However, this past Sunday, here it what it looked like:
Now I wish I could tell you this was a church activity (smile), but we used these jeep races that have been advertised in our city for weeks now as an opportunity to reach out to the older boys in the "51st Army" orphanage. Just a few days before the jeep races, we offered to pick up 10 of the boys and bring them to the races (which were held on a Sunday afternoon). Then, afterwards, we took them to our church services.
Some of the teens whom I took an individual picture of, below: 
PASHA, AGE 14
ANDREI, AGE 17
OLEG, AGE 13
ROMAN, AN ORPHANAGE WORKER
10-YEAR OLD TWINS - VALERA & SERYOZHA 
DAVID AND IGOR, A YOUNG MAN IN OUR CHURCH WHO CAME TO HELP US
Before we drove to church, we fed our group grilled hot dogs, chips, cookies, and cokes: 
The largest percentage of the 45 kids, ages 4-17, in the "51st Army" orphanage are still unsaved. More than anything, we want to reach these children with the Gospel. Those who have been saved are mostly from the group of "middle-aged" kids... roughly ages 8-12. The ones who are the hardest to reach are the teens, and the hardest teens to reach are the guys.
The largest percentage of the 45 kids, ages 4-17, in the "51st Army" orphanage are still unsaved. More than anything, we want to reach these children with the Gospel. Those who have been saved are mostly from the group of "middle-aged" kids... roughly ages 8-12. The ones who are the hardest to reach are the teens, and the hardest teens to reach are the guys.I have explained before that orphans here are generally not those whose parents have died, but those who have been abandoned. These kids have been through terrible circumstances that most of us could never understand. Not only have they been abandoned by father and mother; they feel they have been abandoned by God. We have talked to these teens about their need for Christ, but many of them still have a long way to go before they will open their hearts to Him. They are a rough bunch, but we are not giving up on them!
We serve in every ministry of the church as a family. Below, you can see that our children were blessed to get their picture taken with a clown at the races. This was a highlight for them!
Please pray for "our" orphans and their salvation!
I just love boys! I should; I have 7 of my own!
ReplyDeleteMy heart aches for these handsome young men. Statistically, their future is bleak. Thank you for planting the seed of Christ in their lives.
Hi Jolene, I've never seen anything like that in person before. Guess it is similar to our "mud bogging" here in South Georgia. We will be praying for these orphans, alongside of you.
ReplyDeleteI am praying for y'all and your journey. God is so good. Just wanted to share our love for orphans in Ukraine too. God bless, Kristi
Oh, Jolene. This one brought tears to my eyes...the emptiness you can
ReplyDeletesee in their faces! I knew they must have had a hard life before I even
got to that part of your letter...
You & your family are doing a wonderful job in trying to reach out to
these children..., yes, even the older, tougher ones are still children &
in need of unconditional love. I am so glad to know you & to hear of all
you & your family are doing to reach out to these young ones.
It just breaks my heart to see so many faces of children that are hurting
so much inside...but, there is always enough love to go around, isn't
there!?! :)
You hang in there...they'll eventually open up to you, your family & to
God's love & be saved.
I'm so blessed to see & know how you are allowing God to use you!
You are all in our prayers,
Interceding on your behalf,
Felicia
Those are fantastic pictures that you've shared!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's such a shame that there are so many orphans because they are abandoned. What a great need the people have...they need Christ. With Christ's loved dwelling inside them, they could not ever abandon their children in this way.
Beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing about your missionary life.
ReplyDelete