Greetings!
God is good! There is so much to share about the trip since the last update. We spent a three days in Kharkov Region with our hosts, pastor Yevgeniy, his wife Alena and family, where we arranged for two orphanage visits. Now back in Donetsk Region we’ve completed one of two planned orphanage visits.
| Kharkov Region We spent a three days in Kharkov Region with our hosts, pastor Yevgeniy, his wife Alena and family, where we arranged for two orphanage visits. Now back in Donetsk Region we’ve completed one of two planned orphanage visits. Our first visit on Wednesday was to Volchansk. We met Pastor Nicolai who shared some wonderful salvation stories over tea. He told of one man who was an alcoholic who lost his wife, family and job over his addiction. One day he asked God to help him commit suicide. His plan was to swim in a pond straight out until he was exhausted and finally drown. So he went in when the water was quite cold to execute his plan, but the chill stimulated him and sobered him up. After a few minutes he decided to come out and go home. He slept for three days and three nights. When he finally awoke he had no desire at all for alcohol and began thanking God for saving him from death. He went right to church, told the pastor what happened, repented and turned his life over to Jesus. His wife and family came back to him and he got a job – all because he prayed! This man now works as a counselor for alcoholics and drug addicts. We went on from Volchansk east following the Russian border coming as closes as one or two kilometers from Russia. At one point we saw border guards walking along the road. Our destination was the small town of Allovahdkya and shelter there for fifteen orphans. We preached the Gospel message to them, played games and then gave them gifts. About a dozen of them asked Jesus into their hearts.. The next day pastor Yevgeniy took us to Bogodukhov to an orphanage of about 75 children. We were on a tight schedule and very concerned about the roads and weather on the way, but we made it about ten minutes early. This was our third visit here and most of the kids remembered us. One dear girl, Olya, whom I spoke of in one of last summer’s newsletters, came right up to us with her sister to greet us. Olya asked me to pray for her and of course I did. Being a school day, we only had twenty minutes with the children between classes. To my surprise we gathered in the foyer, all standing. During this short, but inspired time, I shared the Gospel again with these children reminding them that Jesus is God and that God loves them very much. About six new souls came to Christ. |
| Back in Donetsk Yesterday, we arrived back in Donetsk at 6 AM. It had been snowing like a blizzard during the night. But a few hours later as our team was loading the van, the sun came out. As we had pray for, the roads, although snow-covered, were quite passable. I was in one of two cars and we got stuck in the snow about two hundred meters from the school. Yuri and I just walked the rest of the way in! The numbers here at this Snenoje orphanage were less than last year at about 110 kids enrolled vs. 220. Of these, 99 were in attendance today. Our team’s clown performed for the children. Then I told the children of the birth of Jesus as told by the Gospel of Luke, and I told them that God sent Jesus to Earth to save us from our sins. We also prayed for the Holy Spirit to come to bless and heal these kids. Many children felt the warmth of his Presence! |
Government Provides More Education for Orphans
During the lunch break, I heard some very good news from the director about Ukraine orphanages in general. In recent years I, and others have reported on the Internet and elsewhere that children graduate from their orphanage at age 17 or 18 and are sent out on their own into the streets to fend for themselves. Although this is still true in some cases, for the most part things have changed under President Yuschenko for the better. Now the government provides orphans with university or trade education up to age 20 or 23 if the student performs well in school. She said only those children that do not seek higher education are left on their own in their later teenage years.
Final Plans for This Week
Today we plan to visit a small local orphanage here in Avteevka. Then we board a train tonight for further ministry in the regions of Cherkassy and Zhitomir. We will visit a shelter of about 40 children in Cherkassy and possibly one in Smela. Our last three days will again be spent ministering to orphans with Pastor Viktor. He will take us to two orphanages in his region. Finally, I am back to America on February 7 & 8. Please pray for the success of the final week of this ministry and for safe travels!
Thank you all again for your prayers and support.
Sincerely,
Al Scoglio
Missions Director
Hearts for Ukraine
508-930-1761
Ukraine Mobile: 001-380-987-750-768
Government Provides More Education for Orphans
During the lunch break, I heard some very good news from the director about Ukraine orphanages in general. In recent years I, and others have reported on the Internet and elsewhere that children graduate from their orphanage at age 17 or 18 and are sent out on their own into the streets to fend for themselves. Although this is still true in some cases, for the most part things have changed under President Yuschenko for the better. Now the government provides orphans with university or trade education up to age 20 or 23 if the student performs well in school. She said only those children that do not seek higher education are left on their own in their later teenage years.
Final Plans for This Week
Today we plan to visit a small local orphanage here in Avteevka. Then we board a train tonight for further ministry in the regions of Cherkassy and Zhitomir. We will visit a shelter of about 40 children in Cherkassy and possibly one in Smela. Our last three days will again be spent ministering to orphans with Pastor Viktor. He will take us to two orphanages in his region. Finally, I am back to America on February 7 & 8. Please pray for the success of the final week of this ministry and for safe travels!
Thank you all again for your prayers and support.
Sincerely,
Al Scoglio
Missions Director
Hearts for Ukraine
508-930-1761
Ukraine Mobile: 001-380-987-750-768