Before camp gets out every week our contact Jenny gives all of the children her cellphone number. She does this so whenever a situation gets really bad at home they can call her and she will come pick them up and try to resolve the issue. Three days after camp had ended for the summer and Natasha &Ulah had returned home Jenny receives a phone call from Natasha. Their drunk mother had kicked them out of the house after beating Natasha with a metal rod and her boyfriend had beaten up Ulah. For no reason other than she was drunk and the girls crossed her path at the wrong time. They found themselves homeless and didn¡¯t know where to turn. So they walked to one of their father¡¯s house and he said he didn¡¯t want anything to do with them. They next tried a Godparents house but they were passed out drunk and wouldn¡¯t respond. It was becoming late and they didn¡¯t know where else to turn. The only thing they had was a small purse & bible that they were given at camp. Inside that bible was Jenny¡¯s number. A gentleman passed them on the street and allowed them to call Jenny.
The girls were brought back to the camp for a few days while Jenny figured out what to do with them. The only man they knew that was a positive role model in their lives was one of their mothers boyfriends. He was neither of their fathers but they called him papa. One day their papa was murdered in their apartment. The girls were left to clean up the mess. There was no family for the girls to go to. Once they arrived at Jenny¡¯s they tried to get the girls to shower but Ulah was terrified. They were filthy and covered in lice. She had never been in a shower. Jenny asked Natasha how they got clean at home and she responded that when it rained their mother would stick them outside and when it was warm they would go to the pond. The girls had never received love and so when a little was offered they tried to get more. At camp these children are taught that God loves them. That He made each of them for a reason. And that they are loved.
Jenny knew of a safe place where the girls could stay. It is a Christian shelter for kids in Kyiv, Ukraine. This shelter allows kids who come from bad homes to live, attend school, and be discipled. Children can stay here for 12 months, giving parents enough time to hopefully get back on their feet and be able to be good role models to their children again. If the situation is still not good at home an extension is given. We had the opportunity to visit Natasha and Ulah the other day at the Christian shelter they are staying at. They were so excited to see Jenny. Natasha was jumping up and down as we got out of the car and entered the shelter. She was talking a mile a minute and kept hugging Jenny. Ulah was a little more shy but quickly warmed up after a hug from Jenny. These girls seemed truly happy. You could see the joy radiating from their clear blue eyes. Happyto know that they are safe from their situation at with their mother.
It is heartbreaking to hear their story and know how much they have suffered in their short life. While at the shelter we also met with an American missionary. She was telling us how much the girls have improved since being there. That all the girls need is love right now, love that they never received at home.
They haven¡¯t seen their mother since the night she kicked them out. She has never looked for them.
They are happy to never see her again because they are afraid of her hurting them.
¡°The love of God is greater far, than tongue or pen can ever tell. It goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell¡± ¨C excerpt from the hymn The Love of God
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