Berzhany – this is a special place, about 45 minutes west of Ternopil. The town is small and very beautiful and historically was a center of study and commerce during Hungarian rule. Now, however, it is small and somewhat impoverished.
There is a state orphanage here where 145 children live. Because summer had begun, most of the children were away at state run sanatoriums, or summer camps. There were about 40 children that were still at the institution, however and we were able to give them a short English class, play games with them, share a meal together and buy them fruit and ice cream (which was a really outrageous treat!)
We also had time with the staff and I was impressed with the heart and love that they have for the children. The orphanage is not a Christian institution, but many of the staff are believers and the director treats all 145 kids as his own. The evidence of the lack of funds was not hard to miss in the building structure and maintenance, but the staff seemed to do their best with what they had.
Once we had spent a couple of hours with the kids, some of them began opening up to us and asking us questions about our families and our lives. One young girl of about 7 years old, asked my team member, Megan, if she wanted to adopt her and take her home. It also was hurtful to see how violent and aggressive the children were towards each other and for a moment I saw into their lives of fighting their way for survival, attention and love.
Personally, I was overwhelmed with the need for love and attention this amount of children requires and over 100 of them were not here! This was a revelatory moment for me, understanding how limited my love is and how much more I need God to fill me with His love that is sufficient for every one of these dear children.
Petting Zoo Outreach:
This was an exciting experience for us all. Our team joined up with one of the regular Orphan Ministry teams from the base at YWAM. This group goes weekly to children’s homes and takes animals from the city ‘zoo’, along with city workers to allow the kids to learn about the animals and mostly to pick them up, pet them and play. We visited a Christian orphanage in Ternopil and even from the get go there was a greater sense of peace and love in the kids and in the home. This was a testimony to me personally.
The children were ecstatic about the large rabbit, the guinea pig, the turtle and the hamsters. The birds did not get very much attention, but all in all the children had so much fun playing and holding the animals. We were able to talk to some of the kids, most of whom ranged in age from six to ten years old.
Interestingly, there was an older couple that was hanging around and I quickly found out that they were there to adopt one of the boys in our group. The couple were from Italy and had been in Ternopil for a number of weeks and had more weeks to go. This was my first experience seeing the process of foreign adoption taking place. I had a good conversation with the wife and she was so impressed and thankful for such a ministry that would come and visit and play with the kids. I pray that the Lord’s guidance and wisdom will be with them in their transition and with the dear boy that will become their son.
This was our experience in only two of the many, many orphanages in Ukraine. There are so many children needing parents, naturally and spiritually. Let's continue to pray for these kids, that they will know and receive the love that God has for them through the people that are in their lives. That God will raise up and send more people to go and visit and care for and love these children. Each one of them is so precious and dear!
For a larger photo album, please click on this link:
Blessing and love as we share all the Lord has given us to share...our lives and the rest!
(this is me sitting on the knee of a statue of some famous guy from Berzhony - a Ukrainian hero of sorts!)
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