Soon to be on the way.

Dear Friends and Family,

As most of you know, there has been a lot of excitement happening in my life – and not just in regards to Ukraine. Thank you for lifting up Tara, Rachel, and I in your prayers as we spent most of May in Simferopol visiting children in the orphanages and trying to sort out as many details as we could regarding some of the teens and the situation with one of the orphanages closing. To update you quickly on those situations, I write to tell you that Gagarin orphanage, which is the orphanage where we have the most solid relationships with many of the children and have spent countless hours at is still planning on closing, but the status now is that it will have one more year to operate. The process to close has already started, and many of our kids are being sent away to other orphanages when they return from summer camp here in a few weeks. Tara, Rachel, and I are not sure on how this will affect our ministry with those specific kids as many of them are ones who we do one on one ministry with. We have briefly discussed doing visits one weekend a month depending on where the children are sent. The inconsistency in the government in deciding what to do with our kids is (to say the least) annoying, but more importantly how it affects the children is much worse. The value placed upon these children is non existent while these decisions are affecting them the most. While the idea of closing orphanages to move to a foster care system has its benefits and certainly can help the government politically, it’s at the expense of our kids. It’s also difficult for me to believe that they are ready to make such a decision given the state of other situations within the government and country.

In the last update, I wrote about a teen who had finished her time at the orphanage but had dropped out of school. Each time I had a conversation with her, she was living somewhere else and working at a different location. I was recently concerned because she mentioned to me a “prospective job” in Russia for her. Immediately, I knew it was human trafficking, and even after talking with her, shortly after no one could find her. An answer to prayer was that I was able to locate her once I got to Simferopol, but on the other hand, she was in jail for theft. I was able to see her for a few hours before I left, and she did not look well. She was out of jail and claimed to be starting a different job again. It’s hard to know whether she is being truthful about her jobs because I am still concerned that she may be prostituting herself locally.

Several evenings were also spent with several different teens who were questioning their relationships with God, questioning the existence of God, dropping out of school, moving in with boyfriends, and leaving the church. There were many days of long conversations of helping them sort out their issues and try to speak truth into their lives.

Amidst seeing the difficult situations many of the youth are finding themselves in, there was much to be thankful for and rejoice about. The time was blessed in so many ways. Because we did not travel with a group like we oftentimes do, we were able to make our own schedule and participate in events that we might not have usually had the opportunity to. For the entire country, the official last day of school is May 31st, which is titled “Last Bell.” Basically, it’s graduation, but at the end of the ceremony, a bell is rung to signify the end of classes. This is also done at the beginning of the school and is so creatively called “First Bell.” This is a big celebration for the kids as they advance to the next grade level and is usually a combination of poems, speeches, and dances. Sadly, very few people attend these celebrations. Other than Tara, Rachel, me, and other Orphan’s Hope Staff, there were no more than 15 people in attendance. It’s always strange for me to think of Grandparents’ Day, band concerts, and other concerts at school when my family would attend, and I would search the crowd until I found them, and at this event there are so few who attend. I felt honored to be there to support the kids and show them how proud I am of them, but it breaks my heart to be shown the reality that there really aren’t many other people in their support system or who care about them. We did, however, get to spend significant amount of time with the children on their days of graduation, and we were able to take part in a celebration that Orphan’s Hope put on for the last year graduates, which included Karaoke, sucking helium out balloons to recite poems, ice cream, and other craziness. (And yes, Tara, Rachel, and I were forced to sing Russian Karaoke. Oh boy…)

Speaking of Orphan’s Hope, I am always so thankful each time I get to be with the staff that we are going to join. They are all so wonderful and have such a clear vision and passion for helping orphans in Ukraine. We were able to attend weekly meetings with them and do ministry visits to the orphanage, and it just felt so peaceful and confirming to be amidst them. I am always so encouraged by the ministry they are doing. One of my friends who does not work with OH but with other organizations continues to tell me how as an observer she sees and understands that the ministry that OH does works. She assured me that they understand the kids and do whatever they can to help orphans. We (OH) are in the process of trying to buy land/property to build a center for the kids to do afterschool programs for tutoring, homework, sports, etc and where we can do Bible studies, clubs, discipleship meetings, etc.

Over the last several years, I have miraculously crossed paths (mostly by internet and word of mouth) with many parents who have adopted from our orphanages or have hosted from our orphanages. Not only is it wonderful in being able to keep in touch with the kids and help them keep in touch with friends and family in Ukraine, but many of the families continue to help friends of their children who are still in the orphanages. This past May, we were able to take the kids to a park similar to a small fair, take them on rides, and eat ice cream together. Specifically, we took the 3rd grade class because this is the group the children were adopted or hosted from. It was wonderful to be able to spend several hours with the kids as they laughed and played. It was clear by the looks on their faces that this day provided them the opportunity to escape and just “be kids” if only for a short time. One of the boys told me that it was the best day of his whole life.

On May 18th, we were able to spend part of a day with our missionary friends at the memorial holiday of Tatar Deportation Day. 2009 marked the 65th year since the day the Tatars were deported during Stalin’s time. We were able to participate in a prayer walk and help pass out water among the more than 15,000 people who attended throughout the hot day.

Outside of Ukraine news, many of you know that very exciting things are happening in my life. As of June 19th, I am engaged! I know that this will come to a shock to some of you who don’t speak with me on a regular basis, and I can imagine the questions running through your minds about future ministry to Ukraine. (I know this because I, too, have some of the same questions running through my mind.) Jason who just finished pasturing a church is also headed to the mission field. However, for the time being, it’s not the mission field in Ukraine. We’ve set the wedding date for August 21, 2010, and until then, we will be spending most of our time away from each other. While we are not looking forward to the absence of one another, we are looking forward to what God is going to do with our lives and in our lives as we confidently go where He is calling us for the time being. I will be leaving for Ukraine on August 10 and will stay there until June 4, 2010. Jason will come to Ukraine on August 15th for a short two week visit and from there will head to India to serve on the mission field with a different organization. He will return to the States in July 2010. After the wedding about a month later, we are planning to go back to serve on the mission field together. While this is very exciting for so many reasons, there are still so many details that are unclear, and we can only wait on the Lord to reveal them to us. We realize amongst the excitement, it is going to take a lot of patience and trust on our part.

I will be sure to let all of you know once I arrive in Simferopol. The children should still be at summer camps until the end of August, so my first task is going to be finding an apartment. Until then, I will be staying at the church with a young couple who pastors and are very dear friends.

If you are interested, there are lots of ways that you can be praying for me and the ministry:

**The children who will be moved – that their transition is smooth and they can still recognize they are loved – also that the three of us would understand how we can best continue ministry with them
**The teens mentioned above – that we would be able to speak truth into their lives through love and that they would know they are loved and a worthy of a future outside of prostitution, crime, drugs, and alcohol.
**Orphan’s Hope – For the building/property in order to further ministry – for a smooth transition in joining their staff full time – and for the ministry in general: that it would be effective in bringing lives to Jesus and providing help to orphans in they need – and that funds would be available in order to do this
**I have one more speaking arrangement on the 26th. Pray that God would be able to touch hearts and reveal how we can all partner to help these children together
**My departure date of August 10th – that I would be able to get everything done before I head out including packing and some details regarding the wedding – also that once I arrive I will be able to find a suitable, good priced apartment in the right area of the city
**For Jason and my relationship together – that God would teach us while we are apart from each other and that we would have ears to listen and eyes to see His will for our lives together – that God would prepare our future together – that He would use us in the lives of others as we go our separate ways – that we would trust Him with everything that is unknown
**Protection for the children in the orphanages the teens who have graduated – that they would be protected from predators who want to harm them in different ways – that they would have spiritual protection and guidance - that they would have emotional protection and know they are loved, worthy, and have value
**For Tara and Rachel and the details in their lives as they are both planning on being in Simferopol again soon

If there is anything you would like more details on, please let me know. I tried to keep details to a minimum because we all know my writing can be lengthy… Also, if you would like to be removed from this e-mail list or know someone who might like to be added, please let me know.

A continual thank you to all of you who support me through prayer and financially! This ministry would not continue without all of you behind me. As stated before, if you are on this mass e-mail list and would like to receive a support letter/info on how to financially support me or a prayer card to serve as a reminder, please let me know. I am so thankful for all of you. Your prayers, encouragement, and support are what allow me to work in Ukraine. You are a huge part of the ministry, and by this, you are helping fight the injustice happening with the orphans and teens.

In Him,
Esther