In the above photo you see three girls excitedly peering into their shoebox gift to see what treasures were given to them!
Early this morning I left Kyiv going westward to the Zhitomyr Oblast. We have sent a number of containers into this region of Ukraine over the last years. A good relationship has developed in areas of Zhitomyr that are outside the main city. Today I was to visit several locations where the shoe container for Zhitomyr have been distributed.
A brief review of this shipment is necessary for those who were unaware of this amazing action. Last summer we scheduled the loading and shipping of four containers of new shoes out of Hebron, OH to the Regions of Odesa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporozhe, and Zhitomir, Ukraine. The donated shoes retail at $140+ a pair. The totals on these four shipments was amazing…21,636 pairs of NEW shoes with a suggested value of $3,223,764.00! Although the shoes were donated we had to pay the shipping costs on these containers. The total shipping costs were paid by special donations from the generosity of Christians and congregations. When the shipping costs were divided with the total pairs shipped the Lord’s People were able to ship these for only SEVENTY CENTS per pair!
The shoe containers were successfully shipped and delivered. During this mission trip I will be following up on the distribution of some locations. Today I was able to visit a number of locations in Zhitomyr Oblast that received these shoes.
On one visit I was able to be a part of the shoe distribution at a children’s shelter. This is a shelter which we have helped previously. It houses emergency placement of children from 2 years-18 years. These children are runaways, abandoned, placed because of parental abandonment, neglect or criminal convictions. There were 51 children registered there today and 5 were in the hospital so only 46 were present.
The face of each child reflects the sad tragedy that has been “normal life” and an existence that to many reading these reports will never understand. Some in this shelter have passed the point of smiling. All yearn for security and joy; few will find that security and joy.
Today we took new shoes for those whose sizes we had (we lacked smaller sizes so the small children did not get any shoes). We also took the “shoebox” gifts so that those not receiving shoes would get something.
The children came into the room and were excited to see the boxes containing the shoes and the shoebox gifts. Of all the children there I highlight two that made lasting impressions on me.
The first is “Milla.” She stood out because she came in wearing a headcover. I was told that she was “new” and according to protocol her head was shaved to make sure head lice did not come in with her. Having your head shaved is traumatic but then being totally new to a group of children and living in a new environment only heightens emotions. One of the worker told me she was “shy” since she was new. When her name was called to come and get her new shoes she hesitated and the assistant Director took her hand and walked her to get the shoes. Here is a series of photos showing you Milla.
The second highlight is of “Irashka” (diminutive of “Ira”). This bubbly smile was one of the first names called to get shoes. I wish I had a video of her delightful expressions played as her name was called, as she was handed her shoes, and especially as she sat back down squeezing the shoes and grinning from ear-to-ear. I do not know Irashka’s story but whatever life has thrown at her she has a radiant joy that looks past those hurts and horrors. Here are the photos of Irashka receiving her shoes today…
Irashka looking at the Director after getting her shoes.
Today I want to send a Special “Thank You Again!” to those congregations and individuals who gave a special donation to help pay shipping costs for these containers of new shoes!
Continuing praying for our efforts and the opening of doors by which the gospel can be preached!
John L. Kachelman, Jr.
Somewhere in Zhitomyr Oblast, Ukraine
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