Community News
Another Day of War...
As Pastor Genchu continues to buy food for the poor people left in his village – many of whom are widows, he asks to share this testimony: “With God's help, we continue to support the destitute people of our village with food & supplies and clothe them with prayers. Several neglected families have called the church for help. Now, they are also coming to the church on Sundays for our worship services. There are a lot of personal testimonies. One of them I want to share. One lady phoned us and asked for help. She had heard that we were able to provide people with food, and she really needed some. This woman was depressed because of the war; she didn’t have a penny to buy any food. She said she wanted to be out of this life by self-destruction. She told us how she would end her life, and she joked with us. Our brothers and sisters brought her food and supplies, and that woman was amazed by God. She marveled how that God, through people unknown to her, worried about her and provided for her. So, we will continue to practice this grace and glorify God. God bless you for your donations which help us achieve this aim.”
Feeding an Army
Moms who have a large family often joke about having to “feed an army...” Cooking pretty much around the clock – especially if there are teenaged boys to feed. But imagine having to cook for a real army! Except you’re not a professional, you aren’t cooking in a well-equipped army kitchen, you can’t get many essential ingredients, and oh yeah – you’re in the middle of a war, complete with air sirens and missiles flying around your head. This is the reality for our little church in Khutory, where Greenfield (our Hope Now Boys Home) is located. 100 soldiers from the Ukrainian army battalion from Donetsk, recently took over the local school and turned it into their barracks, since their own was blown up by russian aggressors. Day in and day out, our ladies from the church cook homemade meals, package them up, and deliver them to the 100 soldiers who have come to rely on them.
A New Home – A New Church
As a child, if you have ever moved across town – or even across country, you’ll remember that unsettling feeling you get when you first step onto the playground or into the school cafeteria. That’s probably what a lot of our Ukrainian kids are feeling these days. Moving to an orphanage in Romania, they are definitely the new kids in town. They do not speak the same language as the other kids. In fact, the Romanian kids have to be kept separated from the Ukrainian kids (or is it the other way around?) until everyone has had their health checks.
Waking up in Romania
After our group of 15 arrived in Romania late last night, the older teens and adults that still had energy ate a tasty dinner, had hot showers, prayed together, and then hit the sack! Imagine the next day starting to wake up at daylight. For a couple of groggy moments, you savor that peaceful feeling of warmth, safety, and security. Then comes that strange sensation of not really knowing where you are – when you wake up somewhere new. Imagine waking up in Romania! And reality starts flooding in.
A hunk, a chunk, a drunk or a monk? Life after quarantine...
How did seven of our Orphan Graduate Girls manage to get through the COVID-19 pandemic while living in our Girls Flat? Just like the rest of us, adjusting to a new lifestyle during a pandemic was not easy. As a result of staying home most of the time, the girls began to feel helpless physically and emotionally. Read how they learned and grew from this life-changing experience!
"Kompas Park is truly my favorite place in the world."
Kompas Park is near and dear to many of our hearts. In an effort to share our support and love for the camp, and to encourage its staff during this Sabbatical Summer, we asked past volunteers to share their favorite memories of the camp. Read what they shared!
Kompas Park Needs Your Help!
Visitors say that Kompas Park summer camp is a slice of heaven on earth! Its fields, assembly hall, dining room, beach area and bunk rooms hold precious memories for campers and volunteers alike. Unfortunately, due to the risks of COVID-19, this summer, the gates of Kompas Park will be closed. Since the camps have all been cancelled, KP has been hit hard financially. Will you support them during this time?
There’s no place like home… especially for an Orphan
Kompas Park: a magical land of strange costumes, endless mosquito bites, injury-inducing games that you know you shouldn’t play but you do anyway, (speaking for a friend...) kids screaming at you for the 100th time to jump on the trampoline, and you have to explain “I’m too old now” in broken Ukrainian, scattered belongings, sunshiny days, tearful goodbyes, and where time moves much faster than normal. There is truly no place like it.
Who cares about Care Givers?
We do. They look after 180 orphans who have experienced trauma throughout their short lives. The job is tough, with odd hours and low pay. These are the adults that supervise the kids in the orphanage before and after school hours. They are essentially raising the kids, and we minister to them too.
On Saturday, as a part of our Christian Ed program “Wake Up” I prepared a Master Class and Devotion just for the Care Givers. We do this for children of course, but not usually for the Care Givers. They were surprised; well, shocked really.
Remembering God’s Perfect Love in a World of Broken Love
As Valentine’s Day draws near, our grocery stores, social media feeds, and homes are filled with pink and red. Flowers, heart-shaped chocolates, cards with cute puppies, and love songs fill our senses. Discussions on love surround us and some of our favorite romantic movie quotes come to mind – “You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love you” (Pride and Prejudice, anyone??). In the midst of all this, how do we think about love in light of what John says in the verse above – God IS love?
What are You Doing this Summer?
The New Year is well underway, and we are excited for all that 2019 has in store! Time after time, our Kompas Park Summer Camps are the highlight of our year, and many campers and volunteer counselors would agree. This year Hope Now USA will be offering volunteers the opportunity to serve at two camps – Kids Camp from May 30 to June 8 and Youth Camp from June 27 to July 6. This year, our exciting theme is SPACE! We invite you to come aboard our spaceship as we take a galactical journey to explore God’s love this summer.
Giving Thanks for 2018
What are your favorite Thanksgiving traditions? Which sounds, tastes, sights and smells of Thanksgiving do you treasure most? Many families, including mine, spend time circling the table sharing stories of thankfulness with each other. As we draw near to this cherished holiday, let’s go around our “table” and reminisce about what we are truly grateful for.
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