Open Arms Ukraine

A year to be THANKFUL for...

2011-12-31T03:40:00.000+02:00

Thank you!!!!!!!

Thank you for helping make 2011 a fruitful and beautiful year in ministry!!! Thank you for the support you gave through financial donations, prayers, and countless words of encouragement!

More specifically, we want to thank all those who purchased dental work, winter clothes, and birthday cards for Christmas this year! 36 were purchased in total and are already going to work providing coats, cavity fillings, and birthday celebrations. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Sasha and Sasha with new winter coats thanks to you!

Here are some highlights as outlined in our Christmas letter (in case we don't have your address). None of this would have been possible without you!!!

Village trips (Dusya, Melissa, Anika, and Valya)

HUMANITARIAN AID – Through your donations this past year, we were able to bless the Sambir Juvenile Colony with 12 new windows that would provide extra insulation to the 200 boys that reside there. Prom dresses and jeans were given to the orphanage’s graduating classes. Clothes, winter jackets, shoes, and hygiene items were provided yearlong to orphans throughout the Sumy region. Dental work and healthcare were provided to over 20 orphanage graduates as warm meals were provided daily for those children seeking a safe haven and better life. We are also thankful for the support we received to bring blankets, warm clothes, and food to children we know who are currently imprisoned.

Fall Graduate Retreat

PROGRAMS – Summer camp and the fall graduate retreat were highlights of 2011 for our team and the orphanage graduates. Over 40 orphans were ministered to through these days filled with games, Bible lessons, worship, and more! Weekly visits to trade schools, mentorship with orphanage graduates in villages, and connecting with children at the orphanage were a big part of our regular routine. Let us not forget the many birthday celebrations throughout the year as well as the outreach programs that allowed us the opportunity to further connect with these beautiful children. And, as always, at the core of ministry are the ever-growing relationships within the Open Arms Home as we work towards transition for these amazing kids!

Summer Camp (Camp of 1000 UNO games)

Orphanage Visits

Trade School Visits (Putival)

Vova – Vova began study at a trade school in Sumy this year, thus brining him to full time residency in the Open Arms Home. He plays on the schools volleyball team and has participated in their dance programs as well.

Roman – Roman has faced a challenging year, but his drive and determination continue to push him to live a better life. He is currently studying at trade school in Sumy, living and working in the Open Arms Home, and actively involved in the church floorball team.

Birthday Celebrations

SP – Following his release from the Sambir Juvenile Colony, Sasha has flourished. Recently baptized, his faith continually grows. He is also studying in Sumy and has begun to work in ministry with Open Arms (including orphanage and prison visits). His activities include kickboxing and playing on the church floorball team.

SP's Baptism (October)

Dusya – Dusya relocated back to the village of the orphanage spring of this year. She gave birth to her second child, Andre, in September and presented Anika (Open Arms team member) and SP with the honors of becoming his godparents. Her recent dental work thanks to your generosity has given her a brighter smile as she seeks to live for God and share his life in her small village of Ivanivka.

Andre's Baptism (November)

Vitalik – Vitalik came into possession of a small house in Mezinivka this year. He finds jobs within his village to make a good life for himself as he turns his little house into a home. Through your support, we have been able to help Vitalik get his feet on the ground in this endeavor!

Visit to help fix up Vitalik's house in the village

Though the updates could go on and on, what we really wanted to say is that GOD IS SO GOOD! Looking back at this past year we are constantly reminded of how much He has given us as a ministry. We are so thankful for each of you as you have played a critical role in making all of this possible.

From our Family to yours,

The Open Arms Ukraine American Team 2011

Anika Bachle, Mike Loso, Chelsea Rollins, Melissa Keane, and Annie Carbonaro

“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns” 1 Chronicles, 16:1

THIS CHRISTMAS

2011-12-13T09:59:00.002+02:00

Thanks to those who have already chosen to purchase the gift of dental work this Christmas, we were given the opportunity to take Dusya to the dentist and get her all fixed up! Many of you may have heard of Dusya from us in the past. She recently gave birth to her second child and works harder than anyone I know - hand washing clothes from well water through winter, outhouse runs in the snow with her daughter... standing at 4' 10", she is easily the littlest, but strongest woman I know.

Anika, Open Arms team member, was the gracious and patient "parent" in the dentist situation. Taking trips to the village to help Dusya with her two kids on the train, waiting hours at the dentist while the work was completed, and paying the bill when all was said and done. 4 weeks, x-rays, 2 root canals, 2 fillings, and a new tooth later - Dusya is smiling bigger than we have seen in years!

Dusya's amazing smile right after all her dental work was finished.

After children finish the orphanage much of their medical and dental help finishes as well. Years following graduation with lack of proper hygiene have led to this problem in many of our graduates. Our hope is to put the hard work in to get them each smiling bright now and continue to teach them how to take care of their teeth in the years to come. Consider joining us this Christmas in this endeavor. Check out this past blog to get the details: http://t.co/e0GSpPEN Watch the slideshow and think of this gift sitting under the tree!

THE GRATITUDE GROWS DEEPER

2011-11-28T23:02:00.000+02:00

Today Melissa and I had the opportunity to visit Vitalik in the village of Mezinivka. The weather has grown colder making day trips like these much more daunting, but I'm so glad we made our way to see him.

After Dusya, Sergei, and Vala headed back to the village of Ivanivka, Vitalik was given possession of the small house they were leaving behind. He's worked hard to make it his own, but with little jobs available in the village he has a long way to go.

Vitalik's "heater" for his house.

We found Vitalik working hard building a fence for the village's sports field when we first arrived. We had brought along wallpaper for his kitchen and were able to pay off his debt at the local store for food. More than anything, today reminded me how grateful I am to still be a part of Vitalik's life after all these years.

Vitalik is no longer the little 7^th grader with bleached blonde bangs we met years ago. He continues to struggle to maneuver his way through life and walking alongside him in his struggles is a privilege that goes beyond words.

Then: Our first summer with Vitalik - 2005

When we first started as a ministry, many people told me I needed to forget kids like Vitalik… the kids that had stolen my heart, but were too old to help, too troubled, too far gone – I need to set my sights on the younger kids. For many, Vitalik’s age wasn’t the only thing working against him. He had a great deal of anger towards authority and his stubbornness brought a lot of trouble his way. But what I saw, and still see, was an honest heart seeking to be loved.

Now: After our day visiting with Vitalik

He was so grateful for the help we brought along today and his smile said it all. For me, I was so grateful to see a kid who is growing up, working hard, and in my life against all the odds after so many years. A little brother - that’s my gift and that is why I am so thankful for every single person who has believed, prayed, and encouraged to get us to this point in ministry. Because of your help and support, Vitalik wasn’t left behind and I am so thankful for that!

THANK YOU!

2011-11-25T23:24:00.001+02:00

We are so thankful for everyone who supports us and allows us to be here in Ukraine. Yesterday we celebrated Thanksgiving with our little family here and that would not have been possible without your support and prayers. Thank you!!

CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISER!

2011-11-23T00:59:00.001+02:00

To donate, click the "DONATE" button on the right-hand side of the webpage. In the Paypal notes, please include which ministry you'd like your $25 to go to (Dental, Birthdays, or Warm Clothes) as well as your mailing address. Each card will come to your door tied with a ribbon and will include a full explanation of how your gift will be used. We so appreciate your support in these three crucial areas of our ministry!

If you would like more information about Open Arms Ukraine or this fundraiser, please email us at OpenArmsMinistry@gmail.com. And feel free to pass on this Christmas gift idea on to friends, family, churches, neighbors... :) Thank you and happy Christmas shopping!

Winter Newsletter 2011

2011-11-20T15:58:00.001+02:00

FALL GRADUATE CAMP 2011

Last month we had our first ever Fall Grad retreat. It had been on all of our hearts to have this retreat at the start of the school year in order to support the most recent graduates as they transition into life at their trade schools. We ended up having 26 kids at camp which is our biggest group yet. We were joined by the recent grads as well as some of the older kids. The theme for camp was Freedom in Christ. Our days were full of morning and night meetings, worship, small group discussions, games, skits, crafts, American football, a bonfire and s’mores night, and fellowship.

Through the various teachings on Freedom in Christ, the kids were able to start thinking and applying it to their own lives. On one of the nights we focused on forgiveness and encouraged the kids to think of a sin in their own lives that they wanted freedom from. They wrote it down on a slip of paper and later had the opportunity to burn it in a bonfire. It was amazing to see God working in their hearts and to hear some of the questions that it was stirring up within them. We are praying that God continues to reveal to them the freedom He has in store.

Overall, we had an amazing time at camp and were so thankful for all that God did. Thank you to everyone who helped us with this camp through sponsorships and prayer. We could not have done it without your support!

A FACE OF OPEN ARMS - SASHA ZAKORKO

When I think of Sasha, joyful is the first word that comes to mind. He is always smiling with a smile that takes up his entire face. He loves to joke, is constantly trying to make others laugh or playing a joke on friends. He is one of 9 children. His mother lives here in Sumy but unfortunately he has been in the orphanage since he was very little. He has a little brother that is still in the orphanage. Sasha is little for his age but makes up for it with his huge personality. Since graduating and moving to Sumy in September, we have been able to have a lot more fellowship with Sasha. He was very interested in attending church with us and comes every Sunday he can. Some of our other graduate boys play floorball and Sasha looks forward to joining them every week. He often comes back from floorball and just hangs out for a couple of hours. We are so happy to have him here in Sumy and continue to minister to him.

THE SHEVCHENKO FAMILY PROJECT

We’ve shared in the past about our love for the Shevchenko family and some of their needs and ministry opportunities. This past month they asked us for help with paying to finish up the installation of heaters in their home. We were so blessed to be able to help cover the remaining costs for the heating thanks to the donations given in response. We were just at their house this past week are happy to report that it was not only warm, but even hot! Dusya says baby Andre sleeps better and loves to be able to just lay on the bed in his diaper and smile at her now that it’s so much warmer inside. They were very blessed to receive the help and we were also blessed to be the ones to hand it to them. Thank you so much to those of you who donated!

UPDATE – SASHA PEVNIV

Sasha Pevniv – we know him as SP – many of you know him as the Sasha you spent years praying for as he struggled through the juvenile detention system in Ukraine. At the end of November, Sasha will reach his 6 month mark of freedom and he has been flourishing! It was through his time in prison that Sasha came into a personal relationship with the Lord. During a particular visit, Sasha was busy reading through the Bible and sharing about what he was learning. When asked, “what do you believe about what you are reading?” Sasha quickly replied, “How could I not believe it all to be true after all God has done for me!” This was the response of a kid in prison who had been abandoned by his mother, beaten by his teachers, and neglected by all those who were supposed to care for him. Sasha’s perspective had drastically changed as he found his Heavenly Father. The joy brought on by his release was contagious as he quickly became involved in church and within the Open Arms family. Sasha has a deep desire to know God more and follow His commands. With this desire, SP was baptized just last month and as he put, “the old SP is dead!” He also quit smoking this a month ago in a desire to get healthy and enjoy life. Sasha’s compassion, grace, and love seemingly grow daily and we are blessed to have him as a part of the Open Arms Family. Please keep SP in your prayers through these winter months as he continues to seek the Lord and live as a man.

THE PERFECT GIFT

This Christmas, we’d like to help you with your Christmas shopping! We’ve created three beautiful cards that would look smashing in anyone’s stocking or under your tree. The best part? When you buy one of these cards, you’ll be bringing light to an orphan’s life. A donation of $25 to the area of your choice will provide: Dental Care, Birthday Celebrations, and/or Warm Winter Clothes to the orphans we care for. When we receive your donation (through our website: openarmsukraine.blogspot. com or through the mail), we’ll send you your card(s), wrapped in a bow and ready to go. Much easier than hitting the mall, right? This is a great way to tell your friends and family about the ministry of Open Arms, to give a meaningful Christmas gift, and, most of all, to share Christ’s abundant love with a child in need.

More information on these cards will be coming to the blog soon! To donate, click the "DONATE" button on the right-hand side of the webpage. In the Paypal notes, please include which ministry you'd like your $25 to go to (Dental, Birthdays, or Warm Clothes) as well as your mailing address. Each card will come to your door tied with a ribbon and will include a full explanation of how your gift will be used. We so appreciate your support in these three crucial areas of our minisry!

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please Pray:

-For our American team as they deal with acquiring new visas as a result of new laws passed in Ukraine - for finances and efficiency in the process.

-For the Open Arms apartment through the winter months – that all logistics would be taken care of and for Ukrainians to run the program while our American team is home.

-For a new Open Arms apartment – we are seeking a smaller apartment to house weekend visitors and act as an office in the meantime – pray that an apartment would be found within a decent price range and that it would help our ministry grow.

-For all the children studying in Sumy; that ministry opportunities would be seized and the children would grow closer to the Lord through it all.

-For our upcoming Christmas fundraiser – that the children would be blessed in the year ahead as a result.

-For our general ministry budget to be replenished and that God would continue providing vision, opportunity, and the means to care for these broken children.

Open Arms Ukraine would like to thank everyone who helped support our graduate camp, graduation dress project, and our transitional living program these past months! Without your prayers, support, and encouragement the lives of these children would remain unreached. We are excited to share all that God has in store for this ministry and these precious children in the months ahead!

Sunday Goodness...

2011-11-06T23:39:00.004+02:00

Sunday mornings can sometimes be hectic as it is church day and there are a lot of us trying to get ready. We had 8 of us this morning and only one bathroom. The sun was shining but it was a much colder day today. But we were so excited because we had 2 new graduates join us for church this morning. Our church family was very welcoming and excited to have the new kids. It was a holiday so there was extra fellowship after church. We then took the kids to New York Pizza and we all ate our fill of pizza. One of the boys, Sasha, came back with us and hung out all day. He played card games, the Wii, and helped with dinner. He stayed as long as he possibly could and then gave numerous hugs before leaving. We are so thankful that were able to open our home to these kids.

Guest Post - Camp Update!

2011-11-03T21:12:00.000+02:00

It's been about a week and half since we wrapped up our Fall Graduate Retreat and we had so much fun! Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen. To fill you in a bit on how it went, we've got a guest blog from one of the team members we were blessed to have - Katy Catron.

Graduate Camp

In Ukraine, orphans graduate from the system at around age 17. At that point, they are connected with a trade school and sent off to live on their own. As you might expect, this system has some major flaws. Statistically, most of these precious orphans end up in lives of crime, addiction, imprisonment, and prostitution. Many factors contribute to these outcomes: trauma during childhood, trust/attachment disorders, lack of preparedness for the “real world,” lack of parental/familial support, and others. Open Arms’ goal is to give these children a hope for the future by helping them transition into post-orphanage life and providing them with a loving, stable family environment.

An important start to this relationship is Grad Camp, which was the focus of my trip. This camp occurs each year, shortly after the children graduate. Our camp was three days long and was designed entirely with the kids in mind. Outside of meeting times and small group discussions, the schedule was very loose and free. Since these kids have grown up in a very rigid, strict system (one where they're not really free to be kids), we wanted to provide a fun, retreat-like atmosphere. Breakfast was at 10:30AM every morning so that they could all sleep in, and there was no bed-time. Free time included the opportunity to play sports outside or do crafts indoors (two activities Ukrainian kids absolutely adore). Needless to say, the kids had a blast and we saw them blossom in a fun, loving environment.

The whole gang at Grad Camp!

The theme of the weekend was "Freedom in Christ." During our meeting times and small group discussions, we talked with the kids about what it means to live in Christ - what it looks like to be truly free. These children have all lived with heavy burdens on their shoulders for the duration of their young lives. We wanted to communicate to them that Christ wants to lift those burdens off of their shoulders and that He wants them to live in His love; completely free, completely accepted, and completely loved. We also talked about the decisions, actions, and attitudes that displease God and hinder our freedom and only work to hurt us. At their orphanage, a very "rules-oriented" and legalistic Christianity was presented to them. Most of them have the misunderstanding that God just wants them to follow a list of "do's and don'ts" rather than submitting their lives to His love. We saw the kids processing through these concepts with great questions. It's our hope and prayer that they will really see that their hearts are what matter to God and that they will understand and desire the freedom and love Christ extends to them.

Lena: The difference a relationship can make

I want to highlight one of the incredibly important aspects of Open Arms’ ministry: consistent relationships. All of the children who end up in an orphanage have been betrayed by or have lost the people in life who should have loved them the most. It's heartbreaking to hear their stories and to think about what each and every one of them have seen and experienced. Because of their painful pasts, there are always deep-rooted trust and attachment issues resting right below the surface. For some of the children, however, these issues don't bother to hide under a happy exterior. For some of them, their hurt and pain is the most obvious thing about them.

When I visited Pravda two summers ago, I encountered Lena for the first time. Her attitude and external appearance screamed, "BACK OFF." She constantly terrorized other kids, never smiled, was always disruptive, and often resorted to violence in her dealings with others. Honestly, I was truly scared of her at the time.

With this image of Lena in my mind, I was absolutely shocked to meet her again on this visit, as she joined us for Grad Camp. The girl I saw this time was night-and-day different from that ferociously mean girl I'd seen before. She was soft-spoken, kind, participative, and was always happy to give me a smile. I had to ask, "What happened to Lena!?"

Lena has had a very tragic past. Years ago, her father murdered her mother right in front of her. She saw her mom die at her dad's hands. Lena was then placed into Pravda Orphanage, where the director thought, "she's been shocked, she needs to be shocked again to bring her out of it." This cruel director and her husband essentially tortured Lena, filing her teeth and doing other things that Lena won't talk about. It was at this stage in her life when I first met her - that mean little monster who was lashing out at anyone and everyone around her. Now it all makes sense.

Lena today - with a smile on her face!

But that still left me wondering, how did that girl become the sweet, smiling one who came to Grad Camp? The answer is: her relationship with Open Arms. The consistent love and kindness she has received through this relationship has truly changed her life. And this transformation with Lena, while extreme, is not a unique story in this ministry. These children who have been abandoned, abused, and rejected by their parents, who have lost (or never learned) the ability to trust, are slowly learning to trust again because of the love they experience through the faithful people of this ministry. What these children are really seeing is God's love displayed to them: unconditional and unfailingly consistent.

Help Needed for the Shevchenko Family

2011-10-26T00:43:00.000+03:00

If you've followed our ministry much, you probably know about how much we love the "Shevchenko" family - Dusya, Sergey, 4 year old Vala and 7 week old baby Andre. Dusya and Sergey graduated from the Pravdinska orphanage in 2006 and have worked hard to build a happy family. Despite never having seen good parenting modeled for them, they do their best to be good parents to their two children and they love them more than anything. They fight so hard to provide for their kids and give them the family they never received. We are so privileged to work with this beautiful family and be a part of their lives!

Since spring they have been working hard to do some much needed work on their home in Ivanivka. While they were waiting for Andre to arrive, they were busy redoing bedrooms, floors, wallpaper, knocking out walls and adding on... And they have done an excellent job! This week they called us asking for help. They don't have running water, they don't have gas, and they've always heated the house with an old fashioned stove and whatever they could burn to keep it warms through the winter. But with the new baby they've decided to have electric heaters installed. They've already put in 7000 hryvna into it but they've come up short on what they need to cover the cost. They only need 2500 more hryvna, which is about $315. We've committed to helping them and are looking to see if there is anyone else who wants to help keep them warm this winter.

If you are interested in supporting the Shevchenko family please let us know. Donations can be made through PayPal [link on the right] or by mail at Open Arms Ukraine, PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580. Thank you so much for your prayers and for helping us come alongside this growing family.

Fall Grad Retreat!

2011-10-13T23:28:00.001+03:00

Fall Graduate Retreat

At the beginning of September a new class of Pravdinska graduates left the orphanage and entered into trade schools throughout the Sumy region. Twenty-five young kids out on their own for the first time. This is a time that has critical impact on their futures. Many kids after leaving the orphanage quickly find ways to use their new freedom to get into trouble. Statistically 70% of orphanage graduate boys end up in a life of crime. And 60% of the girls end up in prostituion. Adolescent alcoholism is worse in Ukraine than in almost all other European countries. And for many of these young adults, the first steps down that road are taken within the first few months of being on their own.

With that in mind, we are excited to be running a graduate fall retreat for some of these kids from October 21st through 24th. With all these freshly graduated kids, as well as the other grad kids we’ve worked with in the past, we are expecting a pretty big crowd. Our heart is to use the 4 days of camp to help set them on a course that will keep them from becoming just another sad statistic. And having known Luba, Lusya, Yaroslav and the 22 other new grad kids for years, it’s about much more than just numbers and statistics.

Melissa’s Heart
6 years ago, I came to Ukraine and spent a month with a group of kids who changed my life forever. They were ranging in age from 10-12. I instantly fell in love with them. Over the past 6 years I have been privileged to walk beside them and be a part of their lives. So many of these kids have become my family. In May, they graduated the ninth grade and left to trade school in September. We are doing a graduate camp at the end of the month and am so excited that 10 of the kids are at a trade school in Sumy. We are going to travel to the other trade schools and connect with the others. Transitioning out of the orphanage is a critical time for the kids. Choices are made that will affect the rest of their lives. Camp is such a great opportunity to plug in the kids to Ukrainian leaders here and just some good fellowship sharing how much God loves them. We will have topics about freedom in Christ. I cannot wait to see what God is going to do in our time at camp.

Teaching Freedom
As we get ready for camp, visiting kids at their schools, planning lessons, organizing games, prepping crafts,please be in prayer for us! The focus of our camp is freedom in Christ. We’ll share about grace, being a new creation and the life God really has for us. Through small group discussions and a night splitting up boys and girls, our goal is make it personal for each one of these amazing kids.

Our team of 8 Americans and 5 Ukrainians will be leading up to 40 kids throughout the weekend. Please be in prayer for our American team as they arrive in Ukraine and for our Ukrainian team as they help invite kids and organize logistical details. We are so excited to see what God will do in their hearts and the freedom that He will bring! Be praying for the finances to do all that we’re working for. Pray that God would be preparing them now for what they will hear.

If you are interested in sponsoring to help cover the cost of one of our graduates to come to camp, please contact us at OpenArmsMinistry@gmail.com or give via PayPal. The cost for one camper is $65, which covers their transportation, food, games, crafts and other supplies. We are anticipating a large group of kids and are praying that God will provide for all our needs.

Thank you for your support and prayers as we serve the graduate orphans of Sumy! We are grateful for the part you play in our ministry.

$10 Challenge - What You Did

2011-10-12T14:40:00.005+03:00

Thank you so much to everyone who was a part of our $10 Challenge! Some of gave, some of you blogged, some of you posted the link on your Facebook, some of you emailed friends and got others to join. In these past 10 days we had a total of 39 donors who gave. Thanks to your generosity the total count of donations received was $1,140!

Thank you all for your willingness to be a part of this ministry. Because of your help this month we are better equipped to pay bills, support kids at the Pravdinska orphanage, take care of grad kids with health needs, buy groceries to make meals in the Open Arms Home and celebrate birthdays. We are so thankful for each and every one of you and the role you play in our ministry!

$10 Challenge - Day 10

2011-10-10T22:56:00.000+03:00

Today is the final day of the $10 Challenge! The challenge is simple, looking for 10 new people who are willing to spare $10 so we can finish out strong. $10 can go so far in our ministry and as 10 of you give $100 can make a bigger difference than we can express.

Today's focus is on the family your donations allow us to create here for these kids. With few places to turn to, no family to trust, Open Arms has the extreme privilege of offering a trustworthy safe haven. Thank you to all for giving and for helping us minister to these beautiful children!!!

$10 Challenge - Day 9

2011-10-09T18:22:00.000+03:00

Welcome to day 9 of the $10 Challenge! Only a couple of days left so let's finish strong! Today the goal is the same as it has been the last 8 days - 10 new people giving $10 to help support the day to day ministry needs of Open Arms Ukraine. Today we're highlighting how just $10 can help keep kids healthy. Please watch the video and join us in the challenge!

$10 Challenge - Day 8

2011-10-08T21:12:00.002+03:00

$10 Challenge - Day 8! Yesterday we only got half way to the goal but we're gonna make up for it today! Hoping for 10 new people to give $10 today to help support our ministry in Sumy. With the PayPal link on the right, you can make a donation in 5 minutes! And sharing the video is as simple as hitting the little Facebook logo below and posting it to your profile. As you watch this video, keep in mind that we have multiple birthdays and Halloween we're so excited to celebrate this month! :)

[YouTube videos are not wanting to work right on the blog for some reason... Watch it on here and if you want to share the video from YouTube you can find it here.]

$10 Challenge - Day 7

2011-10-08T00:05:00.000+03:00

Day 7 of the $10 Challenge is here! Thank you to all 7 of you who gave yesterday! Didn't quite hit our goal of 10, but hoping we make it today. Watch the video below and consider taking the challenge and joining our ministry in Sumy. Thanks!

The embeded video is struggling so please follow this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=wl35hqFVd-I

$10 Challenge - Day 6

2011-10-07T01:04:00.001+03:00

Thank you to everyone who has taken part in the $10 challenge!! Today is day 6 and we are looking for more people to partner with us. Our goal in the $10 challenge is to get 10 new people each day to donate $10 dollars. The challenge goes on for 10 days with the hope of raising $1,000! Are you ready to take the challenge? Watch the video below to find out how your $10 can help!

$10 Challenge - Day 5

2011-10-05T23:56:00.000+03:00

In case you are just getting here, we're right in the middle of the Open Arms Ukraine $10 Challenge. The goal is simple - 10 people giving $10 for 10 days. The first couple days started off slow, but yesterday picked up! Special thanks to Kari Bachle for encouraging a bunch of her friends on Facebook to see what we've got going on! Anybody else who wants to follow Kari's lead and post a link on your friends pages is welcome to do so! :)

Today is day 5 and each day we're showing you just one way your $10 can help support our ministry here in Sumy. If you haven't watched the previous videos feel free to go back to the last few blogs and check them out. And be sure to watch this one and see how your $10 can help get us where we need to go!

$10 Challenge - Day 4

2011-10-04T20:01:00.001+03:00

Thank you Lauren and Andrew for giving yesterday! We've yet to get 10 people on a given day and are still hoping to make it there in a day. Let's get it done today for the Shevchenko family...

If you're interested in giving, please use the PayPal donate button on the right. And please share with your friends :)
Thanks!

$10 Challenge - Day 3

2011-10-03T22:55:00.007+03:00

Day 3 of the $10 Challenge is already here! The first two days weren't quite what we hoped but we are so thankful for those of you who did give. Please watch the video below to find out what your $10 can do and consider joining us in this challenge today!

The YouTube link was struggling, but it's here if you want to share it.

$10 Challenge - Day 2

2011-10-02T21:06:00.001+03:00

Welcome to Day 2 of the $10 Challenge! Still waiting for those donations from day 1, so we're hoping day 2 we can do double! 20 people, 10 bucks each.

Today we took a trip to the village of Ivanivka and were able to see a few kids from the Pravdinska orphanage... It was a good reminder of how much those kids need individual, loving support. Watch the video for today, share with your friends and let's see what we can do today! Donate via the PayPal link on the right. Thanks!

$10 Challenge - Day 1

2011-10-01T17:46:00.001+03:00

Last year in October we kicked off the $10 Challenge fundraiser on Facebook. The goal was 10 people giving $10 for 10 days. We were overwhelmed by the response we got - 62 donations totaling almost $2500. And so we decided to make it an annual thing. So... today we're starting the 2nd annual Open Arms Ukraine $10 Challenge!

The goal is the same - each day for the next 10 days, we're looking for 10 people to give $10. Or more if you can! :) Each day we will be posting some pics and videos sharing here on the blog of the kinds of things that $10(ish) can do. Today we're starting at home...

There you go! Give. Tell a friend. Share the video. Post it on Facebook. And be checking back here and on Facebook daily to see how it's going and how you can be involved! We're looking forward to seeing how God works through you!

September News - Camp, New Projects & Upcoming Ministry

2011-09-08T23:27:00.000+03:00

SUMMER CAMP 2011
This year’s theme for summer camp was “transformation” and it fit every aspect of our five amazing days in the woods. New location, new schedule, and many new faces were only the beginnings of the transformations that took place. Through games, skits, worship, lessons, small groups, swimming and many more activities we witnessed life transformation happening all around us; not just with the children, but within ourselves as well. Here’s a glimpse into the amazing experiences God blessed us with from the phenomenal American team who joined us to love these beautiful kids.

“Camp this year was full of so many amazing memories… what impacted me the most through our week at camp were the relationships I built with the grad students. Through our time at camp I connected with the kids and was overwhelmed with love for them. We would play games together and laugh and attempt to talk to each other. It was in those moments of not being able to communicate that we somehow bonded. It was through the smiles, hugs, laughing, and time together that I felt like the Lord was really present. This experience taught me that it is not always about what I can say but about what God can do through me. I have truly learned that there is so much power in the things unspoken if we look to the Lord and humbly ask Him to use us.” – Chelsea Rollins

“This being my 3rd year of going to Ukraine, I feel like a seasoned veteran. Camp though never ceases to amaze me and blow me away and this year particularly so. I think for some of these kids, the message we've been trying to relay to them has started to "click". I'm excited to see God grow the seed's that have been sown during camp.” – Anthony Ruiz

“One of my favorite times at camp was when the kids would teach me new words. Because they would say them so fast, my version of them would be kind of hilarious! For example, one kid tried to teach me how to say “sorry” which for the longest time I thought was "robot" (though it is actually pronounced “probach”). So, of course I got laughed at a lot, but through that God showed me that it was ok to be goofy and to just be yourself. I came to the realization that by letting myself truly open up I was also allowing God to use me better which was the reason why I was there.” – Kiki Bachle

From kids to the Open Arms staff, transformation took place all around during camp and this would never have happened without all of your help! To everyone who gave, supported, encouraged, and participated in this year’s camp: Thank you!

A FACE OF OPEN ARMS – LUBA
Luba is much like any other 16 year old girl: she is boy crazy, into fashion, and takes extra time to always look her best. What separates her from most girls her age is the fact that she has been living in an orphanage for the past 5 years. She has come a long way since we first met her those years ago; from closed off and separated, she is now loving and open to our team. It has been a privilege to watch her grow and mature while walking alongside her in the process. Luba is a strong leader among her group of friends as well as one of the most respected girls of the oldest class. Her potential for positive influence is undeniable! She loves to laugh and just sit on her bed and share all the things that have happened in her day. You will often find her bobbing her head, singing and dancing to the music that is currently playing on the radio. Luba finished the 9 th grade this past June and on the st of September she will be leaving the orphanage to begin study at a trade school. We couldn’t be happier that she will be going to school in Sumy and we will be able to see her on a regular basis. Transitioning from the orphanage to life on their own is extremely challenging for these kids. It is often in these transitions that they make choices that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Our desire is to be a support system for Luba and to help her build relationships with people who truly love her and want to help her achieve what God has planned for her.
Please join us in prayer for Luba’s transition into this new chapter of life!

UPCOMING – HEALTHCARE PROJECT
All one has to do to understand the desperate physical needs of the “graduate” children we work with is to look at their smiles. Though they are absolutely beautiful in honesty, the years of inadequate nutrition and improper hygiene are clearly evident. Teeth are rotting, gums are decaying, and some children have to squint so hard to read it is a miracle they see at all. Some children were diagnosed with liver problems and received medicine while at the orphanage, but with no one looking after these needs and no money to cover expenses, these physical necessities are left by the wayside. Our heart’s desire as a ministry is to change this reality. This is nothing out of our grasp with some help from home and if it is laid on your heart to give, we will see to it that every child possible is provided with dental work, health check-ups, and vision aids if necessary. Donate online at www.openarmsukraine.blogspot.com or send a check to PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580. Looking forward to being His hands and feet in these children’s lives in such a tangible way.

GRADUATE RETREAT – OCTOBER 2011
This October we're looking forward to kicking off the new school year for our grad kids with a weekend retreat! One of our main goals with this retreat will be to plug the new kids that have just recently left the orphanage into ministry with our Sumy team. In the weeks prior to camp we'll be making day trips to the different schools, reconnecting with kids, inviting them to join the retreat, and hopefully establishing some relationships with the trade schools' staff for future ministry as well. For many of these kids, in their post-orphanage transition, trouble starts within the first few months of their new freedom. Planning this for the beginning of their school year will allow us to help guide them from the beginning to make good decisions in their independence. Please keep the planning of the retreat in your prayers as we work on location, lesson plans, games, crafts and more!

COMING HOME

On May 24 , Sasha Pevniv finally made his way home to Sumy. Many of you have walked alongside us, through prayer, support and encouragement, as Sasha completed his 3 years at a Juvenile Colony. Thank you!! When he began his time at trade school after finishing his 9th grade education, he made a decision within the first 2 months with a group of new friends that would change his life forever. God used Sasha’s time in the Sambir Juvenile Colony to change his life for eternity. For Sasha, the Open Arms Home in Sumy is his first chance at family and he plans on making the most of his time. He is studying, playing on a floorball team with church, learning English, playing guitar and doing amazingly well in his transition. For more updates check out the blog at www.openarmsukraine.blogspot.com!

PRAYER REQUESTS
Please Pray:
- For the 25 children from the Pravdinska orphanage who will leaving on September 1st for their trade schools.
- For the Ukrainian couple, Bogdan and Natasha, staying in the team apartment with grad kids while our American team is home in the states.
- For the lessons, themes, and all the activities being prepared for the October grad retreat.
- For provisions to help with and financially cover the health, dental, and vision needs of the graduate kids in our ministry.
- For our general ministry budget to be replenished and that God would continue providing vision, opportunity, and the means to care for these broken children.

Open Arms Ukraine would like to thank everyone who helped support our graduate camp, graduation dress project, and our transitional living program these past months! Without your prayers, support, and encouragement the lives of these children would remain unreached. We are excited to share all that God has in store for this ministry and these precious children in the months ahead!

SAVE THE DATE!

2011-09-02T11:39:00.002+03:00

October Grad Camp

2011-08-29T23:52:00.000+03:00

During this year's summer camp with the orphanage graduates, we felt God calling us to more. The camp went better than anyone could've expected - with new faces (from the states, Sumy, and the orphanage) an excitement grew for holding another camp this October that will include a class of 25 new "graduates" from the Pravdinska orphanage.

The dates for camp will be October 21st - 24th and as our team works hard on the theme, location, program, etc. we invite you to pray about joining us during this amazing time. We will be spending the weeks up to camp in full preparation mode as well as visiting trade schools throughout the region to invite these amazing kids! Travel dates will most likely occur between the 17th-27th of October. Feel free to email us if you are interested in more information! It is likely to be a time you will never forget!! In the meantime, we greatly appreciate your prayers as we get hard to work on all the various planning!

Update on Roman

2011-08-27T12:49:00.000+03:00

It's almost 3am CA time... I'm up because I just got to Skype with Roman and the other boys at the apartment. I'm very happy to report that Roman is doing much better! He got permission to come home for the night and head back to the hospital in the morning for more antibiotic shots. Most of the swelling is down and he seems to be feeling much better. Praise the Lord! The doctor said it's looking good, but he'll need to keep have the antibiotics and having it cleaned out and watched at least till Monday. Roman said for the first night since it started, last night he could've slept great if it weren't for the crazy guy in his room who was hallucinating about mice and shaking them off of everyone all night. :)

Thanks so much for your continued prayers for Roman as he recovers!

Prayer Needs!

2011-08-26T05:22:00.000+03:00

Bogdan, Roman & Natasha at Rom's graduation party

Earlier this week, Mike left Ukraine to head back home. He was sad to leave and the boys were sad to have to say goodbye. Right before he left we were blessed to find out that an amazing Ukrainian couple was willing to move into our team's apartment and live with the boys until we get back! Natasha and Bogdan are involved in a local church, and Bogdan coaches and plays on the floorball team with Roman, Vlad and SP. The boys go back to school on September 1st and life will get back into a little more of a routine. We're so thankful to have Natasha and Bogdan there to help support and take care of the boys and ministry until we get back! Please keep them and Roman, Vova, SP and Vlad in your prayers.

We also have an important prayer request for one of our grad kids, Roman. For the past 5 days or so he's had a weird swelling on his cheek that has been getting worse by the day. He said he hadn't been able to sleep or eat much for a few days. He went to the hospital on Wednesday to get it checked out and the doctors admitted him and had to lance what's either some kind of boil or abscess in his cheek. He's been in a lot of pain, running a temperature and clearly has some kind of infection. They're supposed to go in and try to drain it again today because it didn't go well the first time. Please keep Roman in your prayers! He's hurting, feeling sick, bored out of his mind and will probably be there another 4 or 5 days. Pray that they would be able to kill and keep out infection. Pray that it would go better this second time they lance it today. Pray that the pain would go away and he'd start to feel better. And pray that God would use all the time he has sitting alone in the hospital to speak to Roman and work in his heart. Thanks for your support and prayer!

Trusting and Asking...

2011-08-16T10:48:00.002+03:00

If you've been keeping up on the blog lately, you'll know that thus far it's been a pretty exciting summer for us! We've had some huge blessings, some great things we've been able to do and be a part of, and a lot of ways we've been seeing God work and provide for our ministry in Sumy. It has been great to watch Him continually open doors and give us what we need for what He puts in front of us.

We're in a place right now though where, if we're honest about it, we're stretched pretty tight. So tight we are not sure how we will make it through the next month. We have been doing a lot of things on faith and trusting that God will continue to provide. Summer camp, overnights with grad kids, floorball events for the boys in Sumy. Visits with the Shevchenko family and supporting some of their remodeling. Three trips to the dentists with root canals and fillings. Extra expenses with Mike staying in the apartment with the boys. At this point, our general ministry budget is running a bit low with all we've done this summer.

We know that God is and will continue to be working and taking care of our needs and the needs of these kids, but we could use some help. As we wrap up summer, Mike heads home and we have some of our Ukrainian team continuing to run ministry in Sumy while we're gone, we would love to have you join us in support. Any amount, big or small, can help us keep going with all our various ministries in Sumy. PLEASE consider how you might be able to help, repost the blog, share on Facebook, talk to friends, tell your church, have a garage sale, start a prayer chain, or whatever else God may be putting on your heart. Gifts can be sent through PayPal or by mail to PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580.

We are so thankful for all of the support we receive in various forms! You are as much a part of this ministry as we are and we couldn't be more grateful for you all!

Dentist Visits

2011-08-12T02:33:00.000+03:00

The past couple weeks have been filled with dentist visits. So many of the kids' teeth need so much help and they often end up losing most of their teeth. This is something we want to avoid. Over the past years we have been teaching them how to take good care of their teeth. Yet, so many of them still need so much work and often are in a lot of pain. We have 3 who were in some serious pain and Mike was able to take them to the dentist. While we are so grateful they are no longer in pain, we were not expecting this extra cost. It has affected us being able to make our rent and some of our day to day expenses. We know that God will provide and are excited to see how. We are asking for prayer. If you would like to help financially can click the donate button and give through paypal or send a check to Open Arms Ukraine, PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580. Thanks for your prayers and support!

God Provides

2011-08-08T11:34:00.001+03:00

As we (Annie, Anika, and Melissa) prepared to go home for two months of fundraising and family time, we were plagued by the ever-pressing question: who is going to take care of everything while we are gone? More specifically, who is going to take care of the kids living in the Open Arms home in Sumy. God has blown us away with his provisions and rather than telling you myself about Mike's heart for these kids, I figured it would be better to hear it from the source himself.

To all,

My name is Mike Loso and I have been called to serve Open Arms in a time of need. The Lord has opened up so many doors and worked miracles to make this possible. I came to Ukraine with a team of Americans for a summer camp in early July. Before leaving for the summer camp we spent three days in the open arms apartment getting supplies and devotions ready for camp. In this time, the Lord started to build strong connections between me and the three boys who live here. The boys are Roman, Vova, and Sasha. Vlad is staying here now, so we have an apartment of 4 men and 1 kid, me being the kid of course. Throughout camp our bonds continued to grow and grow. God’s love is so amazing that no language could stop us from relating, connecting, being guys, and having a great time. These boys are amazing people. I am blessed to be apart of their world. The Lord has given me a heart for children in general, but the connections growing in my heart seamed to be different.

I believe the Lord has called me to stay with these boys because I know what its like to struggle in life. Be hurt, abandoned, lost, confused, angry, and seeking God's grace in a desperate way. The boys need an example of someone who has fallen in the mud and desperately asked the Lord for help. Annie, Anika, and Melissa are amazing example of Christ. They’re three of the most amazing believers I have even met and have done amazing things in these boys. I am not saying they don’t have examples, the boys need a man to relate to, an example of a man in a home setting. Hard when I called myself a kid earlier. The boys have limited examples of a Christ fearing man, like Bogdan, their floor ball coach. They don’t have a view of a man’s personal relationship with the Lord on a day-to-day basis. A man they live with and see the growth of the relationship. When the girls told me the boys would be here by themselves when they went home until late September, my heart took a hit. I could see their faces. Sad, confused, and lost. The boys wouldn’t be totally alone, but still. The girls and boys have established a great support group of believers in Sumy through their churches. The boys have made such great step forward. I felt for them to be left alone in the apartment would only allow the enemy another chance to sneak in and try to disrupt there progress and growth.

The whole camp and the rest of the trip God continued to tug and tug on my heart. I continued to pray and the Lord asked me to stay on one of my walks around the lake three days before I was supposed to leave for America. I will be staying until late August. In America the lord has slowed my life down, or even passed it. I was recently laid off and am living at home. So I really don’t have any attachments at home. I have full support from my family and friends. It’s great to look back and be able to understand the path the lord has you on. The lord has made this easy for me. Once the decision was made, I have not had any fear, doubt, regret, homesickness, or anything besides being in Sumy supporting these boys. That is truly the Lord’s work. This is a great time for my growth in the Lord. I am called here to be a part of these boy’s lives. So the Lord can improve all of our own personal relationship’s with him. That no matter where our journeys take us, the fellowship with our brothers and sisters is truly God’s heart beat. I am blessed to be here and so glad I heard the Lord's call.

Daniel 4:3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

We are so utterly grateful for Mike's willingness to listen to God's voice in his life! It is apparent that God has already used Mike in a huge way with Sasha, Roman, Vova and Vlad - dentist trips, floorball and sharing the truth of God's love and grace. We can't wait to keep sharing all the ways God uses these next weeks in all their lives! At the same time, plane tickets and living costs still exist for Mike and as we trust God to provide, we ask that you would consider partnering us in this time! Prayer, financial support, and encouragement - feel free to send it Mike's way as he walks in obedience! If you would like to give you can click the donate button and give through paypal or send a check to Open Arms Ukraine, PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580.

Mike, we can't lie, we kind of think you are awesome!

Summer Camp Awesomeness!!

2011-07-31T02:11:00.000+03:00

Though camp ended awhile ago, the fun just hasn't stopped. Kids are in and out of the apartment since our team arrived and it has been a beautiful thing!

The whole gang at camp

As for camp, our amazing group filled the grounds of an old communist camp, hide and go seek filled the nights in the woods, and the goodness seemed never-ending. Camp flew by and no one seemed ready for it to end.

The theme for camp was "transformation"; focusing on the decisions we make and how they define us. A lot of emotions came up during our meetings, but our small groups allowed a chance for the kids to really share what was weighing on their hearts. In between worship and lessons, the days were filled with games, crafts, swimming, hanging out and sharing a whole lot of lovin'.

Night Meeting

Uno Goodness!

Small Group

Highlights included a counselor hunt that became a two night event, t-shirt decorating, skits and nighttime hangouts lasting into the wee hours ;) Let us not forget: countless bags of sunflower seeds, a million (not to be exaggerated) games of UNO, morning exercises (of course), marshmallows galore and a whole lot of food! The kids are already pumped for our weekend retreat planned for the end of October and, to be honest, so are we!

Thank you to everyone who helped make this time possible through prayer, support, encouragement, supplies, donations... you guys are phenomenal! God moved in big ways and we were blessed to play a part in it all!

Pray & Give - Day 5

2011-07-05T01:34:00.000+03:00

Our team has made it safe and sound and the enthusiasm is contagious! We can't wait to gather the graduates and begin camp this Thursday.

PRAY: SUNSHINE!

Before all of that begins, we would love for you to join us in prayer today for the weather while we're at camp. There is rain scheduled for Thursday and Friday and we'd really prefer sunshine. One of the kids' favorite activities is swimming in the awesome river by our camp. And most of the activities we have planned are better outside in the sun. If it rains, we'll survive but it'd just be kinda great if we got sun instead. :)

GIVE: PORTABLE STOVE $100

As for giving, we absolutely love the location that camp will be held at (big praise: we have a solid location - thank you for the prayers!), the only issue is that the kitchen situation is pretty much nonexistent. We have the ability for electricity so we are hoping to buy a portable stove to help with feeding 30+ people for the duration of camp. For this, we are in need of $100.

Thank you for all of your support and prayer! Looking forward to keeping you all updated on how things go!

Pray & Give - Day 4

2011-07-02T00:22:00.001+03:00

We're so blessed by all of you who have been praying, giving and encouraging us as we're in the midst of our final preparations for camp! All of our giving needs have been met so far, which is awesome. Thank you Emily and Amy for covering transportation and finishing off our guitar! Today we bought a 4 liter "thermopot" water heater and will hopefully be able to make some more purchases this weekend. Thank you all!!

PRAY: AMERICAN AND UKRAINIAN TEAM

Some of our Ukrainian team

Our American team flies in on Monday and our Ukrainian team has been making phone calls and planning lessons and getting ready. We are looking forward to having them all together and seeing what God will do through our amazing team! Please be in prayer for our team, both the Ukrainian and American parts.

-Pray that our American team [Mike, Tony, Chelsea, Kiki] would have safe travels on Sunday and Monday
-Pray that as we meet and finalize plans with our Ukrainians [Gala, Vova, Natasha, Alona, Ira, Ruslana, Vova] that things would work out and that God would direct it all
-Pray that our team, despite language and cultural barriers, would gel together and be able to work as a whole
-Pray that each of our team members would have opportunities to share with these kids and that lives would be changed through them

GIVE: ICE CREAM SUNDAES! $100
One night at grad camp we'd love to be able to have a "make your own sundae" party! Our camp location [pending between a couple places... maybe tomorrow it will finally be solid] will be a bit outside the city, so making this happen will take some effort and planning. We'll need to get a taxi to take us into town and pick up ice cream, M&Ms, chocolate syrup, coconut shavings, whip cream, Oreos and whatever other goodness we can find! Like we've been saying, if you'd like to give towards helping with our sundae night use the PayPal link on the right. Thanks!!

Pray & Give - Day 3

2011-07-01T00:06:00.000+03:00

Thanks to everybody for all your prayers for our team after yesterday's post. Thank you to Emily and Jim and Karen for contributing towards to water heater yesterday! Still waiting to hear on a camp location. And still hoping to get another $100 towards the guitar we talked about on day 1, just in case you want to contribute to that. :)

PRAY: KIDS COMING TO GRAD CAMP

We've been making phone calls to lots of kids inviting and reminding about camp next week. Today our prayer request is for all the kids that will come to camp exactly a week from today. A lot of things can contribute or distract from them coming, even if they're planning on it. Family dynamics play a lot into it, as a lot of them live with or near family members who strongly influence their decisions. A lot of different things can prevent them from coming. We're praying that Satan would have no opportunities to stop them from making their way to Sumy to get on the bus to camp.

-Pray for all the kids that have said they'd come to be able to follow through with their decisions

-Pray that kids we maybe haven't even invited to come to mind or hear about it and be able to come

-Pray that no one and nothing would be able to keep them from coming next week

-Pray that God would be working in their hearts right now to prepare them for the things we'll be talking about at camp

GIVE: TRANSPORTATION $150

With all the praying for these kids to be able to come to camp, today we're asking for some financial help to actually get them there. We'll be renting a bus to take kids from Sumy to the camp and to get us all back home after. The cost will be somewhere right around $150 for both ways. Please consider giving towards our transportation costs by donating through PayPal with the link on the right side of the page. If you don't feel like giving is for you, add it to your prayer list and use the links below to share through Facebook, Twitter, email, etc. and get other people praying and giving!

Pray & Give - Day 2

2011-06-29T18:26:00.001+03:00

Thanks so much to Katy and Kari for giving towards the guitar yesterday! We'd still love to get another $100 to fully reach our guitar goal if you're interested in helping. :) Thank you all for all of the prayers for our camp location issues! Making some more phone calls today and will hopefully know more by tomorrow.

PRAY: ENCOURAGEMENT
Gonna be really honest today and let you guys know how we're feeling here, as the Sumy team. We've all felt recently that we're really coming under spiritual attack. Yesterday morning we were feeling it and had a good prayer time. But despite the extra prayer yesterday was rough. Our little cat fell out of the window [we live on the 10th floor]. She survived and while she's currently still hanging on [with a broken leg and one less tooth] she's not doing great and it adds a lot of emotional stress. Melissa has something that seems to be out in her back. She's been having problems with it for a while now but it seems to get progressively worse every day. The pain is really affecting everything she does, sleep included. There's a lot going on in our families at home which is always hard when you're on the other side of the globe.

Sumy team with 3 of the kids on Roman's birthday - Vova, Melissa, Roman, Anika, Sasha, Annie

Lots of ups and downs here throughout each day. One of our grad girls shared some really hard stuff she's going through. Then we've got Roman's graduation from his trade school tomorrow and we're all really excited for him. Feels like God is really working in the hearts of some of these kids we work closely with, but there is a lot of opposition. Plenty of things we need to get done in these last few days before our team arrives and with everything going on we're having a hard time staying focused, encouraged and productive.

-Pray for extra encouragement for our team here, Annie, Melissa and Anika
-Pray also for the kids we have staying at our apartment right now as the ups and downs are effecting all of us, them included
-Pray for healing in Melissa's back/neck
-Pray that we'd be able to focus and stay productive in our prep for the the plans in these coming, busy weeks

GIVE: WATER HEATER $60

Something kinda like this one

We'll be boiling a lot water for all the tea/coffee/cooking for as many kids and team members as we'll have at camp. And doing it all in a little "hot pot" makes it really hard to keep up with. We're hoping to be able to purchase a big water heater/percolator that does something more like 40 cups as opposed to 4 or 5 like we have now. This is a purchase that's been on our wish list for a while now... So nice to have when we have grad events, or even just when we have couple of kids over at the apartment. It would be a huge help to us to have at camp also because we have to purify the water before we give it to our Americans to drink it. :) If you'd like to give, in part or in total, towards a giant water heater you can donate through PayPal [link on the right].

Thanks again for all of the support and love! We're so thankful to have such a great group of supporters to lean on for prayer, encouragement and pretty much anything else we ask for. You guys are the best.

Pray & Give - Day 1

2011-06-28T18:12:00.000+03:00

Six days from today our American team will be coming to Ukraine for a 2-week trip to support ministry here in Sumy. We are so excited to have them coming and for what God will to do through them while they're here. In these days as our Sumy team is preparing for their arrival and putting together all the details of what we'll be doing, we'll be posting on the blog prayer and financial needs for some specific plans and things we're working towards while the American team is here.

Many of you gave to help sponsor kids to be able to come to our grad camp from July 7th-11th. Thank you so much for all of you who contributed!! We had so much fun last year and cannot wait to do it again! Our 2 needs we're asking for your help with today are both for our grad camp.

PRAY: CAMP LOCATION

As Americans who like schedules and planning ahead it always seems a little crazy. But Ukrainian time schedules don't always line up with what we might prefer. While we'd like to have already secured our reservation for our places at the camp, we're still working on getting all those details firmly in place. We're trusting that God will work it out and we'll be able to have it all nailed down this week, but we're asking for you to join us in prayer.

-Pray that the camp would confirm our reservation
-Pray that the mosquitos wouldn't eat us alive like last year :)
-Pray that God would use the seclusion of our little camp spot to work in the hearts of the kids coming.

GIVE: GUITAR $150
One of the things the kids loved last year was being able to sit and sing worship songs each night. The guitar that came last year won't be there this year and so we're hoping to be able to purchase one in the next week. One of our Ukrainian leaders that will be at camp would love to be able to teach some kids and lead worship for us, but we do need a guitar to do that. The cost will be about $150 for a guitar and case. If you're interested in giving, in part or the total amount, towards us purchasing a guitar to have for grad camp [and after] please use the PayPal button on the right and let us know you'd like to help with the guitar.

Thank you for your prayer and support! We are so grateful for all that you guys do as a part of this ministry! Please feel free to share the link and past the prayer request around to others! And check back often this week as we'll be posting more prayer and giving needs.

Furniture!

2011-06-20T19:06:00.001+03:00

Been meaning to say this for a couple weeks now... Thank you so much to all of you who helped contribute to buying us some new furniture! We are so excited for the new things that we have and how much they've helped our comfort and organization in our little home here in Sumy. Wanna see what you all bought us?

Annie now sleeps on this real, live mattress, a great change compared to the "padded table" she used to have. She and her new mattress have been getting along great. :)

My and Melissa's room went from this embarrassing and scary mess...

To this! You can see our awesome new closet [complete with the first full length mirror we've had in 3+ years!] on the right.

And now when we have kids over, they get to sleep on this great new bunk bed instead of the old "orphanage" bed we used to have for them.

We are so grateful for everyone that gave and allowed us to buy this furniture! I don't think I can express the way it's changed our apartment and how it feels to us. We are so blessed! Thanks again for each of you and how you're a part of our ministry and our lives.

Sponsor a Kid for Grad Camp 2011!

2011-06-02T14:38:00.004+03:00

Last year, we were able to hold an amazing 3-day retreat in the woods for 16 orphanage graduates. Days were filled with swimming, games, worship, and fellowship. After such a great experience, we are so excited for round 2 to take place this July. Bigger, better, and more awesome than ever! A 5-day camp will be held by a beautiful river as Ukrainian and American leader join us to shower these kids with God's love and the message of His grace.

We are anticipating 25 graduates to join us and in order to pull it off, we need your help. It costs $80 to house, feed, transport, and care for one graduate for the 5 day, rock-solid camp. Games, lessons, crafts, and good times await.

If you would like to help send a child to camp, whether by fully sponsoring or buy offering a $10 contribution, please let us know! Camp dates are July 7th-11th, but to help us be fully prepped by then, our goal is to have sponsors for 25 kids in the next 25 days. You can send donations to Open Arms Ukraine via PayPal or mail. [PayPal link on the top right. Mail to: PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580]. If you can't help financially, help by spreading the word through Facebook, Twitter, email, etc! We can't wait to let you all know what your support and prayers made happen this year and see how God works!

Welcome Home SP!

2011-05-29T19:42:00.000+03:00

Just a short update, in case you haven't been following on Facebook or Twitter... SP is finally home!!

It was a crazy journey and we're all still adjusting but thus far, it's beautiful.

[More pictures and quick updates on the Facebook if you're interested.]

Operation Free SP - Prayer Need Update!

2011-05-03T17:58:00.001+03:00

4 1/2 years ago I met a kid named Sasha. He was quickly nicknamed Cool Sasha, to help us differentiate him among the millions of Sashas here (and simply put: he's cool). Cool Sasha quickly grew into someone I consider my brother. And more often than not I refer to him as such or simply as SP.

I've never awaited a single event with such great anticipation as I have SP's release from prison.

People anticipate countless events in life - going to college, your wedding day, a new job, the birth of a baby... For me, my greatest anticipation has been completely unexpected. I never thought the event I would so anxiously await would be a kid's release from a juvenile detention center, but then I guess that is the beauty of God's plan... you really never know where He might lead.

This release was first anticipated to take place at the end of March only to be postponed till the end of April (disappointing, but manageable - things never go the way you think they will in Ukraine). Turns out April is just a big holiday here in Ukraine and so, the motto becomes: why work at all?! As a result, the prosecutor and judge have decided to take care of the April kids awaiting release with the May kids; I mean, what's one more month in prison in the scheme of things - except an eternity to a kid who has been doing everything asked of him in order to be released.

We received this news around lunchtime today and within hours SP had somehow found the number to our translator and called. Not super crazy except that they aren't allowed phones in prison and only the Assistant Chief would have her number - so, totally crazy! His one message was simple, "tell them to come here as soon as they can." So, tickets are purchased, but not with the same joy expected. We had been preparing hearts and home for his return, but this trip will commence on Thursday with a visit Friday or Saturday to somehow, hopefully make a difference in his release date. So, we ask you to pray with us. Throughout the day specifically at 9am, 1pm and 5pm please join us in prayer for Sasha. We'd love to be able to encourage him by telling him that there are people in America praying 3 times a day for him. Pray for a miracle and even more for the protection of Sasha's heart. Pray for an open door and encouragement for all of us. Even for the kids here who have been so excited to have such an integral part of our family with us again.

Trusting God's unforeseen, ever perfect plan.

Annie

Party Like a 4 Year Old!

2011-05-02T22:35:00.003+03:00

This weekend we had the privilege of having the beautiful "Shevchenko" family over [along with 3 other graduates] to celebrate Vala's 4th birthday!

Things were a little crazy with 10 people staying in 800 square feet of apartment, but I think it's safe to say that fun was had. We had Dusya and Sergey take Vala out for a little while as we decorated the apartment.

Her pretty little face lit up at the sight of flowers, streamers, balloons and a butterfly cakes - all for her.

McDonald's for dinner, presents from us, her family and friends, and even from some other friends in America. She was definitely a bit spoiled. :) We had a crazy and beautiful day celebrating Vala, our little bundle of energy and excitement! We are thankful to have been in her life since she was just 5 weeks old and look forward to continuing to watching her grow up...

Please be in prayer with us for this precious little family as they're going through a lot of changes right now. They also just moved back to the village, Ivanivka [literally right next to the Pravdinska orphanage]. There is a lot of work to be done on their house and they're working hard to save money and be able to fix the things that need it. We're hoping to be able to help them with as much as we can.

Also, you may have noticed a little baby bump in the family picture... We are excited to share that Dusya and Sergey are expecting their 2nd baby in early September! Vala is so excited to become a big sister! Dusya and baby are both doing well right now. She did have to have an emergency operation last year after some medical complications, and we're a little concerned about her having issues because of that. Please keep her and the baby in prayer, as well as the rest of their family. We will keep you all posted!

Thanks for your support and prayers! We're so thankful to have all of you and wouldn't be able to be a part of the Shevchenko family without you.

Bunk Beds!

2011-04-27T00:17:00.000+03:00

With summer fast approaching we're prepping for having more kids over in our apartment more often. Typically during the school year we have kids come over on most weekends. During the summer months many of them have no where safe to be and so we have some stay with us for a good portion of the summer. With SP coming home in the next couple weeks, we're adding another body to the mix as well.

Beds in our apartment have kind of been a scarce commodity since we moved here... Melissa slept on a pool floaty on the floor for months. :) We finally purchased a bunk bed last year for Melissa and Anika's room and are currently working on adding a couple more good bed spaces. Annie's bed is essentially a padded table and the bed the kids use the most is a bit pathetic. Today we shopped around a bit for a bunk bed for the kids and a mattress for Annie's bed. We'd like to be able to accommodate as many kids as comfortably as we can and a bunk bed definitely help! We even looked at some standing closets to store clothes, towels, blankets and such [closets aren't built in here and our apartment didn't come very furnished].

We don't have much extra money in our budget to spend on bunk beds and mattresses or closets. The bunk beds in the picture will cost about $450 [including mattresses], a mattress for Annie's bed will be around $100, and a closet would be somewhere between $175-$250. Bunks and the mattress are our biggest needs right now and we would love your help in getting them! If you'd like to contribute to helping us buy some furniture you can donate through PayPal or by mail [all the info is to the right]. Just put in a note that you'd like to help with apartment furniture. Any amount is helpful! And if you also can't afford Ukrainian furniture, we'd appreciate your prayers! :)

Prayer Needed for Orphanage Ministry!

2011-04-25T18:26:00.003+03:00

For the past year or so we've had some problems getting in to do ministry at the Pravdinska orphanage. Basically Ukraine changed the way you can be approved for visits to the orphanage and they are now requiring registration as the Ukrainian equivalent of a non-profit. In the past our American registered non-profit has been sufficient for us to work under but now we needed more. Some good friends of ours, Andrew and Jenny Kelly, run an organization called Jeremiah's Hope. They do similar work with orphans and graduates, own a camp outside of Kiev and run an amazing ministry there. At the end of last year they graciously offered to take us under their organization for the sake of saving time and money in registering Open Arms here in Sumy. We've been working since then to put together the necessary documents and meetings to get us back into the Pravdinska orphanage and hopefully other orphanages in the Sumy region.

Tomorrow morning we've got a scheduled phone call with the head of the department of education in Sumy. The phone call is to make sure this woman has time and will hopefully allow us a meeting tomorrow to go over our documents and begin the paperwork for allowing us back into the orphanages for visits. Please be in prayer for us as we prepare for the meeting, whether it turns out to be tomorrow or later. We're nervous as this meeting could define our future in ministry in the orphanages in Sumy! 10pm California time is when we'll be making the call to find out about the meeting. Watch the Twitter for updates and please keep us in prayer!

Korshachin

2011-04-20T20:24:00.010+03:00

Last week I had an opportunity to take part in a program our friends from a local church carried at a village called Korshachin. It is a small village 40 minutes outside of Sumy. They had been attending to the children for a few years now, & I’d been very curious to join them for their next trip. All I knew - was that there are about 30 kids that are all attending one school in the village, & that the director of the school is very open.

First impression about the village – is its devastated infrastructure. Abandoned farms & crooked small houses are “complimented” by weeds on the sides of a very bad road… Seeing this picture you know what to expect from meeting the local kids – wrong size clothing & distanced behavior. & as soon as you’re out of the car – you see that you were absolutely right about the clothing, but just as absolutely wrong about the behavior. The material need there is huge. On a pretty chill day some kids wore slippers, some wore jackets that must had been worn by their parents... Their clothes are all ridiculous & old & torn... & at the same time - those were some of the most open & friendly children I’d ever met.

We carried our program, doing games, songs & a short movie. Later, as the children were watching the movie, some of us went outside & hid 55 small plastic bags all over the school territory. The kids had to break into two teams & find all the bags that contained some candy & small bit of the Easter story printed on a piece of paper. Later they all had to put together the story in the proper order & tell it as they know it. It was really amusing to watch.

I made friends with a new boy that nobody knew. He looks like he’s 4, but I was told he is 6. He had a torn & fixed, torn & fixed (repeat that ten more times) dirty jacket, & a fresh scratch on his face. It took me over half an hour to get a word out of him, but after that he told me that his name was Andrii, told me about his family & what he likes to do.

It was heartbreaking to think that our small few-hour long activity was such a bright & big gig in the eyes of these children. At the end we gave them each a bag with some fruit & they all went home. Having met some of the parents – it is even more heartbreaking to think what their homes are like. The scarcity the people of that village live in is pretty serious. & all of it - no jobs, no decent income & very poor cultural education of these families - is what these children are surrounded by.

But the greater need is still - the redemption that the Only Son of God can offer.

September Newsletter [Just a bit late]

2011-04-15T18:22:00.012+03:00

Just realized that we never posted this on the blog. It's kind of old news by now, but read anyway. :)

LEAVING A LEGACY – ALINA AND DASHA

We met 16-year-old twins, Alina and Dasha a year and a half ago at Pravdinska, just shortly after they had arrived at the orphanage. Their mother had passed away following a battle with cancer and they were placed in the orphanage system. Despite their pain and grief, there was an obvious hunger for relationship and a way to share their lives with people. At the Open Arms summer camp in June 2009, both Alina and Dasha found themselves a place at the orphanage, making friends and connecting with their team leaders. At the end of camp, both girls accepted Christ into their hearts and were filled with a new hunger – to share with everyone about their new relationship with God. Both girls would talk and ask questions about God as often as someone would listen.

It has been a blessing to watch them grow in their individual relationships with the Lord and see their passion for Him. God gave Open Arms the opportunity to help a beautiful Christian family get to know the girls before they even met, as they began the process of adopting the twins months ago. Just this month, Alina and Dasha were brought home into their new forever family. Before leaving, the girls seemed to have an even more fervent passion to share about God with their friends at the orphanage. It was important to them to leave behind a legacy of following Christ, even when life was hard in the orphanage. This summer, Alina and Dasha led two others at Pravdinska to the saving grace of knowing Jesus as their Savior. We are so thankful to have been a part of their lives while they were here in Ukraine! And we look forward continuing to watch them grow in their new home and family in America. We can’t wait to see what God will do in and through these strong and beautiful girls in the future.

GRADUATE RETREAT 2010

In June, Open Arms experienced a dream come true as we held a graduate retreat for orphans throughout the Sumy region. We are happy to report that it not did the retreat take place, but it also far exceeded our expectations. 16 graduates attended our 2 night, 3 day retreat on the river as a team of American and Ukrainian leaders poured out their hearts for these amazing kids. We were able to rent an actual camp that was opened specifically for our use. With a lake, volleyball court, and paddle boats it became the perfect location for fruitful fellowship.

There was much fun to be had, as we played games, roasted hot dogs, swam in the lake and introduced the kids to S’mores. The games were hilarious to watch as the kids really dove in and showed their competitive sides. Faces were covered in egg, taste tests took place, and so much more. Swimming in the lake was one of the favorite ways to pass time and the dock created great opportunities for the boys to show off, do flips and crazy stunts. Special moments included testimonies from the leaders as they shared what God was doing in their lives as well as great times of worship and singing. One of the favorite nights was when girls and boys were separated, which allowed for a more personal environment. Leaders were able to share about what it means to be a woman or man of God and the struggles men and women have in their relationships with God specifically.

This was our first graduate retreat but Lord willing it will not be our last. It reiterated the fact that these kids are in dire need of stable relationships and to know they are truly valued and loved. Thank you all who supported us to make this possible.

A FACE OF OPEN ARMS - VITALIK KUZMIN

Vitalik is an extraordinary kid who captures your heart with his freckled face and perfectly crooked smile. There is an honesty in his eyes that is remarkable considering the years of abuse and neglect he has faced in his life alone. Though Vitalik has 2 older brothers and an older sister, none of them ever knew him as they were taken into the orphanage system before Vitalik was even born. At the tender age of 4, Vitalik was forced to scavenge for his own food by any means as his parents spent their days too drunk to put food on the table. As he said, “it is hard to remember a single day where my parents weren’t so drunk that they were actually able to feed me.” As he began stealing food from the streets, he remembers the kind store workers who would allow him food without a beating. Beatings at home were also a common occurrence, but Vitalik refused to let the pain break his spirit. At the age of 6, abuse and neglect became apparent to neighbors and Vitalik was taken into the orphanage system. He eventually made his way to the Pravdinska Orphanage in 2007 where he quickly won over the hearts of the Open Arms team. He recently spent his summer in America with a family in California which only further proved Vitalik’s rare ability to connect, love, and interact. His affectionate hugs easily become a highlight for anyone who meets him. He dreams of becoming an architect, but most importantly, he wants to have a family he “supports and shows love to every day”.

Please join us in prayer for Vitalik’s future, his dreams, and the protection of his precious heart.

PROTECTION – FENCE PROJECT

Dusya and Sergei “graduated” from the Pravdinska Orphanage in 2006; shortly after, Dusya gave birth to their little girl Vala. The three members of the Shevchenko family have since become an integral part of Open Arms graduate ministry. After finishing his time at the Krasnapolye trade school for tile work, Sergei was granted property from the trade school through the government of Ukraine. Working to make this house a home has proven a difficult task as the walls literally crumble with the touch of your hand. A well exists nearby, but without water or gas, approaching winter is a foreboding reality. When asked how our recent missions’ team could help with their home construction, rather than asking for the convenience of gas or running water, Dusya and Sergei quickly responded with a request for a fence. Their home is shared with other neighbors and in the coming months a neighbor will be returning from prison after his stay there for murder. In order to bring a sense of protection and privacy for their family, the Open Arms team was able to spend time this summer through financial gifts from many at home to build a fence for this amazing family! Thank you to all who supported this endeavor!

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please Pray:

-That God would give us all we need to quickly complete our registration as a Ukrainian non-profit organization.

-For Sasha Pevniv in the Sambir Juvenile Colony. Pray for his strength in the last 5 months of his sentence and that we would be able to find a transitional program or mentor for him.

-That our financial needs would be met as we work to expand our ministry in Sumy.

-For the planning and carrying out of a winter graduate retreat: that kids would come, be challenged and see God’s love for them.

-For Dasha and Alina as they transition into their new family and home. That their legacy would continue both at Pravdinska and now in the US.

Open Arms Ukraine would like to thank everyone who helped support our graduate retreat, fence project, and juvenile prison program. Without your prayers, support, and encouragement the lives of these children would remain unreached. We are excited to share all that God has in store for this ministry and these precious children in the months ahead!

Operation Free SP - Prayer Request

2011-04-14T15:19:00.005+03:00

We had hoped that by now Sasha would be home, but we're excited that things are progressing and he will hopefully be out soon! [If you missed the last update, you can catch up here.] We're told that on Monday he'll go through the "commission" which is the official start of his exiting process. After that there will be a court hearing and a waiting period for everything to go through. We're not exactly sure how long after that before he's out, but it should be somewhere between 1 and 2 weeks.

Please be in prayer for SP and all the officials and paperwork in the next couple of weeks! We should know more on the 19th, but we'd appreciate your prayer for smooth sailing in this last stretch! And that God would continue working in Sasha's heart, preparing him for this next stage of life. And for us in preparing to help him transition into it. Thanks!

[We're also excited to have some new pictures and not have to keep reusing the same ones!]

Team Effort - Grad Ministry Plans

2011-04-04T14:42:00.004+03:00

This weekend we had a meeting with our team of Sumy volunteers to talk about future plans for mainly graduate ministry. Lots of talks about how to help specific kids, what kind of events to do, and plans for graduate summer camp. We're so blessed and excited to have a team that is so eager and willing to help love on these kids and bring truth into their lives!

Please keep us in your prayers in the coming weeks as we work on plans for the next 6 months of graduate ministry. Some of the main things to pray for are:
- An Easter weekend event
- A [Lord willing] 5-day summer retreat in the end of June
- Matching kids and leaders for focused relationship building and discipleship
- Applying for some Ukrainian grant money for a community center in Sumy

Update - Operation Free SP

2011-03-25T23:41:00.002+02:00

We had a visit with Sasha this week on Wednesday. He said to tell everyone hi. :) Hopefully this visit will have been our last because a month from now, he'll be getting out. Tomorrow marks his 3 years, and he should've been getting out at that point. His release is dependent on going through a court hearing that approves his official release. That court process happens once a month, and he missed the March process because it started 2 days before his 3 years were official. :( We were sad to hear that it'll be another month, but hopefully this last month will go quickly. The next court process will start next month any time on or after the 3rd Monday in April. And then 1-2 weeks after that, he should be released.

We were able to meet, by a nerve-invoking happenstance, the head "prosecutor" of the Lviv region. He basically has control to deny or allow Sasha's release next month. He was nice and seemed to like hearing about what we do and that we want to help Sasha's transition out. We talked for a few minutes and he actually guaranteed us that SP would be out next month! We're taking that as a good sign and praying that all goes through without any problems!

Please continue to keep Sasha in your prayers as the days drag on for him. He is so ready to be out. Pray that all the court and paperwork process at the prison will go smoothly and quickly next month. Pray for us as we continue to prepare for Sasha's homecoming and transition. Pray that God will use this extra month to teach Sasha total dependance on and surrender to Him.

Operation Free SP

2011-03-04T02:35:00.007+02:00

Over the course of the past 3 years, we have had the amazing privilege of traveling across the country of Ukraine once a month to visit a young man named Sasha Pevniv. He has been serving his sentence in the Sambir Juvenile Colony in western Ukraine for most of that time. He is the reason that we began our prison ministry there, and now it's hard to imagine life in Ukraine without it. Once a month we take a 20 hour trip, a train-bus-taxi combo, from Sumy to Sambir to spend about 3 or 4 hours with this kid, just to turn around and go back from Sambir to Sumy. Those 40+ hours of travel are what bring our team to our favorite time of each month - our visit with SP.

We often skip using his full name and just call him SP. He liked the initials thing and started calling us MS, the initials for "moya simya," Ukrainian for "my family." We are truly privileged to be Sasha's family and to have watched him grow in these last 3 years. No one would deny the fact that he made bad choices that lead to his time in a juvenile prison, but this now 20-year-old young man is not the same kid that we knew back then. Sasha reads his Bible and regularly asks questions about God and shares with us the things that God is teaching him. He has a passion for life that is unlike anyone else we know and it's clear that God is doing great things in his heart. In our visits with him, Sasha often talks about the things he wants to change when he's out, how he wants to be better, what he'll do differently.

In the next couple of weeks we will have our last visit with our Sasha, because in about a month he will be free. Dates are a little uncertain because of the way the Ukrainian system works, but on March 26th he will have served 3 years and pending his court hearing to officially allow his release, he will be out within the first couple weeks of April!! At some point, we started calling this whole process "Operation Free SP." A this is a day we've been waiting years for. There really aren't words to describe our excitement.

Please be in prayer with us as we count down these last days till SP is out and home with us again in Sumy. There are some legal documents that need to be filled out, and a court date somewhere around March 26th to officially approve his release. Pray that things go smoothly with the paperwork and in our dealings with the prison officials. Once he's back in Sumy, we will be working to help him transition back to "normal" life and continuing to process everything he's been learning the past 3 years. Pray that God continues to work in Sasha's heart and gives him the strength he needs to make changes and keep becoming a better man. Pray that God would give us the wisdom we need to help Sasha transition and that we'll be able to support him in the best way we can.

There will be hard days without a doubt, but we are so excited to see what God is going to continue doing in Sasha's life and in the lives of those around him! As much as we've challenged and taught him, he has equally challenged and taught us as well. We know that there will be more mistakes in the future, but we are so excited to walk along side him through whatever ups and downs the future holds. We are thankful to be family and can't wait to have our brother home.

Update from Our Trip to the South

2011-02-17T09:08:00.007+02:00

If you've been following our updates on Facebook/Twitter lately you've probably seen that we did some traveling last week. From the 4th till the 12th we [Annie, Melissa and Anika] were in 3 different states sharing about Open Arms, visiting family, seeing old friends and making some new friends. We were so very thankful to have been sponsored on this trip by the Koester family! They made it all possible by flying us out, loaning us their car, housing us a few nights. [How we forgot to ever take a picture with you guys, I don't know!] They also helped us get connected in the Atlanta area where we started everything off. We were pretty busy all week... We made stops in Asheville and Charlotte, NC. We also went to Richmond, VA. Back down to NC and then out of Atlanta, GA!

On the 5th, we were able to meet up with the Dowd, Samstag, McAlpin and [a part of] the Shanks families for a few hours. We had a great time talking about the kids, our ministry, struggles and triumphs, and plans for this next year. We got to see Jenson, Losha and Natasha, who were all adopted from the Pravdinska orphanage over the course of this past year and are now at home in Georgia. It was so great to seem them all again! Thanks to all of you who drove all the way to see us, we had so much fun!

On Monday morning we drove to North Carolina and stayed at the Pheil home [Anika's aunt and uncle] in Asheville. We got to share with a group of their friends that evening and had a nice time talking over dinner after. It was great to meet some new people and get to share our story with them for the first time. Thanks Carlyn and David for opening your home to us and for letting us share with your friends!

After Asheville we made a stop in Charlotte to pick up Alona Kosenko! She is a Pravdinska graduate who is studying in NC on a student visa. We were all so excited to see each other again after over a year! We drove with Alona from Charlotte to the Barner family's home [Annie's aunt and uncle] just outside of Richmond, VA. Wednesday night we were able to share in a church out there. The church took a special offering for us to help with our trip and we were blessed by their generosity and kindness. Thanks to the Barner family for all your hospitality!

After Virginia the four of us took a quick trip to the coast of North Carolina on our way back out and had so much fun spending time with Alona and getting to catch up with her! Saturday we drove back to the Koester house and Kara dropped us off at the airport.

We were blessed in so many ways on this trip! Southern hospitality treated us well. :) We got to go places we hadn't been before and had so much fun being shown around! Thanks to all the families who let us stay in their homes, fed us, introduced us to friends, drove out out to meet us, spoiled us, let us share, gave us support, and showed us love. We really had a great time and were so blessed personally and as a ministry. Thank you!

P.S. If you want to see a few more pictures they're here on Facebook

Atlanta-Area Visit Info

2011-02-04T04:00:00.002+02:00

Alrighty friends near Atlanta [or elsewhere if you feel like driving to see us]! We've got some locations for this Saturday. We decided to go casual since we know its hard to get time on a Saturday kinda late notice. :) We've got a good chunk of time we'll be around to talk though so please feel free to come and meet us when it works best for you! If you do know when and where works best for you, let us know so we can be looking for you [openarmsministry@gmail.com]!

From 1-4ish, we will be at Starbucks in Cummings, just pass Alpharetta. The address is 435 Peachtree Parkway, Cummings, GA 30041.

If you can't make it in that time frame or don't like coffee, we'll be at CiCis Pizza in Roswell from about 5-7:30. Family friendly, buffet style pizza, so bring the kids if you want! CiCi's is at 10516 Alpharetta Hwy, Roswell, GA 30076.

And if you don't like pizza but missed the earlier coffee time, you have one last chance! I love coffee so why not once more? :) Back at the same Starbucks in Cummings from 8-10ish.

If you have any questions or can't find us on Saturday you can call me, Anika, on my cell 562) 285-8632. We really hope to see as many of you all as we can! We've got a lot of exciting things planned for Open Arms this year and would love to be able to share them with you. We'll have prayer cards and some basic info for you to take home if you're interested. Looking forward to seeing you soon!

January Fundraising Results

2011-02-02T04:09:00.002+02:00

You probably know by now that Open Arms received a generous matching gift of $5000 for our fundraiser dinner on January 15th. The matching donation offer was extended to include donations for the whole month, giving us a chance to meet our full goal.

Our total donations from and after the LA Dinner - $5,422! Which will be matched with another $5000, total $10,422! Thank you so much to the 38 people who gave! And to all of your who prayed and shared with friends and helped us reach our goal! We're so thankful to have such an awesome support base!

Save the Date!

2011-01-25T03:00:00.002+02:00

How YOU Can Help Us Raise $10,000!

2011-01-20T02:27:00.007+02:00

That past Saturday, Open Arms held a fundraiser dinner in Paramount, CA. We had a great time sharing some highlights of what God did this past year and our plans for 2011. Thank you so much to all of you who came out and joined us in support of our ministry! And thanks to those of you who couldn't come and chose to donate instead! With all of your help, we raised $2,662! Praise God!

You probably heard, that we had a generous donor commit a matching donation for our dinner up to $5,000. Because we didn't reach that goal at the dinner, they have extended the offer to match donations till the end of the month! That means if we can raise another $2,338 by January 31st, it will be matched, added to what was given at the dinner and total $10,000! That much support will be able to fund Open Arms Ukraine in our general ministry for 4-5 months! In that time period, our ministry will include things like working on camp programing for this summer, orphanage ministry growth, graduate retreats, the release/rehabilitation of Sasha Pevniv in the end of March [!!!], and new village outreach in Mezanivka.

Please consider how you can help us reach this goal. Any amount, big or small will be doubled and get us a little closer to our goal. Donations can come through PayPal [big blue "Donate Now" button to the right -->] or by mail. Our address is PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580. Thanks again to those of you who have already contributed to to the $2,662 we've already raised! Please keep us in your prayers and share this info with your friends!

Southern California Fundraiser Dinner!

2011-01-05T03:19:00.012+02:00

Hey So Cal friends! This is for you!

Please join us for a night of delicious Mexican food in support of the ministry of Open Arms and their work with orphans in Sumy, Ukraine. The cost is $8 per person, and can be paid via PayPal or at the door. (Click here for instructions on how to donate online) The dinner will be on the campus of Emmanuel Reformed Church in Paramount. The address is 15941 Virginia Ave., Paramount, Ca. We will be on the North Campus of Emmanuel in the big brick building (north side of Alondra)

We will be sharing about what God did through Open Arms in 2010, and how you can be a part of the plans for the coming year! Hear more about our plans for growth in our orphanage ministry, the next graduate class, new village outreach and more! God is doing so much through Open Arms and we cannot do it without you.

Join us from 5:30-7:30pm and be blessed by a night of support for the orphans of Ukraine. A special donor has agreed to give a matching gift for the night - up to $5000! That means every dollar you give will be doubled! All proceeds will go to the ministry of Open Arms and their ministry projects for the coming year. Please spread the word and invite your friends!

Ok, so in case you missed the details, here's the important info -

Where: 15941 Virginia Ave, Paramount, CA in the brick building on North Campus

When: Saturday, January 15th from 5:30-7:30pm

Matching dollar for dollar donation for every gift that night up to $5000!

RSVP to openarmsminisry@gmail.com if you know you can attend or if you have questions. Hope to see you there!

Happy New Year Boys & Girls!

2011-01-02T21:33:00.002+02:00

Well, Happy 2011 everyone! Sashko here.

A little update for you folks. Two weeks ago we had yet another one of our Grads Nights. We planned for the weekend, with all the activities (games, food, crafts, worship, Bible lesson, church next day, more food… etc) ready, we planned to have about 12 kids. On the very last day they had all dropped out. It was weird, but it felt… right. Throughout the preparations for the Grads Weekend I prayed that God would bring the kids He’d have to come. & it was Vitalik Vikhrenko (who was expected to come) & Roman Yaremenko (who wasn’t gonna be there in the first place). With that many kids – we dropped our program, & we simply ate, hung out, & fad a mere family-like evening. It was great.

We want to thank you for praying for that. & we would love for you to keep us in your prayers.

For the New Year’s Eve I made it out to Kyiv to spend this time with my family. & got sick. Day one of the new year knocked me down hard.

Also, if you’d like to check my Autumn-Winter newsletter – please click HERE.

God bless!

Graduate Weekend Report

2010-11-17T15:05:00.000+02:00

This past weekend we had 11 graduates and one of their 3 year old all in our apartment for a graduate program. The kids arrived on Saturday afternoon and the day was packed full of activities that went late into the evening. The time was spent playing games, singing, worship, sharing and reading the Bible, and enjoying good snacks and fellowship. Sashko talked about friends and how they influence us and the importance of having good friends. He shared about how God can be your friend. This is a concept that the kids have a hard time understanding. It was a good opportunity for us to share with them our experiences and how we have seen God as our friend. The kids were asked what they thought were good qualities in a friend and made to think about their friendships.

On Sunday morning we woke up early to make it to church. We have one bathroom so it did take us a little longer than normal to get out of the house. But fortunately no fights broke out over who was gonna use the sink first. We were honestly a little surprised with how many kids went to church and even made it through the whole service. Although our apartment was packed full, it was a weekend full of love and fun. Thank you all who prayed for this weekend!

$10 Challenge - What You Did!

2010-11-11T17:38:00.001+02:00

We were so blessed and overwhelmed by the response and generosity to our $10 Challenge a couple weeks ago! Our goal was 10 donors a day, giving $10 each, for 10 days, for a total of $1000. We didn't have 10 donors every single day, but in 9 out of 10 days, we received over $100. 62 people donated to Open Arms in those 10 days for a grand total of $2, 472. 42!

You guys were amazing! We are so thankful for each and every one of you - those who gave money, those of you who prayed, and those who reposted the challenge and got friends to join. I know we've said it before, but we truly could not continue this ministry without you. Thank you so much for all of your support and prayer!

This weekend we will be having an over-night graduate outreach in Sumy. We're expecting up to 18 kids to come crash our apartment and enjoy a time of fellowship, Bible study, church and more. Your support from the $10 Challenge will help us put this weekend on. Thanks again! Please keep us in your prayers this weekend!

At-Risk Youth Conference

2010-11-10T16:36:00.000+02:00

This past weekend we were able to attend a conference for at risk youth along with our team of Ukrainian volunteers. We already knew we were supposed to attend this conference as we got it sponsored in less than 24 hours. To all of you who supported financially or with prayers we are so grateful. God used you in our ministry this weekend.There is no doubt that we were meant to attend this conference and it would not have happened without our supporters. It was such a good time of fellowship with other people who are doing this same kind of work. We were able to connect with people who have the same hearts we do for these precious kids.

The couple who put on the conference, were a huge blessing to us. They have walked in our shoes and had so much wisdom and knowledge to impart to us. They sat with us and shared stories when they were first starting out which helped us to see there is hope for us. Sometimes people just knowing what you are going through brings comfort.

This conference was one of the first times we were able to spend this much time with our Ukrainian team. It was exciting to see our team bond together. We believe God has big things in store for Open Arms and we are excited to see how it is going to change and grow.

Thanks again to all of your who helped support through prayer and sponsoring!

Vitalik

2010-10-29T15:43:00.000+03:00

Vitalik has been making all of us happy with the progress he’s shown over the past few months. He has gotten much better at communication. He calls & texts showing respect & accountability. He has gotten tremendously better at saying “no” to the kids that used to use him for money & drinking company. Couple of times Anika has initiated cooking the things that he’s been learning to make at his trade school. & the results were quite good.

Vitalik, like most of our kids, has had it pretty rough. He doesn’t remember ever seeing either of his parents (who by now had both passed away). His first memories in life are a baby orphanage, where he was taken together with his sister, who now lives in Crimea (southern Ukraine). Vitalik has his interesting moments (again, like most of the kids we work with). But for the most part he’s an extremely easy-going kid, which has not been doing him good service when he was surrounded by trouble kids. He is always willing to help & join any type of activity. He constantly cracks jokes, & gets a kick out of them himself.

For the past 13 years he has been spending his summers with a host family in France. French culture has shaped Vitalik’s personality in interesting ways. He associates himself with French folks. & he sincerely doesn’t understand a lot of things here in Ukraine, & why they work the way they work. He’s good at French. So much so that he will be going to the Pravda orphanage to translate for an older lady that is coming to visit there. He’s been teaching me some words. & though I am not the best student, Vitalik gets really fired up & excited when I show an interest in his help. He loves to be needed.

& he needs to be loved…

The $10 Challenge!

2010-10-25T13:49:00.001+03:00

We were overwhelmed this past week by the quick and willing support we received in sponsoring our team to go to the Youth At-Risk conference next month. We are so thankful for those of you who sponsored each of our team members! The truth is, we would not have been able to afford it without you.

For the next 10 days - October 25th through November 3rd - we are putting out a new challenge, particularly to all our friends on Facebook. Open Arms Ukraine needs your help. Introducing... The $10 challenge! Often people think that if you can't give a lot, you can't help - which is far from the truth. If each of our 794 friends on Facebook gave $10, that would be close to $8000! Just 10 bucks could make a huge difference for us.

Truthfully, we are struggling with our financial support and aren't sure that we will be able to afford to keep our whole team in Sumy through December right now. Your $10 could make the difference in us being able to stay and continue to support these kids. Consider giving up your venti Starbucks for a couple days. Or not going out to lunch one day this week. We need your help!

We need at least 10 people a day to step up and give $10 for the next 10 days. If you can give more than $10, give more! We'll be posting updates on how we're doing daily and letting you know how close we are to our daily goal. Donations can be made online through PayPal. Its as simple as 4 steps:

Step 1 - Sign in at PayPal.com

Step 2 - Click Send Money

Step 3 - To: OpenArmsMinistry@gmail.com, amount: $10 [or more if you can!], as a personal gift

Step 4 - Confirm and send!

Your $10 will help us continue to do things like Bible studies with Vitalik and Vova, visit kids in the hospital, support young families like Dusya and Sergey, take trips to Sasha in the Sambir Juvenile Colony, and much more. We are excited to see how God continues to provide for Open Arms through each of you. We'll let you know how it goes! Thanks for joining us in this challenge!

Friday Bible study

2010-10-19T16:46:00.000+03:00

One of the main reasons things that had been on my heart as I was moving to Sumy – is to be about teaching the Word. We got some Bibles in Ukrainian & Russian. & a week after I took some Bibles to the orphanage the director has banned it. & that’s after she told me I can come twice a week, at any time, without even calling her about it. So we only managed to have one Bible study with the kids there. The teachers didn’t seem to be very supportive of it. They kept snatching the kids out for various reasons. Which to be fair – the kids there hardly have any spare time to sit down & read from the Word.
When the summer began I talked with our graduates boys here about having a weekly Bible study. They liked the idea. Especially Vova Gutarev. But as the summer came & the boys schedules were all different – we never managed to begin to get around the Bible.
Well. Praise God for school & for solid schedules! Vova & Vitalik who go to the same school in Krsanopillya, spend pretty much every weekend in Sumy. Every Friday the boys go straight to my place, before they make their way to the Open Arms girls’ place. Last Friday it was really on my heart to read through some Word with Vitalik & Vova. & so we did. We read from Matthew 5, then the whole story of Noah, & went back to Matthew. Vitalik acted bored, though listened. & Vova said that he’d love to read some more. That’s after almost two hours of teaching!
Now we are hoping to have an every Friday Bible study with these boys, & as Lord would bring – maybe some more boys.

How to donate online while the website is down

2010-10-07T15:46:00.000+03:00

As the website is still unavailable because of a virus [click here to read what happened], the option of donating online is a little more difficult than normal. However it is possible! In case you're not the most internet-savvy below is a step-by-step "how to" on donating online without the Open Arms website!

Go to www.PayPal.com and sign into your account. Once signed in, click Send Money at the top.

In the To box, type OpenArmsMinistry@gmail.com
Enter the dollar amount you would like to donate and select Gift under the Personal category.

You should see this page. Review your info and click Send Money

If you would like to designate your donation to something specific, please use the Email To Recipient option at the bottom and let us know.

Success! We apologize for the inconvenience and the website problems. We're working on getting it back up and running and continuing to keep you all updated as you wait. Thank you for your understanding in regards to the website and for your continued support!

Importance

2010-09-25T22:43:00.000+03:00

I think we are all looking for affirmation that we matter - having people who love and support is the greatest gift... to know we belong! For these kids, they are constantly yearning for that place where they belong. There is this show from the states that I absolutely love for the fact that I see so much of our kids in the characters; it's called Life Unexpected and recently one episode echoes in my mind. The main character grew up in foster care and group homes, much like these beautiful faces I see each day. While reliving some of her past she said, "what about a few years after that, when I was three and stuck in a hospital where no one visited?" I've always thought and wondered about how our kids make it through those kinds of moments...

Melissa and Yaroslav at the hospital

Getting to visit children from Pravdinska staying in Sumy for various ailments has been such a gift. One, for the purpose of connecting, but even more so, for the fact that we get to be those people who visit when no one else would. So that one day, they don't have to look back and wonder. What a gift it is to be those people in these beautiful children's lives?

Anika and Sasha in the hospital after surgery

Not only were we able to visit Yaroslav and Sasha this past week in hospitals here in Sumy (as well as Yaroslav, Vova, Marina, and Sergei), but we are currently getting ready to head out to Western Ukraine to visit a very special kid I like to call my little brother although most people simply know him as Sasha. On Monday we will receive our regular monthly visit as his "family" and then we will be able to return on Sunday October 3rd for Parent's Day! Who gets to do this? I seriously ask myself that question from time to time... because I get the utter privilege to be a family to these amazing kids - can't wait to get back and share all the answers to prayers!

Ukrainian Registration

2010-09-25T09:44:00.000+03:00

Open Arms has been registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the States for over 2 years now. Up until this year, our ministry operation as an organization in Ukraine has gone smoothly using our American non-profit status. However in the past 6 months or so we have begun to see the need for more than just our American registration. We are excited to say that Open Arms is beginning the initial process of registering as the Ukrainian equivalent of a non-profit organization. This will allow us to grow our ministry in ways we otherwise couldn’t and we are so excited to see what new doors God will enable us to walk through! Expansion to new orphanages, expanded ministry in trade schools, and more organization with volunteers and our staff in Sumy are just some of the things we are looking forward to.

This is typically a long and expensive process from start to finish. We’ve been blessed to find a lawyer that has resources to get us through this process quicker than anticipated. If you are interested in contributing to the cost of our Ukrainian registration, please indicate “registration” on your donation. Please be in prayer for us as we start the paperwork, translation of documents, and various other steps required. We will keep you updated on the completion and other needs and prayer requests that may come up along the way. Thank you for your support in walking through this new door with us!

Website Down

2010-09-19T17:13:00.000+03:00

You may or may not have noticed recently that our website is down. And not just down, but possibly harmful to your computer. We unfortunately got a virus about a month and a half ago. :( Our web host told us that it may take up to 90 days before they will re-host the site because of the nature of the virus. We apologize for the inconvenience! We are trying to get an online donation through PayPal on the blog, but it may be a process. We will be updating here more often in the mean time, so be sure to check in often! Also, visit us on Facebook for pictures and status updates.

While you wait for the website to come back, if you are interested in making a donation the old fashioned way (checks, paper, stamps and all of that) you can mail it to us at:

Open Arms Ukraine

PO Box 277

San Lorenzo, CA 94580

Thanks for your understanding as we try to work this out. We couldn't do this without all of you!

Anya's Twins

2010-09-12T13:57:00.000+03:00

We've recently had the privilege of reconnecting with older graduates of the Pravdinska orphanage. Two of whom are Anya (2006) and her brother Andre (2007). The two live together in a village right outside of Sumy with their 2 older brothers and older sister; not to mention Anya's twin girls who are beautiful at 9 months. It is definitely a packed little house, but it is clear that these kids are working together to make it in this life.

Their dad died 7 years ago and the mom stopped being a part of their lives altogether and these beautiful kids were sent to Pravdinska. It's such a gift to have known them for over 5 years now and to still be a part of their lives. We were invited into their home, shared tea, and were given a tour of their village. We are excited to see where this reconnection takes us as we have watched so many graduate girls struggle with children and Anya faces the unique challenge of twins. We hope to be an emotional support as she finds her way in this life.

Back to School

2010-09-07T16:47:00.000+03:00

We often talk about Dusya, Sergey (aka Shevchenko) and their beautiful little girl, Vala (now 3!). They are one of our favorite little families having made it through so many rough times - it is such a privilege to be considered a part of their family as well!

Most often, we feel like their older siblings. We are the people they can tell the truth to, ask for help from, and come to for advice. It's such a special relationship and one I definitely cherish. As school time has come around again Dusya is entering her second year at the trade school, Sergey is trying to work and provide for the family and Vala is going to be strutting her stuff at the local day care on most days... she is beyond excited! Of course we couldn't let our little princess go back to school without some new clothes. This is a picture of our back to school shopping day with the family we affectionately refer to as "The Shevchenkos". New shoes for dad, a PE outfit for mom, and a new dress for Vala... it was one of those perfect days! And it is in these moments, I feel so privileged for how far we have come with these kids. They trust us with so much more and I am so utterly thankful to be here for them.

- Annie

Sambir Prison Ministry!

2010-06-15T16:24:00.000+03:00

While one door has been closed to do what we'd planned for the summer program at the orphanage, a new door has been opened in the Sambir Juvenile Colony. Open Arms has been visiting the prison for over almost 2 years and we have always had a desire to be able to bring more ministry to the whole prison and bring Love to more of the boys there. The assistant chief of the prison gave us an instant green light when we asked if we could bring a team in for a couple of days and they are very open to whatever program we bring in.

We will be bringing in our a small team of Ukrainians to run a 2-day program. Relay races, basketball and volleyball tournaments, discussion groups, worship concerts and sharing the grace of God are all a part of what we will be doing for with the 127 boys residing in the Sambir Juvenile Colony. At our last visit with Sasha Pevniv, he shared with us about how many of the teenage boys there have no one who visits. Our prayer is that these young men will be able to receive a tangible expression God's love and grace, as we have been blessed to share individually with Sasha every month when we visit.

An opportunity like this is something that many ministries work years for. The reality of this part of our trip is that it won't be cheap. Sambir is on the opposite side of Ukraine from where Sumy is and our team will take a 17 hour train to get there. There will be hotel stays and many other expenses that we didn't anticipate when planning a camp. We are also hoping to provide an extra special meal for the boys while we are there. The total cost of these days of ministry will cost over $1000. This is a chance for you to be a part of a truly special opportunity! If you would like to donate to this specific work in the prison, you can give by mail or through our website. Please note in your check or by email of how you would like your donation to be used.

openarmsministry@gmail.com * PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580

Prayer Day - Monday, May 10th

2010-05-07T11:49:00.000+03:00

This week on Monday, May 10th, Open Arms is inviting you to join us in a day of prayer for our ministry and the kids we work with. We will be praying on the hour from 9am to 9pm for our kids, ministry, finances, direction, and other specifics. We are asking you to join us for a day of focused prayer for His ministry in Ukraine through Open Arms.

There are endless lists of children's names, ministry goals, dreams, and financial needs that need prayer. On Monday we will be focusing on camp and prison ministry.

In 3 short weeks, a team of 10 volunteers from the States will be flying out of California to Sumy to run a camp at the Pravdinska orphanage for 2 weeks. There is still a lot of work to be done, tasks to cross of the list, money to be raised and hurdles to be jumped. We believe that God has huge plans for our summer camp this year and it has been obvious to us that opposition in many forms has been trying to slow us down and stop us. As you join us for this day of prayer, we ask that you would especially be lifting up our camp. From May 31st through June 14th at the orphanage for about 120 kids, Christians from Ukraine and America will be sharing the love of Christ and how to live life "strong and courageous" in Him. These are some specific things you can be praying about for camp:

Official Permissions - We are required to receive approval from the Ministry of Education in Sumy to run our program at the orphanage every year. It hasn't been a problem in the past, but this year it has still yet to come through. Please pray that God would continue to keep this door open at the Pravdinska orphanage and that we would receive the official permission next week.

Orphanage Director, Nina - We have always considered ourselves blessed to have a good working relationship with the orphanage director, Nina. Recently she has been less willing to work with us and has been having us jump through hoops to be able to continue our ministry to the kids. Please pray that God will change her heart and that she'd again be open to us, and even more open to Him.

Unity of American and Ukrainian Teams - Please pray that our teams will be able to gel together quickly and work side by side to run this camp. Pray that we will be a worthy example of how the Body of Christ should function and be able to love on these kids without holding back.

Finances/Fundraising - Our team is working on raising $2300 each to help cover the cost of camp, travel, food, lodging, supplies and everything else that camp entails. We're currently still short $10,000/ only about half way of what our team needs to raise. Pray that God would open hearts to give and provide for all the needs of camp.

Our Interaction with Orphanage Staff - Pray that we will be able to work in cooperation with the teachers, cooks, coaches and other orphanage staff as we are there for 2 weeks. Pray that we would be able to share God's love with them as well and that we wouldn't have any issues working our camp schedule with their regular routine with the kids.

Safety and Health - Our team will be flying from the States and coming in on trains and buses from around Ukraine to the orphanage. Pray for safety in all the travels and that God would keep everyone healthy and overflowing with energy to spend nearly every waking moment with these kids.

Kids Coming to Know the Lord - Our ultimate goal in putting on this camp is that the kids would come to know the Lord as their Savior and Heavenly Father. Pray that His love, truth and grace would be clearly spoken and shown. Pray that every child would individually know that they are loved by Him and accept His grace in their lives.

In addition to praying for camp next month, we also ask that you pray for one specific young man in our prison ministry:

Sasha Pevniv - Sasha is currently in a juvenile prison in western Ukraine, with less than 11 months left to finish his sentence. We visit him monthly and believe that God has big plans for his life. Our desire is to help him rehabilitate into life after prison as he gets out and to encourage him to live his life differently than he did before prison. Sasha has asked us to pray for him to have strength to get through the rest of his time in prison. Thus far he has not only stayed out of trouble, but has been made a leader in his work and his group there. He wants to do better and change his life when he gets out, but it will be hard to resist the culture and friends that won't want to or know how to support that change. Pray for strength, now and when he gets out. Pray that God would get a hold of his heart and that Sasha would accept Jesus as his Savior. He's very open to God and its clear that God is working on him. If you are interested in learning more about Sasha or our prison ministry feel free to check out his profile at www.openarmsukraine.org in the "meet the children" section.

Thank you so much for all the prayers and support of this ministry! If you want more information on camp or Sasha or general ministry, please visit our website [www.openarmsukraine.org] or feel free to send us an email [openarmsministry@gmail.com].

We look forward to seeing how God moves in the coming weeks and reporting on the answers to prayer!

Summer Camp 2010

2010-04-28T17:18:00.000+03:00

For the past few months, we as the Open Arms team have been planning, working and getting ready for summer camp 2010! We've put together an amazing American team and an awesome Ukrainian team and have been getting everything ready for our camo-infused theme of "Courage in the Line of Duty" based on the theme verse of Joshua 1:9. We have been so excited for what God is going to do this year in the hearts of the children of Pravdinsky. But right now we've hit a road block. In order to run our camp at the orphanage, we need to receive official permission from a department in Sumy. Last year we had no problems getting this permission but as of right now, this department is telling us that we may not get it. Currently we're translating lots of paperwork and information about our camp program and our ministry to bring back in by the end of this week to try to persuade them to allow us to have camp.

Please, please join us in praying that we will receive the necessary permission for camp this year! Check the Open Arms Facebook for updates as we have them. Thanks for your prayers!