I've been to Georgia. They have accents that make Texans sound down-right proper! It's hot there, they have pine trees, an peaches and peanuts grow there.
There's something else there, too;
Warren Baptist Church of Augusta, Georgia.
I've never been to this church---never even been to Augusta. But, that church has found a way to reach across a few southern states and make an impression on me.
The reason is the way that I found they do missions---or at least the way they do missions in Ukraine. They have their own way---The Warren Baptist Way.
So, let me rant a little.....
When Alyona tells me about the orphans at camp, or in the prison, or in the village my first response is something like this:
"I'm going there! I'm going to see those kids and I'm going to bring them candy and I'm going to love their necks! In fact, I'm going to go every single year to show them how much I love them, uh, how much Jesus loves them!"
You might think that that is a very righteous and holy thing for me to say and feel. However, if you will go back and look at that sentence, you will notice how many times I said, "I'm." Hmmm, could be a problem, here.
And, that's exactly what's wrong. We, in America, like to think we make a difference if we do fund raisers all year, and take a group of teenagers on a big, ole' mission trip. I've been on the receiving end of those mission trips, and for the most part, they do more harm than good. Trust me...I remember as a small girl being devastated by those youth group mission trips.
So many mission trips can be especially harmful to orhpans. These kids are so used to having people come, give them things, then leave. It's hurting them. Trust me, I know. I know because I've adopted a handful of these kids and they all have some kind of attachment issues. They think love is a hug and that's all it is! People coming for a short time and and then leaving them is about the worst thing anyone can do for those orphans.
So, I have a proposition. Let's do our mission trips the Warren Baptist Way.
Now, I'm going to have to tell you right up front that I'm only getting this information second hand. But, unlike gossip, second hand is the best place to get this kind of information.
I'm going to paint a picture of Warren Baptist Church in the way that it was painted to me----through they eyes of those on the receiving end, you know who I mean! I mean Alyona and Slavik!
During my two months in Ukraine I heard about this church over and over. I heard how they bring adults or well-behaved-modestly-dressed-mature teenagers. I heard that they are sweet, kind, not bossy, and they come to meet needs---they don't come with their own agenda in mind. THEN, I heard the most amazing thing about them. They don't come, give hugs, turn around and leave!!
Nay, nay! They come prepared to leave a working program behind them. They have started Sunday School classes in the villages. But, once they go back to the deep south of the Red, White, & Blue, they keep on giving!!!! They keep whatever program they started funded so that it is an on-going mission! They help equip Ukrainians to do the work they start, they send the money to keep it going, they support them from the other side of the ocean, and they see themselves as servants! Their mission trip is not an EVENT-----it's an ONGOING LIFESTLYE!
Wow!
I have another proposition for you! How about NOT taking any mission trips this year--or next year? How about we send our money instead? The money that a group would spend on plane tickets could outfit the whole camp and give scholarships for all the orphans to go hear about Jesus for the very first time! Or, how about this? Let's send our money to Warren Baptist Church in Augusta, Ga and let them use it to fund another on-going ministry in Ukraine.
Anyone prepared for this? Anyone willing to take a plunge and tell their churches that the year 2011 is going to be a different year for missions.
Just tell them..."From now on, we're going to do missions the Warren Baptist way!"
Let me know what you think, okay?
I don't know anyone from Warren Baptist Church---anyone out there? Can you let us know more about you!!!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
How About Sending Me Money?
I can't say that I'm proud of myself. I'm downright ashamed at how long it's been since I've written here. Actually, I've been avoiding this blog, almost on purpose, it sometimes seems. I often think, "Hmmmm, I need to be writing on that blog and letting people know all of the needs." But, somehow, I let time get away from me. I get wrapped up in my own life and it's just so easy to forget about the lost people and the orphans that Alyona and Slavik minister to.
Also, I feel despair because my husband and I cannot meet all of the financial needs that we know about in Odessa and surrounding villages. I wish we could.
If we could, I wouldn't have to ask you. And, I so hate asking.
But, I'm asking now.
Please, Slavik does camp all summer for poor children, lost adults, and orphans. They live in a few tents, cook on an open fire, play sports, sing songs, and tell about Jesus. It's not like any camp in the United States.
That's not all.
Alyona and Slavik have lots of orphans they minister to. They have a new orphanage at a prison, and they have orphanages out in villages, and they have orphans there in Odessa.
So, I'm asking. If you are reading this blog, please email me at:
manymusic@gmail.com
I will forward you some emails that Alyona has written about their ministry. I can also send you my mailing address.
Why do you need my mailing address? Because, you need to send me some money. Every penny you send me will go straight to the children's camps or to the orphans.
It will cost me something if you send me money. I am going to send the money, most probably, by Western Union. They add a very hefty fee to what I send. But, I (Alan and I) are volunteering to send the money on, we'll pay the fees.
So, what do you think? Write me?
By the way, looks like I'll be going back to Odessa late this summer. Wouldn't that be great if I could take a handful of cash for the orphans---or for next year's camps?
Also, I feel despair because my husband and I cannot meet all of the financial needs that we know about in Odessa and surrounding villages. I wish we could.
If we could, I wouldn't have to ask you. And, I so hate asking.
But, I'm asking now.
Please, Slavik does camp all summer for poor children, lost adults, and orphans. They live in a few tents, cook on an open fire, play sports, sing songs, and tell about Jesus. It's not like any camp in the United States.
That's not all.
Alyona and Slavik have lots of orphans they minister to. They have a new orphanage at a prison, and they have orphanages out in villages, and they have orphans there in Odessa.
So, I'm asking. If you are reading this blog, please email me at:
manymusic@gmail.com
I will forward you some emails that Alyona has written about their ministry. I can also send you my mailing address.
Why do you need my mailing address? Because, you need to send me some money. Every penny you send me will go straight to the children's camps or to the orphans.
It will cost me something if you send me money. I am going to send the money, most probably, by Western Union. They add a very hefty fee to what I send. But, I (Alan and I) are volunteering to send the money on, we'll pay the fees.
So, what do you think? Write me?
By the way, looks like I'll be going back to Odessa late this summer. Wouldn't that be great if I could take a handful of cash for the orphans---or for next year's camps?
Monday, February 8, 2010
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Don't Stuff Yourself Without Praying!
This morning as I opened the back door, a breeze blew brown, crumpled leaves across the tips of my fuzzy, pink slippers. The thermometer hovered around 60 degrees. As tragic as this weather is for the week of Christmas (why is it I live in Texas?)----I want to tell you about another tragic weather situation.
It's in Odessa, Ukraine.
As I write this, it is now 39 degrees Fahrenheit in Odessa. However, big snow storms blow through there from time to time--like it did a few days ago. Though they don't freak out over snow like Texans do, there is something very, very awful that does happen when it snows bucket-loads.
It all has to do with the village grocery stores. When there's a sea of white painted across the countryside, the delivery trucks don't exercise the faith of Moses and make a way through. The trucks stay parked in Odessa and don't get the food to the villages.
But, remember the 160 orphans who live in Ananyevo? That means they don't have any food. If the electricity goes out---those 'pumpkins' don't have heat, either. And it's just not the darln's of Ananyevo---it's all of the orphans of all of the villages of all of the snowed-in regions outside of Odessa.
Now, that's a tragedy, indeed.
So, as brown Texas faced me this morning, I said a prayer for the clouds in the Odessa region. "Please, God, roll back the clouds over the orphanages and let the trucks make it through to the village grocery stores, and let the orphanage buyers make it to the stores, and let all of the children's tummies be full, and their bodies be warm."
Oh, by the way, we don't worry about food in America--no matter what the weather. In fact, I have the "too much food" problem. So, I'm going to make sure that before I make myself sick this week with holiday treats, that I say a prayer for the orphans of the world to have food---especially those I know about in the region of Odessa, Ukraine----will you pray, too?
Merry Christmas!
It's in Odessa, Ukraine.
As I write this, it is now 39 degrees Fahrenheit in Odessa. However, big snow storms blow through there from time to time--like it did a few days ago. Though they don't freak out over snow like Texans do, there is something very, very awful that does happen when it snows bucket-loads.
It all has to do with the village grocery stores. When there's a sea of white painted across the countryside, the delivery trucks don't exercise the faith of Moses and make a way through. The trucks stay parked in Odessa and don't get the food to the villages.
But, remember the 160 orphans who live in Ananyevo? That means they don't have any food. If the electricity goes out---those 'pumpkins' don't have heat, either. And it's just not the darln's of Ananyevo---it's all of the orphans of all of the villages of all of the snowed-in regions outside of Odessa.
Now, that's a tragedy, indeed.
So, as brown Texas faced me this morning, I said a prayer for the clouds in the Odessa region. "Please, God, roll back the clouds over the orphanages and let the trucks make it through to the village grocery stores, and let the orphanage buyers make it to the stores, and let all of the children's tummies be full, and their bodies be warm."
Oh, by the way, we don't worry about food in America--no matter what the weather. In fact, I have the "too much food" problem. So, I'm going to make sure that before I make myself sick this week with holiday treats, that I say a prayer for the orphans of the world to have food---especially those I know about in the region of Odessa, Ukraine----will you pray, too?
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
160 Orphans
There's 160 of them.
They need love, they need Jesus.
They need shoes and underwear.
They need some kind of joy.
They need pens and paper.
They need to have some fun.
They need a purpose to their lives.
They need a warm coat.
They something to change.
They need a hug.
They need a soccer ball.
They need a friend.
There's 160 of them.
They need you to pray....
You need them on your heart..
All 160 of them.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18
,,,,,would you please pary also and spread the word about the village orphanage in Ananyevo (Odessa region). We are going there this Sat. There are 160 orphans. They need almost EVERYTHING: shoes, jackets, stationary, drawing pads, sport equipment and etc. We are going to run the Kids Games project there for 4 weeks (Saturdays) and this Sat is the first one. We trully hope to raise some support so to bless them supplying at least some needs.
They need love, they need Jesus.
They need shoes and underwear.
They need some kind of joy.
They need pens and paper.
They need to have some fun.
They need a purpose to their lives.
They need a warm coat.
They something to change.
They need a hug.
They need a soccer ball.
They need a friend.
There's 160 of them.
They need you to pray....
You need them on your heart..
All 160 of them.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18
,,,,,would you please pary also and spread the word about the village orphanage in Ananyevo (Odessa region). We are going there this Sat. There are 160 orphans. They need almost EVERYTHING: shoes, jackets, stationary, drawing pads, sport equipment and etc. We are going to run the Kids Games project there for 4 weeks (Saturdays) and this Sat is the first one. We trully hope to raise some support so to bless them supplying at least some needs.
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Outsiders
They live away from the city. They live in places where Americans don't go too often. They live outside the mainstream. They live in orphanages where the kids don't get adopted and the kids don't get the opportunities the Odessa kids have. They don't have.....period. And there's about 160 of them there that just "don't have."
Americans like Odessa. I know because I was there, and I know many other Americans that like Odessa, also. We, as Americans, like to take mission trips to Odessa. We LOVE the orphanages there, the architecture, the parks, the Black Sea, and the choices of great restaurants, the chicken wrap stands, and the hot dog stand. It's a hot mission spot. There's always something to see or do there.
But, what about the outsiders? What about the kids who live in the villages where no one goes? What about them?
Alyona and Slavik go to The Outsiders. But, they really need help helping. They need us. Here's what Alyona says:
">Marsha, would you please pary also and spread the word about the village orphanage in Ananyevo (Odessa region). We are going there this Sat. There are 160 orphans. They need almost EVERYTHING: shoes, jackets, stationary, drawing pads, sport equipment and etc. We are going to run the Kids Games project there for 4 weeks (Saturdays) and this Sat is the first one. We trully hope to raise some support so to bless them supplying at least some needs.
I'm not very good with asking for money. I'm not very good at getting donation buttons to work, I'm not very good at finding the right people to help. There's so much I"m not very good at doing.
But, I do know what it feels like to be an outsider. I wish I could go this Saturday with Alyona and Slavik...I wish I could
Tonight, I'm just praying and pleading for The Outsiders. Won't you, too?
Americans like Odessa. I know because I was there, and I know many other Americans that like Odessa, also. We, as Americans, like to take mission trips to Odessa. We LOVE the orphanages there, the architecture, the parks, the Black Sea, and the choices of great restaurants, the chicken wrap stands, and the hot dog stand. It's a hot mission spot. There's always something to see or do there.
But, what about the outsiders? What about the kids who live in the villages where no one goes? What about them?
Alyona and Slavik go to The Outsiders. But, they really need help helping. They need us. Here's what Alyona says:
">Marsha, would you please pary also and spread the word about the village orphanage in Ananyevo (Odessa region). We are going there this Sat. There are 160 orphans. They need almost EVERYTHING: shoes, jackets, stationary, drawing pads, sport equipment and etc. We are going to run the Kids Games project there for 4 weeks (Saturdays) and this Sat is the first one. We trully hope to raise some support so to bless them supplying at least some needs.
I'm not very good with asking for money. I'm not very good at getting donation buttons to work, I'm not very good at finding the right people to help. There's so much I"m not very good at doing.
But, I do know what it feels like to be an outsider. I wish I could go this Saturday with Alyona and Slavik...I wish I could
Tonight, I'm just praying and pleading for The Outsiders. Won't you, too?
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