Feature Photo: Some of the orphans living in Tlumach Orphanage, Ivano-Frankivsk Region. They are expecting thirty more orphans to arrive immediately!
NOTE: I AM REMINDED TO SAY THE ATTACHED PHOTOS HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR MY SITE ONLY AND ARE NOT TO BE USED ON ANY OTHER SITE OR POSTED ON FACEBOOK!
When I visit these children, I am reminded of the vile accusation of Eliphaz (Job 22:9). Eliphaz said that Job’s actions had “crushed” the “strength of orphans.” Stop and think about that metaphorical phrase. It speaks of the most heinous action that can be committed upon a helpless victim. Some translate the metaphor as “breaking the arms.” To me this is one of the vilest acts that can be committed by man against a fellow human being. There is no action as savage as “crushing” the strength of a helpless orphan—such forcibly takes every support away; all help is broken. Such behavior callously uses the orphan for selfish purposes and never addresses the real needs. Job’s response is found in 29:12, “I saved the poor who cried for help, and the orphan who had no helper.” May we all answer as Job did!
The children you see in the above photo are true orphans. They are from the Zaporozhe Region, Ukraine and were evacuated when Russian military invaded in February 2022. They were evacuated to Germany where they lived for two-years but the orphanage Director said the children needed to be back in their nation and their nation needed the children to be back in the land. So, she found an abandoned orphanage in Tlumach and received permission to occupy the first two floors of the old building. They have spent their time and resources remodeling the facilities. Their work looks very nice.
The Director just received word that 30 more true orphans are soon to arrive. This will double the number of children and… doubles the requirements for food, clothing, shoes, etc. Gif and Perry became aware of this group and has helped with shipment commodities, especially clothing and food. Perry reports that they were told that the city’s residents are unwilling to help because of a number of issues—they come from a Russian speaking Region, they were not asked if the children could come, and a list of other excuses. The practical consequence, no help is being offered by the city for these children!
The children are from 4 years to 17 years. And remember, their security and safety have been “displaced” for 3 years!
We arrived at lunchtime and found the children seated and eating. Gif and Sergiy brought cakes for the children. In the photos (which were cleared for this report) you can see the children seated and some are holding their cakes. We were given a tour of the facility. The building is full and overflowing. We asked where would they put 30 more children. The Director said that maybe they would be allowed to use the third floor or one of the out-buildings on the grounds.
I asked what happens to those who graduate and received the usual answers indicating that nothing good lay ahead in their current future. I discussed how Jerry Max Morgan and I had realized this issue and through his initiative vocational training programs had been started in at least four orphanages. The Director said this was a wonderful thing and begged us to consider starting some vocational training there. As designed, this program is coordinated by Christians and utilizes the local Church to help these children develop not only vocational skills but moral and God-fearing attitudes as well. The program will help the local congregations as the orphans are integrated into the work and purpose of the Lord’s Church. Readers can search previous reports on how this program was developing so well before the war.
As we prepared to leave, the Director said the children wanted to present a program to us. They sang three songs—one about a happy family, one about spring and the third was the national anthem of Ukraine. We gathered for the above photo and then spent time answering questions. Several of the children were mesmerized by my backpack with the military chevrons. I put the backpack down where they could look closer and they excitedly found some from units in Zaporozhe.
We will get a list of needs for this orphanage and Gif will make sure Sergiy delivers some of those things to this orphanage.
Before you finish reading this report, please revisit Eliphaz’s vile accusation trying to justify the evil in Job’s life by asserting that Job had “crushed” orphans. When I visit these children, I see in real-time how orphans can be “crushed.” Every part of their lives has been broken. They have no “home.” They have no tangible “love.” They are living in constant flux for three-years—different countries, different languages, different schools, etc. Everything is “different,” nothing is stable. And now, they, and 30 more soon to arrive, are in a city where they are unwanted and treated with contempt. These are savagely “crushed.” God expects those offering “pure and undefiled religion” to be “unstained” by the world’s attitudes (James 1:27). Job made that choice and his quick retort (29:12) to Eliphaz was, “I DID save the poor who cried for help, and DID VISIT the orphan who had no helper.” May we all answer as Job did!
In a few days the number of the children living in this abandoned facility will double!
AGAIN NOTE: I AM REMINDED TO SAY THE ATTACHED PHOTOS HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR MY SITE ONLY AND ARE NOT TO BE USED ON ANY OTHER SITE OR POSTED ON FACEBOOK!
Please continue praying for our efforts!
John L. Kachelman, Jr, Ukraine Missions, Dalraida Church of Christ, P.O. Box 3085, Montgomery, AL 36109
PHOTO OF FURNACE The Director said that she was concerned about heating for the winter and so she and her staff “rigged” this wood stove to give heat in one-room of the building during this past winter.
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