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In 1999 God captured my heart with my first visit to Ukraine to
minister to the orphans in the Crimean Peninsula. Now, 7 visits
later, I did not know what to expect. Each visit holding special
unique situations unlike the previous. But one fact remained
true, children needed to be loved. I was hoping to see some
familiar faces, which was not to be. However, I was pleased to
learn that many had been adopted. Praise the Lord. Before I left
the US I found out that many children in my hometown area had
been adopted from Russian and Ukrainian orphanages. None that I
knew personally, but God was showing he was answering prayers.
He was taking these children out of the orphanage system and
placing them in loving families as well as hearing his Gospel
message.
We had a wonderful team of Americans and Ukrainian Bible
students. God did excellent things through drama, skits, games
and "one on one" heart sharing love – "Jesus with skin on".
With team leaders like Vitaly and Marina along with Ukrainian
and American team members the young orphans sat with intensity
watching the skits, absorbing like a sponge. One camp worker
named Victor said "Thanks for giving us hope!" I was sensing God
was building a network of godly influence in an area that is
against all Christian witness.
At the beginning of one of our sessions we asked the orphans
what do they want most for God to do in their lives? The answer
was unanimous…..they want to be adopted and have a family. The
sadness and heartbreak of those left behind when their friends
leave for America is the hardest thing to see. Some say they are
too old, others are told "you have done something wrong, you are
not wanted".
I pray that God will comfort their hearts and open a door for
them to enter into His grace and prepare the plans he has for
their lives. How sad it was to see the eyes of those as we
departed on our bus, staring in the windows looking back at us
saying, "Take me with you!" faces that will be with me a long
time. A compassion stirs my heart to continue to keep them in my
prayers after my return to the US.
I know that some of them have accepted Jesus already and
words from their mouths say they believe. Someday I will see
them again. I must trust the words that God says "He is the
Father to the fatherless". He will take care of them.
It all the more causes me to show love to those I have at
home, those who I take for granted to know I love them. We need
each other, each individual God created in his image. Oh how he
loves you and me.
Christal Dever |
