IT’s March and my kids are still requesting Russian Christmas music. They continue to practice their Russian and ask when will our next mission trip start back up.
My family and I just ended our 5 week Christmas mission trip. We didn’t go anywhere. Randy took a few days off, but not much. We didn’t pack any bags to travel. Instead we opened our home and said “Yes” to bringing two orphans from a Ukrainian orphanage to our home. They were both eight years old. They were Unrelated, did not know English, and did not know Jesus. The boy named “Peter” (I will not use the real names just to protect the children). The little girl named, “Olga”. It was one of the most amazing experiences that not only changed ME, but my family and our host children. One of the hardest things for me was to say “Yes”. I had prayed for God to open doors for us to bring a child or children from Ukraine to our home. God not only opened the doors but only in his divine power could he make it easy and for me to have no excuse BUT to say Yes. I really felt ill equipped to bring kids over that don’t know English. I did not know how to prepare. I didn’t even know anyone that had hosted before. However, in a matter of two weeks God connected people to us and we learned about hosting. We surrendered to God and we said yes, to TWO! When I said yes, I was scared but there was a weight off my shoulders. I did it. I committed and God will see us through this no matter what, HE opened the doors and we need to trust HIM in the blindness of what I don’t see. I don’t know God’s plan. I still don’t, but I am excited! We took a step and He has all the other stones laid out for us, just one at a time.
We picked up Peter and Olga December 11th. Randy and I held up a sign and Peter came to us waving and saying “privet”(Hello). He had the biggest smile on his face. Suddenly those smiles turned to a scared child. He began crying. I mean he is eight years old. We were strangers! Who wants to go with a stranger!!! He was tired. But this sweet kid two days later said how much he loved it in America. He loved this family. He did not want to go back to Ukraine. He would say to me, “I love you mama. You are the best mom. I love everyone here. Can I stay? I don’t want to leave. I love this family“ He would always say, “spasibo” (Thank you) each time I brought him food, gave him clothes, or just a hug. Soon, “spasibo” turned into “Thank you, mama”. He picked up on English really fast. The last week ,Randy and I joked, He probably knows every word we are saying!
Olga sweet girl loved our animals. She came scared. Afraid. Soon, the sacredness turned to happiness. She laughed and giggled. We danced and would sing. She needed love. Someone to tell her she was loved. Her mom (me) was there now. This sweet girl wanted me to rock, hold her, and sing to her. I loved every minute of it! She also was able to see what a family was. She would say, “Mama, I love this school. I want to stay here.” She did not know what a family was or how a family functions. Also, she did not know to interact with Randy. In the orphanages there is only women that work there. Most of the girls, are scared of men because they don’t see them. Olga was shy around Randy and didn’t know how to act. But Randy did not give up on her. After a week and a half, she loved Randy. Her smile radiated around Him, (just little a little does around her father). She thought he was so funny. Randy would sing to her, “Olga Olga she’s my girl.” He would go around the table and sing it to each kid. Peter and Olga would giggle and laugh. They couldn’t wait for it to be their turn to have Randy insert their name. One of the things that amazed me was they loved when Randy and I were affectionate towards one another. Soon they would be drawing picture of Randy and I kissing and dancing. HA! They have not seen how mom and dad can love each other and take care of the kids. More importantly a man and woman’s roles, in the family.
At church last Sunday, in our Small Group, we went around the table and asked, “If Jesus could do one miracle in your life what would it be? I sat and I pondered. I said, “I want my kids to have a heart for the lost, for the unsaved. For them to get upset when there are people who don’t know Jesus and To have confidence they care share the gospel.” This meant for me that first, my kids would be saved. Second, they were living for Jesus. Our mission trip lead my kids to experience a culture they did not know, a language they didn’t understand, but gave them experience, that they could bridge that culture and language gap in order share the gospel. I’m looking forward to seeing how God using this experience to shape them and how he will use the next hosting experience to keep sharpening them.
Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This verse hits home for me. As a mom, this verse reminds me , with God , I am helping show my kids how to share the gospel. I am helping them open their eyes to see all children are a gift from God, just like them. No matter where a child comes from our Almighty God created them to be unique and for a purpose. God is coming along beside me to help them iron out the sharp corners and refine their actions, words, and thoughts to see our wonderful maker. God is lighting a match within their souls that the lost need to know this wonderful God and there is hope once He is shared. We cannot be selfish and keep our Creator to ourselves. My kids learned In 5 weeks to be good listeners, ask questions, and that actions mean more than words in demonstrating Jesus.
One of the greatest joys for me was watching both of these children learn about Jesus. Every opportunity we shared the gospel. I would ask my kids each morning, “Who is ready for another day on the mission field?” They would all raise their hands and we would pray together. One special morning in the classroom we talked about if you accept Jesus in to your heart you live forever, in eternity with Him. Olga’s eyes lit up. “Peter did you hear what mama said? If Jesus lives in us, we can live forever?” She could not believe who created Her. Who loved her. And who died for her to have eternal life. What a special moment all my kids were there to be part of sharing who Jesus is—and to participate in sharing the gospel. These two sweet kids were changed by God in 5 weeks. They raised their hands to pray. They learned how to pray. They learned our Father is a God that answers prayers and that He is always there for them. They will never be alone. Our son Peter loved reading his Russian Bible at night to our boys. They would snuggle in one bed and Peter would turn on the flashlight and read to them. It was a very special time for them. My boys would say, “Mom he is a pretty good reader!” I would reply, “Yes, and Russian is his second language! Can you believe he is also beginning to read English!” My biological kids loved having Peter and Olga here. These two sweet kids became another brother and sister to them. During our time with them, it was fun to see my kids hearts change. The day we took Peter and Olga back to the airport, my kids stuffed toys in Peter’s luggage that Peter loved. The toys were my sons, but they said, “Mom, he needs it more than me. He loves them. Can he have it?”
I know when we host more children. Our kids confidence in sharing the gospel will blossom. Their fire to share Jesus will grow to a wildfire as they see the lives of others change. Not only will their desire to share the good news grow, but their relationship with Christ will continue to sprout. Is God calling you to host? You are probably thinking, No. No way! But I encourage you to pray about it. God does wonderful things when we pray. Perhaps He is waiting on you to trust Him and open the doors to your home. You don’t need to say yes to Ukraine. You can say yes to another country. There are many other countries where you can host a child. Change a child’s life and yours will be changed too. Jesus loved the orphans. He loved the Children. Is God calling you to do the same?
Our farm will be sponsoring some fundraising events and I would love to help you, host a child. Please contact us! You will not be in this alone, I promise.
Start praying! And watch God do amazing things!
