Mission Ukraine Children's Hope

MUCH December 2011 Newsletter

2012-01-15T12:57:00.002-05:00

Hello family and friends,

May God’s blessings fill your hearts this Christmas Season. We wish for you all of the joy that He has for you. It is my turn to share with you some of my experiences while I visited Dobromel Orphanage for two weeks. All in all, it was a growing experience for me to better understand the lives of the children and life in the orphanage system. It was cold for October, but Dobromel is in the mountains, so it was a normal temperature for the season. I slept in a building across the street from the children’s dormitory, a three-room, recently remodeled apartment. The building was cold, and I slept in my long johns, hat, and socks, under two comforters almost long enough to cover my feet. The children seem to sleep in regular pajama’s, from what I could see. A number of years ago, a local Pentecostal Church replaced all of the children’s antiquated beds with solid wood bunk beds with hard wood support under the mattresses. Svetlana and I ate our meals in a room beside the orphanage kitchen. It, too, was cold. I wore my typical five layers of clothing. I appeared quite funny, because the children were running around wearing much less clothing. They seem to have acclimated to the cold winters, or maybe they accept their situation as normal.

It is a hard life for a child, living with 119 other children, struggling to understand their differences. It is a hard life for those who work there. They have limited materials, limited help from the government and local community, but most of all, they are overwhelmed with these 120 children with needs that tax their abilities to help. For two weeks, I lived how they live, in the cold buildings with the drab atmosphere of past times. I ate what they ate, most every meal containing cabbage and bread, two of the staples of Ukraine. I saw their overbearing physical and emotional needs. I watched as Svetlana performed massage on some of the children. I saw in their faces a new hope, an awareness of love in Svetlana’s eyes, and a new beginning of relaxation. I saw the children hungry for change in their physical and emotional conditions.

Mikola, the director, (picture to the right) has the most difficult job of all. He must run the orphanage according to the government rules. This is a very big job. He had time to talk with me only one time, a scheduled meeting with a translator that I hired to come from L’vov, a two-hour trip. Mikola showed his true love and concern for the children as our conversation about massage continued. He called the speech teacher and the nurse to drop what they were doing and come to our meeting. I saw the joy in their eyes as Svetlana explained the results that she was seeing after ten days of massage.

What MUCH is offering is nothing new in the therapies that have been known and practiced in Ukraine in general, but for the past twenty years of freedom, they have not been provided to the children at the orphanages for children with special needs. Click here to learn more about the current neglect of these children.

Svetlana’s Journey
A month has gone by since I left Dobromel. Although, very often I am reminded of the children from the orphanage and I miss them. I really want to hug them all, show them my love, and protect them from all evil. My wish and prayer is that every child will grow-up in a good family and feel a great understanding and love of self. My wish and prayer is that the children will be healthy and full of personality; as adults, they will become useful, helping and supporting others as they once received help and support. Soon the whole world will celebrate Christmas. It is such a wonderful holyday! Families come together, giving each other gifts, having joy and fun together! Unfortunately, at this time, many of the children will be located within the walls of the orphanage, and for them this holyday is a reminder that they are alone or that their parents do not love them.

I once watched a girl, Ivanna, (right) meeting with her mother and stepfather. They stood in the great hall; their faces were strained, and I did not see the tender love and joy in their eyes. The impression was that each of them wanted this meeting to end as quickly as possible. The next day I wondered why Ivanna did not hug her mom and was not happy with the meeting with her. She said she does not love her mother. For me it was a great disappointment to hear these terrible words. I began asking this question of other children. A lot of them answered that they do not love their parents. When I heard these answers - for me it was a shock.

I remember a boy, Misha (right). He was 15 years old. When the autumn holidays arrive, many parents take their children home. Misha’s papa promised that he would take him home, too, for the one-week holiday. He did not fulfill his promise. This big boy was crying every day; he went outside and stood at the gate looking in the direction from which his father should appear. His eyes were very sad and every day the hope in his eyes faded more and more.

The stress of living in this orphanage/boarding school system, along with his family disappointments, resulted in poor classroom performance, and other emotional and physical manifestations for this teen. The muscles in his body tightened, causing pain and stiffness in his upper body. When I began the ten-day massage, Misha would not let me touch him. His body was extremely sensitive to touch, and his ability to trust me was equally limited. Little by little during the first three days of massage, Misha’s trust of me and the relaxation of his body began to grow.

The paramount importance in medical massage is to establish trust, and then each cell in the body responds with a positive reaction to the touch of the masseuse. Physical contact with hands massaging the patient's body is complemented by a psychological bond.

At the end of the ten-day massage, Misha’s muscle tone was reduced, he allowed me to give him a more strenuous massage, revealing a decreased sensitivity to touch, and an overall better emotional state of mind. He was hopeful that his papa would take him home for the winter holidays to celebrate Christmas. I am also hopeful.

Living my dream,
Svetlana

CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISER GOAL $5,000

I have given up my life in America to help these children. Svetlana has left her job and joined me to help these children. Please join MUCH this Christmas season to help change the lives of children in Dobromel and in Froonza during 2012.

Dobromel - Misha R. (left) has problems with hyperactivity. Five days of massage made a very big difference in his ability to be calm and self-controlled in the classroom.

Froonza - Dasha (right) has Down’s syndrome. Sleeping throughout the night is only one of the positive results that she has experienced from receiving massage during this past year.

Many children at the Dobromel Orphanage and in Froonza are in great need of massage treatment. The Christmas Fundraiser will be used to provide massage treatment for a year at each location. Svetlana continues to share her story about the Dobromel children. You cannot completely imagine their need until you live with them, as Svetlana and I did, even though for only a short time. Please consider our children this Christmas Season. Listen to what God is saying to your heart. If it is about our children, may He bless you greatly for your generosity.

Donate in honor or in memory of someone special. When you make a donation in honor of family or friends, MUCH will send them an acknowledgement of your gift. Please remember to include the name and address of the honoree. When you make a donation in memory of a deceased loved one, MUCH will send you an acknowledgement of your memorial.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark and Svetlana

MUCH November 2011 Newsletter

2011-11-23T07:29:00.001-05:00

Hello family and friends,

SHE SAID YES!!!

Svetlana and I were married on November 12, 2011, at her church in Nikolayev, Ukraine. My brother Tim and his wife Sonya came from America to share this special event in our lives. Svetlana’s church family did all of the preparations and provided a reception with music, skits, games, and more food than you could possibly imagine.

October was an exciting month for Svetlana and me. I met her at the midpoint of her massage demonstration at the Dobromel Orphanage for children with physical and mental disabilities. Dobromel, nestled in the Carpathian Mountains, is a poor community; the streets are filled with potholes and the sidewalks are in poor repair. Few buildings are higher than two stories, and many are showing the effects of time. Even so, the pride of the people is evident in some buildings that are painted with very cheerful colors. Life in Dobromel is a challenge, although, life for the Ukrainian people has always been a challenge.

This newsletter will focus on Svetlana’s experience giving massage to some of the 119 children who live most of their lives in the institution. As you read Svetlana’s story, please reflect on love portrayed so deeply during the Christmas Season. Many of these children have not experienced the warmth of love ever in their young lives. Please consider sharing a bit of your love with them.

Svetlana’s Journey
For one month (two weeks alone and two weeks with Mark), I was in the special boarding school/orphanage of Dobromel in Western Ukraine. This facility of 50 years provides room, board, and education for 119 children. The children have deviations and delays in physical and mental development.

Eleven of them have no parents -- orphans -- the rest have parents, but many of them use alcohol or drugs, struggling with their poverty. They don’t want the responsibility for their children. Many parents are unable to provide good home care for their children. Many children are from large families with many brothers and sisters. One family has eight children, and they all live and study in this school.

Wonderful people work here and care about the fate of the children. They invest in these children, teaching them many good skills and knowledge; they take into account the characteristics of the children, and give each child individual attention. These people have an enormous responsibility and important role - to love, teach, educate, and shape the personality of each child. It is very hard work, because the children have physical, mental, and intellectual disabilities. Some children need to learn elementary activities – activities of daily living.

Thus, the purpose of my stay at the boarding school was to reveal the positive and tremendous impact of massage on the body of the child and to manifest the healing power of the Holy Spirit through me. When I started to massage children, I did not have full confidence that in such a short period I would see some results. However, the therapeutic effects of massage manifested themselves. In this step, I thank the Lord, because all good things come from Him. My faith is growing. Let us pray the prayer of faith, and we can be confident that God will answer.

Within 20 days, I gave massage to 18 children. Three children received a 20 day massage, 8 children received a 10 day massage, 1 child received a 4 day massage, 1 child received a 6 day massage, 4 children received a 5 day massage, and 1 child received a 13 day massage. Briefly, I will describe some of the results, which not only I saw, but also employees of the institution. Other treatment results will be in the December newsletter.

Roma, an eight-year-old boy, has very poorly developed speech. He received a 10-day treatment of head, face, neck, and back massage. Massage of the face and neck area had a relaxing effect on facial muscles and improved articulation. The Speech Therapist who worked with Roma for two years was desperate for results, having none. She told me, "After the boy started to receive massage, he began to pronounce voiced and unvoiced consonants, and his speech improved". In that, she sees the therapeutic effects of massage. Of course, I realize how much this speech therapist worked for two years, but without results. After the 10-day massage treatment, I did not notice any results, but the therapist did. The work of ongoing speech therapy plus specific massage brought results! Thank God! I believe that Jesus Christ will continue to bless the children and give them healing through massage.

A fourteen-year-old girl, Ivanna, has poor circulation in her fingers (causing a violet color), stiffness when walking, and dry skin. She has so much distortion and deformation of the spine that Ivanna now wears a plastic corset that she does not remove even during sleep. The girl received a back, neck area, and chest massage, treatment position, and spinal traction. After the massage, Ivanna became more relaxed, lost tension in movements, muscle tone moved toward normal, and recovered water balance in the skin. Praise the Lord!

Even such small results brought me joy. My heart is filled with a great desire to continue working in this direction. Many children need to receive rehabilitation, healing, and the opportunity for further productivity in their lives. These children must overcome the stigma of the word, “invalid”, and see themselves as valuable people in their communities. I believe that God's love will fill their hearts through us, and you - people who have open hearts for these children. Let our hearts become sensitive and compassionate to those who have virtually no hope for a bright future.

These children need your love, attention, and care! When I was doing chest massage for children, I had the opportunity to look in their eyes. Some children looked trustingly, but some with caution. When I smiled at them with warmth and love, setting my eye contact with love, the children eagerly absorbed my love through their eyes, and immediately their uneasiness disappeared. Many children cannot speak or speak very poorly - they are almost impossible to understand, but their eyes can say a lot.

All my time in Dobromel, I lived in the boarding school and was able to observe the lives of children. They are very caring, helping to dress those who cannot dress themselves, they comfort those who weep and come to protect those who are offended.

The arrival of Mark delighted many children. They remember him from past years. Young children hugged Mark, the older children welcomed him, shaking hands, asking him many questions, and they were happy to answer his questions. Mark was in the boarding school for two weeks, and he will tell you about his stay there in other articles.

Living my dream,
Svetlana

Christmas Fund-raiser Goal $5,000
The children at the Dobromel Orphanage and in Froonza are in great need of massage treatment. The Christmas Fundraiser will be used to provide massage treatment for a year at each location. Svetlana has begun to share her story about the Dobromel children. You cannot completely imagine their need until you live with them, as Svetlana and I did, even though for only a short time. Please consider our children this Thanksgiving and Christmas Season. Listen to what God is saying to your heart. If it is about our children, may He bless you greatly for your generosity.

Donate in honor or in memory of someone special. When you make a donation in honor of family or friends, MUCH will send them an acknowledgement of your gift. Please remember to include the name and address of the honoree. When you make a donation in memory of a deceased loved one, MUCH will send you an acknowledgement of your memorial.

We wish for all a most blessed Thanksgiving Holiday. Even in the midst of the financial problems that are facing the world, your world, may we all find one thing to be thankful for. God continues to bless America, maybe in different ways than we wish, but the blessings are there. Look for things to be thankful for each day; I know that, living in Ukraine, I certainly do.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark and Svetlana

accompanying photos will be posted shortly - check back.

MUCH Newsletter October 2011

2011-10-30T13:27:00.000-04:00

Hello family and friends,

My time in Pennsylvania was an opportunity to open new doors in my hometown churches, community and at my alma mater, Slippery Rock University. I made contact with six churches, met with key people in two and spoke at an outreach program of one. While visiting Slippery Rock University, I met with the Chairman of the Special Education Department and one of the campus ministers. In addition, I met with the Director of Campus Ministries at Grove City College, not far from Slippery Rock.

A week in Florida provided an opportunity to speak with people at a retirement community and grade school children at a Christian School. Each day I shared a meal with four to six sponsors or potential sponsors. It was a short visit, but new doors open each time I go to Florida.

With my time in America well spent, I am moving forward here in Ukraine. I will be heading to Dobromel, meeting up with Sveta, my fiancé, and spending two weeks living at the orphanage, as she is, interacting with the children and evaluating the massage demonstration project. This will be the first time that I will have the opportunity to spend more than two hours with the children on a single visit. Sveta shared with me the good results that she is seeing. She has documented these with photographs and video. She tells me there are many more children with physical disabilities than I previously thought. I knew there was a need for massage therapy at this orphanage, but it seems that some of the children were able to hide their physical challenges from plain view.

Next month Sveta will write about her time with the children in Dobromel during October. Get ready for an eye-opening story. Until then, Ira wants to share more about the children with you.

Ira’s Insights
The boy about whom I am going to tell you was born with cerebral palsy and was often left alone at home by his alcoholic mother. But God had a different plan for his life. A Christian family took him into their family through the Foster Care Program when he was 8 years old. The boy’s name is Kolya. Today he is 14 years old, and this child has brothers, sisters and loving foster parents.

Foster Care Program is a little bit different system in our country than in America. A foster child may live with foster parents as many years as foster parents want, until he/she is 18, or if foster children are adopted, or if her/his biological parents correct their life and then they may take their children back. But the last thing happens very rarely in our country. I have never heard of parents who took their children back from foster family.

Being born with cerebral palsy, Kolya couldn’t walk normally. He had a severe spasticity with the knee extensors. For many years, he crawled better than he walked with two forearm crutches. It was a real challenge for him when children of his age started school. He wanted to go to school as they did, run and play football as they did, but unfortunately, he couldn’t.

More than one year ago a real help - free Massage Clinic - was provided by MUCH for Kolya and some other children with similar problems who live in that small village of Froonza in Crimea. This clinic is a real encouragement for the mothers whose children have benefited from massage program.

Kolya's foster mother also keeps talking of his progress each time when I speak to her by the phone. She says that his masseur, Slavik, has a great hope that Kolya will walk without crutches. Today Kolya can see his good results. He is very proud of them and very thankful to those who helped this program be started.

His left leg is not as twisted as it was one year before. Now Kolya can manipulate with his left knee more freely. His legs have been strengthened - some muscles have appeared on his calves and, as a result, his legs are straighter, and he stands taller.

The masseur advised the foster mother to get an adjustable cast. That will help Kolya to make his legs straighter. This adjustable cast costs about $100 and for now, the family isn’t able to get it because of some financial needs of the other 11 children.

Now Kolya is learning to walk with the help of only one crutch and can already make several steps. It might seem for someone not to be big progress, but, for Kolya and his foster mother, it is a big victory on the way to their dream.

Until next time,
Ira

Christmas Fundraiser

Our Christmas Fundraiser kicked off last month. To recap, our goal is to raise $5,000, enough to operate the massage programs for the next year at the Dobromel Orphanage and at the village of Froonza. The operation of these two programs is dependent on the funds raised through the Christmas Fundraiser. Each program will provide massage five days a week for children with physical disabilities. Without our help, these children have no opportunity to receive massage treatment, no opportunity to improve their physical condition. Sveta told me by phone that one boy at the orphanage comes to her door every evening to ask to be included in the massage program. Our program there is designed to help each of four children with the most severe problems with 20 massages in a month, but Sveta has already worked with an additional eleven children to some degree during her first ten days. The need is great, but we need your help to help the children. If the children’s needs are touching your heart this Christmas season, please mark your contribution “Christmas Fundraiser.”

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

MUCH Newsletter September 2011

2011-09-30T15:14:00.000-04:00

Hello family and friends,

I have been in America for two months visiting family and friends. My main purpose is fundraising. I have made a number of presentations in Greensboro and am now in Pennsylvania for eight days. October 2-7, I will be in Florida. I will return to Ukraine on October 9. Svetlana and I will be married on November 12, and together we will serve the children of Ukraine through the generous contributions of MUCH supporters. Svetlana has wonderful gifts that will complement what God has been doing through the MUCH team and me.

In September of 2010, MUCH began a massage program in the village of Froonza, Crimea. This came about after I lived in Froonza for two weeks with a family with thirteen children, some of them foster children and one adopted. Twelve-year-old Kolya has cerebral palsy, and he grabbed my heart as I watched him practice walking in the house with his forearm crutches. I decided, seeing how limited his exercise area was, that he needed to get outside and walk everyday. Kolya and I walked five blocks to the village school almost every day. The teachers who saw him there were delighted that he was out of the house and wanting to be around other children.

Toward the end of my stay, I asked his foster mother if there were other children with disabilities in the village. She informed me that there were twelve other children in need of services. I saw that the need was enough to justify a massage program, so I presented it to the MUCH Board of Directors. The board approved the new massage therapy program, and we have been seeing good results with many of the children, including Kolya. Not only that, but mothers from nearby villages are requesting services, anxious to bring their children.

In the past few newsletters, I have written about the massage demonstration that my fiancée, Svetlana, will provide next month at the orphanage in Dobromel, Ukraine. I have been visiting these children for the past three years. The orphanage houses one hundred and twenty children who have a variety of physical or mental/emotional problems that can have serious repercussions on the educational system in the orphanage and the social interaction of the children. Some of the children have obvious physical disabilities, while others have learning disabilities or emotional problems. Some of the children have Down's Syndrome.

Our goal with the demonstration is to show the variety of bodily functions that can be affected and corrected through the proper application of massage. In our massage therapy clinics in Illichevsk and Froonza, we have seen a variety of amazing results. Aside from helping to balance the opposing muscle problems in cerebral palsy, massage has reduced and sometimes eliminated convulsions, stimulated awareness of bowel and bladder needs, improved the sleep patterns of restless or disruptive children, improved the digestive process, reduced watering of the mouth, and improved speech enunciation.

Announcing the 2011 Christmas Fundraiser!

The 2011 MUCH Christmas Fundraiser will focus on the Froonza and Dobromel Massage Therapy Clinics described above. Our goal is to raise $5,000, enough to operate these two programs for twelve months. Each program will provide massage five days a week. We require documentation of all program expenditures in our outreach programs, and the clinics in Froonza and Dobromel will provide progress reports for each child at the end of a twenty-day treatment.

I have always made a big effort to use MUCH contributions directly for the operation of programs. Members of our Board of Directors are volunteers, and our overhead to run the business side of MUCH is minimal. I am the only paid American on the MUCH team, and, in keeping with my missionary status in a foreign country, my wage is small. One hundred per cent of the Christmas Fundraiser will be used for the operation of the massage programs at Froonza and Dobromel.

What better Christmas gift could you give to a child than a more comfortable, more functional body!

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

MUCH Newsletter August 2011

2011-09-05T12:12:00.000-04:00

Hello family and friends,

It is good to be in America, to be on the far side of jet-lag, sleeping more consistently than ever, and walking every morning. Even so, I continue to experience culture shock, keeping me most aware of the major differences between Ukraine and the USA. In the past, culture shock occurred because of the affluence that I saw upon entering America, compared to the poverty of eighty per cent of Ukraine that I experienced. This time, other factors are affecting me. The media, television in particular, is disturbing. Sensationalism takes its toll on me. Although the Ukrainian television imitates everything American, the intensity has not yet caught up. The American pace of life is faster than I remember. When I visit America, I see it from the outside, looking in.

My mind remains on the children of Dobromel, in northwestern Ukraine. I remember how, three years ago, I was introduced to the 120 children of the Dobromel Orphanage on a cold and snowy Saturday. Their needs for encouraging relationships were most obvious, as I looked into their eyes, hungry for attention. I have visited them once or twice a year, but each time, as I reported in an earlier newsletter; my visit was only for two hours, mostly due to lack of accommodations in Dobromel. Most of my time was spent talking with the director. What could I do for these children?

Finally, a door opened during my visit in April of this year. The director was waiting to show me that he was very serious about investigating a massage program for his children. A number of children were brought to me. The director wanted to know if I thought that massage would help correct their physical difference. One of the boys, about 14 years old, walked on the toes of his one foot. A second child had a rib cage that had not developed symmetrically with the rest of his body. These are only two of the many physical problems that I saw. My heart goes out to these children who have their whole lives ahead of them.

Ira has news about what Sveta has been doing in Illichevsk while I am in America.

Ira’s insight
In October of this year, MUCH will start its Pilot Massage Program in one of our Western Ukrainian cities, Dobromel. It will be another noble program of MUCH that will meet needs of many special children. In Ukraine, MUCH is known as a charitable organization that inspires our Ukrainian people to help Ukrainian children with special needs.

The idea for this program started last fall when Mark visited the orphanage in Dobromel. The children of the orphanage suffer from cerebral palsy, scoliosis, other physical problems, and many of them have different mental disorders. He saw many children who needed professional massage and a special rehabilitation program.

Working with Mark for many years, I am never without surprise. He surprises me with his unique gift to see not only the need but to find a way to fix it. Sometimes his ideas seem to me unbelievable, but later I can see great results with my physical eyes. Last year, when he shared his ideas with me about the pilot massage program for Dobromel – the idea looked incredible to me. “God is bigger than you can imagine” – this is a favorite Mark slogan. God really is. In August of this year I have seen added evidence that this slogan is right.

Two women from different cities have had training in a practical massage course in Illichevsk in August 2011. They are Svetlana, Marks’ fiancée, and Natasha, the exercise specialist from the Dobromel Orphanage. Svetlana graduated from medical college many years ago, but she didn’t work in the medical area for a long time. In July, 2011 she finished a massage course in Nikolayev that helped her renew her theoretical knowledge in massage and become recertified.

Natasha graduated from a university that prepares Physical Education specialists. She was also taught massage in that university. Today she works in Dobromel Orphanage. She teaches children to dance and one time a week she gives massage for one child.

Both Svetlana and Natasha have a great desire to develop their massage skills and increase their knowledge. They have responded to Mark’s call to come to Illichevsk for ten days to have practice with massage in the Illichevsk Massage Clinic that has been sponsored by MUCH for seven years. For ten days, Svetlana and Natasha visited three different masseuses, watched their work, practiced giving massage, and received much valuable knowledge. All of the masseuses say that Svetlana and Natasha have a great potential for work with special children and a big interest in helping such kinds of children.

Thanks to Mark’s idea, Svetlana and Natasha left Illichevsk with great zeal to start the Massage Pilot Program at the Dobromel Orphanage in October this year. I am really looking forward to seeing progress in this orphanage because massage can do much for such children. It can change not only their physical condition but to improve their mental ability. I believe that soon this Pilot Program will encourage many hearts to help the children in Dobromel orphanage.

Until next time,
Ira

What a joy it is for me to experience hope for the children. And what a joy it will be to have Sveta join me on my next visit in the spring of 2012. Not only will she be my wife, but because she speaks both Russian and Ukrainian, she will make it possible for me to visit the children for a week, instead of two hours. As I explained in the April newsletter, Pastor Volodya was my main contact, and I stayed in his home, two hours away from Dobromel. His daughter was my translator. With Sveta’s language skills, it will be possible to find a hotel or home in Dobromel where we can stay. Her contribution will be so much more. Not only will she translate for me, she can talk with the children in their native language, learning about them in ways that I never could. She has the gift to touch the inner souls of these little ones with great love and compassion.

Please pray for Sveta as she mentally prepares for her month with the children in Dobromel. Also, a prayer or two for our wedding that will take place in November will be appreciated very much by both of us.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

MUCH Newsletter July 2011

2011-08-01T19:22:00.029-04:00

Hello family and friends,

After a rainy and cool June, we have 86 + F temperatures with cool sea breezes in the evening. I have said, “See you soon,” to my friends in Ukraine as I journeyed to America to do some fundraising for MUCH. Now in North Carolina, the temperatures are in the mid 90’s and the ground is parched, waiting for rain. This is my first summer visit in nine years. Will I survive the heat?

My fiancée, Sveta, and I have been talking about preparation for her September visit at the Dobromel Orphanage. Recently, she completed her recertification course in medical massage therapy. She and Natasha, the exercise specialist at the orphanage, will spend two weeks in Illichevsk in August, visiting our massage clinics. They will be watching, asking questions, and learning all that they can from our team of masseuses who have been working with our children for the past seven years. In September, Sveta will begin a demostration project at the Dobromel Orphanage, giving four of the children a twenty-day massage. Based on the children’s improvement and, with the approval of the Director of the orphanage, MUCH will begin its fifth massage program for special needs children.

Children at Dobromel Orphanage ...

participating in AWANA games

The children we serve in Dobromel all have physical or mental disabilities. Sveta and Natasha may be working with some of the children pictured above. Massage and specific exercise will improve the physical lives of our children. We expect that they will, in fact, change their future.

Pastor Volodya and his ministry team from the Borislov church have reached out to meet the spiritual needs of these children for ten-plus years. MUCH began to partner with them about three years ago, financially supporting the work they do. Together, Pastor Volodya and MUCH are reaching out to the whole of each child, hoping to equip them with what they will need to be successful in life.

Let’s see what is cooking with Ira.

Ira’s Insights

This year has been very fruitful for my church. We have had eight weddings since January. One of the most significant weddings for me was that of Victoria and Vitaly. Victoria is the youngest sister of my husband. I have already written about the life of this girl in some of my Ira’s Insights. The last story of mine was in the May Newsletter. I wrote about Victoria’s graduation from the Pedagogical University.

The life of this girl wasn’t easy or very happy. When Victoria was 5 years old, she was taken from a life-threatening environment. After finishing high school, this girl had no money, no help and it seemed – no future. However, God’s plans were different. She found good work, she was able to enter the university with the help of MUCH, and at last, God sent a great man into her life. Those who know Vitaly and Victoria say – God blessed both of them with each other. The love story of this young couple is a great example for many young people. Vitaly and Victoria have known each other since their childhood. They attended the same church, the same youth group. When the time came for them to find a second half of their life, they started praying. At that time, they didn’t know that God had prepared them for each other. Their announcement as a future couple at the church in May of this year was a big surprise for many people. On the second of July, it was their wedding at the church. There were many people who came to congratulate this beautiful couple.

This wedding is a good model of the fulfillment of God’s promises for those who pray, trust God, and wait. God has brought many different people into Victoria’s life for his plans to be realized. MUCH has been one of those that have impacted her life. Four years ago, Victoria entered the university. MUCH helped her with a scholarship for transportation during her four years. Today Victoria has a Bachelor degree and in the future, she is going to work with children. She is a good encouragement for those who think that there is no future in his or her life.

I am glad that MUCH continues to bless children in need with their program “Transportation Scholarship”.

I am really blessed that I can see all these wonders in the lives of children in need and it is a real honor for me to say “Thank you” to those who have been helping make these wonders happen.

Until next time,

Ira

Last year, the Emmaus Food program did not operate due to lack of funds from sources other than MUCH. Even so, the Transportation Scholarship Program (TSP), created for the Emmaus children, continued. MUCH has approved extending TSP, working through Victoria’s church and requesting Zoya, the former manager of Emmaus, to continue overseeing the program. This fall, I will be talking with Victoria about helping MUCH promote TSP. She is not only a university graduate, but she is the bride of Vitaly, son of the president of the Baptist Seminary and pastor of her church. I look forward to sharing a presentation with Victoria in her church to encourage scholastically qualified children (in need of financial help for transportation) to seek higher education. Victoria is a great role model for the children and youth of her church.

Please continue to pray for our children. With your help, we are changing their lives, giving them the opportunity to change the future of their lives and the future of their country.

Blessings of love and healing,

Mark

MUCH Newsletter June 2011

2011-06-27T20:48:00.002-04:00

Hello family and friends,

Summer has arrived, blending hot sunny days with breezy mornings and evenings and cool rain now and then. I spent some time in the village at Sveta’s parent’s home, south of Nikolayev, pulling weeds in the onion garden. You might say it was my “time to get back to nature.” I walked Sveta to work through a scenic pine forest paralleling the railroad tracks. Later, in Nikolayev, where Sveta lives, we spent some time with her children and grandchildren. It was very nice to spend some time with her family, learning more about their Ukrainian lifestyles.

Sveta’s parents home in the village

A view from Sveta’s 10th floor flat in Nikolayev

About nine months ago, I had a potential new vision for a MUCH outreach; it was about the orphanages and children’s homes in Nikolayev. At the time, I was acquainted with Sveta and had been introduced to a few of her friends. Some of them already were visiting the different orphanages and children’s homes. It seems that in every community there are people who have a heart for the children in the orphanage system. As for my part, I was looking for a connection to expand the MUCH ministry through an organization that was currently involved with these children.

About the same time that this vision came to me, I had been given the address of a missionary couple in Nikolayev. The opportunity arrived to meet them a couple of weeks ago. After a long talk, the husband, Dan, gave me the name of a man in Florida, Gary, who would be bringing a mission team to Nikolayev Region in July. He wanted his team to visit an orphanage while they were here to establish a relationship for future short- term missions. Sveta told me about her pastor and a church member who were visiting one of the orphanages on a regular basis. Okay! That was my door of opportunity, or so I thought.

I met with the pastor and he seemed very positive about everything. I returned to Illichevsk, four hours via two bus changes, with a joyful heart, hopeful that the door would open. After talking with Gary in Florida and making a few plans of my own, Sveta called with some disheartening news. Her pastor talked with the director of the orphanage and told her that Ukrainian people were welcome to visit, but Americans would not be permitted to visit with the children. We continue our search, seeking the door that God will open for us.

Ira’s Insights

Today I’d like to update the situation with Sasha K. She is a seven-year-old girl who has a rare disorder - arthrogryposis. Sasha has one of the most severe cases of this disorder. It impairs her cardiac and respiratory function and causes pain in her chest and back.

A couple of days ago I called her mother and it was a pleasant surprise for me when I heard Sasha’s voice. It was obvious that she was glad to speak to someone by the phone. She informed me that her mother has a new phone number and that now she (Sasha) has her own mobile phone. Her mother is at work every day and she misses her mother very much. The phone lets her communicate with her mother during the day.

Sometimes Sasha has to be at home the whole day alone because there is nobody with whom she could stay. Sometimes she is brought to her grandparents who live in the countryside and it is a great fun for her to be there because she can be outside all the time. But unfortunately it happens not often because her grandparents have some health problems that don’t let them take Sasha every day.

I called to a new phone number of Sasha’s mother, Natasha, and she shared some news with me. Of course, the progress isn’t as we wished. The Israel doctors are slow in their help and unfortunately, there are not many hospitals in the world that could provide surgical help for such children as Sasha. The Israel doctors still haven’t sent the mother promised estimation for the surgical operation on the chest of Sasha. She called them several times and she heard again and again that she would get it soon. When she called them last time she was told that there are some changes in the staff of the clinic and a new manager promised the mother to clarify the situation and send her the estimation and answers on her questions ASAP. Natasha hasn’t received any answer from the clinic yet.

She also investigated the questions of such operations in German clinics. She got the answer that they do such operations on chest of children not younger than 12 years old. Natasha is afraid that by the time that Sasha is 12, her situation with her chest will be much worse than now. She is afraid for Sasha’s life because even today the girl has difficulty breathing because of the concave bones of her chest press on her lungs and heart.

Despite the unfavorable situation with the possible treatment in Israel, Natasha, has a strong desire to continue to “fight” for the better future of her daughter.. She continues to call to Israel clinic and send them emails. She continues learning new ways of treatment for children with such diagnosis. Natasha says that she is a “walking Wikipedia” who knows everything about this rare disease, arthrogryposis.

Recently Mark made me happy telling me that in Ukraine there are some people who are interested in helping Sasha financially. They are ready to donate some money regularly for Sasha’s operation. Of course, it won’t be enough but I believe that very soon thanks to the MUCH website, many people will find out about the need of this girl and they may have a desire to help her to live.
Until next time,
Ira

As we all enjoy our summer plans, I ask that you keep our children in mind. Some remain at the orphanage while others return to relatives. Their summers are sometime troublesome without the structure and guidance that is available during the school year. Please pray for the teen girls particularly.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

MUCH Newsletter May 2011

2011-05-30T08:52:00.015-04:00

Hello family and friends,

All of my travels have come to an end for a while. I am back in Illichevsk, resting, doing my computer work, and gathering all of my experiences of the past two weeks in East Central and South Central Ukraine. I had nice weather to experience with the children.

At the Marganets Orphanage, I popped into the computer laboratory to check-up on the use of the equipment.

Every computer was occupied; the students were busy practicing some of their computer skills. I remember discussing computers with the manager in 2005. Could the children have the opportunity to learn to use the computer? It was a big dream, but only a dream. Now, children graduate with computer skills learned in a MUCH-sponsored class. Those skills will help them compete in the job market. Some dreams do come true!

In Froonza, I found that Kolya is walking to the Center for his massage treatment every day. He displayed his exercises for me, showing me how hard he is working to make good progress. His legs are not as strong as I thought, but he is able to straighten them with someone’s help. That is the key! He needs some help to do his exercises to get the maximum benefit. Everyone does their best to help him, but it is Kolya who will decide his future. He must have that “can do” attitude. He is moving forward. At age 13, he has a serious road ahead of him. The authorities anticipate sending him to a retirement facility at age 18. That is how they treat people with limiting disabilities. He must learn to walk independently within five years. You can cheer him on with an email of encouragement..

In Illichevsk, more and more infants are being referred to our massage clinic. These tiny tots who were previously overlooked are now receiving the immediate attention that they need. We are seeing great results with our Early Intervention Program. Previously, children had to wait until they were two-years old to be labeled as disabled. Children as young as three months old are now being treated, and in many cases, are having these medical differences corrected. Thank you for helping us make permanent changes in the lives of these innocent ones.

Ira’s Insights

Having lived on the fifth floor most of my life, I didn’t have any experience in gardening. Now I live in the countryside and many new things have been opened to me. I have learned to plant but the most that I have learned - it is waiting for the fruits of my work or efforts. In the beginning, it was very difficult for me even to imagine what beautiful flowers or sweet fruits could be produced from a thin tree or a seed. The time to wait - was the most challenging time for me! But how I was happy to see results of my work! Flowers and fruits made me very glad. Gardening has been a good experience for me and a very good object lesson for my work with MUCH. Now it is easier for me to see what good fruits will be produced from this or that activity of MUCH.

This time I would like to tell you about one of the fruits that have been produced with the help of MUCH in Ukraine. In one of my previous newsletters, I wrote about the Transportation Scholarship Program for children from difficult homes or children in need. Today there are two girls who are in this program. The name of each is Victoria. One girl is finishing her first year of medical college on a government scholarship, but no assistance with transportation. The other has worked between the twice-a-year, three-week sessions, and is finishing her fourth year of Pedagogical University. For both girls, the help with transportation has been a great blessing. Victoria, who is finishing the 4th year, says in her “thank you letter” to everybody who has been helping her:

“…For 4 years I have been receiving your financial help and it has been a Godsend in my studying! Now I am finishing my studies at the university, and I have a great desire in the future to work with children of preschool or school age, and it is a blessing for me. I like to work with children very much.

I thank God for you who have been helping me for so many years. Thank you that you are open to help those who are in need. Four years ago, I was that person. With your help, I have received ‘the ticket to my future life.’ May God bless you and reward you for your kind deeds!!!”

What great news it is – God has changed Victoria’s life for the better, through MUCH. Four years ago, I couldn’t foresee that university would change her mentality, improve her self-image, or provide her with work. Today it is a real blessing for me to see with my physical eyes all of the changes and results that have been happening in Victoria’s life. Without the assistance of MUCH, it would have been almost impossible for Victoria to study at the university. She is the girl who was raised by a family who removed her from a life-threatening environment when she was 5 year old. A couple of years ago Victoria’s mother died. She hadn’t shown any interest toward her daughter from the time she was taken by this family. The family who took her wasn’t able to provide finances for her to study at the university. Four years ago, when Victoria graduated high school, she didn’t have any opportunities. I think the meeting with MUCH was a historical point in her life.

Next month, Victoria will graduate and earn her Bachelor degree. It is great fruit that the help of MUCH has brought to her life.

From time to time, it happens that we can't see future results with our physical eyes in what we are doing now. For me, Victoria is one of the examples of unseen fruits that will be produced in the future.

God blesses those who take care of such fruits. May He bless you as abundantly as you have blessed Victoria.

Until next time,
Ira

These four stories from three communities, quite distant from each other, are only a raindrop in the pond of the more than five hundred children whose lives you touch. We want you to help us cheer-on our children; cheer them on to a future that will overcome the limitations that they had when we first met. This month, I celebrate my ninth year living in Ukraine; MUCH celebrates its seventh year of overseeing all that we do.

I will be visiting America (July 19 through October 8) to share more stories about the children, but most of all, how God has provided everything for me, every step of the way. Whether it was financial support from you, translators in each city or village, the teams for each developing outreach ministry, or my sweet Sveta, soon to be my wife, God has provided all in the appropriate time. If you would like me to visit your church, small group, or organization, please contact me.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

MUCH Newsletter April 2011

2011-04-23T15:55:00.008-04:00

Hello family and friends,

I wish for each of you a blessed Easter, Passover, or holy day in which you participate. As we celebrate hope, we see how God is blessing the children.

In my last Newsletter, I wrote that spring was here but I was expecting one last, late snow. It has been quite cold lately, although, I had to go to Dobromel, NW Ukraine to experience that last snow of the season. In the low 40’s F here in Illichevsk, people are still wearing their scarves and winter coats. Even so, they are all out in their gardens getting the soil turned and ready to plant.

Nestled in the Carpathian Mountains, the quiet little town of Dobromel is located only five miles from the border of Poland, it is surrounded by farmland, true to the Ukrainian agricultural way of life. Dobromel is quite a distance from Illichevsk, where I live, requiring a forty-minute bus to Odessa, a twelve-hour train to L’vov, a two-hour bus to Truskavyets, a fifteen-minute bus to Borislav, where I stay with Pastor Volodya, and on Saturday, a two-hour car ride to Dobromel Orphanage. That is a lot of travel time to spend only a few hours with the children and to have a meeting with the director. It is well worth the time; if I could not hear and see it all first -hand when I visit the children, view the improvements, talk with the director, and experience life at this orphanage, I could not fully understand their situation. It is really all about building relationships.

I have been writing about the future massage program for the children at Dobromel Orphanage in the last two newsletters. To my surprise, the director, Mikola, has been busy preparing for a massage program, so much so, that he now has an exercise specialist, trained in massage, on his staff in a limited capacity. After our meeting, there was no question in my mind that Mikola wants MUCH to begin the massage demonstration project in September, with my fiancée, Sveta, providing massage for four of the children. He is very anxious to see results, anxious enough to send Natasha, the exercise specialist, to Illichevsk to observe our two masseuses at the clinic. Natasha will observe massage treatment at our clinic here in Illichevsk in August, with children similar to the children at the orphanage. She will observe massage treatment by Sveta in September with the children at the Dobromel Orphanage. When God opens a door, He opens a door!

Ira's Insight
Someone has said, “Our lives are filled with challenges and obstacles, but everyone's life is also filled with abundant blessings. There is only one very important thing – it is to see those blessings.” Working for some years for MUCH, I have come across many people whose children are seriously disabled. For me, most of those parents are great examples of courage and real love that shows despair in none of their life situations.

Last Saturday, there was a meeting of such mothers and Mark. We talked about expanding the massage program in a second location in Illichevsk.

Last year MUCH tried this program, but for management reasons, MUCH stopped it in autumn 2010. I remember how many calls with different questions I got from the mothers at that time: “Why? When will it be started again? Do we have any hope?” All of those questions touched me very much because every mother or grandmother tried to tell me, in detail, stories about the progress that their children had with this masseuse. Some weeks later, this group of mothers arranged the meeting with Mark as a representative of MUCH, and then they wrote a letter of their hope to the MUCH Board of Directors, asking to start that massage program again.

A couple of months passed and last Saturday the meeting with this group of mothers happened again. The mothers read a letter-agreement written by MUCH to them. The letter gives only one condition for the parents whose children will benefit from the massage therapy – to supervise the schedule of massage. MUCH wants to see regular massage treatments for these children with serious disabilities.

For me it was a great delight to see mothers whose dream had come true. The expression of their faces told everything – their eyes shone with happiness. It was a real answer, a real blessing, because they had been waiting for the renewing of this program for many months. The third masseuse, Natalya Borisovna, was the first masseuse in the MUCH Massage Clinic in Illichevsk. Very often, I call her the pioneer of this program.

For reasons of her own, she gave up the original job of masseuse at the MUCH Massage Clinic. When she chose to leave, she continued to work in different cities and places with children suffering with serious illness or disabilities.

My hope has always been and is for Natalya Borisovna to work on the team of MUCH. This woman has an open heart, wonderful hands, and great experience in massage work. I have a great hope to see great results of her work soon.

Until next time,
Ira

I never imagined that my life would be focused on helping children with disabilities, particularly in a foreign country. Although this country becomes less foreign to me every day, it may remain foreign to you. We want to help you understand the culture, the people, and the children of Ukraine. To help you do this, visit the MUCH website. As always, thank you for your interest in our children, God’s secret gifts from above.

Blessings of love and healing
Mark

March 2011 MUCH Newsletter

2011-03-21T19:30:00.000-04:00

Hello family and friends,

It looks as if spring has sprung here in Ukraine. The temperatures are in the low 50s F. I am still anticipating a late snow that may be heavy but will only last a few days. The weather here by the Black Sea is unpredictable.

I will begin by telling you some good news. The MUCH Board of Directors has approved a 20-day demonstration massage program at the Dobromel Orphanage. While I am in America, Svetlana, my fiancée, who is a certified massage therapist, will live in Dobromel during the month of October with a family from Pastor Volodya’s church. She will provide massage for three or four of the children, documenting with video their before-and-after conditions. If, after viewing the results, the administration approves a regular program, this will open a new door for these children, changing their lives in ways that no one has even imagined.

While we are on the topic of massage, amazing results are pouring out of Froonza. In October of 2010, MUCH launched the massage program in this village of 3,000 people on the peninsula of Crimea, Ukraine. The inspiration for this program developed in September of 2009, while I visited a family of thirteen children; seven of them are foster children. One of them, twelve-year-old Kolya, was born with cerebral palsy.

Kolya

For fourteen days, Kolya and I walked to the school; it was only a dream that he would ever be a student there. Teachers come to his home to teach him because he must be able to walk independently to attend the school. Kolya has been receiving massage for 20 days every month for the last five months. In five months time, his progress has been amazing. As of the beginning of March, Kolya’s legs are much straighter, top to bottom, and his legs are not twisted to either side. Most of all, he is now using two canes to assist his walking, instead of the forearm crutches that you see in the picture above.

Kolya's receives his first massage

I projected that Kolya would be walking normally within two years. With continued massage treatment, he may beat my expectations by one year.

It seems that good news travels fast! Children with disabilities from other villages have begun to participate in the Froonza program. When God opens a door, look out!

The month of May will mark the end of my ninth year living in Ukraine. In that time, God has brought more that 500 children into my life. Sasha and Kolya are only two of the many children who are helped by your support. It is my desire to share more personal success stories and stories of their needs with you. I want you to understand the great personal impact that you are having on so many lives. Thank you for helping me change the world one life at a time. Please continue to pray for all of the MUCH team as we continue to answer His call.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insight

2011-03-21T19:06:00.000-04:00

Dear friends,

The girl about whom I am going to tell you this time is a well known to you. She is seven-year-old Sasha, and I have written about her in some of the previous newsletters of MUCH. Sasha has a rare disorder - arthrogryposis. This congenital disorder causes multiple joint contractures. Sasha has one of the most severe cases of this disorder. It impairs her cardiac and respiratory function and causes pain in her chest and back.

Sasha has become very close to my heart. Today Mark and Sasha are very good friends. It is funny to watch when Mark tries to speak to Sasha in Russian. Not understanding him, sometimes Sasha asks me, “Chto on skazal?” That is for “What has he said?” Every time when we visit Sasha, she demonstrates her new skills in Math, Russian and in English. Her eyes sparkle every time she shares her dreams with Mark about her future. This little girl has become very popular in many countries of the world thanks to activities of MUCH. Sasha’s days have changed a lot since MUCH touched her life. After my previous stories about Sasha, many people are waiting to hear about the decisions of the doctors. I hope my article will answer all of your questions.

It was in a hall of the policlinic where Mark and I met Sasha and her mother Natasha for the first time. They were waiting for the masseuse to give Sasha a massage. I was struck by Sasha’s disability because I had never met such a person. I was very sorry for this girl and especially her mother, who looked very sad. After Sasha’s massage, the masseuse told us about her disorder. She told us that there is hope for children with such rare genetic disorder – this hope is a set of operations on bone joints. The masseuse told us that the cost of the operations is very high. I remember that at that moment there was distress in my heart, “Why can’t the government help Sasha and other children with this disorder? There should be a solution for this situation.” These questions had been in my mind until we visited Sasha and her mother at their home, in the end of last summer. Looking at the girl, it was difficult emotionally for me to translate the conversation for Mark and Sasha’s mother. It was at this time that God moved my heart to ask Mark if MUCH could help Sasha beyond the massage program.

Some months later, in October 2010, Sasha and her mother flew to Israel where she was examined by specially qualified doctors. This examination happened only thanks to people who helped this family with finances. The total cost of tickets, boarding, and examination in the Israel clinic was $3000. It was a very important assessment for Sasha. This was the first time that doctors who specialize in arthrogryposis examined her. Sasha and her mother came back from Israel very encouraged. The doctors said that they had successfully operated on people with the same disorder as Sasha’s, and they promised to send the mother results of their decision about the time for Sasha to be operated on and the cost of the operation. Their results came a number of months later. It was a big task for the doctors to come to one decision about the scheduling of the first operation for Sasha. They say that the best time for Sasha to be operated on will be in two years because of her bone growth process. The first operation should be done on her chest because there is a danger for her life. The concave bones of her chest press on her lungs and heart. The cost of the operation is $65,000. Sasha’s mother is investigating the prices in other clinics in Germany and Russia where doctors perform this operation. Natasha is going to connect with these doctors using internet Skype communication system, E-mail, and the phone. She wants to get as much information as she can about the possibilities for her daughter’s treatment.

Thinking of Sasha’s life and of the changes that have happened to her in less than a year, I am sure that for this little girl our meeting in summer was the turning point. She is the same physically, with the same disorder, but her heart is different – it smiles because in it there is a big hope for physical changes through operations. Sasha seems not to be afraid of operations and all kind of difficulties that may be connected with the operations. She lives only with one dream, to be like other children who can walk to school by themselves. Everyone who sees Sasha wants to help her. You can meet Sasha at the MUCH website. Click on ‘Meet Sasha’ at the bottom of the home page to view the video clip. If God has put it on your heart to help Sasha, click on ‘Help Sasha,’ also at the bottom of the home page. MUCH has started an account in Sasha’s name for future expenses associated with her surgery.

Until next time,
Ira

February 2011 MUCH Newsletter

2011-03-06T09:42:00.002-05:00

Hello family and friends,

February is blasting us with bitter cold sea winds accompanied by bright sunshine. Common to Ukrainian culture, people are out and about, breathing in the fresh air, walking and talking, all bundled up in their fur coats and hats, boots and gloves. As for me, a much-needed ten-day massage has directed my thoughts to the children of the Dobromel Orphanage.

Four years ago, I was introduced to the children of the Dobromel Orphanage. These children, having more severe mental disabilities than most of the children at the Marganets Orphanage, took hold of my heart. I knew that massage was changing the lives of the children at our clinic in Illichevsk, children ranging from mild physical disability to extreme physical and mental disability, and I was seeing results of massage at the Marganets Orphanage as well. I had begun to discuss the needs of the children at the Dobromel Orphanage with the director, Mikhail. He seemed open to the idea of massage; there was no question of the need; even so, like all people in a depressed economy, he had his doubts that this could become a reality for his children. We discussed massage again during my last visit.

Pastor Volodya has brought spiritual support to these children for more than ten years. He does a great job helping the children learn about God and prayer. In addition, he provides fruit and fruit juice for the children. The children are hearing the Word and they are being fed, although, they have a need to experience change in their physical lives. They need to feel good about themselves and about their bodies; they need to be healthier than they are. Massage can make these changes become a reality, and Pastor Volodya is ready to help encourage massage treatment for the children as a valuable health factor. He has close interaction and good influence with the director. We are each part of the team that will help these children prepare for the rest of their lives.

Therefore, what is the first step? The first step is always to seek God’s timing and provision. Second, I have sent a proposal to the MUCH Board of Directors to send a massage therapist to Dobromel Orphanage to demonstrate massage with a twenty-day treatment program for three or four of the children. I want the results to ignite a big interest in the Dobromel Orphanage administration in finding a massage therapist to work with the children there. If approved, MUCH would support such a program financially.

Read the different perspective of life that Ira wants to share with you in the following post.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insight

2011-03-06T09:34:00.002-05:00

In every country there are big and small cities, big and little towns and of course villages. In each of these places, there are advantages and disadvantages of living there. If you live in a big city, you can choose: a school for your children to go to, work to earn money, a shop to buy food, a cinema and a club to have fun, a hospital and a doctor to be treated. Having such advantages are good. But, there are some disadvantages, and the biggest ones are pollution, smoggy streets and much traffic. Most people dislike it and enjoy going to the country on weekends to have rest. That is a story of living in a big city.

Small cities, towns and villages have a different life. Most people who live there know each other well; usually we say, “I know who and how they breathe”. There are a lot of advantages to living in such small places, such as fresh air, comfort about your children playing in the yard, etc. But – in a small community there is no big variety of food products in the shops. To get to a big city it is also a big problem – not everyone in a small place of post-Soviet countries has a car, so people have to use public transportation. If you are sick you can’t choose a hospital or a doctor to go to because in the place where you live there is only one small medical center where you can go to get help. Recently I read in the news that in one of the villages a young man died. He had been waiting for help, for an ambulance for a couple of hours! In the village where he lived, there is not any medical place for people to address for help. If their children are sick, not doctors, but their parents treat them. When I read that news I thought, “How do people with serious disabilities live there?”

In Illichevsk, the Massage Clinic is attended by many children who live, not in the city, but in little towns and villages that are near the city. In these places, there is not medical help for children with disabilities. From my own experience, I know how difficult it is to get to Illichevsk without my own transportation. I live in a town that is situated close to Illichevsk (approximately 15 minutes of driving); my house is not far from the bus stop but it took me about 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to where I had to go using public transportation. And that was only one way. There are many small towns and villages throughout Ukraine that do not have easy access, if they have any access at all, to rehabilitation facilities. I think Illichevsk is one of the small cities that is blessed by God because there is a Massage Clinic and Rehabilitation Centre for the disabled children there. The same is true with the small town, Froonza, in Crimea, where there are about 15 special children. The Massage Clinic that is run with the help of MUCH gives hope, both to the children and their mothers.

I think that eight to ten years ago, parents of children with disabilities, either in or near Illichevsk or in Froonza, never thought that in the future they would have so many advantages for their children. I am sure that this is just the beginning of what will happen, thanks to the work of many people who have opened their hearts for the sake of special children in Ukraine.

Until next time,
Ira

January 2011 MUCH Newsletter

2011-01-24T19:51:00.000-05:00

Hello family and friends,

Happy New Year to one and to all. I wish each of you a prosperous and a blessed 2011. We begin this new year with one disappointment. As mentioned in the October Newsletter, the Emmaus Food Program has closed its doors for an undetermined time. We are sad for the twenty children who attended this program, but we realize that they are in God’s hands. He loves them more than we ever could. The Transportation Scholarship Program will continue for the students from the Emmaus Program, so they can continue their university studies.

On the other hand, God has opened the door in Marganets to help the children at another orphanage/boarding school, Marganets #2. The Board of MUCH has approved a pilot program to provide funds for clothing, shoes, socks, and winter wear for these 130 children, ten of whom are without any family. We will consider additional needs as funds are available. The conditions at this facility are similar to the first Marganets orphanage/boarding school when we first began to help those children eight years ago. There is plenty to do to improve the living conditions for the children in Marganets #2. We welcome these children to the family of MUCH that now totals a minimum of 512 children.

Thanks to the success of the Christmas Fund Raiser, we are able to bless so many children. MUCH is very grateful to all who made the fundraiser a winner, in spite of the difficult financial times. God continues to touch hearts and provide funds to change the lives of His children--six groups of children in three cities and a village. We are moving forward, one step at a time. As God continues to prepare workers for our future steps, MUCH continues to help the children, little by little. We are seeing progress; the children are changing, struggling with the lives they live, but reaching up for our hand to hold as we walk together with them through their lives.

We are very happy to announce that the much-awaited video of Sasha is now on the MUCH website! On the homepage is an introduction to Sasha. You can open her video by clicking on Meet Sasha.

Before I tell you about our visit with Sasha, I must introduce you to Svetlana, my fiancé as of January 1. Svetlana has a great love for God. In addition, she has a big heart, full of love for children and a passion to work with them. She has two grandchildren of her own and has MUCH love for our children. She has a background in massage therapy and wants to improve her skills. Svetlana sees in me many good things that I never could. She has touched my life in many healing ways. Svetlana is one of the workers that God has been preparing to further the work of MUCH. She will be a wonderful addition to the MUCH team.

While visiting me December 25, Svetlana brought some gifts for Sasha. Svetlana and I visited Sasha that evening, taking gifts that Ira had also bought for Sasha. We surprised Sasha with an unexpected Christmas. She opened the gifts with great joy, sharing them with her younger cousin. We visited and chatted with Natasha, her mother, for about two hours. As you can see in these pictures, Svetlana and Sasha are becoming friends.

As Svetlana and I walk down the road toward married life, we will also be looking for what God will do in the future of MUCH. As a married couple, we will walk together through each door as God opens it. As a new part of the MUCH team, we will minister to children in ways that I could not as a single, limited speaker of the Russian language. Please join us in 2011 as the whole team of MUCH, here, in America, and other countries, follow God’s direction to help the disadvantaged children and children with disabilities in cities and villages of Ukraine.

Blessings of love and healing,

Mark

Ira's Insights

2011-01-24T19:24:00.001-05:00

My best wishes to all in 2011! I am full of hope that God will bless each of us: our countries, our homes, and our ministries. The whole new 2011 year is ahead of us. It is like a clean sheet of paper in front of us. And each of us is an author. In the end of this year, I wish for everybody to see visible results of her or his work.

I pray God will bless MUCH ministries with His blessing in 2011 and I believe that God will bless you much more through these ministries. I heard a saying that in helping people in need we become more sympathetic, sensitive, God-fearing and morally upright.

One of the newest programs that MUCH has started is the Froonza Massage Clinic. This clinic is an unexpected realization of some mothers’ desire to have a local massage clinic for children with Cerebral Palsy. In spite of being situated close to the city of Saki, where there is a big rehabilitation center, not many mothers from Froonza could take their children to Saki for some professional massage help. The initiative of MUCH caused the Froonza Massage Clinic to begin. Of course, God was the designer of it. It was God Who opened hearts of many people: a masseur to work with special children, officials to share a room for massage and many other things.

For today, we have some good, visible results. Ann is the supervisor of the Froonza Massage Clinic. She lives in Froonza and very often communicates with parents whose children attend the clinic. The first result that was obvious for all mothers – children who were hyperactive before the massage became calmer and children who showed some indifference to the life around became more active. Ann says that the lives of all mothers and their children have changed. In the clinic, there is a three-and-a-half-year-old boy, Misha, who is suffering from Cerebral Palsy. He is a very active and lovely boy. Misha can walk but he doesn’t keep balance well when he walks. Massage at the clinic has helped him to have more stability when he walks. Misha’s results are so obvious and good that now his mother can work some hours a day leaving Misha with his grandmother. Misha’s mother hopes that, thanks to massage in Froonza, her child will have some even better results.

A new opportunity and a whole new future for the children in Froonza will help them to have a better self-image in their future, and it will give more comfort to their mothers’ hearts. I thank everybody who makes these children happier, who brings some stability to their families.

Until next time,
Ira

December 2010 MUCH Newsletter

2010-12-17T07:57:00.000-05:00

Hello family and friends,

I wish for you a holy holiday season as we draw close to the days that different religions celebrate their joyous times. Here in Ukraine, Christmas is celebrated on January sixth. During this season of giving, we focus on others. Giving to the needs of others can be an overwhelming joy. For the one who receives, the gift can be a lifesaver. The programs that we support through your generosity are lifesavers in many ways.

We are in the midst of our Christmas Fundraiser. Your gift to MUCH will help ensure that we can continue to support our three major outreach programs in the coming year: the Massage Therapy Clinic in Illichevsk, Marganets Orphanage, and the Emmaus Scholarship Program. Other programs that we support on a year-to-year basis, depending on our financial situation, include Marganets Transition House, the Dobromel Orphanage, the Froonza Massage Therapy Program and special programs at Marganets Orphanage.

I visited the Massage Therapy Clinic in Illichevsk this week to take some new video of some of the children who benefit from our treatment program. Four of the six children are infants, less than a year old. A neurologist has diagnosed their muscular problems and prescribed treatment for them. On one hand, it is heartbreaking to see these little ones with such a difficult start in their lives. On the other hand, it is a great joy to have the opportunity to provide the Early Intervention Program for them. It is so heartwarming to watch Tanya, one of our two medical masseuses, work through the treatment program that will help correct the child’s problem. I saw progress in the children even as I watched. Many of the problems we see in the youngest children will affect walking. One of our goals is to correct the problem so the child will be able to walk and thus attend school at the appropriate age.

Dasha, a bright child with Cerebral Palsy that affects her legs, has grown since I last saw her at the Clinic. I compared video of her then and now, and I see the progress she has made over the past several years. When I first met her, she had problems with balance that made walking very difficult, but she is walking independently now and attending school.

Children will not outgrow their muscular problems. The time to provide therapeutic massage is while they are growing and the central nervous system is still developing. Unfortunately, growth, in itself, is causing the muscular system to develop without symmetry. This means that our task is to work faster than the child will develop, retraining the body to operate differently. Some call it rewiring the brain.

As I look to Christmas, my holy holiday season, I feel so very blessed to be able to give our children new opportunities to enrich their lives through your generosity. MUCH and all of its sponsors give hope to the children and their mothers. I see that hope in the mothers’ eyes, hope that their children will live a better life because of the treatment they receive through the Massage Therapy Clinic. Sasha’s mother is among those who are grateful for the Clinic and what it has done for her daughter. Ira will tell you about our visit with Sasha (see below).

On behalf of the MUCH teams here and in America, and for all the children and families whose lives have improved through your generosity, may your holy days be blessed and your New Year be filled with joy and peace.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insight

2010-12-17T07:54:00.002-05:00

Before my story, I would like to tell you – Merry Christmas and Happy 2011 Year! May the New Year will be blessing for you and fruitful in what you are doing for God. What is Christmas for many people? Christmas season is always about good wishes, unexpected gifts, biscuits and special feeling of mystery that is reigning in the air. I like Christmas very much and what is connected with this, the most mystery holy day. It is special holy day when both children and adults want their wishes and dreams to come true. Sasha, the girl about whom I wrote in some of my previous Ira’s Insights, has a special dream.

Recently, Mark, Svetlana (Mark’s special friend), and I visited Sasha. In the cold flat, we met Sasha, her aunt and her cousin, a little girl with big blue eyes. Svetlana has a very pleasant personality. In her presence, you always feel comfortable. From the first minutes of our visit, Svetlana and Sasha became good friends. Svetlana brought for Sasha a picture book of biblical stories. There was a real mystery in the air when Sasha opened the book, and Svetlana told her about it. It seemed it was the first time when Sasha held such a wonderful book in her hands. Looking at her, I was overwhelmed. There was something that I couldn’t even describe with words. With a great attention and interest, she was looking through the book and was listening Svetlana’s stories.

Then we spoke about Sasha’s visit to Israel. What she remembered the most were palms in Israel streets and of course nice doctors at the clinic. In a serious way, not as a child, she told Svetlana what doctors said to her mother. She told us a story of her life – most of what was being in hospitals and taking different meds. For me it was touching to hear such a story from the girl who is just seven-years-old.

Suddenly Sasha changed the subject of our conversation – she wanted to speak about Santa Claus (in our culture, it is Grandfather Frost) and what presents he would bring her. Have you ever spoken with a child who wanted such Christmas gifts as pencils, a ruler, erasers and to be able to dance as all children? It is her dream. Sasha shared it with us, kept asking us whether her dream would come true. I am sure everyone who is reading these lines about Sasha wishes her dreams to be reality. I believe that once a miracle will happen in her life, and she will be able to dance as all children.

Until next time,
Ira

November 2010 MUCH Newsletter

2010-12-17T07:52:00.000-05:00

Hello family and friends,

As Christmas draws near, we are focused on our Christmas Fundraiser. The 400 plus children that we help each year are not expecting anything under the Christmas tree. For most of them, Christmas is only a story. But, MUCH continues to provide hope for their future, especially through our major outreach programs: Marganets Orphanage, Emmaus Food Program and Massage Therapy Program.

Marganets OrphanageIn 2002, I met the children of the Marganets Orphanage. Since then, MUCH has provided appropriate clothing, the Drug and Alcohol Awareness program, the Computer program, the Music and Dance Program, and the Massage Program, adding new dimensions to their lives. The children are displaying enthusiasm in their personal lives and positive educational attitudes, looking forward to a more promising future. Your support will help us to continue this progress.

Emmaus Food ProgramThat same year, I met the children of the Emmaus Food Program. MUCH has provided financial assistance to this program, improving the nutritional quality of the meals and supporting the life skills training program. Four years ago, we began to break the cycle of poverty in the lives of some of these children by offering travel scholarships that enable them to attend higher education in nearby Odessa. Your support will help us continue to change lives through higher education.

Massage Therapy ClinicThe unmet needs of disabled children from families with limited income came to my attention, and, after deliberation with local officials and parent organizations, MUCH opened the Massage Therapy Clinic in Illichevsk in 2004. During the past six years, MUCH has been changing children’s lives through the medical practice of massage. Not only are we changing their lives and that of their families, but also in the community, people are opening their eyes and their hearts to the needs of these children. Your support will ensure the clinic can continue to operate on a full time basis.

The MUCH Budget Committee will meet soon to establish the 2011 budget to determine to what extent the three major outreach programs can continue to be supported. Based on that conclusion, the status of the three annually supported programs—Marganets Transition Home, Dobromel Orphanage and Froonza Massage—will be evaluated. Your contributions to the Christmas Fundraiser will help MUCH continue to make a huge difference in the lives of many of the children in Ukraine. We have only just begun to share the love of Christ through your efforts. We have only just begun to change the future of Ukraine through their children. Please join us in this worthy adventure.

November has once again taken me on the road. This year, I received my visa in Krakow, Poland. Thanks to a contact in Krakow, a young man named Konrad helped me find my way to the Ukrainian Embassy. After receiving my visa a few days later, another young man, Paul, helped me buy a train ticket, and he invited me to a prayer meeting. There, I met a group of university students who are interested in coming to the Dobromel Orphanage in Ukraine to help the children.

I am writing this newsletter from the home of the Demborinski's in Ternopol, Ukraine. Bogdan and Luda have been my friends since we met at missionary school in 2002. I will be here a few days before moving on to Borislav to meet with Pastor Volodya. We will travel to visit the children in the Dobromel Orphanage. I will return to Illichevsk by the last day of November.

Ira is anxious to share more with you about Sasha's adventure (see below).

Our contribution to help Sasha travel to Israel was not in our budget. Orphanage #2 in Marganets is hoping that we can offer them some financial help in 2011 to meet a few of their many needs. They have seen the difference that our financial help over the years has made for the children at Orphanage #3. Your contributions to the Christmas Fundraiser will help us to continue our level of support for our major outreaches, which in turn will allow us to continue to support the annual projects and possibly respond to unique needs such as Sasha’s. As you make your Christmas plans, walk a few steps in the shoes of our children. Consider how your gift can alter their lives in 2011.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insights

2010-12-17T07:41:00.001-05:00

In Ukraine, Harvest or Thanksgiving Day is celebrated only in the churches. Many people out of the church can’t tell you what it means. It’s very sad. God has given us so much to be thanked for and many people even don’t know about this! I have a great hope that those who love God will continue to proclaim His deeds among unbelievers. May this special day be a blessing for each of you, filled with a significant meaning!

For me this year, autumn was special. I am so appreciative to God for His help through MUCH to a 7-year-old Ukrainian girl, Sasha, who is suffering from a rare disorder characterized by multiple joint contractures. And I am very glad that I work for MUCH, helping with translating and could put my little input to this big project.

As you know, MUCH has helped with some finances for Sasha and her mother, Natasha, to go to Israel Clinic for Sasha to be examined. I was one of the first people whom Natasha called when they returned. She was so excited and so thankful to those who helped her daughter to visit the Israel Clinic. It was first clinic where her daughter was examined so attentively by professional and experienced doctors. She handed me a thankful letter and a card made by her daughter to give to those who helped them. She told that she can’t even express with words what she feels. As a mother, she wants to tell a simple motherly “thank you” to everyone for the help with the trip.

For now, many things are not clear for her. She is still corresponding with the doctor from the Israel Clinic about the operations for her daughter--operations on her chest, spinal cord, arms, feet. First operations should be done on her chest and her spinal cord. . Because of the disease, bones of Sasha’s chest and her spinal cord have deformities that cause problems for her breathing. Some doctors at the Israel Clinic think that it is better for Sasha to have operations on her chest and spinal cord when she is ten. But, mother has been told that it is very important for Sasha to have those operations as soon as possible because the situation with her breathing is getting worse. It is vital for her health. As a mother, she is a little nervous about the unclear situation. We spoke much about God’s time, patience and trust to God.

Sometimes it seems to us that our steps are very little in what we do. Too many “but” appears on our way. I think it is a real art to overcome those “but” both physically and mentally. Our prayers, dreams are like traffic lights. When our prayers are answered, it is green light. Sometimes we meet “yellow light.” It’s test for our patience. It is a test how we trust our Heavenly Father. God is sovereign. It happens that we meet “red light” in our life. For some reasons, God doesn’t answer our prayers. We have to trust Him. Only He knows what is good for us in this or that life situation.

I believe that for Sasha and her mother it is “yellow light.” God will answer her prayers in the right time in His wonderful way. She is waiting for answers from doctors very patiently. As a mother, she wants those operations to be done in the nearest future but at the same time, she realizes that it is God who controls this situation. I am thankful to God that now she has comfort in her heart about the operations and pray that God will continue to give her His wisdom.

Until next time,
Ira

October 2010 MUCH Newsletter

2010-11-03T20:46:00.001-04:00

Hello family and friends,

I begin this newsletter with the sad news about a train/bus crash in Marganets. Forty-two people died. I ask you to join me in prayer for the families and friends of those who died. The story was carried by a number of international on-line newspapers.

Our Christmas Fundraiser, announced last month, was designed to focus on our original three outreach groups: Marganets Orphanage/School #3, Emmaus Food Program and Illichevsk Massage Clinic. Our contributions have been under budget this year, and, while MUCH continues to be offered new opportunities to help children, we can only reach out as we have sponsors to support our work. Our expenses are minimal, so your gifts are working hard here in Ukraine.

Do you remember the story of Karina, the twelve-year-old who broke her neck in 2004? God taught me then that I could not help every child in need that I saw. I was recently informed that the Emmaus Food Program, one of our original outreach programs, will not operate this next year due to lack of funds. This Baptist Church program lost funding from a major foreign sponsor, as I understand it. Our contribution to improve the quality of food was less than 5% of their monthly expense. Once again, a door has closed, hopefully only temporarily. I am sorry for the children, but God has their lives in His hands. We will continue the Transportation Scholarship Program for the three young students from Emmaus who are currently in college or university.

It is not clear what doors God will open to replace the ministry we have lost, but we do have several opportunities to serve children waiting in the wings. One of them, Orphanage/Boarding School #2, also in Marganets, is funded only by the local, impoverished government rather than by the national government. This school is different from Orphanage #3 in a couple of ways. The children are able-bodied and mentally well. They are from difficult homes in the Marganets community. The children need warm clothing to stay healthy through the winter months and have similar needs as the children in Orphanage #3.

MUCH has approved a Christmas gift of socks and shoes for the children who arrive there in flip flops and no socks. We will determine if we are able to begin to help these children on a regular basis, as we have been helping the children from Orphanage #3 for the past eight years. That decision will depend in part on the success of the Christmas Fundraiser to keep our other commitments.

When I left Froonza, Crimea after my visit in January, after discussing the possibility of starting a massage clinic for the physically disabled children in the village, we had no cooperation from the local government. The doctor for the village would only recommend massage for certain children but would not be more involved. Our solution was to have the masseuse provide massage in a different child’s home each week. I believed that we had overcome the barriers that stood in our way.

As my translator, Nellya, and I approached the village of Froonza in the first days of October, Anya, the new manager of our massage program, called and asked if I would talk with the director of the Froonza Center for the Elderly. To my great surprise, the director of the Center offered the use of their massage room and their masseur for the new massage program. So, after a nine hour overnight train ride, an hour-and-a-half electric train ride (full size version), and a twenty-five-minute bus ride, unshaven and tired, I met with the director and the masseur for more than an hour. On October 2, Anya’s foster child Kolya received a massage. On October 4, our program officially began. As the results are shared through the grapevine, I’m sure that the other children with disabilities will participate. Locating the program in the Center is the best possible arrangement for the children and parents. Unfortunately, the cost for cleaning and massage supplies and purchase of a heater will be greater than budgeted.

Before arriving in Froonza, I had been in Marganets for a week. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Julia, the child from the orphanage who attends the music school, won a national vocal competition. The dance team and Julia will also compete in the national competition for dance later this year. MUCH has accomplished many things with the orphanage in the past eight years. More than anything, we have changed the self-images of the children and the staff and given them hope.

As you make your Christmas plans, please consider adding the children in our programs to your shopping list. A gift to the Christmas Fundraiser will help to keep other doors from closing, doors to the futures of these children. If writing a check, please note that it is for the Christmas Fundraiser.

Our video that is in production will be available on our website later in November. We have met with a few delays, but we are excited about what will be available to share with you soon.

Please pray for Sasha that the doctors will determine they can help her in some way. Her disabilities will become life threatening as she grows. And please continue to pray for me, our team in America and here in Ukraine, and all of our children that we will be able to continue to meet their needs.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insights

2010-11-03T20:42:00.001-04:00

In my previous “Ira’s Insights” I wrote about a 7-year-old Ukrainian girl, Sasha, who is suffering from a rare disorder - arthrogryposis. (This congenital disorder is characterized by multiple joint contractures.) MUCH has helped with some money to buy plane tickets to Israel for Sasha’s examination.

Unfortunately, Sasha and her mother couldn’t go there on time because of “Ukrainian reality.” Sometimes it is hard for many people to understand it. I think people of Post-Soviet countries have a good “immune system” to digest our reality, but for others, this life is very unusual when they hear such stories.

Sasha’s mother, Natasha, is a person who tries to do her best for her daughter. Although Sasha receives some money as a disabled child, the government doesn’t provide enough money for her needs. Natasha works very hard to provide for her family. When she received the money for the tickets to Israel from MUCH, she started preparations for her trip. Working every day, she was collecting all information with the help of the Internet and the phone.

She called to the Israeli Embassy in Kiev to ask what documentation she had to bring with her to Kiev to get Israeli visas for her and her daughter. She called them several times to be sure that she would bring the right documents. She was assured that she would be able to finish all of the paper work in one day. Then she contacted with the clinic in Israel for them to give her the date when the doctors would have a council and would examine Sasha. Having gotten the date from the Israeli clinic, she bought tickets. She was happy because she could get the cheapest tickets in Odessa at that time. Natasha even asked them if something happened, could she change the date of her flight without any penalty. Again, she was assured that there were not any problems.

Everything was nice until she went to Kiev. There an unpleasant surprise was waiting for her. In the embassy, she was told that on some documents there were not enough seals. To put seals on the documents she had to return to Odessa again! She realized that she couldn’t finish all of the paper work in one day. Natasha was very upset because several times before she had been told what documents to bring. Nobody from the embassy had told her about those additional seals. She begged some officials in the embassy to understand her situation but they were merciless. It was her first unpleasant experience. When she returned to Odessa to finish the paper work, she called to the Israeli clinic and explained the situation. She was given a new date for her daughter to come to be examined. Natasha went to the airline booking office to change the dates for her flight to Israel. And she was shocked with another unpleasant surprise. This time she had to pay a penalty to change the date of her flight. The penalty for each ticket cost $150. Natasha tried to explain that she had been promised that she wouldn’t pay any penalty if she changed the dates, but again she saw a brick wall of hardheartedness. She was returned $300 less than she had paid. Natasha thought that she wouldn’t have enough money to get any tickets to Israel, but a woman at the airline booking office found two tickets at a much cheaper price than she had bought the first time. Mixed emotions filled the poor woman. She was upset about her failures and was happy to have new tickets.

Having finished my story, I would give a name for it, “A Loving Heart of the Mother”. Natasha has shown her dedication to Sasha, having broken through the red tape.

Finally, she had tickets and all her paper work completed. On October 26, she left for Israel where her daughter was examined the next day. I will tell you the story about her trip to the Israeli clinic in the November Newsletter.

Again, I want to thank everybody who has supported financially the trip to Israel for Sasha and her courageous mother. Your help has shown Natasha that in this world there is not only injustice and hardheartedness, but there are helpful hands ready to reach out with kindness and generosity.

Until next time,
Ira

September 2010 MUCH Newsletter

2010-09-26T12:57:00.004-04:00

Hello family and friends,

I am writing from Marganets. I will be visiting the children at the orphanage and taking some videos of my interaction with them. We will combine these with video from Emmaus Food Program and the Massage Clinic in Illichevsk. The children in the video clips will help show the results of your gifts over the past eight years. We intend to have it ready for viewing on our website in October.

During the past eight years, God has blessed me with wonderful provision through the many contributors who have shared their blessings with the children. We now help children in six different settings in three cities and one village.

Christmas Fundraiser 2010

This year, we will focus our Christmas Fundraiser on the original three outreach groups. The Marganets Orphanage, the Emmaus Food Program, and the Massage Clinic are in need of more funding during these difficult economic times. The exchange rate between the dollar and the Ukrainian currency has been our saving grace these past few years. The value of the dollar has been strong in Ukraine, but prices there have steadily increased, and the dollar buys less now. Your contributions to the Christmas Fundraiser will help to support existing programs in the following ways:

Marganets Orphanage: Every month we send money to provide clothing for the children, and at the end of the school year, graduates receive appropriate clothing to start their new lives. In the fall, we provide money for their seasonal cold prevention program. Anitoliy told me that, when the city is at epidemic status with the flu, our children remain healthy.

Over the years, we have initiated four programs to help the children better prepare for their lives after they leave the orphanage. The computer program provides skill training important to their futures. Six years ago, there were no computers. When the government provided some computers, there was no money for an instructor. The massage program, which we initiated as a normal part of their health program, is specifically for children who have cerebral palsy. The drug and alcohol prevention program, taught by a woman from a local church, instructs the children about morality, addictive behavior and spiritual development. The music program encourages the children to develop their talents to their maximum. Most of all, our continual support provides the children with better self-images and hope about their future. They feel loved!

The Emmaus Food Program for children from difficult homes, operated by the Illichevsk Baptist church, continues to be in financial straits. Aside from providing money to improve the quality of food each month and supporting the life skills program, the biggest opportunity that we have been providing for the past three years is the transportation scholarship program. We believe that higher education is the answer to breaking the cycle of poverty, and three students are now able to attend university in Odessa, with transportation costs provided by MUCH supporters.

The Massage Clinic continues to make huge differences in the lives of the children, particularly with our early-intervention efforts. The other day, one of our masseuses shared that she is seeing results that are better than she had expected. We serve ten children a day with a 20 day treatment program, with a maximum of about 65 children each year. Because of the clinic, the city and the region took notice and created a Center for Children with Disabilities. MUCH is causing the communities where we work to change their views and actions toward our children.

Last year at this time, I wrote that God has provided for the needs of the children through your giving hearts. It is not about me asking you, but it is about your responding to the gifts that God has given you to share with those less fortunate. A year has passed, and your support has continued to change children’s lives in so many ways. As our Christmas Fundraiser gets underway, the children and I are so grateful for all you have shared with us these last eight years. We thank you for being a part of our lives. If your gift is intended for the Christmas Fundraiser, please make a note of that on your check or your online gift.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insight

2010-09-26T12:46:00.001-04:00

In our life, there are some moments which turn into stories that we collect, remember, and share with our friends. Such moments become very prominent for us and remind us how it is sometimes important to reach out your hand of help to another person in need. One of such stories has happened with me recently. It was a very important moment about which I will remember and would like to share with you.

This is a story about a Ukrainian 7-year-old girl, Sasha, who is suffering from a rare disorder - arthrogryposis. This congenital disorder is characterized by multiple joint contractures. Sasha has one of the most severe cases of this disorder. It impairs her cardiac and respiratory function and causes pain in her chest and back. Physically, Sasha can’t do many things as children of her age. She can’t walk, she can’t manipulate with her hands well, but this little girl can dream. She dreams to be a princess, a bat-woman, an astronaut, and the biggest dream of hers is to be able to go to school as all children of her age.

Sasha has been a patient of MUCH Massage Clinic for a long time. Massage treatment that she has regularly at the clinic helps her to maintain her physical condition but it can’t improve joint alignment. Sasha’s mother has done much investigation about the disorder of her daughter and found out that it is treatable. In our country, doctors are not so experienced in such operations and can’t give any guarantee that the operations on Sasha’s joints will be successful. But, in Israel, there is a special clinic where doctors can help Sasha. It is specialized on such kind of disorder as Sasha has.

The first step for Sasha to be operated on her joints is to go to Israel and have an examination by council of doctors who can determine how many operations she should have. It is enough very expensive for a mother who has a disabled child to save some money to buy tickets to Israel, to pay for the staying at the hotel and the examination of her daughter. Sasha’s mother could borrow only part of the whole sum.

Last week, late in the evening when I was ready to go home, Mark called me and said that MUCH had approved to help Sasha’s mother with the rest of the sum for the trip to Israel. I was really overwhelmed. At once, I made a call to Sasha’s mother and shared this piece of wonderful news. After my words, I didn’t hear anything, just silence and then the mother said: “I don’t have any words to express what I feel now. Your words are a miracle for me because, before your call, I was ready to give up on any hope to collect enough money for the examination of my daughter.”

I think it was Mother Teresa who said: “I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.”

My heart is full of praise to God that He has sent the right people in the right moment to help this little child make a first step toward her better future, and for her mother to see how dreams can become miracles.

Until next time,
Ira

August 2010 MUCH Newsletter

2010-09-06T13:11:00.002-04:00

Hello family and friends,

The last week in July and two weeks in August have been the hottest days that I remember since I moved here in 2002. Russia is having big problems because of the heat. Fields are burning and forests are being threatened by fires ignited by the extreme heat and dry grass. It seems that there is always someone who has bigger problems than I do. That helps me balance my attitude.

I had a very pleasant surprise last week. The children of the family of thirteen that I stay with when I visit Froonza, Crimea visited Ira’s church. They are a musical group, singing and playing Ukrainian folk instruments. It was wonderful to see them here in Illichevsk. I will see them again in September when I go to Froonza to check on our new massage program. We will begin treating thirteen disabled children in the village. This is the beginning. Only God knows how it will blossom.

Recently, I met a woman who is interested in my work with disadvantaged children. She lives in a city on the other side of Odessa. She and friends from her church had begun to visit orphanages in her city and nearby. After a short time, as I understand it, one of them wanted to adopt one of the children. It was not long before they were no longer allowed to come. You see, the income of the orphanage depends on the number of children. Doesn’t that break your heart?

In our communication, this woman told me about her desire to help the children. Her desire was great, but she had no direction. She didn’t know how to connect the love that God had put in her heart with the children whom she saw with such great needs. I will visit these children in the near future and learn what I can about the administration. This could open a new door in the future for MUCH to reach out to another group. So, I will ask that you pray with me about the possible new door that could open for MUCH to help these children.

I have been invited to visit the transition home ministry in Tiraspol, Moldova in October. They are supported by the church that I visited in Akron, Ohio. The goal is to help children transition from life in an orphanage to life in the real world. I look forward to learning how we can help our children become more successful in life. I will give you a report about my visit in the October newsletter.

Thank you for your interest, help, and prayers for what God is doing through MUCH here in Ukraine. Many lives are changing; many children are being given a second chance to succeed in life.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insight

2010-09-06T13:06:00.003-04:00

What fills us with warm memories when we think about our early days? People can think about their warm houses with many toys, big trees in their yards and delicious pies that their mothers or grandmothers baked. And I even heard that in the world there are museums of childhood where both adults and children like to go. When I look back to my childhood I remember my favorite doll, books that I liked to look through and read and the time at my grandmother’s house. A hundred pleasant memories from our childhood can make us happy! We can remember them looking through old pictures or when we come across some things that are dearest to our hearts.

Recently Mark introduced me to something that is not common in our country. It is a colorful quilt that many children in America have from their birth. Mark told me that children carry their "banky" with them until it is in shreds.

That was new for me. I remember my first impression when I saw a stack of bright quilts brought by Mark from America. They were amazing! Bears, flowers and dolls of lively colors can make any person happy! The quilts were donated to Mark’s children in Ukraine by a quilting club in America.

The most pleasant time was when we brought the quilts to the rehabilitation center to give them to children. The director of the center invited the youngest children to her office. We spread some quilts on the floor for each child and let children sit on them. The children were numb, they could only say: "yes, I like it." I think they had never seen such beautiful quilts before. Next time when we came to the center with some quilts, two mothers were waiting for us. I saw how excited they were when they saw the quilts.

I can imagine how much joy those blankets have brought to the children and their parents. One of the mothers told me that her child likes to sit on the blanket and very often in the evening he falls asleep on it.

I am really glad that some children from the center now have bright quilts that can bring them peace and comfort. I am sure that they will remember them all of their lives.

Until next time,
Ira

July 2010 MUCH Newsletter

2010-08-01T11:39:00.000-04:00

July brings lots of sunshine, wonderful summer rains, the never-ending sea breezes, and some wonderful stories about the children. This letter will focus upon our activities in Illichevsk, where I live. Great things are happening!

I will begin with the Massage Clinic. During the first six years of operation, there was a difference of opinion as to who would receive services and how often. With my American mentality, I wanted children with disabilities to receive the best overall treatment. But the Ukrainian mentality was to share a little bit of this wonderful American-supported provision with as many children with disabilities as possible. Two years ago, we introduced the concept of early intervention that would provide, as early as possible, massage for infants showing neuromuscular abnormalities.

It seemed that many people had conflicting ideas of how the massage clinic should be operating. Because our massage clinic is in a donated space in Illichevsk Polyclinic, and is under the authority of the doctor who manages all of the medical practice in Illichevsk, my opinion didn’t hold much water. Recently, the chain of operations changed hands. Now, the director of the Polyclinic and the head of the Rehabilitation Department will make the decisions. My natural reaction was to meet the director and talk with her about the massage clinic. Once again, the Ukrainian mentality won. Ira did meet with the director, learning that she was in full agreement with the early intervention concept. But, the children with disabilities, meaning children who had been legally identified as having a disability, would receive first opportunity.

On another subject, a wonderful group of women, The East Sunrise Quilt Guild from Florida, sent about sixteen quilts to Ukraine with me on my return trip. I had decided that these quilts would be a wonderful gift for the mothers with infants in the early intervention program. On Friday, I was at the clinic to distribute three of the quilts. I watched Tanya give massage to three girls, ages four months, five months, and one year old. As I watched during this three-hour period, I realized what a precious opportunity massage is for these girls. Through massage, they are being given treatments to their neuromuscular system before it has the opportunity to develop inappropriately. As the neurologist in this department identifies an abnormality, she will recommend treatment at our massage clinic. It is working!

Later that that day, I went to the Center for Children with Disabilities. This Center operates as a multifaceted facility providing social activity and physical therapy. A psychologist from the city is on staff, a lunch is provided every day for those who attend, and it is a respite opportunity for the parents. It continues to grow in vision and function. It is a result of MUCH influencing the city and region through the operation of our Massage Clinic. We set the example. The city of Illichevsk sat up and took notice. I distributed three more quilts at the Center. Each time that I visit, I learn more about what they are doing, how the government is involved, and how I can help to provide more equipment for them to use with the children. One woman had a vision of what should be available in Illichevsk. Six years ago, God started the ball rolling. The uphill battle is not so difficult any more. We are making great progress.

Ira has a touching story that will stir your heart and make you want to shout with joy. She tells of how the work of her church and the support of MUCH are intertwined to change the lives of children who live in difficult homes controlled by drug and alcohol addiction.

Throughout Ukraine, there are many children in need of help, care and love. MUCH is doing something about that need for about 400 children, to some degree. The problems aren’t easy to solve. It requires a long-term commitment to see long-term results. God has blessed me with direction and has provided local people with hearts for the children. If God is tugging on your heart to get involved with our efforts here, please join us in whatever way you are feeling called to participate. I have committed the second half of my life to helping the children. Thank you for reading and following my news. I will talk with you some more in August.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insight

2010-08-01T11:29:00.001-04:00

This story started in spring of 2010 when a group of young adults from the Baptist Church distributed sports shoes among children from difficult and poor families. I was a driver of that team who were going to special families, meet with parents, tell them about God’s love and give a small present to their child or children – a pair of shoes.

In our trip, we met different families. All of them were big, poor or difficult ones. Each of the families met us also differently. Some mothers were glad to see us and get a present for their children, others – were trying to play games with us and wanted us to give them several pairs of shoes for one child. Of course, we couldn’t do this because, first of all, we didn’t have enough shoes, and the second, we understood that the parents might sell extra shoes to get some money for alcohol. Seeing the conditions of their houses, it was difficult for us to tell the parents “No,” but we had to do that.

In the end of our trip, we came to one of the last addresses that we had on our list. We were met by some children who were playing outside. There were two boys of 4 and 6 years old and two girls of 5 years old. The children were from two different families that lived close to each other. I was stricken when I saw how poorly the children were dressed. It was early spring and it was cold enough outside but some of the children were wearing worn slippers and light jackets. And when I looked at the houses where they lived, my heart was broken completely – it was obvious that their parents were alcoholics.

In one of the houses, there was one window without glass and there was not any heating system. The door was opened, and we could see only the darkness inside. The children met us very delightfully and chattered with us in their childish way. We asked about their parents, but it turned out that their parents were not at home at that time. We spent some time with the children and gave each of them a pair of shoes. It was time for us to leave when we saw a couple with two children walking towards us. One of the girls told us that they were her grandparents and her sisters of three and ten-years old who were coming back from their relative. We were happy to meet them. Both grandparents were drunk but spoke with us very pleasantly. We told them about the purpose of our visit and invited their grandchildren to the Emmaus Club and said that it is special club for children from difficult homes. We told the grandparents that their grandchildren would have a nice hot lunch, and they could learn about God there.

The grandparents promised that they would send their grandchildren to the club. I doubted in my heart because I knew that it would be difficult for the children to go by bus to Illichevsk where the club is, because they lived in the village nearby.

Sometime later, Mark and I visited the Emmaus Club and I saw some new children. Their faces were familiar to me, but I couldn’t remember where I had met them. I asked Zoya, the teacher of the club, about those children and she told me that they were from the village that we had visited with the shoe project. I was pleasantly surprised. Each following time when I visited the Emmaus club, I saw those children full of joy.

In the beginning of July, I had an opportunity to help at the Christian Camp that is run by my church. The oldest girl, Aliona, from that village was at that camp also. It seemed to me that each day of the camp was sunshine for her. There was not any other child who would smile as she did, who was as appreciative as she was. It was a new life for her, a new page of her life that was filled with a new sense. For all children from Emmaus Club, the time at the Christian Camp is always special. They find new friends, they spend a wonderful time there, they learn about God more. Their time at the camp they keep in their memories throughout the year. Aliona is one of these children. Now she knows that there is another life, different from what she sees at her house. In my heart, I have a great hope that this little girl will be a good evangelist at her house that is full of disorder and in their house there will be sunshine instead of darkness….

May God bless those who help such children as Aliona to experience another life. To be sure, you’re help touches their lives and change them for better. (MUCH provides financial support for the food program at Emmaus Club and at the Christian Camp.)

Until next time,
Ira

June 2010 MUCH Newsletter

2010-06-30T05:43:00.002-04:00

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

Ira's Insight

2010-06-30T05:39:00.003-04:00

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

May 2010 MUCH Newsletter

2010-06-03T05:48:00.004-04:00

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

Ira's Insight

2010-06-03T05:46:00.001-04:00

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

April 2010 MUCH Newsletter

2010-06-03T05:42:00.001-04:00

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

Ira’s Insight

2010-06-03T05:37:00.002-04:00

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

March 2010 MUCH Newsletter

2010-04-18T07:39:00.006-04:00

Hi family and friends,

I wish to extend to all a blessed holyday season. Easter and Passover, along with other religious holydays bring people together to focus upon the mercies and graces that God shares with us. Let us seek a closer relationship with God during these holydays.

After some down time adjusting to the American culture, I began visiting friends February 27th. I had dinner with a long time sponsor in Greensboro. March presentations began in Greensboro; then Michigan was the site where an old friend and her husband introduced me to their church families. Pennsylvania brought me in contact with old friends and new. The third week provided eleven contacts and presentations, including a visit with the Maranatha church in Akron, Ohio. They sponsor a mission in Tiraspol, an offshoot country of Moldova, bordering Ukraine. This week I will be in the Mount Pleasant, PA area, visiting relatives and friends.

Many of you will not see my presentation, so I will share some of the highlights At the Marganets orphanage, we are doing many things, as you have read during our Christmas Fund Raiser. I visited the children in January before I came to America. Back in 2003, we provided an amplifier system to encourage their music and dance program. I'm happy to report that they have come a long way in the past seven years. This is the first year that any of the Marganets orphanage children have been invited to enter the music school (see the October 2009 Newsletter). Not only that, but the music and dance team from this orphanage has won the regional competitions and will go on to compete in the National competition in Kiev, Ukraine.

The Emmaus Food Program in Illichevsk continues to encourage children from difficult homes to move forward with their lives. Kristina, studying law, and Viktoria, studying to be an English teacher, are in their third year of university, using our Transportation Scholarship Program. Vika is waiting in the wings to begin in September. These children will break the cycle of poverty in their lives by enriching their knowledge and seeking their highest potential. Also, they are setting great examples for the children who continue to seek answers for their own lives through the Emmaus Food Program.

Also in Illichevsk, we are seeing the children at the Massage Clinic make great progress. The report is that at least ten children who could not walk last year are attending school this year because they are now able to walk. What a great result! Six years ago, nothing was available in Illichevsk, population 62,000, for children with disabilities. Today the clinic is providing massage for 12 children each month, but equally as important is the example of what love and compassion can do to change the lives of children with disabilities and their families.

Our newest program, recently approved by the MUCH Board of Directors, beginning in September, is a massage program for 12 children in Froonza, a rural village on the Crimean Peninsula. The peninsula attaches to southeastern Ukraine on the Black Sea. The mothers of these children are ready to open their homes to provide a place for massage treatments. A masseuse is ready to work with four children a day, 20 days a month for the small fee of $100 per month. Small by American standards, but it is normal for this village. What a wonderful opportunity!

I will continue to travel in North Carolina and Florida to share my story with all who are interested in hearing about our children in Ukraine. Please continue to pray for my safe travel and that God will continue to give me words to tell the stories of the children.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira’s Insight

2010-04-18T07:32:00.001-04:00

What can touch people’s hearts? Sometimes, it is amazing or shocking pictures, news, or video that we see on TV. Our life is full of such things. I remember that once I was shocked by a picture of dying African girl. But the information about the photographer who took picture of it was more shocking. He didn’t care about that girl; he just took a picture of her and left that place. Later, that photographer committed suicide because he just couldn’t live with the fact that he hadn’t helped her. The picture of the girl and the end of the life of the photographer are still alive in my memory.

Since I saw the picture it has been reminding me about many people, especially children who are in need. Many people live in “a box”. Sometimes we don’t know what happens to our neighbors or people close to us. It happens that we say: “Oh, I am sorry to hear that, I would have helped him if I had known.” I could say that I had lived in such a box before I started to work with MUCH. I hadn’t been aware that in Illichevsk there were so many children in need. It had seemed to me that such people had been far from my city; they had lived somewhere, but not close to me. I am really happy that it has changed and now my heart is ready to do my best for those who need help.

The girl about who I would like to tell you could break your heart if you saw her. All her life she has been suffering from some kind of severe palsy. Her lower and upper extremities are deformed. The girl can’t walk. She can just crawl because of the deformation of her feet. Also she has problems with breathing (her lungs). Her chest is concave. She has been suffering all her life. She is just 7 years old. The relief that she gets is just massage treatment. It helps her to breathe better for some time.

She is one whose smile is in my memory. This girl is very intelligent and in spite of her severe disability, she has never been unsatisfied. I would like to help her with something. I have begun to pray for this small girl whose life can be changed. I hope this letter will reach hearts of those who are not indifferent to the life of Sasha. There is some good news for her – she can be operated on. It means that the deformation of her chest, problems with her hands, elbows, and feet can be corrected. But the problem is that it is a very expensive process. Please pray for Sasha.

Until next time,
Ira

February 2010 MUCH Newsletter

2010-02-28T14:05:00.001-05:00

Hello family and friends,

I arrived in America safe and sound on February 17th. The journey included four separate flights within a 24 hour period. On two of those flights, I met people from two churches, one from Akron Ohio, and the second from Alpharetta, Georgia. It was very interesting to meet other people involved in mission work. I hope to visit both churches while I am in America.

On the plane from Vienna I talked to Lynda H. from Akron about a transition home that they run in Tiraspol (Moldova). A number of years ago, I proposed a transition home for the girls at the Marganets Orphanage, but the idea was not well received. After speaking with Lynda, a new vision came to me of how to do this through a local organization. I have read about transition homes for orphanage graduates in other areas of Ukraine. It seems to be the final opportunity to help a teen, not only to prepare for the work world, but a time to build spiritual community with others in the real world.

In January, I visited the children at the Marganets Orphanage. It was so nice to see the children playing in the snow, wearing warm coats and boots. This was a delight, compared to my first winter visit in December of 2002. Some of the 156 children had received coats and boots from MUCH, but not many. And playing outside in the snow was not so desirable. Staying warm in buildings that were heated only to forty-five degrees Fahrenheit was the main goal.

The children of the second grade that I met in 2002 will graduate this year. I will miss them very much. One in particular is Luba. She was traumatized when I met her. At seven years of age, she had witnessed a murder that completely disrupted her mind. She has family but could not attend a regular school, so she has lived at the orphanage for the last ten years. Each time that I would visit, I would look for her. In the early years, I would pray with her. Every time that I would leave her, she would burst into tears. This went on for a number of years. When I saw her in January, she was wearing a very nice coat and seemed happy. We chatted for a while, parting after long hugs. I most probably will not see her again. I am sad to say goodbye to this child. I fear for her future. She remains withdrawn and without much direction. I know that MUCH has improved her life during these years; and the school has helped prepare her for her future, but I see that she needs more. A transition home would have been a wonderful option for her.

In Marganets, I have connected two churches with the orphanage. Both are having significant effects on the children during their most influential years. The children are being taught to pray, and in turn they are praying for/with other children. It has been a long process to be able to include spiritual direction along with MUCH humanitarian efforts.

I will be visiting churches and other groups until the middle of May. Please pray for my travel, that I will continue to be safe as I go to different cities. I will be sharing my story of what God is doing through my teams and me in Ukraine.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insights (February 2010)

2010-02-28T14:01:00.001-05:00

More than three years ago Nastya G. became a patient of MUCH clinic. At that time she was three-and-a-half years old. Because of Cerebral palsy she couldn’t walk by herself. She walked on her tip-toes holding on her mother’s hand. She had much spasticity in her lower and upper extremities. The girl manipulated with her hands very badly. It was difficult for her to hold a ball or to hold a pencil to draw.

Time has passed and today she is a real beautiful young girl with big brown eyes and nice smile who can walk by herself. Nastya is a student of the first grade at the special school for children with mental and physical disabilities. She is a clever girl who studies well. She likes to draw; she likes to play with play-dough, a ball and the most of all she likes to walk.

Nastya’s mother wants her daughter to enter another school this year. That school is a regular secondary school that is situated very close to the place where they live. Nastya’s mother thinks that it will be easier for her daughter to go to the school that is close to her house. The current school is like a preparation for Nastya for the first grade of a secondary school.

Yes, the mother can choose a school for her daughter for one big reason – her daughter can walk by herself. To walk is a great privilege for any child with Cerebral Palsy diagnosis. A great input has been done by MUCH organization for Nastya to walk today. Nastya’s ability to play started with MUCH.

Nastya’s achievements are rewards for many people – her mother, masseuses and of course people who send their finances to help such as Nastya. For me Nastya is an obvious example of how God works through our hearts, how He changes not only lives of such children as Nastya but also changes hearts of adults.

Until next time,
Ira

January 2010 MUCH Newsletter

2010-02-20T17:10:00.003-05:00

Hello family and friends,

Happy New Year 2010 to each of you! We have begun the new year in a positive frame of mind. We worked hard to make the Christmas Challenge a success, and we did meet our goal of $5270. It was close, but we made it over the top. The entire MUCH staff and the children who will benefit from these programs send you a very big THANK YOU!

In preparation for my visit to the states on February 17, I have been shooting some video and taking pictures of the children who are receiving massage this month. Of the five children who are receiving treatment from Tanya, one of our masseuses, four children are less than five years old. I wrote a few words about Sasha in the December newsletter. She is seven years old. She has the sweetest personality and it is clear that her mother loves her very much. Sasha has a good mind, but it will break your heart to see her body. She has a very noticeable curve in her spine. Between her right and left rib cage, her chest is sunken in. Her feet are twisted inward. If she could walk, and she is working toward that end, she would walk on the sides of her feet.

I met Sasha last year during her massage treatment. I see some progress this time, and will video her at the end of her treatment this month. She is one of the many children who have severe physical challenges that can be altered significantly. This year we will work with twelve children every month. The more often each child can receive a twenty day massage treatment, the better the chances are that the child will have new abilities that will last a lifetime. Thanks to the success of the Christmas Challenge, at least four additional children’s lives will be changed because of massage.

I visited the Dobromel Orphanage early in December on my return trip from Warsaw, Poland. Pastor Volodya continues his outreach work with the children of this orphanage. As a pastor, he works hard to touch their spiritual lives. As a humanitarian, he wants to help the children improve their quality of living. This may mean a new pair of shoes, clothing, or even a much needed pair of socks. This is where MUCH makes his work possible through the Christmas Challenge. Even though he lives in Borislav, two hours from the orphanage; his passion for these children continues. I saw and photographed the evidence of the relationships that he built with the children during the past eight years. I see it in the eyes of the children. One of the boys wants to go to the Borislav seminary and study to be a minister. He is always sharing with Volodya some scripture that he has been studying. I see hope in the eyes of the children; hope that they can have a life of purpose.

Let’s see what Ira has to share with us about another child named Sasha!

I do not have the gifts that each of my team members in three different cities has, but I do my part to make it possible for each of them to do what God has called them to do. That is what MUCH is all about. We are helping the people of Ukraine help themselves. What a joy it is to see the people of Ukraine receive the opportunity to do what they were created to do!

Ira's Insights (January 2010)

2010-02-20T17:04:00.004-05:00

Stories That Touch Your Heart

How often are you overwhelmed in your life? What can stop you from thinking about yourself, but cause you to think about others? All people have vital needs – they want to eat, drink, and they want to be happy. But I am sure that in your life you have met special people who want to be as “everyone else is.” Their needs are special. They want to be healthy and do what other people do without any limitations.

Last week Mark and I visited one family where there is a special girl. Her name is Sasha L. She will be 5 years old in the end of January. She is the second child in her family. When she was born, no doctor told her mother that this child had some problems. On the contrary, they assured her mother that everything was well with Sasha. The mother saw some strange things in the physical development of her daughter and she addressed the doctors not only one time, but they didn’t see any serious problems. In spite of the assurances of the doctors, Sasha’s mother continued to show her child to doctors. When Sasha was 2 years old, the doctors had to acknowledge that this girl had the special disease that is called Cerebral Palsy. In her second year, she couldn’t walk and jump as children of her age. At that time Sasha’s mother learned about the massage clinic of MUCH, and she joined it. Also they started to visit “Gold Angel” – the rehabilitation center in Odessa. It was the beginning of a new life for Sasha’s family. They knew with what they had to fight. In her small cozy flat where her family lives, there is some nice equipment for Sasha’s physical rehabilitation that her father made with his own hands.

Sasha has had much progress since she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Today this girl is “a ball of fire”. She likes to dance, do crafts, learn poems, and walk. Although her balance is still developing, every new step is a great joy for her mother. Looking at this girl and her mother, I was overwhelmed with the progress that this girl has, with her desire to move forward to have better results.

Each little bit of progress, her new steps, are a great gratitude to those who support the massage clinic for such children as Sasha. I am sure that Sasha will have a nice future because in my city there is a massage clinic from MUCH!

Until next time,
Ira

December 2009 MUCH Newsletter

2009-12-24T12:09:00.003-05:00

Hello family and friends,

It is the happiest season of the year. Around the world, people pause to celebrate Christmas. Some celebrate for a whole season, some for a day, and some, only for a few hours. There are many different faiths and beliefs about God, but there seems to be a common season of joy around the season some call Christmas. Children, most of all, look forward to this time. There is such mystery and anticipation of what Christmas morning will bring.

Here in Ukraine, Christmas is celebrated twice, on December 25th and then again on January 7th, the traditional Ukrainian Christmas. At Marganets, we have been giving small bags of candy to the children for Christmas. When I visit, some of the children, carrying their treasured bag of candy with them everywhere they go, always want to share a piece or two with me. They certainly have the Christmas spirit deep within their hearts. In the midst of all of the problems of their everyday lives, they still have an innocence that has not been crushed by the troubles of this world.

Earlier this year, I visited little Sasha, 7 years old, at the massage clinic. As I think of Christmas for her, I think of the wish for her scoliosis to be corrected and for her legs to be straightened and untwisted. For her, Christmas is a time of hope. When I visited Vladik, age 2, he was already seeing the results from the massage clinic. His once bowed legs are now straight and he is walking very well. For him, Christmas is a time for rejoicing. Seven of the children who received services from the massage clinic are attending regular school for the first time, because they can walk. For them, Christmas is a time of great joy.

Every group of children that has been helped by MUCH is entering the Christmas season with a little more hope than they did in the past. I see smiling faces on the children that I visit in the three cities where we serve. God is doing great things through MUCH with your gifts throughout the year, and there is still time to give to our Christmas Fund Raiser. Not only the children are being helped, but here is the story of how one of our own, Anatoliy, has been helped. For seven years, this Ukrainian man in retirement has served the children through MUCH. Ira tells the story of his rejoicing this Christmas season.

We wish each of you a very blessed Christmas season. May it continue with you throughout the year. May God bless you as you in turn bless others. From Ira and me, and all of the MUCH team on two continents, may God be with you, protect, and guide you throughout 2010.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insights (December 2009)

2009-12-24T12:05:00.001-05:00

From the first lines of my article I would like to congratulate you with the coming wonderful Christmas season and the New Year, 2010. May it be a time when you can reach out to many around you, and also personally experience the presence of our wonderful Savior and Lord.

Usually, December is the month when I begin to dream about the New Year and review the year that almost has passed. It brings to my mind how many good things I have done, and how many I haven’t but could… It gives me a strong desire to work better in the next year. Because of my work I have to read, speak and listen very much. I am always encouraged by good examples of other people.

I would like to tell you about one person who is not a child, but he helps children in need. His name is Anatoly Vlasov. If I am not mistaken he was the first person through whom God attracted Mark’s attention to the children of the Marganets orphanage. Since that time God has done a lot through the MUCH organization. Anatoly is one of the vessels of God. God does His work through this person there. Anatoly’s house is always open for strangers and his family is very hospitable. He is that person who knocks on the hearts of people of his small town where he lives.

Recently, it happened that this person needed help greatly. He needed to have an operation on one of his eyes. It was obvious that one of his eyes couldn’t see. When he wrote emails his letters were of a big size. The operation cost very much and he couldn’t raise enough money for it with his little pension.

I am very thankful to people who made it possible, who donated the required sum for his operation. You are a blessing for him. Today Anatoly can see with both eyes. On the day when he came back from the hospital he wrote to Mark and me to thank and to tell that he can see with that eye.

I know that God makes wonderful things and I am so praiseful to God that He has helped Anatoly to see a wonder.

Sometimes it is very difficult for me to see needs of others. Such help as this one always inspires me to do something for people in need. Today life is difficult and many people have locked their hearts and don’t want to see the needs of others. They need to have operations too, operations on their hearts. My prayer is for us to be able always to see needs of others and to be blessings for them…

Until next time,
Ira

November 2009 MUCH Newsletter

2009-12-24T11:58:00.005-05:00

Hello family and friends,

As I write this newsletter, we are in the middle of grandmother’s summer. We had about two weeks of freezing temperatures, and now it has warmed up considerably. On Tuesday the 17th, I will travel to Poland to buy a new Ukrainian visa. I will stop on my way back to visit the children at the Dobromel orphanage.

Our Christmas Fundraiser is in full swing as December approaches!

Eastern Ukraine
In addition to our regular monthly support for clothing, shoes, jackets, boots, etc., four annual programs at Marganets Orphanage/School are changing the lives of our children. They are the Drug and Alcohol Prevention Program, the computer class, the massage program, and the music and dance program. These programs began as pilot projects, but they have shown such great results that MUCH started the Christmas Fund Raiser to maintain them.

The Transition Home in Marganets is a small project, but it builds self-image and dignity in a most fragile period in the lives of these children as they pass from difficult homes to the orphanage system. The children come having such basic needs as underclothing, socks and shoes.

Western Ukraine
At the Dobromel Orphanage, MUCH supports a great program for special children that is eight years old. With our help to buy clothing, shoes and food, Pastor Volodya can continue to brighten the lives of the children and change their futures in a spiritual, psychological and practical way.

Southwestern Ukraine
In Illichevsk, our massage therapy program has been underway for a number of years with outstanding results. Yet, many children with disabilities are still not receiving services. We hope to raise enough money to add a few more children to our program this year.

The total amount of the MUCH Christmas Fundraiser for 2009 is $5,270. If everyone who reads this newsletter were to contribute $20, less than dinner for two, about 300 of the 400 plus children that MUCH serves will be able to continue to receive the services provided through our 2008 Christmas Fundraiser.

I have given my life, my future, to help these children. Even so, I need help. Please look to God this Christmas Season and ask Him his desire for your gift giving. Imagine the joy that it is when God blesses through you!

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insights (November 2009)

2009-12-24T11:55:00.004-05:00

Expecting a Miracle

In our life there are some seasons or Holydays that bring us the sweetest memories and warm feelings. Christmas is one of those Holydays. When I turn my memories back to my childhood I smell oranges and tangerines that my father brought. And the smell of tropical fruits is still associated with Christmas season in my subconscious. And of course the memories about this season bring me some kind of feeling that I call expecting a miracle. I liked that Holyday because it bound the members of family. I am sure that every reader can tell something wonderful about this miraculous Holyday. It can happen simply because we are from the same country called “Childhood”.

My childhood was during the Soviet Union and at that time Christmas was as a background. The biggest accent was on the New Year. People were preparing for this event very thoroughly. Everybody was in hurry to get a Fur tree by the 31st of December, to buy presents for their family and friends and they were waiting for coming of the Old Man, Frost. People said: The way you meet the New Year the same way you will live the year. And of course people were trying to do their best to meet it as they wanted to live the New Year.

During the Soviet Union period people didn’t speak much about Christmas. In my memories this Holyday was candies and cakes that had been bought for children who came to the door and sang Carols. Those songs were not as Christian songs that tell you about the birth of Christ but as Folklore songs. Also during that time some children visited their grandparents and Godparents to bring them kalatch (kind of fancy loaf of bread) and to get presents. Christmas was celebrated according to the Old Calendar - on the 7th of January.

I am very glad that many things have changed in my Country and today you can go to the church without any fearing to be thrown to the prison. And the attitudes of many people have changed toward the Holydays too. Now many people know that according to the New Calendar Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of December and they know what this event means. Christmas has become more important for many people of my Country than meeting the New Year. We live in some kind of transitional period. Today many Christians in Ukraine celebrate this Holyday twice – in December and in January. Do you know who are the happiest ones – children! Now they can get more gifts on this wonderful Holyday. It is great for me to realize that this double Holyday can help more people, especially disadvantaged children– from orphanages, homeless children and special ones. And of course it can help us to become kinder and more soft-hearted.

Today God opens many doors for us, and the name of one of them is virtue. That calls us to help those who are not able to reward you for your kind heart. In our lives we meet many those who are not able to do this, those who are in despair and need a piece of hope. Believe me, even your little help can change the attitude of such a child toward life, can bring real delight to his little world, and can fill him with feeling called “expecting a miracle”… .

Until next time,
Ira

Survival for the Elderly

2009-12-15T09:46:00.003-05:00

In Ukraine, the pension does not provide much money, so many of the elderly create some type of work that may help with their income. Some sell flowers that they grow at home; others sell sunflower seeds and nuts. Many will collect the things in their home that they no long use and try to sell them. They will choose a well travelled path, put a sheet down on the ground, and lay out their goods to sell.

I have been living in the same apartment here in Illichevsk, Ukraine for six years. Some people in my building have died, other have sold their apartment and moved away. There are a number of older women that I see as I go in and out of my building who are pleasant in conversation with me. Not a lot of words, but we have communication.

There is one woman on a pension who lives on the fifth floor that I interact with from time to time. It is difficult to know the ages of people here; many look much older than they are. This particular woman caught my attention one day when she was returning from her work. She had a small hand truck with three nylon bags stacked and strapped to it that she was dragging up the stairs, one backbreaking step at a time. Immediately, I grabbed hold of the bottom of the truck and helped her carry it all of the way to the fifth floor.

Over the years, I have helped her up the steps numerous times. Each time, as I hear her wheezing with every breath that she takes, I realize the reality of the cost of freedom for the people of this country. This woman, like many others, gets up early in the morning, takes her goods to a place in the city, and sits and waits. She may sit in that same spot all day. I have seen her with her item set out and clothes hung from a line between two trees.

I don’t know much about this woman, but I see that she has a life, she has purpose, and she moves forward every day. I have seen her apartment that she shares with another woman, or maybe one of them owns only one room. It is dismal, dark, and very depressing for me to experience, but I wonder what it looks like through her eyes. I wonder how she sees her life. Most of all, I wonder what her life was like prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Sharing the Word

2009-12-15T09:38:00.006-05:00

When I moved to Ukraine in 2002, I had the love of Jesus deep in my heart. My vision was not about sharing the plan of salvation, the common desire of most missionaries. Sure, I would if the opportunity presented itself, but that was not the main focus of my work, as I saw it. My goal was to meet their most immediate physical needs.

I have done that for seven years. Every now and then, I am asked if my work is evangelical. Do I tell the children about Jesus? As I shared in The Harvest is Plentiful, it is against the law to talk about God in the orphanages. Even so, my work expresses the love of Jesus through actions rather than only words.

In my travels, I have been invited to speak to churches. I’m not a preacher, but I think that I have plenty of stories to tell about the Living God. So, I take each opportunity to share how God has taken a simple person such as me, and love his children. The best stories are those that tell about all of the natural preparation that I went through. How God built character in me through my difficulties, and the different ways that I grew as a Christian over the past 34 years. The children are coming to the different churches where I speak, and they are hearing about Jesus through my life. They are hearing about a living experience with Jesus, one that is alive today, not only a story that happened 2000 years ago.

It is true that I have spoken in twelve churches in Ukraine during the past 7 years. And I have spoken to the children in a formal setting two or three times. As God opens the doors, this un-preacher will walk through. I will step up to the plate and wait upon my God. As He gives me the words to say, I will gladly share about the love of the Living Jesus in my life; not only the good things, but all of the struggles that it takes to get to the good things.

So now, when people ask me if I am sharing about Jesus, I will answer this way. As God provides the opportunity, I will speak as He gives me the words. If I get ahead of Him and His plan for me, my mission will stumble. So, I wait for His perfect timing to speak to the ears that He has prepared to hear His words through my mouth.

To God Be The Glory!

First Snow

2009-12-15T06:25:00.011-05:00

This morning brought the first snow to my city of Illichevsk, Ukraine. The first snow is always welcomed with a great joy. I had to go to the market this morning to get some parts for a project that I’m doing. As I walked across the park, I saw that everyone had been anticipating this first snow.

City workers were out with their branch brooms (brooms made of tree branches), shovels, and scrapers, cleaning the sidewalks and walkways through the park. Although the children were all in school as I made my early morning trek, I will bet that their minds are on snow ball fights and sled riding rather than what their teacher is saying. My most endearing memory of today was the mother pulling her preschool child on a sled. The child was all bundled up with a blanket over her legs, as they did in the traditional sleigh ride in old Russia. I absolutely had to laugh out-loud when I saw a boy hit his mother with a snowball while she walked ahead of him, talking on her phone.

Life goes on as normal here. People put little coats on their dogs and take them out; when nature calls … you know. Laundry day is laundry day here. The wash gets hung out to drip dry or freeze, but it gets hung out. People know how to dress here. They are survivors of the deep freeze. The one woman whose picture I want most; will not allow it. She sits by the street selling sunflower seeds and nuts, year around. It amazes me that she has such patience.

So true winter has come to Illichevsk for a short season of three months. At times it may seem longer, but it is this challenge in life that keeps us sharp, alive, and invigorated.

October 2009 MUCH Newsletter

2009-10-29T19:02:00.006-04:00

Hello family and friends,

Many leaves color the ground, yet many remain green upon the trees. People from all around await that autumn freeze. October 15th is the annual day when the city turns the heat on in Ukraine. This fall has been mild thus far, so we have no heat as of October 16th. I think the first frost will come soon.

First, the frost is on the pumpkin, next the turkey and fixin’s, then chestnuts are roasting on an open fire. Soon, the Christmas season will be upon us. Our Christmas Fundraiser will focus on the futures of our children. At the Marganets Orphanage in south central Ukraine, we have four programs that have been supported, not by our annual budget, but by the Christmas Fundraisers in the past several years. I want to share with you some of the results that we are seeing:

The computer class that we support has come a long way in one year. For the low cost of $180 per school year, children are learning to use Word, the Microsoft word processor for writing text; they are using Microsoft Paint to create graphic art design, and Microsoft PowerPoint to create professional presentations. These children who have learning disabilities now have more skills to compete in the work world in the future. Andre, the teacher, is passionate about teaching the children computer skills.

Unfortunately, physical rehabilitation for the children is not a part of the orphanage budget. The massage program that MUCH supports here costs $360 per school year, providing two children each day with massage treatment. Eight children will receive massage treatment this school year. The results provide children with that personal attention, neurological and physical stimulation, and emotional encouragement. The doctor tells me that she is seeing changes in the children because of each of these activities.

The music and dance program is producing big surprises. Leonid, the music master, is creating new challenges for the children. Two of them, see the pictures below, have started to attend the local music school, an after school program. Children from this orphanage have never been considered for music school. To everyone’s surprise, they have been given free tuition. Music has always been a big part of their program at the orphanage, but with the MUCH contribution of $180 per school year, they are making leaps and bounds in their resourcefulness and learning opportunities. Leonid even composed music for a song that I wrote for the children, and taught these two children to sing it. It is very beautiful.

Olga is connecting with the children through her introduction of morality, self image, maintaining control of self, and the understanding of addictive practices. She is influencing the children most, I think, with her love and compassion toward them. If you were to see her work with the children, you would see that special light in her eye. Olga is not on staff at the orphanage. MUCH supports her work with the Drug and Alcohol Prevention Program at the cost of $450 per school year. The big result that I see is that the children are attending church. His Spirit is at work!

Also in Marganets, we support the Transition Home, where children stay for ninety days, sometimes more, as they are being transitioned from difficult homes to an orphanage. For the cost of $500 per year, MUCH provides the basic underwear, socks and shoes that are needed as these children are removed from their families. This is a very fragile time for the children. MUCH helps them to maintain dignity and self-image during this time.

At the Dobromel Orphanage in western Ukraine, close to the border of Poland, we support the work that Pastor Volodya has been doing for eight years. MUCH provides funds for the purchase of clothing, shoes, some food, and fruit juices. As he provides a spiritual program to build Christian character, MUCH provides $1800 a year to clothe and nourish the children. I see the great relationship that he has with the children! His work is changing their lives. MUCH is helping Volodya continue this great mission.

So many children with disabilities are in need where I live in Illichevsk, south western Ukraine. MUCH wants to provide two more hours of massage. This will cost $1800 per year. We have a proven track record with our massage program at the Clinic. Children, who could not walk, are walking. Some of our children are entering the regular school system. Most of all, our Early Intervention program is showing great and permanent results.

The total amount of the MUCH Christmas Fundraiser for 2009 is $5270. If everyone who reads this newsletter were to contribute $20, less than dinner for two, about 300 of the 400 plus children that MUCH serves will be able to continue to receive the services provided through our 2009 Christmas Fundraiser.

Seven years ago, I answered the call to live the remainder of my life in Ukraine, serving the children of lesser provision and ability. I had a lot of questions, but I stepped out in faith. God has provided for all of my needs, but more importantly, He has provided for the needs of the children. He has provided through your giving hearts. This is not about me asking you, but it is about you responding to the gifts that God has given you to share with those less fortunate. So, I will ask you to read this letter again, and ask God what He wants you to do for His children. The children and I are so grateful for all that you have shared with us these past seven years. We thank you for being a part of our lives.

Blessing of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insights (October 2009)

2009-10-29T18:58:00.002-04:00

Each time when I get encouraging emails about “Ira’s insight” it gives me only one thought – I am very thankful to my God, for He inspires me to write, to put my thoughts on paper.

I do know that some miraculous things happen in the life. Especially when you think that this or that couldn’t be because of these or those circumstances, but when something wonderful happens in our lives we usually say – “Oh, it’s a miracle!”

I hope that very soon one of such “miracles” will become a reality for mothers and their children from the organizations for the disabled in Illichevsk. This miracle is called “hippo therapy” (equine therapy, or horse therapy). This type of therapy for the disabled is widely used in many countries. Mark, himself, brought to Ukraine some videos about this therapy after his visit to America. He also brought an idea to have this therapy in Illichevsk. In the middle of my story with my question I want to remind you one incredible thing: -- Do you know how God work in our lives? -Yes, right. - He gives the same idea to different people.

And I am a real witness of it. About two weeks ago, a group of mothers and their children had a meeting with Mark where they asked to fulfill one dream – to have “hippo therapy” in Illichevsk. Then when Mark had a meeting with one of the city officials, she told us the same – her dream is to have a trained horse that could be brought in the yard of the rehabilitation centre twice a week for our children to ride. Isn’t it a miracle? God is doing what He wants through different people, but He gives them the same idea!

And recently Mark spoke to one of the members of Odessa Rotary Club who lives in Illichevsk. When Mark asked that person to help with this new idea, he told that it’s possible and what we need to do is to present the project to the Rotary Club.

This story has happened in a short period of time. For me it is a real miracle that God wants it to become a reality for many disabled children of Illichevsk. My hope is that very soon in “Ira’s insights” I will write about the success of “hippo therapy”.

Until next time,
Ira

Doing the Wash

2009-10-25T08:55:00.003-04:00

When I first arrived in Ukraine, I had a mindset of how things would be. The first four weeks fit my expectations according to the correspondences that I had before I moved to Ukraine. The modern conveniences were not available everywhere that I visited. It was common to see a wash basin perched on wooden rack on the back of the bathtub. This was for washing the clothes.

Weeks five and six presented a very different situation. I stayed in an apartment with a family who had a very modern looking atmosphere. I the kitchen, under the counter, was a roll-out wash machine. I was treated to this modern convenience, but it seemed strange.

During my three months in missionary school in Ternopol, Ukraine, there was a washing machine. There were eleven students and eight children. I decided to embrace the earlier culture that I had experienced, and do my wash by hand. As I watched the other students rejoicing in their freedom from the doldrums of washing by hand, I wanted to understand their lives better. So I continued to wash my clothes by hand.

When the time arrived for our Outreach practical experience, my team was once more in a more normal Ukrainian situation. This time, not only was there no washing machine, but water was only available at certain times during the day.

In April of the following year, I set up house in an apartment in Illichevsk, Ukraine. I have been living her for six and a half years. After starting a massage clinic for children with Cerebral Palsy, I looked at my own need for exercising my left hand. My bathroom is ready for a washing machine, but I have decided to wait. When I find that special woman, then I will buy a washing machine. Until then, I will do wash by hand, getting the exercise that I need, but have to force myself to do.

The Harvest is Plentiful

2009-10-24T14:09:00.013-04:00

In all of my experiences, one theme has stuck in my head, has burned within my heart, and made more sense to me than any other. It is the theme that Young Life, a Christian outreach for youth, stands upon. It simply states that you must win the right to be heard before you should begin to share with others what is most meaningful to you.

I have been told that talking about God in the government orphanages in Ukraine is against the law. The children may go to church in the city, but preaching on the property is not allowed by law. For the past seven years, my organization, MUCH, has been meeting the humanitarian needs of these children. We have won the right to be heard. But how can we capture the attention of the children on the orphanage grounds, to get them to join us at church, off the orphanage grounds.

Last September, MUCH started a Drug and Alcohol Prevention program at the orphanage. Olga, from the charismatic church in Marganets, meets with the children once a week during the school year with this program. This summer, the youth from the Baptist church in Marganets began to visit the children, starting with a concert. These two representatives are building relationships with the children. They are living examples of Christian character for the children to follow.

In the Ukrainian orphanage system, the children are all lost souls, broken hearts and minds, waiting for true direction, for someone to reach out to them and care. It is unfortunate that so many are reached out to by the wrong people, people of crime, prostitution, drugs, and control. In Matthew chapter nine, Jesus says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”

It is a long process, but we are seeing the children respond to our love for them. I have personally seen eight children from the orphanage system attend church during my visits. They are hungry for answers. They are young minds wanting to be filled with good thing. They are the plentiful harvest, waiting...

Simferopol

2009-10-19T15:06:00.006-04:00

After a pleasant conversation with an Odessa sailor and his girl, I had a pleasant night sleep on the train. Arriving in Simferopol around noon, I had some time to explore the city. The independent type that I am, I headed straight away from the front of the train station. I wanted to find the center of the city where all of the beauty is, but, unfortunately, that was to the right of the front of the train station. Full backpack on my back, I headed out.

After walking about a half of a kilometer, I decided to ask for directions. After a few minutes of discussion about the pronunciation of the word “center,” the woman told me that I would have to go back to the train station and turn left. I thanked her and determined if I should waste all of that time to back track my steps.
I saw a bridge about twenty meters in the direction that I had been heading. I figured that, if I took two rights from where I was, that would put me at the center. A third right would put me back at the train station. My good friend, logic.

I walked on: to the bridge, and over the bridge, and then right, across the street. I found that there was a very nice sidewalk that paralleled the meandering little stream that was about fifteen meters wide. I set my feet in motion, as I began my adventure. To my surprise, I found that a park continued the length of the stream. There were weeping willow trees and other greenery, but my biggest surprises were all of the foot bridges that crossed the stream as I walked on. At one point, I realized that the stream was turning to the left. It was time for me to start thinking about turning to the right.

I crossed the next bridge, and proceeded along the steam until I saw a bridge that would take me back up to the street. I didn’t want to leave this little wonderland of bridges, but I needed to continue my journey to the center and back to the train station where I would meet my friends.

I crossed the street and turned right, heading for what I hoped to be the center. As I approached a T in the road, I saw a sign with the word Voksal, Russian for train station, pointing to the right. A bit disappointed, I abandoned my search for the center and headed to the train station. At least I had not gotten lost.

My final surprise, as I walked on, was that I found another park. This one was narrow and long, between two streets. I saw the most unique use of trees to be removed in this park. Instead of cutting the trees to the ground and removing the roots, they cut the tree, leaving about two meters in height. Then, they carved, I think with a chainsaw, a statue of a person, maybe a historical or fictional character. This was the nicest gift for me to encounter at the end of this particular adventure!

Foster Children

2009-09-27T12:30:00.001-04:00

During my fourteen days with thirteen children, I learned many things about the value of life. Seven children, ages 5, 10, 12, and 15, as natural as could be, lived out each day in front of me. With so many children, I expected more conflict. There was very little crying, no fighting, and a lot of cooperation.

At the church service, I saw a lot of little children. I learned that they were all adopted or foster children also. Where does all of this love come from? As parents with very strong Christian values, these people all received a spirit fed upbringing. The brothers and sisters from the same family learned from their father, who has recently passed on to his final reward. They learned from their mother about love being the main focus in life. They learned it as children, during the soviet times. Now, they live it, with powerful hearts for the God whom they serve

This man who lived as a Christian during soviet times was a leader in planting churches is his area of Crimea. The final church that he started was in his own home. His eight children all have children of their own and many are fostering children in need. This family church continues to exist as five families gather to strengthen the Spirit in their lives as they walk the walk that they talk.

There are so many children existing in dangerous environments in this country. I heard a story about a mother filling the baby bottle with wine instead of milk. This child is now in a loving home, but his past has scared him in many long lasting ways. This country has struggled through nineteen years of change, paying dearly for their freedom. The children suffer the most.

The foster child program is new in Ukraine. In Christian homes, I am seeing great results. Parents who have already raise a family of their own are reaching out to help the children most in need. Ukraine is moving forward, slowly but surely. The children who are being taken into Christian homes will become strong citizens of the future. There is hope.

September 2009 MUCH Newsletter

2009-09-22T20:41:00.006-04:00

At the end of August, I spent fourteen days in the village of Froonza, Crimea with a family with thirteen children, two of whom have physical disabilities. I had met fifteen-year-old Vanya six years ago. He has been in a wheelchair for the past five years and has had little or no therapy since that time. With massage and the use of a muscle stimulator that we provided, his leg swelling was reduced and he felt his leg muscles were responding to the stimulator. I'll visit this winter to check on his progress.

Seven years have come and gone since I moved to Ukraine, most unaware what plans God had for me. He opened three doors to minister to children in two cities in the first two years. During the past five years, two of those doors have opened wider, and additional doors have opened. Marganets orphanage, our first outreach mission, has four additional ministries that we are supporting: computer, massage, music and dance, and the drug and alcohol prevention program. In the same city, we began a program to cloth children in the Transition Home. A door opened in northwestern Ukraine at the Dobromel orphanage. We began to support this program that Pastor Volodya has been operating for eight years. This year we would like to add two more hours of massage to the program in Illichevsk. The city of Illichevsk, population 62,000, has much bigger needs than we can handle, but we want to do our best to help the children.

Two years ago, we began a Christmas fund raiser to provide money for these six additional programs, to be supported on a yearly basis, instead of adding them to our regular budget. So far, we have been successful in raising the money needed to operate the programs. They touch the lives of four hundred children in some direct or indirect way.

The October newsletter will launch the 2009 Christmas fundraiser. I will detail each ministry and share some of the results from each. These children are growing beyond a maintenance level of existence. It is because of your support that we can supply what the children and staff need to enhance rehabilitation, learning and social development. We have brought them all a long way in these seven years. Let’s not drop the ball. Let’s continue to love these children through these programs of clothing, education, and rehabilitation.

There is so much need in the world, particularly for children. But how do you know what children to help? I know the children that I am to help because God shows me. If you want to help children anywhere, ask God to show you; ask Him to give you peace about what He shows you. Our children and staff are thankful to God for all that He has provided. They wait, believing that God will continue what He started seven years ago.

Blessing of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insights (September 2009)

2009-09-22T20:33:00.003-04:00

Early intervention is a very new word combination in my native Ukrainian/Russian language. For many mothers whose children suffer from different disabilities, it is still unknown.

I thank God that in Illichevsk at the Massage Clinic many people know these words and understand how it works.

In the May Newsletter in “Ira’s Insights ” I wrote about one little girl named Eve D., who has became a patient of the Massage clinic this year. God has put a desire in my heart to share some progress that she has for now. I want you to see “with my eyes” the result that children have at the clinic.

When Eve was born, she had some neurological problems and as a result she couldn’t do what children her age usually do. The neurologist saw the problem and very soon she had her first massage treatment at the Massage Clinic. Even after the first massage treatment the girl had great results. The mother followed the masseuse’s directions and did special exercises for her child between the massage treatments.

Today this girl has wonderful results. In spite she was born with some neurological problems and one of her legs is shorter, she can walk by herself today. She began to walk by herself just recently. It was a great surprise for her parents and the masseuse who works with her. The neurologist says that without early intervention this child would have had some serious problems in her physical development and could have received status of a disabled child, but thanks to the clinic she has avoid it.

The mother of Eve is sincerely very thankful to God for the opportunity for her daughter to have massage at the clinic. Today Eve is still the patient of MUCH. She has to continue to have massage treatment and exercises to improve the results that she has.

I hope you like the story that I have told you. It shows the real work and the real results of the Massage Clinic in the aspect of early intervention for children with disabilities. May God bless each person who has given his input in the progress of Eve and many other little patients.

Until next time,
Ira

My New Little Friend

2009-09-21T10:32:00.004-04:00

The end of August found me in a small village of Crimea, living with a family of thirteen children. Among them was a twelve year old who had been born with Cerebral Palsy. My task was to evaluate his muscle imbalance and introduce two forms of treatment for him. Both massage therapy and electrical muscle stimulation were well known in the post soviet medical community. EMS was stopped because of the expense of cleaning and replacing the electrodes, and the lack of immediate results that surgery could provide.

This little fellow, Kolya, has a great enthusiasm to participate in the little world of his village. His mother told me how sullen he looked, and his eyes even became crossed due to lack of stimulation. As he became part of the family, he was encouraged to walk around in the house. He needed crutches to do this, but he was up for the challenge. Realizing the results of this need, I decided that we would take a walk every day. It turned into a two hour adventure.

On the first day I asked Kolya, “Where do you want to go?” He looked up at me with a big smile and said, “The stadium!” Not knowing where it was, I was given Lyosha as my ten year old guide. The three of us started out on our journey to the stadium, about four city blocks away. It was a slow procedure, but I was delighted to hear Lyosha and Kolya deep in conversation as we ambled along.

Each day, we would walk; one day to the stadium, the next day to the school. We spent more days at the school. Kolya had teachers from the school who would teach him at home, so many of the teachers would come out and chat with him. Some of the students would chat with him, some who knew English would chat with me. This was a big social event for Kolya.

During the walks, Kolya needed considerable room to manipulate his crutches, so we walked on the street. As people would pass by us I would greet them in Russian, “Good morning; Good day; How are you today?” People were clearly interested in this young spectacle of determination. Some would stop to chat. This was great! They had to talk with him because I didn’t speak enough Russian to carry on a conversation. But Kolya did very well conversing with the people.

Others were uncomfortable with what they saw, and looked straight ahead. Kolya followed my example and broke the ice with, “Hello, this is my American friend!” It was quite something to see. This went on for about ten days. Kolya was in his own little paradise. It ended up that I was evaluating more than his walking, but rather the large picture of him as an evolving little person.

Fourteen Days with Thirteen Children

2009-09-12T10:55:00.008-04:00

After a most interesting train ride and conversation with a sailor and his girl, I arrived in Simferopol, Crimea. I had three hours to explore before my friends from Froonza would arrive. I had slept ok on the train, so I had some energy to explore. I swung my backpack over my shoulder and headed down the street to see the sites.

Finally, it was time to be looking for my friends. We had not met in person, so it would be interesting to see if we could find each other. Andre spotted me first. Anya walked up to me and asked if I was Mark. My visit had begun. On the way to Froonza, twenty kilometers beyond Saki. I asked Anya how many children they had. When she said thirteen, my eyes became very big.

We arrived at the house an hour later. As I passed through the gate in front of the house, Anya began to introduce me to the children. As she called some of them, they appeared, springing up out of the garden, three five year olds and a ten year old. Once in the house, I was introduced to others as they appeared from different places in this ten room house. I learned that five of the children, ages 20, 18, 16, 15, and 5, were their own. The rest of the children were either adopted or were foster children.

In the process, I was reintroduced to Vanya, now fifteen. For the past five or so years he has been in a wheelchair. It hasn’t stopped his active live, though. He wheels himself three kilometers to the sea to swim, and is active in wheelchair sports. His situation has changed, but I think in a positive way. He has very little muscle tone in his foot and lower leg, so it is no longer a turned ankle that needs to change. In my understanding of the situation, massage therapy and electric muscle stimulation will help to strengthen his legs and feet. I will be checking on him.

One of three foster children, taken from the same family, has Cerebral Palsy. He has been with Anya and Andre for four years. He struggles to walk on forearm crutches, but has such dominant hamstring muscles that he cannot straighten his legs to walk. Another common problem is that his dominant adductor muscles pull his legs together. His therapy will also include massage and electric muscle stimulation. Watching him walk is truly heartbreaking. We walked to the school and stadium each day as part of his new therapy. Some people gawked at him, and some stopped to talk, but it was painfully obvious that most of the community is unaware of the disabled in their village.

During my fourteen days there, I interacted with each of the children on a different level, spoke to an English class at the school, spoke at two church services, and developed some very interesting visions for the needs of the village. As I look back on my story, Waiting for a Miracle, I continue to wonder how big of a miracle it will turn out to be, and how many lives will be touched.

August 2009 MUCH Newsletter

2009-09-08T19:00:00.003-04:00

August continues to be an interesting month. In the beginning of the month, I was in the Carpathian Mountains. The children of the Dobromel orphanage were in different camps throughout the region. Most were in the village of Yacinya, 3050 feet above sea level. They were located in a beautiful setting, surrounded by scenic foothills. We drove four hours to be with them for a couple of hours. It was the highlight of their camp. We did an AWANA program (children’s ministry) for them.

Volodya has been ministering to the children at Dobromel orphanage for eight years. When I visit the children, I stay with his family in Borislav. This visit, I learned more about the economy of this area. They haven’t had hot water in their city for fifteen years.

Back in Illichevsk, I was having adventures of my own with the dentist. She is a very good and gentle dentist. But just in case, I always tell her a joke to put her in a good mood. I guess that the economy has been such a challenge, it was not always affordable to pay for a pain killer. This was a big surprise for me. While you are there, be sure read The Seashell Girl. I’m sorry for those of you who don’t use computers. Maybe a friend could print it out for you. Or, maybe I’ll put my blog stories in a book in the future.

I think that it was in the fall of 2003 that I was in Saki Crimea for the first time. During that visit I met Vanya. I wrote an article about him entitled, “Waiting for a Miracle.” During an operation soon after his birth, a nerve was accidently cut. This nerve controlled the muscles that allowed him to turn, or evert, his foot to the side. This left him with what is commonly known as club foot. He has been on my mind all of these years. He is 12-years-old now, and on August 25 I will visit him and his family. I will share what I know and have learned these past six years. I’m not sure what kind of miracle will happen, but I think this will be the time that God will bless this child in a special way. I’ll let you know the results next month.

Through the hearts of those who support MUCH, we know that God is moving through our efforts. Through the results of our efforts, we know that God wants us to continue. My wish is that you could see the faces and hear more of the stories from the mouths of the people whose lives are being changed by MUCH.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insight (August 2009)

2009-09-08T18:54:00.003-04:00

"Thank you very much. I am very appreciative to your help. You can’t even imagine how great your help is for us," said a mother whose child is a patient of the clinic.

Mark and I met this woman at the clinic when she brought her child for massage. Her son, Vladik, is a lovely boy of 3-years-old. When he was 1-year-old, doctors diagnosed him with bowed legs and pigeon- toed feet. For his mother “a new life” began: she visited different doctors and different clinics. Every advice was a new hope for her, but she didn’t see any progress. Her child couldn’t walk well. When he walked he often fell down. Some of the doctors told her to legalize her child’s disability for future financial help.

A year ago, she was advised to go to Kharkov, in north eastern Ukrainian, to see the doctor who specialized in this diagnosis. The doctor prescribed for Vladik to wear high orthopedic shoes for three years, receive massage, and some other treatments. The mother followed the doctor’s direction. She found a private masseuse, but it was difficult financially for her family budget to pay for private massages. Besides massages, she has to bring her child to Kharkov several times a year to see the doctor. To do it several times a year is very difficult financially for her family. Recently the doctor prescribed Vladik to wear other high orthopedic shoes for sleeping time. That pair of shoes cost 1000grevnya, (about $120).

Once when she and her child visited the local doctor, he advised her to address to the social department where she could get some help. At the department, she was told about the MUCH clinic, where experienced masseuses work and where her child could be helped.

Today her child is one of the children who get benefit from the MUCH clinic. His mother is sincerely happy because she sees the real help for the physical condition of her child and her family budget. The doctor whom they visit has a hope that Vladik will wear special orthopedic shoes less than 3 years, because of positive results.

The desire of my heart is to join Vladik’s mother and say, "Thank you," to those who support MUCH and help dreams become a reality!

Until next time,
Ira

Waiting for a Miracle (cont.)

2009-08-21T12:09:00.007-04:00

In September of 2003 I visited Saki, Crimea. At the time, I was still green as a missionary, but hungry to open new doors. I thought that God would open a door in Saki. He did, but not the door that I had assumed, and not in the time period that I wanted. I was thinking that I would become involved in some type of ministry there, as a third outreach.

While I was there, I met an eight year old little boy who was walking on his ankle. I recently learned that it was due to an error in surgery when he was an infant. A nerve had been cut, leaving the related muscles without control, causing the opposing muscles to pull his foot to one side.

Now, after six years of growing in my mission, I will return with some possible solutions for this little fellow. I had originally envisioned that Jesus would heal his foot in a miraculous situation. I still look for that to happen, but I have learned that Jesus heals in many different ways, with many different formats. Jesus created everything, so all forms of medical treatment are a part of His creation. How He will choose to heal, and how long the process will take, can be different in every case.

For the past couple of weeks, I have been thinking about all of the possibilities that could develop during my visit. When I begin to think of all of the negative possibilities, I tend to become discouraged. My mission, all of it, is bigger than me. I have to always remember that. With all that is going on in this world, it is easy to lose my focus. I think the song that says it all is titled, Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus. So that is what I have to do.

I dream for the big miracle for this little fellow, but it isn’t up to me. When I get back to Illichevsk, I’ll post the results. I’ll be tweetin’ all about it probably in the middle of September, so stay tuned.

The Seashell Girl

2009-08-10T12:08:00.005-04:00

Sunday evening I decided to go to the sea and collect some sea shells for my future visits to the orphanages in Marganets and Dobromel. I like to take the different little shells for the children to experience in art projects or science class.

The last time that I went hunting for the baby Whelk and Conch shells, I found that they were in abundance in the seaweed clusters of Mussel and other shells that are freshly washed upon the beach. They are hard to see at first, but once you train your eyes to search for the particular colors and shapes, they seem to pop out at you.

This time, I found a spot by the water’s edge and sat down. As I began my search, it was difficult not to keep every pretty shell that I saw. Collecting them, sometimes a few at a time, I would put them in my little bag. I must have stayed in that one spot for almost an hour. One man came to me and asked what I was doing? Of course, I had to guess what his question was. Then I had to ask him, using my Russian words, if I understood his question. He seemed satisfied with my answer and continued on, looking for larger shells a meter or so further out in the sea.

When I decided that it was time to go, I got up and brushed my pants off. I looked around, checking the shoreline for the August evening beach lovers, and slowly walked away from the sea. In the process, I saw a little girl about five years old, standing perfectly still, holding a little red container about two or three inches deep and maybe five inches in diameter. The expression on her face was not sad or happy, but maybe one asking a question. In the exact center of her red container, there was a half of a clam shell. It was a Norman Rockwell picture for sure.

As I walked past her, I remembered my childhood days. I stopped and looked through my bag. Earlier, I had found one larger spiral shell that was the best find of my evening. I pulled it out and walked back to her, still standing motionless. I carefully put my prize shell into her little red container. She looked at me as I began to walk away and whispered in Russian, “Thank you,” without changing the expression on her face the littlest bit. As I waved goodbye to her, it was as if she couldn’t believe that someone, a stranger, gave her a nice shell. I hope that it made her day. I know that it made mine.

Water???

2009-08-07T09:06:00.006-04:00

How we take water for granted. When I first came to Ukraine in 2002, I was introduced to the water problems of Ukraine. My first experience took place in Patriky, Ternopol region, while I was in the lecture phase of missionary school. The village where the school was held had turned off the water for three to five days. This was not so unusual for the local people. What was funny, although not at the time, was my not knowing what to do. An announcement was made that there was an outhouse in the back yard. For some reason, that announcement was not translated for me.

In the second phase, outreach, my team lived in a city in western Ukraine for two months. We lived in a flat on the sixth floor, about a twenty minute walk from the center of the city. Our water situation was an eye opener for me. Hot and cold water were available for two hours in the morning, two hours at mid day, and four hours in the evening. What a challenge it was for me to coordinate all of the team water needs with our other activities. I learned a lot about living with other people during those two months.

Seven years have come and gone, and I have had a lot of water stories to tell. As I write this story, I am once again in Western Ukraine. This time I am in the city of Borislav, in the L’vov region. This is my fourth visit, and I am only beginning to learn about their water problems. For instance, during the last eighteen years, they have not had hot water.

In 2008, MUCH started to support the ministry that Volodya has. He works with orphaned children in the city of Dobromel. In his home in Borislav where I stayed the first three visits, I learned that he is an engineering genius. In his home on the fourth floor, they receive water twice a day for two hours. It is common for people in this city to fill the bathtub in the morning, using that water for the toilet, cooking and cleaning needs throughout the day. Instead of accepting this as normal, Volodya has installed a gravity fed holding tank and a gravity fed hot water tank. They still must be careful with their water use, but it is available all day.

This time, I stayed at Volodya’s son-in-law and daughter’s home on the first floor in a separate section of the city. A third problem in Borislav is that household gas is turned off two days a week. House heating is controlled by the city in the winter. Volodya created a new system to meet all of the need of this home throughout the year. He installed a hot water heater that heats water for the sinks and bathtub. It has a separate line that heats water for the house. In the basement area of the building, he installed a five hundred liter holding tank that fills when the water comes on. A pump moves the water up when it is called for. There are three filter systems to clean the water. I am continually amazed to see how the people of Ukraine meet their daily challenges!

Adventures With the Dentist

2009-07-28T04:10:00.009-04:00

When I was a child, I seldom if ever went to the dentist. I guess that in those days, if you had no pain, why bother the dentist. I was blessed with healthy teeth, so I didn’t develop good dental habits beyond regular brushing.

Before moving to Ukraine, I had visited the dentist only a few years before. He was so kind as to give me a root canal and crown for the cost equivalent to three mortgage payments. Prior to that, I hadn’t seen the dentist for twenty five years. My first year in Ukraine was filled with uncertainties about their health care system. Along with that, I had a tooth that needed some attention. I put off doing anything about it for the whole year.

Finally, I had my translator, Ira, set me up an appointment with the dentist at her church. They had a certified dentist who did her work as an evangelical outreach. Free dental care if you listen to the Gospel message and receive a Bible. She did some good work on my tooth, but because I had waited so long, a large filling was needed. It lasted only six months.

By that time, she was working in the village. Getting to the village was a challenge. Ira took me to the village via two separate public transports. Once we arrived, we had to find the building, somewhere within one hundred meters from our drop off point. Seeing the outhouse to the distant right of the entrance, the building showed no resemblance to a medical facility. I felt as if I was walking into yet another world. This was quite an eye opener, esthetically speaking. There were three offices, each a different form of medical practice. I saw the true, heartland people of Ukraine and their children being served. The poverty was heartbreaking, but I was in Ukraine to help people, so I did understand.

Another six months went by and I had to revisit the village dentist. This time I received two pieces of information. First, my dentist was expecting a child and would not be working for the next two years. Second, she said that I would need to see a dentist who had the equipment to do a root canal and crown. She suggested a good one.

A while later, we went to this new dentist. He was in a new facility with new equipment and new everything. I was impressed, but was waiting for the other shoe to drop. It turned out that everything was very good. He had to pull the tooth, but ordered a bridge that connected to two other teeth. One actually needed a root canal. It worked out very well.

That was four years ago. In that time, I had to go back for work on another tooth. He was busy, so I was asked if I would see another dentist in the same practice. This turned out to be a blessing. This woman is very pleasant and gentle. She enjoys a good sense of humor, and I have one. The challenge is having it translate into Russian so that it remains funny. Ira, now my assistant, has been working with me for six years. She catches the meaning of most of my humor and is able to translate it well.

Previous to my current visits, I had gone to this dentist for a root canal and filing. This required two or three visits. During that time I tried out my humor on her and she always responded with a big smile. I would start off the visit with a joke, wanting her to be in a good mood before she started working on me. This visit, number three of three for this filling, I didn’t have a joke for her.

Her task was to remove the temporary filling installed on Thursday, and replace it with a permanent one. In the process, after the filling was in place, she needed to smooth off and match the surface of this tooth with the bottom tooth. I knew what she was doing, but my humor surfaced. The material that she used, asking me to bite down on it to check the surface of the tooth, came on a roll, like tape. When she finished everything, I looked at her seriously and said, “I have been very impressed with the quality of your work. But when I saw you reaching for the scotch tape, I began to have second thoughts."

July 2009 MUCH Newsletter

2009-07-26T15:39:00.003-04:00

Hello family and friends,

July is a hot one in Illichevsk, 90 F in the shade with high humidity. But then, everything is relative, isn’t it. I got some good exercise walking around Marganets when I visited the orphanage during the first week of July. And have I got some stories about that week! See International Riot in Marganets and Promise, Provision, and Progress. For those who don’t have access to a computer or the internet, the problems in Marganets began in a bar and were not politically related. It was all contained prior to my arrival. The other story refers to the concert that the youth of the Marganets Baptist Church gave to the children at the orphanage and the Transition Home.

While in America, I was given three sets of items to bring back to Ukraine to give to our children. I had a great time watching the enthusiasm of the children at the Transition Home. First, I gave them the stuffed animals that Jenny Renner, National Champion in synchronized trampoline competition, provided for them. Next, the picture story books written in English and Russian, from Jessie Bullock and Kate Bullock Price, captured the imagination of the children. Finally, the children from Lighthouse Christian School in Pompano Beach, Florida made bookmarks for our children. The bookmarks were filled with colorful designs and messages of love. My Marganets translator and I took pictures and videos of this great event.

My big surprise happened one evening as I was out taking a walk. There were so many militia patrolling the city, I felt quite safe. All of the sudden, a young man walked up to me and said, “Prevyet!” That means “Hi” in Russian. I replied the same. Then he said, “It’s me, Bogdan!” I made the connection, and we began to chat as we walked. Bogdan was my first translator in Marganets seven years ago. He was twelve years old at the time. We met up with his wife and his second child, six months old, and walked across town to his parents’ flat. What a wonderful evening. After a short visit, his mother, his wife, and he walked me back to my street. What an interesting evening.

Progress can be seen in different ways. MUCH has accomplished many things in the past seven years. The big building blocks have been relationships. These are the keys to progress. In Marganets, we have built relationships with the orphanage administrators, and the children. Recently, we have been reaching out to the churches to help us. The youth group concert for the children at the orphanage is what I see as GREAT PROGRESS.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insight (July 2009)

2009-07-26T15:35:00.002-04:00

I wish that every reader of the Newsletter had experienced what I did at the Christian camp. It was a great time for many children, especially for children from difficult homes (from the Christian club “Emmaus”) and for the children from the orphanages.

Every year, the Illichevsk Baptist Church holds a Christian camp for children. The goal of such a camp is to tell children about Christ. Most participants of the camp are children from difficult homes and children from orphanages of the Odessa region. And it is very important for these kids to know that there is One who loves them very much, and He is ready to listen to them and understand them.

Each year the subjects of the camps are different. Last year it was “Egypt”. There was even an Egyptian Pharaoh who made the people of Israel (children and their leaders) make bricks and other works for him. During that camp the children not only found out the history of Israel in Egypt, but also learned to trust God.

This year the subject was “The early evangelical church”. Together with Saul who later becomes Paul children experience how to live in an ancient city where they are trade makers. Also they experience persecutions and God’s love toward them. The camp lets children feel the real life in the beginning of the first century. For me it was a real blessing to see how children responded to the improvisation of the early church. I visited the camp for children from 10 till 12 years old. I enjoyed watching them while they were making different things with their hands to sell for their emperor (local mayor), or how they were participating at the worship services on the beach during the time of persecution. They took everything very seriously.

It has become a tradition for MUCH to help financially to hold the camp. Thanks to its money, children have more fresh fruits and vegetables during the camp. Personally I want to thank those who support this ministry. Your financial gift helps not only children to have good nutrition, but also to be at the camp and enjoy it. From my own experience, I know that many children who have been at the camp one time, live the whole year with the hope that they will go to camp the next summer.

I think today many people realize how important it is to help such projects to be available. Children are our future. And it depends on us what future we will live tomorrow...

Until next time,
Ira

Promise, Provision, & Progress

2009-07-12T09:41:00.005-04:00

Seven years ago, I moved to Ukraine to work with children in need. The first group of children that I was introduced to was in the city of Marganets, south central Ukraine, at the Orphanage for Children with Mental and Physical Disabilities. At the time, most of the 156 children had learning disabilities, but some had minor physical disabilities.

Leaving my new-found manager to buy clothes, shoes, and winter boots for the children, I moved to missionary school in western Ukraine for five months. When I returned in December, I was introduced to more of the children with their new winter boots. They were all smiles. I saw a glimmer of promise in whom they were and who they could become!

The following 4 year were filled with provision. Clothing and shoes were the main items provided, but we had a number of projects, big and small. MUCH was changing the physical and visual atmosphere, but more importantly, the self images of the children. God’s provision had been meeting the physical needs of the children, but their spiritual needs were still untouched.

Two summers ago, Ukraine Challenge sent a team of short term missionaries to provide a Vacation Bible School at the Baptist church in Marganets. While there, they visited our children at the orphanage, bringing the Good News to them, possibly for the first time. In the process, I was introduced to the youth group of that church. Each time that I would visit Marganets, I would talk with the youth group and encourage them in some way.

During my last visit, I asked if they would like to put on a concert for our children during my July visit. They said yes and it was arranged. They had lost no enthusiasm between my January and July visits. When they arrived to perform the concert, they asked for some boundaries. I told them that the more involved they could be individually with the children, the better. As they began, I took videos and photos, recording the progress of seven years of loving our children. As I realized what God was doing, tears filled my eyes. A new door had opened; a new team had begun a wonderful work!

International Riot in Marganets

2009-07-12T09:26:00.007-04:00

For three days before I arrived, the city of Marganets was closed to all traffic going in or out. At least six buses of militia were guarding the city. I knew nothing about this until I had been in Marganets four hours.

This is the story that I pieced together from two reliable sources. Two men, a Ukrainian and an Armenian were at a bar drinking. After a time and a few drinks, their conversation became a disagreement. The disagreement became violent. The violence spread to the onlookers. They began to take sides. Ukrainians were damaging cars known to belong to Armenians.

Finally, the police arrived. By this time, the fighting had escalated into a riot. In the process of taking control of the situation, one policeman was killed with a knife. A second officer was hospitalized. By the time that I arrived, the only evidence that something had happened was the presence of the militia, walking the streets in teams of four and five, patrolling the city.

June 2009 MUCH Newsletter

2009-07-03T09:04:00.002-04:00

I’ve been back in Ukraine for 17 days. My body and mind have adjusted; my twice-a-week cook has returned from her vacation in the village, visiting her grandmother; and I still have hot water. What more could I ask for? It is good to be back to the sights and sounds that I call home. See my post Home Sweet Home. Natasha and Vika took good care of my flat while I was away.

What’s happening this summer? Summer is an organizational time for me. Even so, I will visit the children in Marganets in July. I hope to visit the children in Dobromel, too. I want to have the neurologist from Borislav come to Illichevsk to share his specialties with our massage clinic team. Ira tells me that her church will provide camp for the disabled in September, but that is not a final date.

I met a friend while I was out walking the other day. He is now working with a realtor, specializing in summer rentals. He said the cost for a small flat is about $60 a day. I’m not sure if that is with a view of the Black Sea or if it is anywhere in Illichevsk. How things have changed in the past seven years!

As Ukraine develops as a country and as an economy, the problems of the children remain. The biggest need for most of our children is to have regular activities that they can participate in during the summer. This is nothing new, of course, but finding a solution would be something new for our children. At the Marganets orphanage, the problem was solved last summer by purchasing some sports equipment for summer use. Here in Illichevsk, church camp is offered to the Emmaus children and a special camp for the children with disabilities. Pastor Volodya provides a camp for the children at Dobromel Orphanage. Summer is a long time. The camp activities last about a week, so what else can we do?

Ira has some news about one group of our children who are dear to her heart.

The minds of our children are fertile soil waiting to be planted. The big question is, who will be the first to plant in this soil, and will it be good seed, or not? I am here to set the example, as God leads me. It is a big job. Our team continues to grow as time goes on. I say thank you to all of the team who reach out, each in their own special way. To others, I want to encourage you to see things through Ira’s eyes. Don’t hesitate, step up to the plate, get involved, and change the world of tomorrow by changing the children of today!

Blessing of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insight (June 2009)

2009-07-03T08:52:00.002-04:00

This time I’d like to tell you about children from the Christian Club Emmaus. This club is for special children, children from underprivileged families.

In our church the first priority is children. Many people understand this simple truth: “The future depends on today.” Children who attend the club are the future of our church, our city, our country. They are the adults of tomorrow. That’s why there is a club in our city called Emmaus. The main goal of the program is to give them as much love as we can and to show them good examples of life. We want them to understand how much God loves them. I know that many who read my stories support this program financially. And you want to know what is happening in the club and how God changes our children’s minds.

Several weeks ago our church held a contest “Brain Ring” for the children who attend Sunday schools in the Illichevsk church and Illichevsk region. The contest was about the Bible characters and events. Most of the questions were about Old Testament. The contest consisted of two tournaments.
And do you know who the winners of the contest were? Children from Emmaus Club! They said it was a real surprise for many people! The prize for winners was a trip to Odessa and to visit the zoo.

I pray to God about these children and hope that the knowledge about the Bible will help them to change their futures.

I know that the desire of each person who works with these children or cooks for them, or supports them financially is to change their lives. May God help us to understand that it is one of the most important ministries in our lives – to give our own input into the future through the lives of our children.

Until next time,
Ira

Timing

2009-06-28T13:19:00.009-04:00

After being in the US for two and a half months, I have returned with some new ideas, new projects, and new program possibilities. I guess that the ways things are done in America are faster because of the hunger for something new. This mentality is becoming a part of the younger people here in Ukraine. The generation born during years of freedom is not as patient as the previous generation.

Not being a business man, I am not in tune with the process of progress. It takes time. Here in Illichevsk, the people are ready for new opportunities that I might share, but it takes a lot of time to make something happen. A number of years ago, I read an article on the internet that suggested that it required a year of communication for an international business deal to come to reality. So, I am taking all of this into consideration.

My big desire is to start an equine therapy program for our children at the massage clinic. I had a great experience in Reidsville, NC at Rolling Ridge Riding . I saw what I want to do here in Illichevsk. It will take a lot of volunteers to make it happen, but that is a possibility. Their program is multi-therapeutic. They include Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, Speech therapy, and Teaching. It all takes place in a riding ring on top of a horse.

I see the vision, I can imagine how to make it possible, but timing is the biggest part of this new program becoming a reality. God must put all of the players in place and touch their hearts. Everyone has to be ready and willing to move forward. So, equine therapy will be my focus for this year. Everyone is busy with the process of living their daily life her in Ukraine, so things tend to take a little longer. It is a hard life for most, but is particularly difficult for the parents who have children with disabilities.

Connecting with the World

2009-06-21T06:25:00.006-04:00

About twenty three years ago the personal computer was having its debut in my life, and much of the world. For me, word processing was the big thing. No more typewriter errors requiring whiteout or a total rewrite. I never would have guessed that I would be able to add data by voice, or hear data being read by my computer, rather than reading it.

And then there was internet dial up. What a new world of information. Next was email, then Skype, then video Skype, all with faster internet speed and cable access. The world was at my fingertips. My first computer had a whoppin’ forty megabyte hard drive. My current computer has a two hundred and thirty gigabyte hard drive.

In my current situation, I live in Ukraine as a humanitarian aid missionary. Email makes it so easy to communication with sponsors, family and friends. But how can I increase the number of people who are reading my newsletters, blog, and website? That is a question that my brothers and sister put before me. The answer they gave was Twitter.

Within a week, thirty three people, businesses, or groups are following my tweets (what I write). I follow about one hundred and sixty of the same. That means that I can read the latest news around the world, whether it will be from musicians, politicians, TV personalities, scientists, or my niece reporting on her lunch break. I’m in touch with the world, live, as it happens. And they are in touch with me.

What this will mean for MUCH will soon be seen. My main goal is to have the stories of my children read around the world. What we are doing with the children of disadvantage and disability is changing their lives. I want the world to know what is happening in our children’s lives. I believe that will change the world as they follow the progress of our children. My new job is to use twitter to bring our children to the world, and the world to our children.

Home Sweet Home

2009-06-13T11:04:00.007-04:00

I arrived in Odessa Ukraine on June 8th in the afternoon. My assistant, her husband and son met me at the airport and drove me home. On the way, Platon, Ira’s husband, asked if it had been difficult for me to leave America and return to Ukraine. I told him, “No,” as I was reacquainted with the rough roads of Ukraine. As he helped me carry my luggage up to my second floor flat, I was also reacquainted with the odor of cat deposits in the stairwell. My mindset was strong, so this little uneasiness didn’t change my answer to his question.

Awakening the following morning to the enthusiastic chatter of the school-children across the alley from my flat, I smiled, knowing that I was home again. The crows gathered in the trees for their morning gossip. “Guess who’s back?” As I began my day, the fresh air from the balcony and kitchen windows circulated throughout the house. As I walked to the corner store, the sights and sounds of Illichevsk returned to my memory; the potholes in the oval drive between our buildings and the dirt open space inside the oval. Trees reaching above the five story buildings were now filled with green leaves. All of this was crowned with bright sunshine.

As Ira and I walked to the internet provider, I was once more reminded of my limited Russian language skills. We talk to each other freely, but Ira must adjust what I say as she translates. She is most sensitive to the gentle way of speaking to people in her language. And then there is the awareness of people, as I walk by speaking English. No matter how much I blend in, I guess that I will always stand out.

This morning, I was awake at 4:30 as the garbage truck came to empty the four dumpsters across the way. My eyes were not open, but I was aware of the flashing light. Within minutes, the truck had moved on and the morning was silent once again. Soon the street sweepers, with their branch brooms, would be cleaning the walkways and alleys. I was reminded of the dusty streets yesterday. After returning home, I found that spots of brown dust had collected on the bottoms of my pants.

These are a few of the endearing characteristics that have captured my heart. So, you are raising your eyebrow in question? It is not comfort or cleanliness that I find pleasing to my heart. Rather, these are the sights and sounds that are the framework of my mission, that which gives me purpose and feelings of fulfillment. In the midst of what many people find unpleasant, I have found my Home Sweet Home.

May 2009 MUCH Newsletter

2009-06-13T10:13:00.001-04:00

On June seventh, I will return to Illichevsk, Ukraine. You may ask, “What has Mark been doing in May?” The answer, in a few words, is that I have been telling my story. In Florida, I shared my story on more than sixteen occasions and showed my presentation to more than one hundred people. Since I’ve been back in North Carolina, I have showed my presentation to a number of small groups and a church. I guess that you could say that I’ve been busy. And my team has been busy keeping me busy.

Since I became a missionary, my awareness of humanitarian activity has increased. There are so many people in great need around the world. The most-asked question of me has been, “Why Ukraine?” I have only one answer. It is where God has called me to serve His children. The numerous positive results are proof that it was a calling. It was no coincidence that many people were waiting for the opportunity to use their gifts to help the children of their country. I went to Ukraine, God provided my needs, and the Ukrainian people whom He had prepared to do His work were introduced to me over time, through normal circumstances.

It is so wonderful to see people with caring hearts for those who are less fortunate. In the midst of their own difficulties, they see our children with great needs and respond. We are seeing good results in each group of children that we serve. The MUCH team is changing the future of our children. It is a long process, but we are committed to helping them build a better life for themselves. Here is one example from the massage clinic in Illichevsk.

I thank everyone who makes my work in Ukraine possible. MUCH is a team effort. Together we can improve the living conditions, educational and healthcare opportunities, and self-images of more than four hundred children in three different cities.

Blesssings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insight (May 2009)

2009-06-13T10:10:00.004-04:00

Early intervention. This time I’d like to share a story with you about a family for whom early intervention has played a great role.

Eva D. is a cute little girl of nine months. She was born with some neurological problems. When she was born, she had to stay in the hospital to receive treatments for some time. Her parents didn’t take it seriously. They thought that the treatments in the hospital would be enough, and that everything would be well with their child. Some time later, they noticed some peculiarities in her physical development. Eva couldn’t hold her neck straight or turn herself to either side, as children her age normally do. In general, she was very weak.

When her parents saw the neurologist, they were advised that Eva should receive early intervention. They were told that there was a massage clinic in Illichevsk that meets the needs of children with such problems. The neurologist told them to begin treatments for their child as soon as possible. The parents addressed the local Center of Family and Youth that collaborates with Mark Koehler. This government department organizes the list of patients who receive treatments at the massage clinic. The parents came to the center with a health certificate from the neurologist. They were received pleasantly, and soon their child had her first massage.

The parents were very satisfied with the results after the first massage. By the end of the 20-day massage course, Eva was able to keep her balance when she was sitting and even tried to crawl. It was a great success after only one 20-day massage course. The neurologist said that Eve began treatment at the correct time in her physical development. She has high hopes that continued early intervention will help Eve have a normal physical development and avoid future disabling characteristics.

This is only one of the stories of how the clinic has proven its necessity, helping children to improve their health and have a normal childhood.

Until net time,
Ira

April 2009 MUCH Newsletter

2009-05-11T19:21:00.006-04:00

Hot off the press!! My first book has been published by authorHouse, a self-publishing company. You can take a look at it, and if you are so inclined, order a copy of JC and Me, A Relationship, A Journey. My cousin asked if maybe I had a ghost writer helping me. I said, “Yes, the Holy Ghost.” I give due credit to my spiritual Co Writer. More information will be on the MUCH website soon. Next year, The Children of My Life will be published. It will tell many of my stories and experiences with the children of Ukraine, the people, the culture, my spiritual growth, and some poems that express how deeply I have been touched by my seven years in Ukraine. The rights to these books will be donated to MUCH, so all proceeds will be used for outreach to our children in Ukraine.

More than a month has passed since I left Ukraine to visit America. Our children in Ukraine are constantly in my thoughts. I speak of them frequently. I have seen my presentation a hundred times, but never get tired of seeing our children. I guess that must be how parents feel about their own children.

Several weeks ago, I was in Butler, Pennsylvania, the land of my youth. It was great to walk the streets of my home town and see how it has changed. I also visited Slippery Rock University, my alma mater. I gave presentations to two university classes studying Recreation Therapy. I also made contacts with five professionals who are interested in helping our children with special needs. They represent the Department of Special Education, Adapted Physical Education, and Equestrian Therapy. What I saw at the Equestrian Therapy Program in Slippery Rock will help us to promote the use of equine assisted therapy in Illichevsk. I hope to see student representatives from each these specialties visit us in Ukraine.

On our way to Pennsylvania, we stopped in Beckley, West Virginia. Kelly C. was waiting to meet me and see my presentation with her church. Kelly is an equestrian and is very interested in equestrian assisted therapy. She and a few of her equestrian friends would like to visit Illichevsk and introduce equestrian assisted activities to our therapists and disabled children. When a child rides a horse, the movement of the horse causes muscles in the child to work. This can improve balance and strengthen many muscle groups. I look forward to Kelly’s team’s visit in the future.

I am in Florida for two weeks giving presentations to retirement communities, churches, schools, and friends who are interested. My goal is to show evidence of God’s activity in Ukraine through MUCH. I am a living witness of these events over the past seven years. Fund raising is moving along very well here. But I am experiencing a greater delight. As I see people that I met two years ago, they talk about my newsletters. That says to me that my goal of communicating what is happening through MUCH is being met. God continues to bless the mission that we began seven years ago through my team and me. I am constantly amazed what God can do through me.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insight (April 2009)

2009-05-11T19:14:00.002-04:00

Since MUCH came to Ukraine, God has been doing marvelous things in its ministries. Since that time, many people have opened their hearts to help children in need. Their financial support has brought a hope in the lives of those children. All those positive changes have been happening before my eyes.

I feel joy in my heart when I meet people who are interested or have desire to help ministries of MUCH. They are heroes of the present time. Recently I spoke to one such person. His name is Benjamin. He is a member of Rotary Club in Odessa. In the beginning of April he called me on the phone and told that their club had received a letter from some Rotary Clubs in America. They wanted to know more about the clinic and help it in future through the club in Odessa. Benjamin wanted to speak with Mark Koehler, the representative of MUCH, but unfortunately Mark wasn’t in Illichevsk at that time (He had left for America).

The meeting was at the clinic. We spoke about the clinic and its needs. Benjamin was very interested and said that he would give the report of our meeting to his organization (Rotary Club). Also he visited the Rehabilitation Centre where he met with the pedagogical staff of the centre. The director of one of the organizations for the disabled showed Benjamin the center.

I believe that the help of Rotary Club will be in time. It is not a secret that in spite there are the clinic and the rehabilitation centre in Illichevsk, at the moment there are a lot of problems that could be solved with the help of Rotary. I know that the director of the organization has prepared a long list of needs for Benjamin but for now the biggest problem for the center is to find finances to pay a wage to an instructor of therapeutic physical training. Children who receive massage at the center need to have someone to provide special exercises. These special exercises would help children to maintain the result after the massage treatment that would prolong their progress.

Until next time,
Ira

Fund Raising MUCH Style

2009-05-02T14:11:00.015-04:00

This journey began a 5:15 AM on March 25th. By the time that I arrived in Greensboro, NC, I had been awake for about thirtythree hours. It was a long and mostly sleepless adventure, but I arrived safely.

I have been in America for about 37 days. This visit, after being in Ukraine for two years since my last visit, has been an easier adjustment for my mind and body. With my base in Greensboro, I traveled to Butler, Pennsylvania. On the way, I stopped in Beckley, West Virginia to visit with Kelly C. We talked about a short term mission project. She and her friends want to share equine (horse) therapy with our children with special needs in Illichevsk, Ukraine.

In Butler, I visited some friends and businesses who where a significant part of my past and made some new acquaintances. While there, I visited Slippery Rock University, about 18 miles north of Butler. I had the opportunity to give a presentation about MUCH to two different Recreation Therapy classes. Also, I had the great privilege to visit the Equestrian stables and class room. There, I learned many new ideas about equine therapy.

This week and next, I am in southern Florida visiting with my father and step-mother. While here, I am making new contacts, having great conversations with people who are interested in our children, and giving PowerPoint presentations to churches, groups, and individuals.

Never having done fund raising before, I found it difficult to realize how to go about this somewhat undesirable project. The first year, 2005, I was most uncomfortable, and didn’t know exactly what to say. In 2007, I did better, but still had not come to understand the main idea behind finding people who would be interested in helping our children. This year, I’m catching the vision of sharing my stories with small groups and individuals. Telling my stories and bringing what I do to life, seems to be received more enthusiastically.

Something else that is new for me is to encourage children here to communicate with our children. Some American children have made financial contributions in the past few years. This has been such a great example of compassion for me. I look forward to visiting more schools and talking with more children in future visits.

The next thirty-five days will be most interesting. I hope to have blog entries more often, but these days in America are very different than what I am used to. Until my next entry…

A Missionary

2009-03-23T19:30:00.008-04:00

So, exactly what is a missionary? Webster defines this word as, “One sent to propagate religion.” In search of a good synonym for propagate, I found what I think is the best synonym. I like the word multiply. I like it better than reproduce. I think that reproduce may infer making more of the same. People are individuals, not clones. That is why I like multiply better.

There are many different kinds of missionaries, but each has been sent to multiply something. Webster says religion, but I think that may be too big of a concept. If you are a Christian missionary, are you multiplying Christianity as your denomination? Are you multiplying churches, as a church planter? Are you multiplying children’s ministries or youth ministries? Are you ministering to the elderly evangelically or humanitarianly? Exactly what is it that you are multiplying?

During the past six years, I have met a number of missionaries in the field. Our discussions were most interesting, revealing so much more about the personality and lifestyle of a missionary. And it seemed that each missionary was a bit different. Most were connected with a missionary organization, but there are some like me, who are independent of a major organization.
The definition begins by saying that a person is sent. I believe that a true missionary is first called. Being a missionary is not a job. Although many fill out an application and are accepted, in truth, it is not a job. If God has not called you to this life of selflessness, one will not find fulfillment, at least not as I define fulfillment.

With all of this in mind, I would like to redefine missionary. In my experience, a missionary is one who is called by God, sent by a church, organization, or God Himself, to multiply His love. Sometimes we can become distracted by life, but multiplying His love is the true calling of a missionary. I have learned this through my experiences. I have seen this, or recognized where it was missing. But most of all, I have felt the impact of His love as I move forward in His calling.

March 2009 MUCH Newsletter

2009-03-22T15:05:00.002-04:00

Hello family and friends,

The countdown has begun. Wednesday evening, March 25th, my feet will step onto American soil. It will be great to be home for a time, visiting old friends and making new ones.

Many things have happened in the past two years. I like to look at the progress of the children to mark time. There are two children in particular, Dasha and Nastya, that I want to focus on. They are in the video portion of my presentation.

When I met Dasha who is now 5, she was already making progress. Her cerebral palsy affected her legs mostly. She had poor balance and spasticity in her legs. She could walk a little, but had to hold onto the massage table. She continually would lean toward the massage table, loosing her balance as she walked. Within a year of massage and other related therapies, her progress was most exciting. She is now walking independently for more than 10 steps. I followed Dasha and her mother recently as they climbed the steps and walked together to the therapy session. Just imagine what I will have to report about her next year.

Do you remember Nastya? She asked if I was Santa Claus. When I met her at age 3, she could walk only on her tip toes, but her balance was very bad. She needed her mother to hold her hand to provide a very firm support. Within a year her progress was amazing. Along with other therapies, massage has corrected many neurological and muscular weaknesses. Now, Nastya is walking independently for 10 or more steps. I am so very happy to see progress for this wonderful child.

We are treating more than 20 children with similar and more serious forms of cerebral palsy. Our economy has changed in the past three years, so $3.50 is no longer enough money for a single massage. Parents have been supplementing this amount with almost as much. That makes a statement about the economy and the value of our massage therapists. Most of all, that says that our goal to help is being accomplished. Most of the parents don’t want a handout. They want to take responsibility for their own children whom they love dearly.

In March of 2004, the MUCH massage clinic began providing treatment for children with disabilities. Today, five years later, you can see the great results. Children are no longer being deprived of treatment in the local polytechnic clinic. The city has turned a kind eye toward these children. MUCH is opening doors of example that are being respected and followed. I look forward to the day that MUCH will no longer be needed in Illichevsk and can start another massage clinic in a nearby village that has similar need. That is our purpose, to be the catalyst, to ignite the fire of compassion and care in the hearts of the local people and government.

I thank everyone who has helped to make this possible. This has been a team effort. Most of all, I thank God for calling me and guiding our team to the success that we see today.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

What the Children Need to Hear

2009-03-15T13:06:00.011-04:00

Relationships have always been on my mind. Since I was a child, my own need for relationships was a major factor in my life. It was missing much of my childhood. When I interact with our children at the Emmaus Food Program, I see very similar needs in their lives.

They live in very difficult family situations. Some have two parents, some only have one. In each family, one or both parents are alcoholics or drug users. If family and peer group are the two greatest influences on their lives, then I would say that they have a bleak future waiting for them.

Emmaus provides a hot meal five days a week during the school year. The greater needs that Emmaus provides are spiritual direction, arts and crafts, sewing and knitting instruction, computer skills, and in general, a safe place to be after school.

Zoya manages these programs with a wonderful mothering heart. She loves the children and nurtures them, sometimes over a period of ten or eleven years. She has built great relationships with them. Unfortunately, she is locked into the limitations of that relationship. The children need other role models to look up to.

Recently, I published my first book, JC and Me, A Relationship, A Journey. You can find it at the AuthorHouse bookstore. Soon it will also be available to order from bookstores and other online websites. I have been thinking again about relationships and what I can share with the children during my talks that I have with them every second Friday.

This guided me to think about the children and another relationship that they are very much in need of understanding at this time in their life: sex. Mostly girls ages eleven to fourteen, they are ready to make big mistakes. So, I began a series of talks that will hopefully answer the questions that they are afraid to ask.

We began with looking at sex as a relationship, rather that something that is on a list of do’s and don’ts. I think that the girls were surprised, but I did have their full attention. They want answers, but don’t know what to ask. Sex is a subject that you just don’t talk about with adults, in their eyes.

I will be in America for two months, giving the girls a lot of time to think about this relationship. We will talk some more about it when I get back. I hope to influence their lives in very positive ways. Please pray for our children.

The Innocence of Children

2009-03-10T13:37:00.014-04:00

As I woke up this morning, the scenes from a film that I had watched last week reappeared in my memory. Not many films are more than a momentary escape from the reality that I live. Not many films that I have seen portray reality. But this particular film, “The Boy in Striped Pajamas,” was filled with more reality, more diverse perceptions of the reality of life in Nazi, Germany. The film opens with these profound words:

“Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows.” -John Betseman

In the film, two boys find friendship on opposite sides of the fence. The eight year old son of a high ranking German officer comes upon a wire fence while exploring a wooded area. On the other side is a boy of the same age in prison clothes. The boys have long conversations sitting by the fence, totally innocent of what is happening on either side of the fence.

The scene by the fence stayed in my mind. I think of our MUCH children, particularly the youngest ones. When I chat with them, they are the most delightful children, so hungry for attention. When I watch them play with each other, I see the innocence of childhood. It is so precious to experience.

Through no fault of their own, they have come to live in an orphanage. Their futures are branded. The innocence of childhood is soon lost, and a new life challenges them to enter into a world of adversity. Whoever they were before, people will soon look at them as unwanted, undesirable children.

What can we do to change the preconceived notion of who these children are? Over the past six years, MUCH has helped reshape the lives of the children. We have encouraged the children to improve their self images. Clothing and an improved environment has caused the children to see themselves differently. This has caused them to act differently. In turn, new impressions are created within the local people. It takes a long time, but children are worth everything that we have to give. Children are the future.

February 2009 MUCH Newsletter

2009-03-01T08:57:00.007-05:00

How is the weather in your area? February has been a mild, but bone chilling month here in Illichevsk, by the sea. Financial problems are not so evident to me in Illichevsk, but while I was in Marganets I saw first-hand the third hand effect of their economic crisis (blog post Country in Crisis, Family in Crisis).

A number of things happened during my January visit to Marganets. The director of the Dobromel orphanage wants to begin a student exchange with the Marganets orphanage. As I shared this idea with the director in Marganets, I was pleased to see her interest. Anatoliy, my manager in Marganets, has begun the communication. Since both orphanages have computer laboratories, a letter writing campaign between some of the children is the first step. I look forward to this long-term project to open many new doors for the children.

I was very happy to learn what Andre has accomplished with the children in the computer lab. He teaches the art and wood craft classes, also. He took courses to learn how to teach computer skills to children with learning disabilities. Last year was their first year to have computer classes in their curriculum. MUCH supported one class of eight students in 2008. I saw some of the wonderful results in a PowerPoint presentation that Andre created using some of the children’s graphic art work. I was very impressed. It will be a part of my presentation that I show when I visit America in April. You will be impressed, too.

Andre has learned many things in the past year. Government funding from two years ago helped the orphanage upgrade many things. When I asked Andre for video of the music and dance program and the massage program, he promised to have a CD for me before I left. It was so great for me to see visual evidence of the massage treatments. I will bring both the massage and the music and dance videos to show, also.

If anyone has genuine information about using sensory stimulation equipment, please post a comment below. The staff understands sensory stimulation, but need a few tips on how to use some of the equipment. It is so encouraging to see the drive of these people to do the work, and do it well. With a little help from MUCH, they have taken some big steps forward.

Our professors from the Slippery Rock University, Department of Therapeutic Recreation have postponed their visit to Illichevsk until June. Please pray for Dr. Hutchins, her father who is in the hospital, and her family, as they walk down this difficult road.

I will fly to America on March 25th. I will be fine-tuning my visit between now and then. I plan to stop in Beckley, WV on my way to PA. I’ll be in the PA area the week of April 12th. I will be in FL parts of the last week of April and the first week of May. I hope to visit in the Baltimore area. I will be visiting different towns in NC throughout my time in America. I have some other unconfirmed possibilities.

I have a great (he said humbly) PowerPoint presentation to share with all who are interested. It touches on six groups of children in four different cities in three geographical areas. It is the most informative presentation that I have assembled. It includes the presentations that Andre made as mentioned above.

Please contact me at muchhope1@gmail.com and let me know if I may visit you during my time in America.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

PS Ira will return in March with another great Ira's Insight about her life in Ukraine and her experiences with MUCH!

Help Wanted

2009-02-28T14:21:00.013-05:00

When you see these two very common words side by side, what thoughts come to your mind? My first impression is that a job is available, that there is some work to do. Think about the word help. If I replace it with the word to assist, I immediately envision a very different concept. If I am asked to assist someone, it means that he or she is the captain. I am only the helper.

As a humanitarian aid missionary, I was called to assist God in His work here in Ukraine. Going one step further, I was called to assist the people of Ukraine to care for their children. How could that be accomplished? If I was called to come to Ukraine to do a job, and then leave, that is pretty easy to imagine. But that wasn’t the case. As a matter of fact, I wasn’t exactly sure what God was calling me to do.

My first outreach ministry opened up in Marganets when the father of a friend took me to visit an orphanage. It was his dream, his desire, possibly his calling, to help these children in some way. When I saw the children, the surroundings, and the emptiness in their eyes, I felt the deepest compassion in my heart that I ever had felt. But there was nothing that I personally could do help them on a regular basis. I would be living in Illichevsk, 320 miles west of Marganets.

This was to be the beginning of my work to assist the people of Ukraine to make changes in their country. This retired father, Anatoliy, had the knowledge, energy, and the drive to make things happen. He didn’t have the funding. By the time that I met him, he had already begun to raise money for the children from the local merchants. The community was very poor, so he could barely raise enough money to help one child, much less 156 children.

Given a small pledge of monthly contributions from me, he went to work. After about three years of making great changes in the appearance of the children and their environment, Anatoliy confessed to me, “Mark, in the beginning there were so many needs and there was only so much money. I didn’t know what to do first.” God had prepared him to be ready to do this work through a lifetime of experiences. At age 63, he stepped up to the plate and answered the call. Now, seven years later, my assistance to this Ukrainian man has helped him to do a great service for the children of orphanage number three. It has been my privilege to assist this man in this great humanitarian effort for the children.

Children of Hope

2009-02-23T15:24:00.011-05:00

What do you see above? Look at them from a distance; look at them close-up. Look at their clothes. Look at the expressions on their faces. Look into their eyes. What do you see?

I see children. Each one has a story unique to him or her, as do all children. What they are at this time in their lives can be summed up in a few words. They are children. What will they be? How will they change? Where will they go?

The answers to many of these questions depend upon adults. How will we touch their lives? How responsible will we be toward them? Will we care? Will we reach out to them? Will we help them become the next generation who will run this world?

These particular 10 children will grow up in a Ukrainian orphanage/school. They are special children, not to say that every child is not special. They have special needs. One was born a crack-cocaine baby. Each child that you see has some type of learning disability. Each child either has a dangerous family environment from which they have been removed, has been abandoned by their parents, or their parents have died, leaving them as orphans. So they will grow up in the orphanage system with 146 other children similar to themselves.

Statistics tell a very sad reality of what happens to children after they leave the orphanage system in Ukraine. Prostitution, suicide, prison, and a life of crime waits for many of them. What can be done?

I don’t have many answers, but I have a few. MUCH has been gradually changing the lives of these children in small ways. Our biggest efforts are supported by our yearly Christmas fund raiser. Four big needs-based programs are touching the personal futures of some of the children. Massage therapy is changing the children from the inside out. The neurology of massage is habilitating and expressing love toward the children in a way never experienced by them before. Computer class is opening new avenues for the children, preparing them for a world of graphic art and word processing. The new music and dance opportunities will enrich the quality of the music arts in their education. Finally, the drug and alcohol program is molding the children in areas of morality, self image, and self respect.

I have stepped up to bat. I am helping these children in these ways. I believe in them. What will you do? Will you help our children through MUCH? Will you help any children? What will you do?

Children in Transition

2009-02-16T15:30:00.006-05:00

(I have not entered pictures of our children to protect their identities at this fragile time in their lives.)

For the past year and then some, when I go to Marganets, I visit the children at the transition home. These children are in a very difficult spot in their young lives. Most have been taken from their home because of a very poor environment. Whether it is because of parents who are alcoholic or drug users or the children are beat or just not cared for, the results leave the children in a new situation that is very challenging. I have met one or two whose parents died, leaving them as orphans.

The home is run with a very strict schedule, keeping the children busy to avoid time for them to dwell on their problems. This particular home is run by a Christian director. She sees the great need for the children to have more time to adjust to their loss of family. Their program focuses on helping the children modify their lives and build healthy character. Although she is asking the government to give her more time with the children, it seems that ninety day is all that they will allow. Their twenty-six beds stay filled throughout the year.

The director’s big venture last year was to find families to adopt the children before they would be placed in an orphanage. In the first six months of 2008, she was able to place 10 children in local Christian homes. She has contact with the different churches in Marganets and they work together to help the children while in the transition home and to find good families for them. Adoption for Ukrainian families is very inexpensive, so I hear, and they are working on implementing the foster care program. Of course, the challenge in this city of poverty is to find honest foster parents. The money is so needed; it lures many of the wrong parent types.

When I visit with the children, we talk about little things, but they are very hungry for attention. They are very hungry to show their value. They want to know about America. They have very interesting questions. When we have an opportunity for Bible study, I’m always surprised to hear how much they know. I try to take seashells each time that I go. The children are very interested in seeing these homes of sea creatures. Some have been to the sea, but most have not.

When I look at these children, it breaks my heart to know why they are at the transition home. I know their future if they are not placed in a good home within ninety days. I have interacted with children at the local orphanage for six plus years. Even with the best orphanage environment, it is not a good place for a child. A family of over one hundred children is not the kind of family that is needed. There are so many children in need of help in this country; helping the 400 or so that we help is just a small effort for the big problem for the more than 100,000 Ukrainian children in poverty.

Country in Crisis, Family in Crisis

2009-02-11T14:36:00.017-05:00

Because I have no TV, by choice, I don’t follow the news often. When I am hungry to know what is going on in the rest of Ukraine or the world, I go online and read the news. I have heard that the economic crisis has hit Ukraine pretty hard, but had not seen too much in Illichevsk. I heard that some stores had closed their doors, waiting for the crisis to pass.

In my opinion, the economy in Ukraine has been moving forward too fast in the past four years. Two generations who never saw what the rest of the world was experiencing were now experiencing the same or similar. In the past 18 years, the people of Ukraine have been flooded with so many “things” that were never a part of their lives before. Some have taken out loans on houses or cars, and are now in very tight finances. Even the banks went overboard in lending money.

One family that I know in another city decided to become a supplier for clothing and material shops. When the crisis hit, their venders could not pay for the goods because customers were few and far between. They were in a serious predicament.

In Ukraine, if you have a private house, there is usually a nice bit of yard that goes with it. But there are no yards like what we call a yard in America. Rather, all of the land is used to produce food or animals for food. This family had a large garden, a pig house, a chicken coop, and a summer kitchen. They had about 20 or so chickens when the crisis hit them.

True to Ukrainian mentality, they took what they had, what they knew, and made it work for them. Determining the most productive item that they had, they mass produced chickens. They turned a family supply of chickens into a business of growing and selling chickens. Now they have more than 200 chickens. The summer kitchen is now a staging room for chickens: peeps to mid life. The pig house is now a staging room for chickens: growth bulk feeding to harvest. This family is surviving the current crisis.

A Father’s Love Story

2009-01-25T12:22:00.035-05:00

I call it a Father’s Love Story, but I was not her father and she was not my daughter. Oksana wanted to be my daughter. In her heart, she wanted to belong to someone. She wanted a family experience. She never knew her father, and she had been taken away from her drug using … mother when she was 4 or 5 years old. Her life as she knew it was at the orphanage.

She began to make a connection with me when she was about 15. When I responded to her with acceptance and kindness, her heart responded. She began to dream the impossible dream. Could she have a father of her own, could it be true? I gave her and a number of other children my address. I asked them if they would write to me. (I had been told earlier that the children didn’t have the mentality to write a letter, being an orphanage for special children.)

Oksana was the only one who did write to me. It was clear to my translator that she did actually write the letter. So, I read the letter with great interest. She wrote to me about her dreams. She opened her heart and told me that she wanted me to be her father.

This writing relationship continued for the next four years. When I would visit Marganets I would spend some time with her, talking and learning more about her. The plan was that when she was 18 she could decide her future legally. She continued her education through the tenth grade, and then moved to the youth hostel to participate in trade school to learn to be a master plasterer.

By the time that she graduated, she had fallen in love with a classmate and decided that she wanted something different. She was an adult, in her eyes, and didn’t need a father any more.

Without actually being a father, I experienced many of the feelings and frustrations of what being a father must be. I felt the love, the need, the joy, and the sorrow. It was a difficult experience for me, but I learned many things. We have lost touch and doubt that I will ever see her again. One thing that she asked me to give to her was a Bible. I did, and I must believe that God is watching over her and will guide her to Himself.

January 2009 MUCH Newsletter

2009-01-22T07:19:00.002-05:00

Hello family and friends,

Happy New Year! I hope that 2009 will be a bright year for all. As we have closed 2008, I see the progress of the children most evident. I have short videos of some of the children at the massage clinic who are walking who could not walk in 2007. The Emmaus children learned more life skills and are doing projects on the computer. In Marganets, many great things have moved forward in 2008. Most important is the new weekly drug and alcohol prevention program. The year-to-year support for the Transition Home in Marganets, the programs for the Marganets orphanage, and support of the Dobromel orphanage have opened new doors of opportunity to serve our children in better ways.

I have begun to post to this blog each week. I am writing about some of my experiences as a missionary. I hope to shed more light on the lives of the children. A couple of photos will bring my posts to life. Sometimes it is difficult for me to remember what my readers don’t see. Life here has become so normal for me that I forget how different it is. If you're reading my posts, please take a moment to comment at the bottom of the post. I would love to hear from you. Some people think that my newsletter is only about financial support. I hope that you will realize the stories are news about the children. They need your prayer support. But I think that most of all, they need you to be talking about them. They need to become a part of your conversational lives.

Ira and I will be sharing more stories about MUCH children in the newsletters and the blog in 2009. Below, Ira talks about the Rehabilitation Center that is a result of four years of the MUCH massage clinic. The medical community and the local people saw a new value in people with disabilities. MUCH is creating a ripple affect, as it exemplifies the love of God through rehabilitation for people with disabilities.

I’m pleased to say that the MUCH Christmas Fundraiser has successfully reached its goal of $3,620!! Four programs will enrich the lives of the children at the Marganets orphanage. We will clothe as many as 104 children who will pass through the Transition Home in 2009. Our funds will support Pastor Volodya’s work with the children who have special needs at the orphanage in Dobromel. All of these programs will operate for one more year because of your generous gifts during this Christmas Season. We say a BIG UKRAINIAN THANK YOU!! СПАСИБO БОЛЬШОЙ!! May God bless your giving hearts.

Here is an update on how the economy is affecting my work here. Ukraine is being hit hard with unemployment, banking problems, and the Russian gas “war.” In spite of all of these problems, what I am able to do is somewhat dependant upon the value of the dollar. In October it had fallen from 5 to 4.5 grevnya for $1. Earlier this week, it had climbed to 8.7 grevnya for $1. It looks to be a very unpredictable year. The Christmas Fundraiser guarantees funding for our six-year-to-year ministries. Our main three outreach programs will be challenged month to month for financial support in 2009. Please be praying for our 400 plus children and our teams who reach out to them throughout this coming year.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insight (January 2009)

2009-01-22T07:13:00.005-05:00

Now Mark is preparing to visit America. He will go in April 2009. He is taking pictures and short videos of his ministries. We have been visiting Emmaus Club, the massage clinic, and the Rehabilitation Center in Illichevsk. It’s very nice to see people there who can tell us about the positive changes that are taking place.

Two days ago we visited the Rehabilitation center, a city government facility. There is a very difficult situation with the legal documentation of the Center. Our government authorities are not sure who the director of it is at this time. There are three possible candidates. One is doing the actual work. Despite these problems, everybody who comes to the center may find himself in the atmosphere of kindness, hospitality and children’s laughter.

I remember when the director of one of the organizations for the disabled, Ludmila, was dreaming about a rehabilitation center in Illichevsk. She wanted parents who have children with disabilities to have a place in Illichevsk where they could bring their children. She wanted the parents to have the freedom to go to their work, or have some rest while the caretakers played with their children or helped them with some exercises.

Her dream has been fulfilled. Today this center exists and gets a lot of use from children with disabilities and their parents. At the center, children can not only play, but can do some craft work and learn to sing. Every day they have a tasty lunch. It was so pleasant for me to speak to some of the mothers. They seemed to be calm and satisfied, quite contrary to their anguish of previous years. I think the center is the place where they can find peace, by themselves, or with other mothers.

Of course the center has some more potential, but because of the documentation problems it doesn’t function as it should. Ludmila hopes that soon the children can come to the center and have some medical and rehabilitation treatment also. I pray for her wish to be fulfilled.

Until next time,
Ira

The Live Christmas Story

2009-01-19T12:41:00.014-05:00

In Ukraine, the Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on January 7th. When Communism fell, there was a new freedom of religion. The Orthodox Church was no longer the only church allowed by the government. Other Christian groups wanted to celebrate Christmas on December 25th. The new government decided to allow the people to celebrate both. Not only did they celebrate both, but the day after Christmas was always a holiday. So the Christmas Season consisted of: December 25 and 26, December 31 and January 1, 7, and 8. It was most interesting for me to experience this the first year that I was here. If you were a churchgoer, that was a lot of services with a lot of sermons. This season is the first season that will have Christmas only on January 7.

The Evangelical Baptist Church took full advantage of January 8. It may be the first time there was a live presentation of the Christmas story. They created different scenes in the park next to their church. After the 10 AM service was complete, the player all took their places, ready to tell their stories. It was a very cold afternoon, but it didn't stop the enthusiastic choir or actors. Small groups would go from scene to scene to hear the story. It was a great event. It will be repeated, and will be recreated in different places in Illichevsk.

The people who grew up under persecution still have a high value of what religious freedom means. Unfortunately, this passion has not been experienced by the younger generation. They respond with enthusiasm of the event, but haven't experienced the true value of what it means to be free to express your beliefs in public. I continue to try to learn of the secrets of life during communism.

My Little Friend Grew Up

2009-01-10T19:56:00.041-05:00

Each orphaned child has a unique way of dealing with their lack of family experience. I think that it is the individuality of the child, with or without family, which enables the child to cope with his/her life situation.

During the past six years, I have encountered many personalities of the children whom I serve. Yuri is one of those children whom I have dearly enjoyed. When we first met, this little boy was full of energy, animation, and hunger for attention. Most memorable was his smile, full of expression, with big dimples to accentuate his positive attitude.

During each visit, Yuri would make a special point to present himself to me. He would have a few questions for me and would always want to show me something that he had done. He was more upfront than most of the other boys. In 2003, the MUCH gift of a sound system brought about an opportunity for the children to have a dance on Sunday afternoons.

I happened to be at the orphanage on a Sunday afternoon in the course of one of my quarterly visits. The children were very anxious for me to join them at their discothèque experience. Of all of the children, Yuri had the most animated dance. His clothes didn’t fit well, he wasn’t very clean, but his heart was wide open and he was not the least bit inhibited in his expression through dance.

In March of 2008, I found a very different Yuri. As a teenage, he was dealing with a very different life. Cigarettes, alcohol, and possibly drugs were a part of the peer pressures that he had to make decisions about. When he would present himself to me he wanted me to approve of him, but he hid the part of him that he didn’t want me to know about. He was caught up in trying to be who and what he thought others wanted him to be. I wanted to know who Yuri had become.

In September of 2008, MUCH brought a Marganets resident onto the MUCH team to teach the children drug and alcohol prevention, morality, self image, and other positive reinforcement principles. Children like Yuri will now have a better opportunity to choose what is right for him and know that it is Ok to be an individual, to be Yuri.

See you next week!

Sisters of Poverty

2009-01-02T14:33:00.011-05:00

I wish each of you a Happy New Year, that it may be filled with peace, financial recovery, and a new outlook on life. Ukraine will be celebrating Christmas on January 7^th.
I’ll write about my adventure with skin cancer when I have during and after pictures. For those who are concerned, I’m doing well.

This post, I want to tell about two of my children in Illichevsk. Four and a half years ago, I wrote about one child who fell out of her 5^th floor dormitory house window and broke her neck. She was 12 years old. She has a younger sister who was 9 years old at the time.

Life has continued to challenge each of these children in different ways during the past four and a half years. I’ll give them new names for this post to protect their identity. Kathy, the older of the two, insisted on continuing to live with her alcoholic mother in the one room that they call home. The mother is seldom their. Close to the 4 year anniversary of Kathy’s accident, she had a baby. The father of the baby married her. Now, 4 and sometimes 5 people live in the one room home.

Nina, now 13 years old, has physical problems of her own. Before age 8, she was hit by a car. Her leg that was broken was not set correctly and causes her difficulty in walking. Apparently, she had some brain trauma also. Her right hand is not contracted, but she does not use it. For some reason, it has not developed neurologically.

If these girls only had their physical problems to deal with, that would be enough for a lifetime. Here is what their home life is like, as I understand it.

They live on the 5^th floor. If Kathy wants to go outside, some one must carry her down 5 flights of steps, and bring her wheel chair. If she wants to use the bathroom, it is a public bathroom at the end of the hall for that floor of one or two room homes. She uses diapers, as she is a quadriplegic, so that is less of a factor. The kitchen is also a community facility. So, accessibility for her is probably not a future possibility. Because she now has a baby, (something that I thought was not possible), all of her difficulties are times two.

For Nina, it was a great experience to witness her sister’s pregnancy, giving birth, and the early novelty of life with her niece. Now, the other facts of life remind her of what is real in her personal world.

Imagine for a moment, a 16 ½ year old mother of a 6 month old, a husband of possibly 20 years of age, a 13 year old sister, and an alcoholic mother who is transient in their lives, all living in a 10’ x 10’ room. The room has a curtain that divides it into by 2/3s. So, privacy is a luxury, Nina’s innocence has long since vanished, and interpersonal relationships of these children living in the adult world are stressed to the max.

This is only a sample of the 25 children who visit the Emmaus Food Program in Illichevsk. The children eat a hearty meal five days a week during the school year. There are programs to teach them life skills such as sewing, cooking, and social interaction. Other activities include crafts, singing, and Bible study. Recently, I have begun a chat session with the children twice a month. My goal is to discuss problems common to our lives, though we are two generations apart.

I hope to touch Nina’s life with physical rehabilitation, but it will depend upon her. I learned a very difficult lesson with her sister. Just because I see the need and want to help, that doesn’t mean that they want my help. As with most children, it is difficult to get them to see very far beyond their immediate needs and wants. That is what parents are supposed to do. Sometimes, the best that I can do is only to be available.

I’ll surprise you with next weeks post!

December 2008 MUCH Newsletter

2009-01-01T08:15:00.007-05:00

Hello family and friends,

As the world economy challenges each of us, may we look toward Christmas as the birth of our Savior. As the Christmas season approaches, may love fill our hearts that we may reach out toward each other in peace and compassion.

I have returned from my journey to Warsaw, Poland to get my Ukrainian visa for another year. I stopped in Borislav and Dobromel, Ukraine to visit two orphanages on my way back. It was quite an eventful trip. You can read more about it in The Insider Info, my first two weekly posts below. I intend to post a story or an article each Saturday. I want to better inform our readers about the realities of life in Ukraine and my life as a missionary. Also, I want to better inform our readers and supporters about the progress that we are seeing in the different outreach ministries. If you have questions, or want to know more, please click on comments, and add your thoughts. I will be more than happy to reply to you personally if you wish.

The Borislav orphanage is not one of the MUCH outreach ministries. I was introduced to this orphanage because it specializes in habilitation for children with cerebral palsy. More than 120 children live there during the school year and receive appropriate education and habilitation. They have a multi therapy program. I visited with the neurologist and we spoke for about an hour. He showed me the different equipment that they use, ranging from EEG to acupuncture. We discussed the value of electric muscle stimulators, which I am interested in adding to our massage therapy program. He explained in great detail how each therapy adds only a percentage of the full results desired. This was a new concept for me. My experience has been that a therapist will believe that his/her therapy is the most important. But Dr. Oleg made it clear that each is important for the full result. I invited him to Illichevsk to address our therapists and have a round table discussion about our children. This is a big step in building a network of specialist to improve the lives of our children in Illichevsk and the surrounding communities who have cerebral palsy.

And again, if you haven't already, please read about our Christmas Fundraiser - MUCH's Goal is $3,620.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

Ira's Insights (December 2008)

2009-01-01T08:02:00.005-05:00

Today there is a difficult economic situation in the world. Almost everyone speaks about this everywhere; you can hear about these problems and they may depress you. In spite of all these problems, God continues to show His grace and wisdom through His people. He continues to change the lives and minds of people. We just need to look around us to notice this. It will bring joy to our hearts and remind us of God’s promises.

I’d like to share a story with you that I witnessed. As you know Emmaus is a club for children from difficult homes. When you speak with the children, or only see them, you can’t understand the situation of their lives. Only within a personal conversation can you realize what lives they live, what personal tragedy each of them has.

Mark has begun a tradition of speaking to the children at Emmaus every other Friday. Usually he tells them different situations from his life. Mark’s stories initiate a conversation between the children and him. They begin to ask him questions. Very often children stay after “Mark’s story” to speak about their lives. When I translated one such conversation, I was very surprised what problems this child has to cope with in her young life. I see that God himself speaks to these children through Mark.

Through Mark’s answers I see the children comprehend what God’s love is and what they need to do with the adult problems of their families in their child world. The answers are so clear for the children’s inquisitive minds that I am sure they have received understanding for their vital questions.

When I translate such conversations and see the children’s eyes, it again reminds me that God always is in time, He always acts in His wonderful ways. He always is ready to give comfort to the hearts of the people who are in need…

Until next time,
Ira

1st Annual Illichevsk Charity Ball

2008-12-29T10:14:00.011-05:00

My assistant, Ira, called me to tell me that we were invited to an activity that the City of Illichevsk was putting on for people who helped the children throughout the year. I thought that it would be something similar to the event that they had last year. People from different organizations and businesses who made some type of contribution were recognized and given a very nice commemorative plate.
Ira didn’t have a lot of information, but she said something about a ball. She has learned so much about the English language, but situations that she has not experienced make it difficult to translate. This was one of those times. She knew that it was a formal affair, but the rest was a surprise.
I had to go to the massage clinic to take pictures of a sweet little child, and Ira would meet me there. Our evening adventure was on that side of Illichevsk. As we began to walk, I asked her were we were going. It was someplace that she hadn’t been before, so she couldn’t explain where it was.
After walking for five minutes, we crossed the last street that parallels the sea. We turned to the right and Ira pointed to a building in the distance. We walked some more. I saw the new soccer field as she pointed beyond it to a new group of buildings. It was dark, so nothing looked normal to me.
The group of buildings was behind a tall security fence with guards. We were directed to the second entrance. Passing through the gate, I was overwhelmed. The buildings towered three stories and were attached in an L shape. The courtyard was laid out in stylish stonework. It had a very European look.
We entered the building, not an impressive entrance, and found our way to the coat room. A very nice gentleman was hanging up coat behind an enclose counter. Across from this counter was the entrance to our evening adventure.
As you can see from the pictures above, the ball room was very beautiful. I never expected to see anything like this in Illichevsk. Moreover, I never dreamed that I would be invited to such an occasion.
As people continued to arrive, the wait staff made final table setting preparations. It was all very beautiful. And what was most wonderful was that it was all for charity, for the children and those in need.
We had a very nice evening of performances in dance, music, and song. There was an auction that raised some money for the cause. And finally there was a time for dancing and conversation and fancy food to snack on.
Ira had to run along to take care of her baby, Sofia. I stayed a while longer, chatted with one young woman who spoke good English, and then I, too, headed for home.
This first annual Charity Ball speaks volumes for the potential future of Illichevsk … of Ukraine.
Next Saturday I will write about my adventure with skin cancer, the physical, mental, and spiritual revelations that I experienced.

The Adventure Continues…

2008-12-20T16:42:00.009-05:00

When the train was thirty minute west of my departure city of Ternopil, I was sound asleep. The porter woke me to alert me that my stop would be soon. As I looked at my watch, I wondered why he had woken me so soon. It was ninety minutes before my stop. As I sat there, beginning to wake up, I realized that I had not set my watch forward one hour to account for the time zone difference. As my three cabin mates continued to sleep soundly, I quickly took care of my bedding, gathered by backpack, coat and hat, and headed for the exit, just beyond the porter’s cabin.
As I stepped down from the train, memories from my many visits to Ternopil met me. Looking toward the station, the time now being 2:30 in the morning, I saw a tall dark figure walking toward me. As Andrew approached me, we shook hands. He explained that his car was last in the driveway, so he had the privilege to come get me.
Later that day, I caught up on news with Andrew’s parents while he and his wife Nadya went to work. Bogdan and Luda and I shared our activities of the previous year over meals and free time. The following morning, Bogdan put me on the morning train to Truskavyets.
In three hours, I was in Truskavyets, ready for my next adventure. Pastor Volodya met me with a hearty “Hello.” We drove ten kilometers to the city of Borislav, his home town. A nice meal was waiting for us as we arrived at his home. His daughter, Lena, would translate for us. Lena had finished University as and English teacher, and her mother spoke English pretty well.
Because of my change in travel plans, I now had only two days to meet with my contacts in Borislav and Dobromel. It was Friday afternoon, and my ticket to Odessa from L’vov was set for Sunday evening at 7:30. I had to make the most of my time.
Lena set up a meeting with the neurologist at the orphanage for children with cerebral palsy. We had to move quickly, though, because his day had finished and he was ready to go home. He said that he would meet with us. Volodya drove us to the orphanage. We found him still working. Once I had gathered my thoughts, we talked about the different therapies that they use with their children. I explained what we were doing at the massage clinic in Illichevsk, and we talked some more. After an hour or so, we walked to the bus stop. We waited about 20 minutes, and rode to our stop. Because a recent flood had destroyed a central bridge, the ride was a little longer than normal.
Early Saturday, we headed to the Dobromel orphanage, two hours away. We stopped in Sambir to pick up Maria, who also works with the children at Dobromel. The time passed quickly. The scenery is very beautiful, as we were in the Carpathian Mountains.
At the orphanage, Mikola, the director, greeted us and took us to see the school and the additional building, diagonally across the street from the orphanage. The additional building was in need of remodel, but it belonged to the orphanage. They had to figure out how to make it functional. They had almost completed remodeling an apartment in the first floor. It would be used as a transition home for the boys when they graduated and would enter the real world.
At the school, we visited the wood shop were the boys were refinishing door and window frames for the building that we had previously visited. Also, we stopped in the sewing classroom where some girls were sewing costumes for future performances.
We talked as we walked back to the dormitory building. We discussed other needs, and shared plans for future communication. One thought was to connect the Dobromel and the Marganets orphanages for a competition between the children. Being in different parts of the country, it would be geographically interesting for the children.
On the return trip, Volodya made his regular stop in Sambir to buy some sour cream, the best in the region. During Soviet times, milk products were a main industry in Sambir. After a number of other stops, we continued on to Borislav.
Sunday morning, we went to a mountain community church not far from Borislav. When this quaint little church was full on this snowy December morning, there were ten adults and a few children. I was to speak after the second sermon. It was a great opportunity to share with the people. My message was well received in their hearts. It was a warm ending to my week of travel.
At 3 PM, Volodya and Lena saw me to the commuter train in Truskavyets. This transport was interesting. It was filled with businessmen and college students. When I arrive in L’vov two hours later, my final challenge met me.
There are two train stations in L’vov. They are close to each other, but you can’t see one from the other. I had been there before, but, as is typical, things don’t look the same as I have remembered. I had an hour and twenty minutes to find my way, and my train. Everything worked out ok, and I had fifteen minutes to spare. I arrived in Odessa twelve hours later and took the bus to Illichevsk. All was well.
Stop by next week when I write about the first annual Charity Ball held in Illichevsk, that I attended.