God moves through simplicity. For years, Anya has treasured a ministry in her heart: connecting kids growing up in the orphanage with a mentor. Experience working with children who have estranged relationships at home, or do not have parents at all, has repeatedly proven how essential it is to find long-term approaches to bring life transformation to children in the system.
Several years ago, the passion for "at-risk" children and young adults led us to visit orphanages in our region. During that period, we began encouraging volunteers to prayerfully consider one-on-one mentorship with another child. To our joy, we were met with an exceptional response!
The overseer of an organization Anya formerly worked for in Kyiv introduced a model into Ukraine similar to the USA's Big Brother, Big Sister program. After receiving approved training, a person could become certified as a recognized connection point for children in the system. Seeing the need for this very thing, we organized the very first certification training in our city. Shortly after, other groups began spreading the initiative and facilitating more certification trainings!
During this period, Anya met a young girl during one of our pairing visits. She sat in the back and was very shy. We later discovered that she and three other siblings had been at this facility for a little over a year. She shared her story with us and told us about how her family fell apart when her mother abandoned them, leaving all the children with their father. Because their father couldn't take care of them due to alcohol abuse and neglect, the children were brought to the orphanage and left there.
Anya became her mentor, and they began meeting once a week for walks. Their bond grew stronger as the weeks went by. Only a couple of months later, we received news that the family of four was returning to live with their dad! It was a bittersweet moment; the future of their relationship was uncertain, but being with their parent was better than life at the orphanage.
Still, things at home did not improve, and they were left having to care for themselves. Yet, the time she and Anya had spent together had already blossomed into a warm relationship that allows us to continue walking alongside her and her siblings through all these challenges.
After visiting their home in the village, we saw just how much tenacity and soul was in this girl. In her spare time, she busied herself sewing clothes from cheap cloth from her college program since she could not afford to buy something better. We immediately recognized her talent. Anya began to support her by going to the store to buy materials so she could develop her skills to find a job to support herself and her family.
As time went on, the girl confided to us that she learned sewing out of necessity. In reality, she had always dreamed of becoming a manicurist, but she'd tucked that dream away so deeply that she'd stopped thinking about it. Through mentorship, Anya discovered this desire and helped her believe it was possible again. After Anya shared this story at an entrepreneurs' conference, one lady who is a manicurist trainer stepped forward and offered to teach her for free!
This shows just how important mentorship really is. Without parental care that understands a child's needs and desires, a child's opportunities in life are often cut short. Taking a slower approach in ministries like this and showing attentive love and care makes it possible for us to help a child/ young adult build the future they envision. We are continuing to work with this girl so she can pursue what is truly in her heart.
Most people would agree that acts of love are much easier outside of a committed relationship. They require very little of us, except time and perhaps overcoming some temporary personal inconvenience. Yet, the human heart is intricately formed for connection. Like a ring casting is to a diamond, we continually find that "relationship" is the setting in which love can be deeply manifested, and which prospers the soul.
We are inspired by the constant example of love these mentors show children in need. We have had the joy of continuing to walk alongside them, offering support to ensure these mentors have the help they need to stay in their role for the long haul.
The mentors featured in the photos above have continued to pursue life-giving relationships with the children they have been paired with. As we continue to provide companionship for these kids and organize group events for them, we are searching for more opportunities to recruit and equip other willing persons to be certified as mentors.
Our work is also to ensure that those who have taken this high calling have the resources they need to change a child's life through love and care, and a little know-how. We thank our partners for making this work possible! Together with you, we are seeing youth's lives being transformed!
WOULD YOU HELP US PLANT A CHURCH?
We invite you to join hands with us to open a church in Ternopil, Ukraine, with the vision of discipling youth and young adults. We desire to be a place that hosts God's holy presence, equips the saints, and carries a missional vision.
The last couple of years of working with young adults, including youth who aged out of the orphanage system, have shown us how important discipleship is. Our work in Ukraine first began as a missional endeavor to support church planting efforts, ignite the faith of believers, and to love the orphan. Now we believe the Lord is asking us to open a church in our city so we can reach and disciple those we are drawing near to our community as they are searching for God.
A new generation is rising from the ashes of war, and we are responding to the call. Would you consider helping us plant this church?
Get in touch with us!
