December 2010 MUCH Newsletter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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)

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