...You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
Acts 20:34-35
 When we give, we receive…
Have you ever experienced in your life when you were giving something but you were actually recieving? Our kids came back from the camp. And while they were resting, enjoying fresh air, swimming, there were people who worked hard. They got up early in the morning, got breakfast ready, prepared the programm, saw to the children on water and in the wood... Giving yourself, your time, working hard and being physically exhausted, you are able to witness a miracle. You receive joy, a rush of inspiration and might continue moving forward. In the very end of the camp you understood that people who worked side by side with you became dear to you: hardships and common needs draw you closer to each other. You realize that children and days you spent together will stay in your heart for ever. We are greatful to our Almighty God for 10, 15, 60 children who gave their hearts to Him and said Him – Yes... The very moment kid one by one got up to come to the pastor to pray and exept Jesus as the Saviour, inside of me arose a feeling that I am a controller in a control tower and the children, their souls, are taking off from landing strips and I am sending their planes right to heaven and trust the Capitan, they will reach their destination without fail.
And the lyrics from a children's song come to my mind –
Why is something pulling us up?...
The human needs God, God lives on the height.
We are taking a holly route.
We are going to our Dream.
Our friends
Together with the staff and the children we had a prayer service where we thanked God for people that care, pray and support the Good Shepherd Shelter. We took a map of the world and asked children to find Ukraine, Canada, Germany, the USA, the Nietherlands and Australia! Then we divieded children into groups so each group could pray for the certain contry. We thanked God for you, your open hearts and willing to participate in lives of those little ones who cannot take care of themselves. We thanked Him for your wiling to support the children from poor families. Dear friends, thank you so much for your loyalty, time, prayers and support of the Good Shepherd Shelter. Thank you for being with us in this ministry to the abandoned children of Ukraine.
 Our students final–year
This year three girls from the Good Shepherd Shelter graduated from school. Eugenia K., 17 years old, Kristina B., 16 years old and Elena M., 17 years old. Eugenia has been in the shelter since she was 12. Eugenia has a mother but she cannot take care of her daughter. Eugenia is an obedient and a diligent girl. For several years she has been helping in the kitchen during summer camps that organizes a local church for children of the church and also for the children of the shelter. Eugenia is planning to continue studying in the school (two more years of a high school) and then go to a college.
Kristina B. has been living in the Good Shepherd Shelter for 6 years. She has no relatives. Kristina's talent is making meals; she has had a great experience in summer camps. Kristina entered a culinary school, where she is going to study for 3 years. She has a dream to have her own small restaurant one day.
Lena M., is also going to study at the same culinary school. Lena is in the shelter since she was 10. Her parents are alcohol addicted. Lena's is a very difficult child; remember her in your prayers, please.
Our camp
The camp is located in a town Svyatogorsk. It is a beautiful place surrounded by fascinating places and woods. There is a lake in this town. The main goal of the camp is to take kids out. Take them somewhere; they can spend a lot of time outside, away from the city pollution. To have an opportunity to breathe fresh air, take sunbathe, see the beauty of the forest, swim in the lake. The camp was organized by staff of the Good Shepherd Shelter. We are grateful to all of our friends for material support that made this camp possible. Children liked to go hiking; they were impressed by beauty of the mountains. They played outside games, went to different parks, and fed pigeons. They had crafts, themed evenings and a lot of time to talk and to learn about each other. Just recently a new girl has joined the Shelter. Her name is Veronica; she is 5 years old, her first days with us, she hasn't spoken to anyone. At the camp we saw a big change in her. Now she is a very blithesome girl and a very sociable one. It is very painful, difficult and incomprehensible for a little kid to understand why loving mother would give you to the shelter. We try to do everything we can to help a child to overcome this moment.
At the camp we were convinced that Sasha K., 5 years old- likes to swim and has no fear at all!
Our blessings and what we learned:
First of all we learned that we must pay closer attention to family ties between children that have siblings. In the Good Shepherd Shelter children live as one big family but anyway we must teach kids that they have a sibling.
Our blessing is that God blessed the relationships between staff and children and we became even closer.
Prayer requests
There is a need of two teachers for the pedagogical collective. Pray, please, for them to be devoted Christian teachers. Please, also pray for an educational program for the coming year.
We are going to have an English intensive School in the Good Shepherd Shelter in August.
Material needs
Food purchasing for 40 children
Salaries for the staff
Utilities (electricity, water, phone)
Repair of the washing machine
Purchasing coal for the next heating season
Purchasing stationery ( for school year)
Purchasing of clothes and shoes for school there is a shortage in.
Car service
|
