Today we visited a children’s shelter in Kolomya, Ukraine. The claim to fame that Kolomya has is that it has the Easter Egg museum! For those who have been reading previous trips reports, this is the city where I attended that wedding ceremony and feast several years ago.
On my last trip I was contacted by Anya Ivanovna asking if we could help with the children of Kolomya. We met with her and learned of her efforts to assist abandoned, abused and neglected children. She also has become the contact for Ukraine courts who take parental rights away and place the children in the care of the State. Anya began this work with children when she learned of a child who was admitted to the local hospital. The child had been beaten by her mother and step-father. Anya describes the child as “one big bruise.” When she found out that there was no service available to help the child, she took the child home with her. That began a series of rescues and placements. Many of the children come to her with nothing. From our assistance we are able to provide clothing, household furnishings, and other items that the children need.
Today we were hosted to a program that the children performed. Once a month, on a Saturday, there is a special day for the children who are being helped. Those in the villages are brought into town and a hot meal is prepared. There are classes for the children on various topics. Today there was a class that stressed eating proper foods and the children made a hedgehog out of a pear and grapes. Another class made flowers where each petal expressed a wish” that the child had. Another class, attended by the older teens, discussed moral living and choices.
The children that attended today were ages from 3 years to the late teen years.
Anya has marshaled help for her projects from the community. Even some from distant cities came to the special day that was held today.
An unforgettable moment…
Among the treats today was the giving of shoe box gifts that had been sent from the USA (Some were actual shoe boxes and some were the plastic shoe boxes sold in stores. Some were wrapped as a gift.). Each shoe box was crammed with gifts for specific age groups (2-5; 6-8; 9-12; 13-18) and labeled for either boys or girls. In the smaller children’s boxes were toys and the older teens had age appropriate gifts as well. Mike and I were snapping photos as quickly as possible but the pictures cannot reveal the excited squeals as a child opened his/her shoebox and saw what was in there. One little girl (3-4 years old) was given a shoebox that had a baby with a pacifier—she hugged that baby doll and held it as if she was the mommy. A boy found a hot wheels car. A teen girl found a mirror and hair bows. Another teen girl found a small stuffed bear. There were small nerf footballs, yo-yos, crayons, pencils, etc. Each box also had some hygiene items (toothbrushes, toothpaste, brushes, etc). Some had knit caps, gloves, socks, etc.
At the end of the event, all of the children grouped together and held their shoeboxes high and shouted “THANK YOU!”
I have been present for a number of these events but every time they fill me with emotion and awe at how the gifts of the little things sent means so much to a child that often has had very little to find happiness with in his brief life. BUT there were several times today when I saw a smile and glimmer in the eye of these children. And that faint smile, that brief glimmer in the eyes, that subtle body movement that communicates that one is feeling the security that one does feel a “special” personal value, is worth EVERYTHING that we do in order to bring these containers into Ukraine!
The 23 metric tones of relief food from Germany has arrived! Nicholi brought the shoeboxes and he also brought news that the trucks from Germany have arrived and are clearing Ukraine Customs. All commodities are unloaded. He said that he managed to get a few items out before all were cleared because he wanted to show me what was on the trucks. There was a large amount of children’s high protein foods, canned meats, canned vegetables, and laundry detergent. Mike and I will be able to see the full load in about ten days.
Tomorrow is the “Lord’s Day” and we expect to enjoy a full day of worship, Bible study and fellowship. Several have expressed a desire to obey the gospel and we are most eager to witness their new birth as they put on the Lord in immersion!
While we are busy over here there are MANY busily engaged on the western shores of the Atlantic Ocean. We are scheduled to load three more containers (Columbus, MS, Elyzabethtown, IN, and Cincinnati, OH). The Searcy gang has been busy sorting miscellaneous medical supplies and going to Little Rock to pick up commodities at a number of locations. David Lawyer sent me this update on a pickup that occurred Friday: “The pickup went well. Fortunately, Lynn Smith’s son-in-law helped. He is about 6’7″ tall and volunteered to come. Between him and Don Wood we were able to get the HEAVY desks up the stairs and onto the truck. BR, Don, Mike R, Howard, Lynn, and Allen. They want us to come back in about 2-3 weeks and get the rest of it—about 4 more desks & miscellaneous. We go to Children’s Hospital on Tuesday morning to ‘clean out’ the storage room. He said bring two trailers.” In addition to these we also have the WestArk brethren with C.U.R.E. involved as Matt Griffin, Ron Moreton and their crew are busily searching for and sorting critically needed medical items that we will ship at the end of October. Jerry Morgan continues to collect family buckets from a number of congregations.
It is encouraging to note that the subscriptions for our Blog continue to increase each day!
Be sure to tell others they register for automatic updates or can read posted updates on this mission trip at: www.kachelman.com/ukraine/blog
Thank you for your financial support and prayers for the brethren in Ukraine and for the welfare of the Lord’s Church in Ukraine!
John L. Kachelman, Jr.
Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
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