For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith.
The Bible, I John 5:4
 What does the victory mean for us?
Victory over circumstances, problems, sins, oneself, victory in games… We invest our strength, we spend our time, we invest ourselves — our heart and our mind. We strive and search — we believe that we will overcome and are overcoming! It is difficult and we grow tired, but having received victory, our faith grows stronger and we rejoice with perfect joy and give thanks to the Lord!
And what does the victory mean for our children?
- Katya:
- Well, here, understand this: we played and scored 21 goals, and they only scored 19 on us!
That is a victory! Only, they got upset with us…
- Kristina:
- First it is necessary to train, and then you will without fail be able do the best of everyone. Now that is a joy!
- Nina:
- For me, the main thing is not victory, but that I am able to participate.
- Pasha:
- I am very happy when I win, but you know, I can get angry when I lose.
 Our champion
Our champion in badminton is named
Yana Polchaninova. In the Ukrainian Championships in badminton among teenagers, she took second place!
Yana lives with us, together with her younger brother Sergey. Yana is 11 years old. She is a very
well-behaved girl. She is also a very strong young lady. Yana loves to read, tries her best in her
studies, and always seeks to find out something new. Yana and Sergey ended up with us at the Shelter out
of a broken home. Their mother is mentally ill and cannot carry responsibility for herself or her children.
The children were left with their elderly grandmother, but she is ailing and could no longer raise her grandchildren.
When we asked Yana what victory is to her, she answered: “There are two victories — in life and in a game. If in a
game, then I don’t fight to win — I just want to do the best I can and not let my coach down. But if in life, it is
necessary to make every effort, so that everything will turn out well.”
 The English Intensive
Now when asked
“Do you speak English?” several of our children answer with greater certainty “Yes, a little bit…!” During the month of
June, seven of our older children finished a two-week English course at Donetsk Christian University. It was an
interesting but intense time for the children. There was much new vocabulary and grammar and it was necessary to
listen attentively in order to understand this incomprehensible language. But, at the same time, there were new
friends, relationships, and games.
We are happy that our children had this opportunity to study. We always instruct and say to the children
“You must study for betterment, to gain necessary experience, because ahead a big interesting world awaits you
and this will certainly prepare you for service to other people and God. We want to express special thanks to
Rene Maleski for this opportunity for our children. Thank you, Rene, for everything you did for us — we felt at
home near you!
 Why do we need vacations?
Of course,
for having good time and fun! That is what our children did at their summer health-promotion camps. At the end of
June a camp for our middle children took place in the village of Ursuf on the shore of the Azov Sea. It was an
unforgettable time in which we again and again unearthed the potential and talents of our children. We staged
interesting skits, sang, and played. The children, with endurance and without grumbling lived through heavy
rains that soaked their tents. We set a goal for the camp: to help the children open up. And the goal was
reached — the children were good and God revealed much at the camp to young and old alike.
Summer renovations
Renovations of the children’s living quarters were planned for the summer months.
Separate rooms for the group of youngest children (ages 3 to 6) have been completed.
Now the youngest children have two separate rooms for playing, relaxing, and music lessons.
God’s answer
We always, with particular trembling, pray that our Heavenly Father will keep watch
for loving parents for our group of temporary-resident children. In our information
from October-January 2008 we wrote about a little girl, Anya Len, who has bronchial asthma.
The term of her stay with us came to an end and we were preparing to send Anya to a state-run orphanage.
But, the Lord took care and in the final days, a family was located to take Anya into their care!
Please pray with us
for the children who previously lived at the Good Shepherd Shelter and now live on their own.
The children have run into many problems. Pray that they will remember what we taught them here and will not forget the Lord.
for wisdom for our educators as they go about the upbringing of our children, especially the oldest children.
for wisdom and ability to carry out the reconstruction of the remaining part of our building.
for mutuality and unity in our team of staff at the Good Shepherd Shelter.
Our needs
School supplies and backpacks — $400
School clothing — $600
Educational activity supplies, games — $500
Automobile repairs — $500
Playground — $2000
Food for the children for 1 month — $2000
Staff salaries for 1 month — $4450 |
