Every day we make the mile and a half walking commute to the First Step center [read about that beautiful commute here].
At First Step, we are greeted outside by some of our “boys.” They joke around and speak to us in Russian, knowing we do not understand them. We joke around and speak to them in English, knowing they do not understand us.
At exactly 1pm, the door opens, and we walk down the stairs to the first room. Beyond the first room is another room with a TV in the corner and chairs lining the walls. Through the next door is the kitchen, office, and the security guard’s room.
We begin each day with prayer. Sometimes they read the Bible [all in Russian]. We play UNO, watch movies, and practice our Russian as they practice their English. We laugh. A LOT. Anywhere from 12-20 kids ranging in age from 5 to 24 stop by.
First Step is a branch of World Hope Ukraine in which street kids and social orphans can drop in daily to be fed, bathed, and clothed. The First Step staff [like the Hope House staff] also work to provide paperwork for these kids so that they can have documented identities. Medical attention is also given to the kids that come in.
My heart explodes every time I walk into First Step. THIS is what I want to do. THIS is my ministry “heartbeat.” Every day we spend time playing games, reading the Bible, and eating with kids that I love so very much — and even more, kids that God loves sooo very much. I hold the youngest girl, play catch with her brother, and hug their older sister. We learn new Russian words, eat Ukrainian food, and watch movies in Russian [I have decided that Cast Away is much better in Russian than English…].
Most of all, we get to just love on these kids for a few hours every day. Some of these kids have such a hard life. They don’t really have people who love them. Some live on the streets. Some work out there — doing who knows what to survive. They are just trying to get by. Some live with their single mom who works 2-3 jobs and cannot afford to spend much time with them.
Even though we cannot always understand each other, a simple smile & a high-five are enough. Ahh. I love this.
