Sveta's surgery

After many years of trying to figure out a health problem for Sveta, the resolution is near. She had severe pain in the abdomen. After 2 trips to emergency this year and about 15 doctor visits, the conclusion is an abdominal hernia. So she will under go surgery Monday morning checking in at 6:15 am. The process should be 98% without incident. We packed a bag in case she has to spend the night in the hospital. The Lord our God will be with us where ever we go.

Influencing an orphan

From my research. A story about mentoring a Russian orphan.

It’s not through anything that we said like we taught or planned to teach a lesson. I really believe that it’s through the years of consistent modeling. Just living your life and being an example. And of course writing a lot of letters and sharing your life with them so that they really do know what you stand for and what you believe. Our relationship is much more than going and visiting them one time a year and having a good time with them. For us it has been about consistently writing and sharing things and there have been times where we felt like she was veering off in the wrong direction and we would very gently very gently and carefully write her and try to steer her back in the right path. And so I think that it has made a difference.

Russian orphan transformed by a bicycle mishap

Here is a story from my archives about a Russian orphan who turned to God due to a bicycle mishap when he was around 14 or 15. He had went to go visit his mom. From the very beginning his mentors have always talked about God and tried to make that a center of who he is. He was out riding a bike at night and there was a big pot hole. The bike hit it which knocked him off and he had twisted his leg. And he said, "I twisted it so bad I couldn't get up" and he realizes, "No one was really around to help me." He said, "That was the moment that I called out to God. I knew when I was finally able to get up I really knew there was a God who cares about me."
     When we become involved in an orphan's life, the mentoring can go on for years. Then some event takes place that triggers a transformation. Much of or spiritual life is about certain that event that causes a realization of the supernatural. Orphans have so many needs, but I find those who have a spiritual transformation have a greater chance of leading successful lives.  

Adopting young abused children around age 50?

I posted this video on my Facebbok page, but wanted to dscribe more in depth on my own thoughts. Mike and Lessa raised 5 biological children before starting to foster children. They now have 3 more little ones added to their family through adoption. And they were around 50 at the time!

When I heard their story I really had to ponder my own role in helping orphans. The urgency of the situation nd the trauma that children go through. I can not imagine having a 2 year old arriving at my home with the first two words F*** Y**. What a twisted world we live in and the victims are too often little children.
The link:

Watch "The Worleys: A Life Almost Lost, A Story Rewritten and Lives Changed Forever" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/apdG7Ow7QGwWatch "The Worleys: A Life Almost Lost, A Story Rewritten and Lives Changed Forever" on YouTube
The Worley's adoption story

Mr. Ja - (Vietnamese Da)

As I process  all the news about Syrian refugees flooding into Europe , my heart really understands their situation. Most of what I have seen in the media describes families trying to escape a bad situation. Yet many countries cannot abosrb the numbers or do not want to get involved in the refugee problem. This dilemma brings me back  to the time of the boat people escaping Southeast Asia as the so called "communists" moved in. I worked as a warehouse manager and had a shipping clerk, Mr. Da (pronounced Ja). He handled numbers so well, I considered him a human calculator. He managed our inbound and outbound shipments. One time he invited me over for dinner. Due to language barrier, before that visit, I basically knew he came from Saigon and escaped with his family. Since his children spoke fluent English, I found out the rest of the story. A Mennonite church sponsored or "adopted" the family. They arranged for him to live in a house. I recall visiting another employee from Cambodia in which 17 people live in a 3 bedroom apartment or 11 in a 2 bedroom apartment - my memosphere is lacking. He was very grateful to have his own house. I asked him somethng to the effect of "What would have happened if you stayed in Vietnam.?" He said he would have been killed. He worked in the Ministry of Finance for the government. I could tell by his skill and age that he was probably way up on the hierarchy. What would have happened to his family and children? I will never forget the impression Mr. Da made on my life regarding the situation of a refugee and his thankfulness for the church taking him in.

New spititual dimension

I had a unique experience this evening. I was working in the backyard and dusk began to set in.   I was tired so I sat down in the porch and listened to worship songs in German. Then it crossed my mind to pray for a country. According to the monthy calendar -my schedule - that would be the Ukraine. Since I sometimes miss a day like I did yesterday, I usually use a sliding scale and pray for three countries at time so I cover them throughout the month. So I began to intercede for Belarus, the Ukraine, and Russia. I was sitting on the porch and I sensed a spiritual vision of the Ukraine. The hard part is putting it into words, but I will try. I did not see the Ukraine as portrayed in books, the Internet, or news coverage but a supernatural picture of the warfare in the heavenly realm. Many years ago I recall seeing spirits of darkness when I was actually in the country. Never can I remember this type of manifestation in my own home. The awareness of something supernatural prompted me to get up and move into the yard. Although I did not see anything through my eyes, I looked east and <saw> the battle for the Ukraine. I looked a little left and ,
<saw> the one for Belarus. Then I looked right -past the Ukraine and <saw> Russia's battle. The Russian battle was huge compared to the other two. I have no idea what it means. I was caught up with praying for these countries. I have no idea how long it was as time seemed to diminish as I prayed. It was like I was in another dimension. I continued praying and worshipping God. It  was a lot of content, but some topics were: releasing God's power in each country. Moving of the spirit. Freeing the captives. Orphans, widows, aliens, prisoners, etc. It makes me wonder if my  focus should be praying for these countries in this manner and dedicate more time. Was it simply an isolated occurrance - time will tell. As I process this event, I will need to weigh carefully how to proceed from this point.

Orphans Tree

I follow a blog from Orphans Tree. They help Rusian orphans who are transitioning from orphanages to independent living. The web currently has a PawToons type talk on their mission. Their efforts are commendable as much of the focus is on orphans in institutions and Orphans Tree helps these young people outside the framework of the orphanages.
An interesting fact is that an updated study found out 30% or orphans are involved in crime, 20% are  homeless, and 10% commit suicide. I had quoted a Russian report in which 40% were involved in crime and 15% committed suicide. I was unable to find figures on homeless orphans. The situation is still grim for orphans.
Website http://www.orphanstree.org