Community News
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.
#MyGivingStory: How my Pulled Heartstrings Led to Sponsorship
With his head bent low and hands in the pockets of the suit he wore earlier in the day for his graduation from school at Shpola Orphanage, Vlad contemplatively walked up and down along the tall grass in the woods away from the celebratory bonfire and smores everyone else was enjoying. The sight of him pulled at my heartstrings. Was he thinking, "This is the only place I have been provided for and felt safe. What now?" Did he feel frightened and forsaken?
Give Hope this Holiday Season
As temperatures drop and the year draws to a close, there are many reasons for hope. We look forward to holidays with loved ones and cozy evenings by the fire. The nostalgic tastes and smells of fall leading into winter cause us to look to the past in thankfulness and to the coming new year with hope. This time of year is often the busiest as we scurry between work deadlines, family gatherings and holiday parties. Thanksgiving leads into the demands of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday with Christmas coming right around the corner.
Hope Now has achieved Guide Star's Gold Seal of Transparency!
Hope Now has achieved Guide Star's Gold Seal of Transparency! We've added information about our goals, strategies, and achievements to our Guide Star profile. We are committed to transparency as we continue to bring hope to orphans, families and communities in Ukraine.
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