Orphan News

Last School Bell in Ukraine has Rung

Last School Bell in Ukraine has Rung

June 09, 2023

The Last Bell has been rung in Ukraine, and school is officially out for summer! That famous Alice Cooper song is not well known in the orphanage, but nonetheless, children all across the country of Ukraine, those that are now displaced in Europe and in the USA, and indeed those students who switched to online learning in the face of war, are celebrating that school is out for summer! Last week, our kids celebrated Last Bell, complete with 11th grade Graduation and our dedicated team made sure they had an audience! They brought flowers, chocolates, ice creams and most importantly themselves. I hated having to miss Last Bell and celebrating with the children and teachers. I traditionally give an end of year speech, and this year (as last year) Inna had to read my speech at the closing ceremony, in my stead. Here’s what I wrote, and here are some of the gorgeous photos taken that day…

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A Tragic Goodbye

A Tragic Goodbye

February 23, 2023

The name “Bohdan” means “given by God.”  Twenty-one years ago, in Ukraine, God gave a mother, a twin sister and countless friends a much-loved gift – and his name was Bohdan. Sadly, for all of us left behind, this past week, Bohdan was taken from this earth by way of a Russian land mine that exploded. Shrapnel imbedded into Bohdanchik’s temple, leaving him in a coma for 3 days before going home to the Lord. During his short time on earth, he was a bright light shining in a dark place.

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A Merry Christmas for Our Orphans in Ukraine

A Merry Christmas for Our Orphans in Ukraine

January 02, 2023

Thanks to so many of you, our orphans in Ukraine had a very Merry Christmas! Remember all of those “Bags of Blessings” that you sent in?  We assigned one to each child at the orphanage, packed them up and brought them to Ukraine!  Meanwhile, our dedicated team was busy practicing a play which told the story of Jesus’ Birth! After the Christmas presents arrived, it was time to head out to the orphanage…

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Come Get Your Blessings

Come Get Your Blessings

November 04, 2022

As you probably already know by now, Ukrainians are very strong and resilient – especially our volunteer team who relies on the Armor of God for their protection. And God has continually proven to all of us at Hope Now, that He protects His children of all ages. Young and old alike.

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Letters from Ukraine - Cyndee's news from Ukraine!

Letters from Ukraine - Cyndee's news from Ukraine!

July 04, 2022

You probably remember, that when the war started on February 24, 2022, the orphanage was ordered to release all of the children and send them “home” to their guardians. This was due to the fact that nearby military targets had been bombed and therefore the government needed to rehouse those affected residents. They needed to use the orphanage to house displaced families, so the children were sent “home” and became scattered all around various small villages in the area. Many of the kids were sent back to the very people who caused them to be taken to an orphanage in the first place. Some went to poor relatives, who can barely afford to feed themselves, let alone additional children. Our team has continued to do everything in our power to maintain contact with the children, and to help them survive by making regular visits to check on them and to bring them food and essentials.

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A Vacation from the War

A Vacation from the War

June 22, 2022

A vacation from the war? Surely that is not possible for any of our volunteers, pastors, friends, relatives, soldiers, widows, or orphans currently living in Ukraine. They can’t simply “unplug” for a week at the beach. Take a break from cooking and eat out – not possible. Neither is getting lost in a good book, cuddled up in a cozy blanket while enjoying the blasting cold AC. It’s hard to concentrate when air raid sirens continue day and night. No, folks living in Ukraine cannot take a vacation from the war.

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What makes a Grown Man Cry?

What makes a Grown Man Cry?

April 21, 2022

Lately, our ministry efforts have turned from evacuating orphans to providing humanitarian aid for starving civilians and giving life-saving medical help to soldiers defending Ukraine. In these stressful and emotion encounters, for sure, there are many tears. Apart from describing the horrors that most soldiers have seen on the battlefield, in the village square and in the wheat fields, do you know what really makes a grown man cry? A first aid kit.

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Preparing for Easter

Preparing for Easter

April 16, 2022

Tomorrow is Easter in America! What a wonderful day for us Christians to celebrate the greatest story in history – Jesus’ resurrection from death! In Ukraine and in many other countries around the world, Easter won’t be celebrated for another week, as they follow the Orthodox calendar. However, our family of 14 in Madrid is celebrating tomorrow, so today they were busy coloring eggs. This refugee family was happy to have eggs to color, even though they look much different that the kind they usually made at home in Ukraine.

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This is Ukraine today – shot with our own cameras

This is Ukraine today – shot with our own cameras

April 14, 2022

One of the big differences of working with a huge, global NGO and a small, focused charity like Hope Now, is that we can tell you (and even show you!) where your donations end up and who they are helping. Take a few minutes and click on the video above, to see how your donations make their way across the border, into the hands of desperate Ukrainians trying to survive in the bombed-out city of Chernihiv.

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“Humanitarian Aid” has a Face & a Name

“Humanitarian Aid” has a Face & a Name

April 13, 2022

We usually think of Humanitarian Aid as sort of anonymous. Who does it really come from, and who does it go to? We usually never know. However, when you give financially to Hope Now, or order something off our Amazon Wish List, YOU are providing Humanitarian Aid and we can tell you exactly who is receiving it. That’s because our own volunteers sort, pack, ship, and hand deliver it to people who need it, in Ukraine. You are being the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need in a war-ravaged land. Vitalina and Zhenya are some of the orphans who received food parcels this past week, along with others from Shpola Orphanage.

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Some days are for Crying

Some days are for Crying

April 08, 2022

“We cry every day.” That’s the big change in the lives of our Ukrainian volunteers, kids and moms who were evacuated to Sweden, Italy, USA, and Romania. Yes, it’s true there are other changes too – especially for those in Romania, like sharing a house with 6 other families, living in a residential home compound (a sort of orphanage), having visitors who bring candy, Coke, treats and SO MUCH FOOD day and night. Not having to go to school, trying to learn Romanian, needing to go to the dentist, doctor, or document maker. Having makeshift birthday parties with strangers, arguing over silly things, worrying about who’s in charge, trying to figure out if there is a schedule and most of all – wondering if your friends and relatives back home in Ukraine are still alive. Trying to get information about them from any slight thread. And being terrified for them, after hearing, firsthand report after report of the brutal carnage and horrifying abuse happening in Ukraine day after day, at the hands of the invaders.

 

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Happy Birthday Nazar!

Happy Birthday Nazar!

April 05, 2022

"It was the best birthday ever!"  Happy news to hear from a child, but it's also bittersweet.  Our wonderful Romanian hosts from Richard Wurmbrand School in Iasi knew from our registration records, that Nazar had a birthday coming up.  So, they did everything in their power to make sure it was a very happy birthday indeed!  Cake, juice, games, songs and funny photos make celebrating your birthday in a refugee shelter almost bearable.

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