A Child is Restored!

I recently went to Uganda and Kenya to visit HOB's children's homes. God is so good! He was constantly reminding me that He was with me but more than that-He is with the children and He has a big plan for their lives! I am amazed that He chooses to allow me the honor of being a part of their stories! These children are absolute miracles! I have seen shattered children completely restored and their minds made new. No matter how many times I see the transformation in a child I am always amazed! I know He can do so much more than I can think or imagine, but I am still amazed! As I hear the stories of how a child was mistreated, abused, abandoned I can't see with my own eyes how they can ever overcome their brokenness. But God...He is able! Maina is a great kid from Kenya who, along with his brother Wamae was mistreated by his own grandmother. She locked the boys up in a closet for long periods of time. They were forced to lie in their own filth, hungry and all alone in the dark. When they were discovered and rescued both were severely malnourished. Maina didn't speak and kept his head down. He had retreated into his own world...his safe world.
The first time I met Maina he would stand away from the other children, mostly looking at the ground. If he did look up it was with eyes that were filled with caution. If he was asked in school to answer a question he would wet his pants out of utter fear! The next time I came he greeted me with a shy smile, but kept his distance from me. He did have two friends in the home who he would quietly speak to, but he didn't play with them. He still kept his distance.
This time when I came he not only greeted me, he spoke to me! He smiled at me as we ate dinner that night. Later when the children gathered for prayer and worship before bed I heard a precious voice leading out in song and guess who it was? Maina! He was leading worship! This shattered, totally broken little boy was being put back together piece by piece by our Heavenly Father...Maina's Heavenly Father!
Later in the week I witnessed him explaining the story of baby Moses to another boy in the home! AMAZING!!! We serve a big God! I can't wait to see the plan he has for Maina! I know he will use him to do something great and lives will be changed through Maina's life story.

 
Well our trip to the Ukraine was wonderful! Cold! But very sweet! Here are a few pictures and some stories about the visit. I hope you will enjoy seeing the precious children I was honored to meet.
This is a photo of Alexi leading Bible study with the boys. Each week he has Bible study with the two girls one evening and the eight boys on another night. The children are growing spiritually and three (Tanya, Roma and Zhenya) have given their hearts to the Lord.
This is little Rita with Alexi.
 
Rita is eight and she has seen many horriable things in her short life. Because of the life her mother lived, she has a mixed up look at men and especially what a father should be. Alexi is changing that! He treates her and all the children with fairness & kindness. He is gentle in his rebuke and lets them know when they have messed up, but he is quick to let them know that he loves them but not their actions. I caught Alexi with each of the children one on one when they didn't think I saw them together. It melted my heart! Alexi and Tanya are truly being Jesus to these kids!
Can you imagine cooking and cleaning for a family of 12? This is a photo of Tanya and her friend Nina making potato and cabbage pies for dinner. It took them nearly 5hours to make enough for dinner that evening. When they made pizza several nights later it took them 4 hours from start to finish.
 
They had to make the dough, let it rise, chop all the toppings and then bake them in one small oven one by one. They were yummy!!! Becuase of a monthly donation that someone has committed to make, Nina will now be working daily in the home helping to make food and help with the canning and gardening, so that Tanya will be able to spend more time with her family helping them with homework and playing with them some. They often play cards or practice their English together as a family, and poor Tanya has only been able to hear them as she slaves over her stove. Now she will be able to be apart!
Here they are! The whole bunch! Their grown daughter, Alena lives nearby and comes to the home everyday after school and stays until about 9 pm when the last of the homework is completed. She helps Alexi work with the children one on one. There are three boys who are very behind and struggling greatly with school. It takes them several hours to do their homework each day. If they could hire one more person to help them with homework each day it would be a great help! Not only could they finish homework earlier, they might be able to spend more time with Vova, Nikita, and Vitya ehlping them get ahead. It is very hard on the boys to be the ones in their classes who always seem to be struggling. Please pray that the funds will come for the much needed tutor.
 

Pictured from the back (standing)are: Roma, Alena, Tolik, Sasha, Tanya
middle row:Oleg, Rita, Alexi and Mama Tanya
Front row:Nikita, Vova, Zhenya and Vitya

Ukraine Bound

Today I will on a plane to the Ukraine to visit Heart of the Bride's children's home. This will be my first time to visit this home and the 9 precious children who live there. I am very excited to meet the kids and to get know them! In reading their profiles I have found that most of the children were abused by parents who were alcholics before comeing into the home. How very sad. I will enjoy seeing how their lives have changed for the better and how God is healing them of the deep hurt that has been done to them by the very people who were supposed to love and care for them. I will update you all on how it goes! My biggest concern is that they don't speak English and I don't speak Russian so everything will doen with a translator...she can never leave me!!!! My friend Bonnie is going with me and we are going to teach English as a second language to the translator and begin with the kids, but she will take over after we have gone. She is the daughter to the man and wife who are running the home, so she will be with them daily teaching them. When I return hopefully in the fall maybe language won't be a problem for us!

Bibles for Babes

 
These precious children are from Sara Rose Children's Home in Kitwe Zambia. I love these kids! They have all received new Bibles and their musical cards and letters from their sponsors as well as their favorite snack-Jiggies!!!! Jiggies are like cheetos or potato chips. I couldn't figure out what they were asking me for the first time I visited and they kept saying "Jiggies Mama Carol, I want jiggies." I thought they wanted me to tickle them or something until I asked one of the ladies who works in the home. Now I know to bring jiggies to the kids when I go.
We sent the money the sponsors gave for the Christmas gifts to our missionary there named Rachel and asked her to pick up the Bibles and snacks, fresh fruit and a few other things. She went to get the Bibles and as she was asking the young Indian girl about the different Bibles they began to form a friendship. Rachel says that they are now planning to meet on a regular basis and Rachel will be able to learn about her culture and why she moved from India to Zambia. Most importantly Rachel will be able to share Christ with her new friend. I am so thankful it was decided to purchase the Bibles there and not spend the extra money on shipping them from the US. God has opened a door and I am praying for Rachel as she shares with her new friend. I also pray that these precious children will learn about the God who loves and saved them as they learn the rich stories in their First Bibles.

Look at this little love bug! This is 3 year old Shekinah. Shekinah is living in the maternity home with her mama.

Memory is a precious young lady and I have been blessed to know her since the day she come into the maternity home when she was about 6 months along with her precious daughter. Memory's step father took advantage of her and when she told her mother that she was pregnant and that he was the father, her loving mother kicked her out!!!! Memory went to the streets to live for a few weeks until someone brought her to the home. The first week she was in the home she didn't speak and often looked as if she would like to just fade away.
She was totally broken-truly shattered. She was abused and rejected. Left to feel as if she had done something to deserve all of this.
Memory is now a beautiful young woman who is going to school and learning how to care for her daughter and making plans for a long and happy future. She smiles a lot now and is desiring to wait until God brings the man He desires for her as a husband and father for Shekinah.
What a joy to witness the healing and restoration of this precious jewel! This is a picture of Memory with Mary who is another girl living at the maternity home. Memory is in the blue. God is able to do exceedingly more than we can imagine! He has done more for Memory than she ever imagined and she is daily being drawn into a rich relationship with her personal Savior because of His great love for her!

Over the next few days I will try to share a few of the great pictures I was sent of the children Heart of the Bride cares for. I hope you enjoy them as much I do!
Here are a few photos of the boys from Nehemiah Boys Ranch receiving their gifts from a very skinny Santa! The first photo is of Ben listening to his musical card from his new sponsors. The second is of the boys opening their new shoes and shirts. Look at those huge smiles!!! The third is of all the boys in their new shirts with Santa (aka Austin Lovey).
Austin and his wife Cami are serving with Heart of the Bride in Zambia this year and will bring much joy and wonderful teaching and fellowship to the boys and the other missionaries we have in place.
The next photo is of Ben wearing his new shirt and the last is of Japhet, Joe and Beya with their new shirts.
 
 
 
 

Isn't it a joy to see the delight on their faces over the few gifts they received? I think back to our Christmas here and the extreme Christmas so many here had...myself included...and I just want to do better next year. I want to set a limit before I shop and stick to it! I have been blessed and want to bless those who have less. So if I will stick to a budget and gift limit, next year I can do so much more for these great kids!

Happy New Year! With a new year comes new beginnings and so here's to beginning once more to keep this crazy blog updated!!!
I just received some new photos of some of the kids in Zambia receiving their Christmas gifts. What a blessing to have been a part of gathering letters, cards and photos for these great kids!
The sponsors donated money towards gifts for the kids and this helped to provide sweet blessings they would not have otherwise received. The only thing better would have been to have actually handed out each gift personally to them. Many of the kids had asked me to bring Bibles the next time I went back. What a joy to know that they each now have their very own Bible thanks to their sponsors! I pray that in the years to come these Bibles will be the place they run to daily for their spiritual nourishment.
This photo is of Bernard who is fairly new to the Nehemiah Boys Ranch. Thankfully he is fully sponsored and is doing very good in his new home.