Well, here we are… in the city of Odessa, Ukraine. I have to admit that Ukraine has been a bit of a culture shock. I currently have water and electricity that work 24 hours a day. I have a western toilet and a shower – with HOT water! Honestly, it is weird to have these things after going so long without – I feel so spoiled! I don’t think I will ever be able to get into a hot shower again without giving thanks to God for such a wonderful gift!
So, amenities in Ukraine are awesome for us this month… and so is our ministry! We are working at Hope House which is a part of World Hope. It is a home for girls/women that are from the ages of 16 to 20-something. In Ukraine children are kicked out of orphanages after 9th grade. Most of these children do not have any identification or documents and without these they can not obtain a job. Without a job they can not make any money. Without any money they can not get a place to live or afford to eat. 72% of these girls end up pregnant hoping to find a man to take care of them. To often there ends up being a baby and no man. And since these girls can not take care of themselves, let alone a baby, the cycle continues and their child enters an orphanage.
Another danger that is too prevalent in Ukraine is sex trafficking. Men will actually solicit work in the orphanages. They promise work as house cleaners or cooks or nannies… but the work never turns out as promised. Once the girls find out what is going on it is too late. Tricked into a job they would have never chosen, they feel trapped because they are made to think this is the only way they can earn money.
Hope House is a home that takes in girls that have been turned out into the street from their preceding home. The girls are taught life skills such as cooking, gardening, and cleaning. The staff at Hope House also get them all their identification and documents they need to succeed in life. The girls are also taught english to give them an added edge. Also, church and bible studies are a requirement for living in the home. Hope House focuses on the individual child and wants to aid them in obtaining their dreams -whether that is finishing school, collage, a certain career, etc… – and making them self sustaining.
This month we will be spending time with the girls and helping them with their english. We will also be helping around the home – painting, gardening, cleaning, etc…
I am so excited about what has in store for us this month! It is going to be amazing! God is so good! Oh, how He loves us!
