It is always a blessing to be with the orphaned children of Ukraine.  This year we were able to be with many we were with last year which helped to increase their bond with us.  It was a time of helping the grow in their faith and an opportunity to speak with their friends about our relationship with our Heavenly Father and our adoption into His family through the blood of Jesus Christ.  I also had the daily opportunity to clean the physical wounds these children had and wrap them with bandages and love.  There were deep infected wounds, 20-30 degree burns and even small cuts and insect bits.  Some nights the hall I worked in was completely packed with children, all with a need.  It is hard to leave….especially when there is still so much to do.

We also had nightly “sittings” where the children would sit in a circle with us and share their individual thoughts, needs and heart-felt desires.  The most common thread was to be a part of a family who would love them, who would take care of them and most of all that they would be “wanted”.  Many felt thrown away and useless.  This is such a tragedy at any age, but these children were under 14.

My heart aches as we leave this time and my prayer is that they will know they are not “an accident”, they were created by our loving God for a purpose.  The physical needs that were met on this trip do not compare to the spiritual and soul injuries that we also worked so hard to help heal.

Linda Deeming