At long last....

Yes I am finally blogging again. So much has happened in the last month that I never had time to post about it before it happened. And now.... I have TOOOOO many things I want to post about.

Last Sunday was Mother's Day in the USA. I think this is a great day to celebrate those that gave us life and trained us up. I have a great mom....and I made sure I sent my gift to her in plenty of time for Mother's Day. On Sunday, I was struck by the fact that many of you reading my blog were celebrating your first Mother's Day or the first on with your new kids. What a joy that must have been. Along with this thought immediately came the thought of the kids left behind in the orphanages throughout the world. My heart breaks for them... especially those that I have had the priviledge of getting to know.

I wish I had the money to adopt 6-8 of them today!!! But, according to our US standards, I don't even make enough to adopt one! I wish that House of Hope could open today.... but there just isn't the money....YET!!!!

Now is prime time on the market. I could buy a house that would suit our needs for a lot less than I could a year ago....and there are many for sell. $300,000.00 today would buy me a house, and furnish it completely to house children. Since a couple of friends of mine (Felix and Heidi) have come back to the states after adopting, they have "advertised" for me and I have received 3 pledges to help in this project. That only leaves 997 more people to find that will pledge $300. OR.... 300 people that will pledge $997. I wait for God's hand to move!

In the meantime, we are having to move again. The house we presently rent is for sale and we don't know when that will happen. Our rental agreement is up next month, so we started looking about 2 weeks ago. And.... WE FOUND IT! We are thrilled. It is a little more than we are paying here (+$150), but has twice the room! We have rooms to have guests... so come on over. We will be moving in the next two weeks... PRAY FOR US!!!!

I am posting some new pics from the English class at the orphanage. I hope you enjoy them.

Until next time..... I am.....In His Hope!

A Week of Celebration

Exactly one week ago tonight, I was one of the guest of honor at the Children's Home for International Women's Day. The children danced, sang, and recited poetry. It was absolutely beautiful. These kids are so amazingly talented that it astounds me.

After the program I was invited to celebrate with the teachers in the orphanage at a banquet. You would think by now that I would have learned what a celebration meal is like. There was SO much food--and it just kept coming. (Now, mind you, before I went to the orphanage, I celebrated Women's Day with my fellow teachers at Vineyard Christian School. We had salads, shashlik, lavash, sauces, and potatoes. I was stuffed!) The food kept coming, and culturally, I was expected to keep sampling it. It was great food, but I was so full!!!! They kept putting stuff on my plate... stuff I usually don't eat--like liver pate', mushroom/garlic/onion sandwiches. I lived to tell about it, though!

The food was great, but the companionship was even greater. I felt so honored to sit around the table with these wonderful women that care for the abandoned children everyday. I loved laughing with them, listening to their banter (even in Ukrainian), and hearing them sing traditional folk songs. What a gift to be included! Their hearts are so precious.


On Monday, I went back to the orphanage to talk with the director about the children dancing at my school this week. While I was there, I had the most precious opportunity to share my Christian beliefs with the accountant of the home. She has been so friendly to me every time I have come and on Monday was full of questions. I don't know where it will lead, but seeds were planted.

Pray for my ministry with these ladies and the children of the home. There are about 45 kids there now... ages 2-17. The director has been so good to let me come and go as I wish. She even let me take three of the girls out today to dance at my school and then out to eat. More on that later.

(On a side note, if you are at all interested in helping fund House of Hope--a foster home I hope to start--please contact me. I need 1000 people that will give a tax deductible gift of $300. Pray for me as I wait on God's storehouse to open!!!!)

For now.... I am.....

In His Hope!