Sunday, March 14, 2010

Baby orphanage "Yolochka" - various last pictures

This will be my last post on the Yolochka baby orphanage. I hope you have enjoyed these pictures! For those of you who are adopting from this orphanage, I really hope that these pictures have dispelled some of your fears... by showing you that the sweet darling who awaits your arrival is living in rather good conditions. Of course, nothing replaces the love of a father and mother. Yes, more than anything, these children need the undivided love of parents! However, I do believe you can rest assured that they are being taken care of while they wait for you.

The rest of these pictures are random. They did not really fit under any of the previous categories of posts. But, I wanted you to see them anyway. Enjoy!







(An adopting family getting to know their new little girl)


(I asked for a bathroom and this is where I was taken)
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27
Please leave a comment with your thoughts on what you have seen through this series of posts... Is a Ukrainian orphanage worse than you thought? Better than you thought? What were some things that stood out to you? I'd love to hear from you!

22 comments:

  1. Jolene, your new layout is so nice.

    I really wish your blog could be taught to Bible College ladies as the standard! I have been so blessed to see your work over the past months and wish many other missionaries would use this forum to show us their works.

    The pictures of the orphanage are terrific. Thanks for letting us at home see where these sweet babies live. I will be in prayer for the director and his staff, as well as for you guys as you attempt to minister to these small ones.

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  2. Thank you SO much for the wonderful tour!!

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  3. Thank you for the little peek into the lives of the children of Yolochka!

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  4. if you know anyone that has adopted from the ukraine please pass this on:
    http://buyaukraincardecaltohelpanorphanhome.blogspot.com/ im trying to raise adoption awareness and raise money for vanya's adoption.

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  5. Thank you for sharing so much about the orphanage. It has been such a blessing to see your pictures, and to read your blog posts about this orphanage. My heart has been touched to see the pictures.

    Anna

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  6. How difficult is it to adopt one of those precious little Ukrainian babies???? I even know how to say I love you in Ukrainian. That counts right?

    Michelle

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  7. Hi. I wanted to tell you that I love receiving your blog via my email every day (or so.) It just warms my heart to see your dedication and love for the people in Ukraine, especially the little ones at the orphanage that you have been sharing about. Is the name on the blog you have listed the name of the orphanage or the city where it is located? I hope that God will allow my husband and I to travel to Ukraine one day to share the love of Christ with people there. I have been amazed to see all the different pictures you have posted; thanks so much for giving us insight into the way the children are living. May the Lord continue to bless you and your family and keep you close and safe. You are in our prayers daily. Thanks for committing to the Lord's will and serving Him with gladness. Kristi

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  8. I know that the posts you did on the orphanage took up a lot of your time, but it was very interesting and touching! Thank you for taking the time to do so much work to share this with us.

    Is the adopting couple in the picture American? How many responses from people you didn't really know did you get on these posts?

    I just wanted to write and say thank you for the posts. They are a blessing.

    Anna

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  9. I loved your pictures and I wonder if this is a normal orphanage or is this a higher quality one?

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  10. I just want to let you know that I have been keeping up with your blog and I'm ENJOYING it! I love seeing what life is like for all of the missionaries. I'm not a missionary, but I would love for people to know what my life is like starting out here.

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  11. Thank you, Jolene, for the info and pictures of the orphanage. They run a pretty tight ship - or so it looks! Wow! They are clean.

    One thing I noticed --
    The very last picture of the little girl was a tear jerker! Her face is soooooo sad! They may have a beautiful facility but that does not in reality meet the needs of these dear children! Look at her eyes! The eyes tell all in a person's life. They may wear a smile but if the eyes are not smiling something is wrong. Eyes are the window of the soul. I tend to look there first. They so much need the Lord!

    I am grateful that your family is there to share the Good News of the Gospel with these very needy people!

    Praying for you and your team.

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  12. I enjoyed your orphanage series. I was pleased with the way the orphanage looked. You never did explain why the toilet seats were removed...I am still waiting. :)

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  13. I was very impressed with what I saw in this orphanage. It looks very clean, in order, and like they do take a real interest in the babies and the children. What an amazing idea for you to post all these pictures and give the report on so many details. Many of our christian homes without children could benefit greatly and some precious babies could grow up in christian homes and hear the gospel and besaved. You have an incredible insight and shared your burden well. Keep this before the eyes of many - "mine eye hath affected mine heart". God bless you. you are precious and I am blessed with your writings.

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  14. I really enjoyed the orphanage pics and would say the appearance is as
    nice as and maybe cozier than the several nice/good/clean church nurseries
    I've seen here in the NW. Appreciate the time and interest it took you to take
    and post the pics for us to see. Only know that my niece is trying to adopt
    currently, and they're still waiting on a list in China, for a 2nd child.

    Thankyou again, for sharing your passion for children & the Gospel.

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  15. What a blessing, thanks for posting all those pictures of the orphanage. It looks much like the orphanage my little brother and sister are from in Kazakhstan. I'm praying for the orphanage director, the children and you as you minister there.

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  16. I enjoyed every picture. These pictures of the orphanage are very touching. It is a blessing to see what you are working on. I was impressed with the looks of the orphanage. I guess if you are unknowing of these things you tend to expect it differently. Thanks again. Raylinda

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  17. I love, love, love reading your blog!! You are an amazing writer and I love "being a part" of your ministry and your life. I think all missionaries should do this. It really brings to life the work and the people and gives people more of a burden to pray for the missionaries and the ministry. The pictures from the baby orphanage brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing your life with us!! =)

    I love you and miss you too!!
    Rebecca =)

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  18. As always, your postings are a blessing. I'm sure our Lord is happy to see those little ones well cared for. I pray that they will find homes where the Lord will be a priority. Have a blessed week, you and your family. Love, MaryAnn

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  19. The orphanage is rather cheerful, although I wish they all had families, of course.

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  20. Don't know if you remember me....we came over in DEC to get our son, came back in FEB to pick him up....unfortunately my husband came to Ukraine the 2nd time alone, our kids were sick here in NC and I had to stay at home. This is our son's orphanage! He was excited to see the photos and the pic of the little girl. Praise God....all is well at his orphanage, they are in our prayers!
    Cheryl Norris

    Pittsboro, NC

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  21. our daughter is from Yolochka - those 2 chairs in the second picture were purchased by my husband and I - a gift to the orphanage - what a day shopping that was...another UA adventure - God Bless you!

    Love the blog and pictures

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  22. I just stumbled across your blog. It is beautiful. Ukraine holds a very dear place in my heart. My cousins were adopted from a baby orphanage in Simferopl. I don't know how many there are in that city, but just the thought that people like you and your family have a heart for these precious children of God, fills my eyes with tears. I can't imagine what life would be like without my best buds (who are now teenagers!!)

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Thank you for your encouraging comments! "As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." Proverbs 25:25