Hello family and friends,
It is summertime here in Ukraine. The leaves are on the trees; the children have completed another year of school; and they are enjoying the day camp programs that the city runs in June. The weather is in the 70s and mid 80s. Mixed with a rainy day, the cool sea breeze floats through the streets of Illichevsk. In the midst of the economic problems in Ukraine, there appears to be plenty of activity. I don’t hear grumbling or discontent. The great challenges that they face bring them back to the life that is normal for them.
Eight years ago when I first visited Marganets, I met Pastor Oleg through a classmate of his in Seminary. His friend taught at the missionary school that I attended, and he gave me his address. Pastor Oleg’s charismatic church was only a handful of people, but had a vision for the city of Marganets. Three years ago, we met again. At that time, he had a translator in his congregation of 150. His church has a powerful outreach program to heal the needs of the community. They agreed to run a drug and alcohol prevention program for our children at the orphanage. This was the beginning of a wonderful relationship between them and MUCH.
When I communicate with their translator, Inna, an invaluable team member of mine in Marganets, she updates me on what is happening with our children at the orphanage. Recently, she sent pictures of the “You Are Special” program that they presented for the children of the city. She told me that most all of the children from the orphanage attended and were delighted with the program. From what I could see, this was the beginning of some big changes in the lives of our children.
The Baptist church in Marganets will have Vacation Bible School in July, thanks to the support of Concord Baptist Church in Granite Falls, NC. I believe that the youth group will also invite our children to participate. They have a close connection with our children. It has been a slow process in eight years time, but MUCH has made the local connection. Now, the physical needs as well as the spiritual needs of the children are being attended to. I am seeing the children change. It is wonderful to see and experience.
We are all God’s children, but some of His children are in greater need to receive love than to give love. My need, as is with the people of MUCH, is to give love. In giving, we receive, and as the children receive, they give. Little do they know how they bless us as they receive our gifts of love; but sometimes I think that the love that I receive from them is greater than what I have given. I hope that is experienced by you, also.
Blessings of love and healing,
Mark
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Ira's Insight
This time I’d like to continue Mark’s story about the Marganets orphanage and the program that has been provided there for a couple of years. I think that it is one of the unique programs or ministries that MUCH has. This is the Drug and Alcohol program that was started with efforts of Mark Koehler. It was him who had seen the need of the children and invited a wonderful woman, Nadyezhda, from Illichevsk Charismatic Church to visit the children and to give them some lessons.
I had the privilege to translate for Mark when Nadyezhda visited the orphanage. She is a very spiritual Christian who can see needs of others, who can understand you and find the right words of comfort.
The lessons that she gave were a pilot program and had great success. The children listened to her very attentively and asked her different questions. After the lessons they followed her and wanted just to be around her.
Mark’s vision was to find a person in Marganets who would have a special heart for the children. He wanted to teach this person how to give these special lessons to the children.
Today this program is held with the help of local Charismatic Church. Each time when I call to Helen, the woman who gives these lessons to the children of the orphanage, I ask her about the progress that they have with the children. Helen says that the children like to spend time at her lessons. She tries to give them as much attention as she can even after the lesson. She says that the children are special; they need more motherly love, and they are looking for it. Helen says that many of the children whose behavior was awful have become more calm and disciplined. Each time before the lesson, she prays for her little students. She wants God to open their spiritual ears for them to change their lives in the future.
I also have a great hope that this program will give these children some knowledge about God and help them to live a full Christian life in the future. I think that everybody understands the importance of such lessons. It is obvious that this program is a real help for them. Some fruits of the program we can see today but the greatest progress we will see tomorrow. Today we sow seeds of love into the hearts of these poor children and later they will bring forth fruit in their lives. Our task today is to pray for these children to become serious about their lives. I am very appreciative to those who help with prayers and with finances to continue this ministry for these special ones.
Until next time,
Ira
I had the privilege to translate for Mark when Nadyezhda visited the orphanage. She is a very spiritual Christian who can see needs of others, who can understand you and find the right words of comfort.
The lessons that she gave were a pilot program and had great success. The children listened to her very attentively and asked her different questions. After the lessons they followed her and wanted just to be around her.
Mark’s vision was to find a person in Marganets who would have a special heart for the children. He wanted to teach this person how to give these special lessons to the children.
Today this program is held with the help of local Charismatic Church. Each time when I call to Helen, the woman who gives these lessons to the children of the orphanage, I ask her about the progress that they have with the children. Helen says that the children like to spend time at her lessons. She tries to give them as much attention as she can even after the lesson. She says that the children are special; they need more motherly love, and they are looking for it. Helen says that many of the children whose behavior was awful have become more calm and disciplined. Each time before the lesson, she prays for her little students. She wants God to open their spiritual ears for them to change their lives in the future.
I also have a great hope that this program will give these children some knowledge about God and help them to live a full Christian life in the future. I think that everybody understands the importance of such lessons. It is obvious that this program is a real help for them. Some fruits of the program we can see today but the greatest progress we will see tomorrow. Today we sow seeds of love into the hearts of these poor children and later they will bring forth fruit in their lives. Our task today is to pray for these children to become serious about their lives. I am very appreciative to those who help with prayers and with finances to continue this ministry for these special ones.
Until next time,
Ira
Thursday, June 3, 2010
May 2010 MUCH Newsletter
Hello family and friends,
I have arrived safely in Ukraine as my Austrian Airlines plane passed through a window of opportunity, although the volcanic ash continues to cause havoc for European flights. The four flights that took me from Greensboro, NC to Odessa, Ukraine were uneventful and pleasant. I chatted with a couple of women about my work with children in Ukraine during two of my flights. I never know where God’s provisions might appear.
Throughout my journey in America, many people have been very generous to MUCH. Their sincere interest in the needs of the children continues in the midst of their own financial challenges. God continues to bless the children, bless the giving hearts, and to direct me, which is a blessing of its own.
My three months of fundraising and visiting family and friends have come to an end. Now it is time to set into action the new information and contacts that I have found. It seems that each year new opportunities arise to help specific children in addition to the 400 children in three cities and one village that we help on a monthly basis. Sasha, the little girl whom Ira wrote about in the March newsletter, was the topic of conversation at a number of the dinners that I attended in Florida. Another child whom I have not written about yet, lives with his single mother in Marganets. There is limited medical help for him there, and he has some severe disabilities. I will be looking into his situation by phone and when I visit Marganets in September. At this point, I believe that these two children will be the focus of our additional outreach this year.
As MUCH grows in different ways each year, what I do also changes. Social media on the internet has been suggested to me. If you are on Facebook you can now find me there, also. I will be developing a number of new concepts to share MUCH with the world at large. It will take some time, but I am encouraged. I will have some help figuring it all out, but I see that there are many people, old friends and new, to say hello to.
Ira and her husband, Platon, were happy to meet me at the airport in Odessa. Here is more from Ira.
My greatest need remains. Without prayer, I am very limited in my ability to flow through the situations that my daily events offer. Please continue to pray for the children and me.
Blessings of loving and healing,
Mark
I have arrived safely in Ukraine as my Austrian Airlines plane passed through a window of opportunity, although the volcanic ash continues to cause havoc for European flights. The four flights that took me from Greensboro, NC to Odessa, Ukraine were uneventful and pleasant. I chatted with a couple of women about my work with children in Ukraine during two of my flights. I never know where God’s provisions might appear.
Throughout my journey in America, many people have been very generous to MUCH. Their sincere interest in the needs of the children continues in the midst of their own financial challenges. God continues to bless the children, bless the giving hearts, and to direct me, which is a blessing of its own.
My three months of fundraising and visiting family and friends have come to an end. Now it is time to set into action the new information and contacts that I have found. It seems that each year new opportunities arise to help specific children in addition to the 400 children in three cities and one village that we help on a monthly basis. Sasha, the little girl whom Ira wrote about in the March newsletter, was the topic of conversation at a number of the dinners that I attended in Florida. Another child whom I have not written about yet, lives with his single mother in Marganets. There is limited medical help for him there, and he has some severe disabilities. I will be looking into his situation by phone and when I visit Marganets in September. At this point, I believe that these two children will be the focus of our additional outreach this year.
As MUCH grows in different ways each year, what I do also changes. Social media on the internet has been suggested to me. If you are on Facebook you can now find me there, also. I will be developing a number of new concepts to share MUCH with the world at large. It will take some time, but I am encouraged. I will have some help figuring it all out, but I see that there are many people, old friends and new, to say hello to.
Ira and her husband, Platon, were happy to meet me at the airport in Odessa. Here is more from Ira.
My greatest need remains. Without prayer, I am very limited in my ability to flow through the situations that my daily events offer. Please continue to pray for the children and me.
Blessings of loving and healing,
Mark
Ira's Insight
Summer is coming and it means that soon we will enjoy another of God’s seasons – warm, sunny, with scents of fields’ flowers, fresh fruits, and many other pleasures. For children, I think, it is a very special time when they have their vacations and can spend much more time outside.
As you know, the mission of MUCH is to help children in need. They have many groups whom they serve. For 8 years this mission has been helping children from Emmaus Club with food, equipment, materials and other things. All help comes to these children from individuals through MUCH. I am very thankful to each who serves the children from difficult homes. It doesn’t matter how big your financial gift is, be sure that it will help the children to feel love and care. Even in summer these children can see God’s love for them. Each summer children from Emmaus Club spend their time in the Christian children’s camp that is run by the local Baptist church. For several years MUCH has sponsored the Emmaus children to attend the camp. It is a great assistance for the Baptist church because in the camp the biggest number of children is from orphanages and of course from the Emmaus Club.
These two categories are children who need not only to be fed, but also need love and friendship that they can find at that camp. For many of them the camp is a good shelter from different dangers that they are surrounded by in this cruel world. Usually from the camp, children return to their negative environment bringing positive emotions to their orphanages or to their families. I know some of these children who maintain these emotions and experiences throughout the whole year.
Looking at these children and knowing their lives, I am very appreciative to those who help MUCH support the children even during summer time. I can say that the generosity of MUCH is a great example for Ukrainian people. Because it is not important how rich you are financially but it is more important to be rich in humanity.
Please, be looking forward to hearing some stories about the July camp in the August Ira’s insights.
Until next time,
Ira
As you know, the mission of MUCH is to help children in need. They have many groups whom they serve. For 8 years this mission has been helping children from Emmaus Club with food, equipment, materials and other things. All help comes to these children from individuals through MUCH. I am very thankful to each who serves the children from difficult homes. It doesn’t matter how big your financial gift is, be sure that it will help the children to feel love and care. Even in summer these children can see God’s love for them. Each summer children from Emmaus Club spend their time in the Christian children’s camp that is run by the local Baptist church. For several years MUCH has sponsored the Emmaus children to attend the camp. It is a great assistance for the Baptist church because in the camp the biggest number of children is from orphanages and of course from the Emmaus Club.
These two categories are children who need not only to be fed, but also need love and friendship that they can find at that camp. For many of them the camp is a good shelter from different dangers that they are surrounded by in this cruel world. Usually from the camp, children return to their negative environment bringing positive emotions to their orphanages or to their families. I know some of these children who maintain these emotions and experiences throughout the whole year.
Looking at these children and knowing their lives, I am very appreciative to those who help MUCH support the children even during summer time. I can say that the generosity of MUCH is a great example for Ukrainian people. Because it is not important how rich you are financially but it is more important to be rich in humanity.
Please, be looking forward to hearing some stories about the July camp in the August Ira’s insights.
Until next time,
Ira
April 2010 MUCH Newsletter
Hi family and friends,
I hope that spring has sprung in your neck of the woods. Here in NC, the trees are full of green leaves. The re-creation of spring every year is pretty amazing. I have been in America almost two months. So far, I have visited friends and family in Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and North Carolina. I will be in Florida for a week in April and a week in May. I’m very pleased with the number of people who are interested in our children in Ukraine and my work with them. God continues to open doors and touch hearts!
Looking back over the past eight years, many doors have been opened to me. The first massage program was in Illichevsk where we now serve 24 children. The second began a few years ago at the orphanage in Marganets, where six children are treated. As you read last month, we will start a third massage program, this time in Froonza, Crimea for 12 children. Several groups of people in Michigan and Indiana have contributed enough funds to operate the massage program in Froonza for eight months. When I visited Froonza in January, I learned something very interesting. One of the mothers who has a child with a disability said, “I can’t believe that an American has come to our little village of 3,000 people to help our children. Most medical attention goes to the big cities.”
How do we value the life of a child? Is a child from the city more valuable than one from the village? Who are we to make that decision? They are all the children of God. As He opens the doors, I will gladly walk through. If He is showing us the children to help, surely He will provide. In the past eight years, I have seen many children with needs. I had some big ideas, but they were my own. When I tried to move forward with my own idea, a roadblock would appear.
There are so many children throughout the world who are in need. God’s love for His children is great. In His wisdom and His perfect time, their needs will be met. As I travel through America to raise funds for our children, I must listen to learn who the people are whose hearts God has touched to help our children. As I spend my final four weeks in America, I will seek out those people.
Here are some of Ira’s thoughts!
I am in the midst of people with giving hearts and children with great need. I am in awe of what God has done these past 8 years. As a team, making ourselves available, God will continues to use us according to his perfect will and timing.
Blessings of love and healing,
Mark
I hope that spring has sprung in your neck of the woods. Here in NC, the trees are full of green leaves. The re-creation of spring every year is pretty amazing. I have been in America almost two months. So far, I have visited friends and family in Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and North Carolina. I will be in Florida for a week in April and a week in May. I’m very pleased with the number of people who are interested in our children in Ukraine and my work with them. God continues to open doors and touch hearts!
Looking back over the past eight years, many doors have been opened to me. The first massage program was in Illichevsk where we now serve 24 children. The second began a few years ago at the orphanage in Marganets, where six children are treated. As you read last month, we will start a third massage program, this time in Froonza, Crimea for 12 children. Several groups of people in Michigan and Indiana have contributed enough funds to operate the massage program in Froonza for eight months. When I visited Froonza in January, I learned something very interesting. One of the mothers who has a child with a disability said, “I can’t believe that an American has come to our little village of 3,000 people to help our children. Most medical attention goes to the big cities.”
How do we value the life of a child? Is a child from the city more valuable than one from the village? Who are we to make that decision? They are all the children of God. As He opens the doors, I will gladly walk through. If He is showing us the children to help, surely He will provide. In the past eight years, I have seen many children with needs. I had some big ideas, but they were my own. When I tried to move forward with my own idea, a roadblock would appear.
There are so many children throughout the world who are in need. God’s love for His children is great. In His wisdom and His perfect time, their needs will be met. As I travel through America to raise funds for our children, I must listen to learn who the people are whose hearts God has touched to help our children. As I spend my final four weeks in America, I will seek out those people.
Here are some of Ira’s thoughts!
I am in the midst of people with giving hearts and children with great need. I am in awe of what God has done these past 8 years. As a team, making ourselves available, God will continues to use us according to his perfect will and timing.
Blessings of love and healing,
Mark
Ira’s Insight
Each little patient of MUCH has his or her unique story and each of them is special. I like to write about these children because your efforts produce great results in them. Praise God! The produced results can be different: it can be visual when we see a disabled child walking or invisible when parents and their children are encouraged by our care. The clinic, masseuses, our help to individuals, and the rehabilitation center in Illichevsk - these are life for children in need and their families! I am thankful to God for those who have been putting their input to “build this life for the children”. Personally I am proud to be a part of it. A bit of financial help or a prayer can change the life of a child, can give him hope.
I believe I have already written about Roman N. I don’t know why, but this time God has given me the desire to write about him and tell you what has changed in his life.
Let me remind you about his story. Roman is a child with cerebral palsy who was called a vegetable by doctors when he was born. He had several operations on his spinal cord and feet. None of the doctors could even think that this child would be more clever than other children of his age. When he was almost two years old, he could recite long poems by heart. Roman is growing up in a big family. He has two sisters and a younger brother. His mother has been taking all her efforts to help Roman to walk.
I remember Roman was several months old when I saw his mother at the church first time after Roman had been born. Before, she had been at the hospital with Roman where he had several operations. I came up to her to encourage her and tell her about the clinic of MUCH where the children with the similar problems had benefit from massage and exercises. I didn’t know how to start to speak to her because it was difficult to sow a seed of hope in the heart of the mother who didn’t see any future for her child as the doctors had told her. Since that time Roman has been a patient of the clinic. He is a very sociable. Today he walks with the help of his mother or holding on to a bench. No doctor can predict whether he will walk by himself or not. In spite of doctors’ prediction, Roman’s parents believe that the future of their child will be much better than doctors say. They believe that one day their child will be able to make steps.
Roman’s family is only one example of hope that MUCH gives. I know that there are many more families whom MUCH has helped, has encouraged. With what can we compare this great feeling of satisfaction, knowing that our little help can produce a great faith in the hearts of discouraged people for better future of their children? I pray that God continue to bless MUCH to give confidence to such families as Roman’s, to sow a little seed of hope for their future.
Until next time,
Ira
I believe I have already written about Roman N. I don’t know why, but this time God has given me the desire to write about him and tell you what has changed in his life.
Let me remind you about his story. Roman is a child with cerebral palsy who was called a vegetable by doctors when he was born. He had several operations on his spinal cord and feet. None of the doctors could even think that this child would be more clever than other children of his age. When he was almost two years old, he could recite long poems by heart. Roman is growing up in a big family. He has two sisters and a younger brother. His mother has been taking all her efforts to help Roman to walk.
I remember Roman was several months old when I saw his mother at the church first time after Roman had been born. Before, she had been at the hospital with Roman where he had several operations. I came up to her to encourage her and tell her about the clinic of MUCH where the children with the similar problems had benefit from massage and exercises. I didn’t know how to start to speak to her because it was difficult to sow a seed of hope in the heart of the mother who didn’t see any future for her child as the doctors had told her. Since that time Roman has been a patient of the clinic. He is a very sociable. Today he walks with the help of his mother or holding on to a bench. No doctor can predict whether he will walk by himself or not. In spite of doctors’ prediction, Roman’s parents believe that the future of their child will be much better than doctors say. They believe that one day their child will be able to make steps.
Roman’s family is only one example of hope that MUCH gives. I know that there are many more families whom MUCH has helped, has encouraged. With what can we compare this great feeling of satisfaction, knowing that our little help can produce a great faith in the hearts of discouraged people for better future of their children? I pray that God continue to bless MUCH to give confidence to such families as Roman’s, to sow a little seed of hope for their future.
Until next time,
Ira
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