Special guests

3 weeks ago we had a special group of CBN donors descend on Ukraine.  I say descend, because when a group of 40 people arrive as your 'guests' it can feel like quite the entourage of people! :)

I was privileged to help coordinate this trip that was organized to show some of our top donors the projects they are helping to support in Ukraine.  This was my first experience organizing such a large event--and a traveling one at that!  The trip was a mixture of touring and service projects and a chance for our partners to learn more about the work of CBN and Orphan's Promise in Ukraine.

exploring the beauty of Kiev.

It was a FULL 10 days too! While our special guests were in Ukraine we were able to dedicate a water well at a Kiev Children's Home (Father's House), host a children's festival at our medical clinic that services the poor of Kiev, travel to Western Ukraine and help construct a children's play ground at one of the gypsy camps we work in, and meet and pray with numerous families. 

well dedication at Father's House

face-painting at the children's medical clinic

food distribution in one of the communities

The poverty in these gypsy camps never ceases to astound me.  Though this group of partners only spent one day doing physical labor and meeting with families, I am comforted in knowing that our team on the ground remains-- daily meeting needs in this community.   We have a school that is teaching 180 kids- who prior to attending these classes couldn't even read or write!  And the kids are getting lunch provided 5 days a week!!  This is HUGE for this community- where many struggle to feed their children each day.

Children's program in another gypsy community

Please continue to pray-- we still need funds to expand and grow--- one of the biggest needs being the building of a new school facility which will allow us to educate more kiddos.