Youth Of Ukraine

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T21:27:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to say HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all of the Youth of Ukraine supporters and prayer warriors out there! I am SO thankful for each and every one of you! God gave us the ability to be thankful not only to eachother but also to Him. I pray that we all remember Who to truly thank this Thanksgiving season. I realize that Americans are the only ones who celebrate Thanksgiving...but we should all be thankful all of the time...not just on Thanksgiving. I think it is wonderful to have a holiday to remind us, and to help us celebrate...but sadly, why do we NEED a holiday to remind us? We should remember to be thankful all the time. And always to God. Without Him, there would be no turkeys! Without Him, there would have been no Mayflower to bring the Pilgrims over. Without Him, there would have been no Indians for the Pilgrims to meet. You get my point. It all stems back to the One and only true Living God. So while you are busy preparing your meals, eating your meals, thanking your family, watching football (YIPPEE), and falling asleep from the sedative effect that turkey has....don't forget to thank your Heavenly Father, who created all things!! Just a reminder that we all need sometimes! I know I need reminders! We are only human!

Give your loved ones extra hugs and kisses tomorrow!! Enjoy the football...oh...and the turkey and time with friends and family! I guess you know what I am looking forward too!!!

The Future of Youth of Ukraine

2009-10-12T20:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Youth of Ukraine supporters,

It pains us to have to tell you that through prayer and much thought and sought after advice, we are going to need to close Youth of Ukraine the ministry. It is not what we wanted, nor what Julia and Sergey wanted, but due to personal problems that the Yaravoy’s are having, we have deemed it fit to close the ministry indefinitely. Without divulging too much information, Julia and Sergey have decided to end their marriage. We are deeply saddened by this, as are they, but due to the feelings that we have and that we feel God has about divorce, we just couldn’t morally keep it open at this time. To my knowledge, the Yaravoy’s are individually seeking professional counseling in hopes to heal their own wounds. If you would like to continue supporting Julia in her work with the orphans, whether it be through English lessons or whatnot, you may still do so, you just will not be able to do it through Youth of Ukraine anymore. Julia will be in contact with her English tutoring supporters regarding payment options. If you are currently not involved with English lessons but would still like to continue supporting Julia, please contact me and I will get you in contact with Julia. I will be closing the Youth of Ukraine account as of December 1st, so if you have money to send to me regardless of the reasons, English lessons, general donation, etc, you can still do so UP UNTIL December 1st, 2009. Our prayer is that you and Julia will have worked something else out by that time. In the past she has used Western Union…however, they charge quite a bit more per transaction…if that is the route you choose, you may need to up your donation by a few dollars to offset the cost for her to receive the money. That is just an idea. We will let you and Julia work that out. We will also be sending each of you a statement after December 1st showing all of the donations you have made for tax purposes.

Thank you so much for your support through the last 3 years of this ministry. We are very sad to see it go, but it is just not in God’s timing right now. He is great and good, He knows what is going on and He will reconcile it one way or another.

If you have any questions or comments what so ever, please feel free to e-mail us. I will be posting this information on the website as well prior to closing it down. Again, I will continue to keep the website open until December 1st.

Finally, please keep the Yaravoy’s in your prayers. Satan has attacked their marriage just like it said would happen in the bible. They are both godly people bringing God to orphans and because of that they are being attacked, please be in prayer for them.

Blessings to all of you,

Jeff and Tonya Filleman

Inter-Varsity

2009-09-07T13:02:00.000-07:00

This week the Inter-Varsity students got together to start the school year of their ministry. It was a great time of fellowship, praise, prayer and fun. I was invited to lead worship there and it was the first time I had a chance to lead worship at a bigger event than the home Bible group. I was a bit nervous at first but the guys were really encouraging and I was able to do it fine! I am thankful to God for this ministry to students, one older girl from the orphanage went there with me and this is great when kids from the orphanage can go to such events and learn more about God and meet fine christian young people to become friends with.

Bible Verse

2009-09-04T19:58:00.001-07:00

The Bible Verse on the photo below didn't come out very well. Here are the verses, from 1 Peter 4:8-11

8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

FRUIT of the spirit!

2009-09-04T06:58:00.000-07:00

This summer I had a special opportunity to serve Jesus. The girls who came for a Bible study and for English lessons shared that at the summer camp they don't get any fruit (they weren't complaining, I asked them myself). So, God put it on my heart to always buy them some type of fruit every time they came over and buy enough to eat as much as they want. So I did and want to thank the donors of our ministry who made this possible. For me this is an example of how the Body of Christ can manifest the grace of God in all kinds of ways. The girls said that it made their summer special to try every kind of fruit possible this summer, unfortunately usually this doesn't happen for the kids from the orphanage because they cannot buy it. I just thought that it is amazing how God can show His grace in any way He wants. Praise God for fruits!

Julia's sister, Katya

2009-09-02T19:17:00.000-07:00

I wanted to say special thank you to my sister. She is running a small clothes shop and from time to time gives things to the girls from the orphanage free of charge. It includes underwear, shorts and T-shirts. I want to thank her for all the things she ever gave to the ministry and for her sincere interest in the girls. She always wants to know how they are doing and asks me many questions about them. Her name is Katya, she is 22 years old.

my sister with her doggie

First day of School...ringing the bell!

2009-09-01T19:30:00.000-07:00

This picture goes with the story of the first day of school that I spoke about two posts ago! Isn't that interesting how cultures are so different!? I think it is so cool!!!!

Safety in the arms of Jesus

2009-08-31T19:13:00.000-07:00

As I got together with one of the girls from the orphanage last week and talked over a cup of coffee. I heard a heart breaking story about her family and life before she came to the orphanage. Her mother was often beaten severely by her dad and her mother was beating her grandfather. Her grandfather was the only safe person in her life since other members of the family were alchoholics. Her life was filled with beating, unsafety and pain. One time her mother simply walked away from the house saying that she will never return to that hell. Her grandfather died after months of beating from his son in law. She was sent to the orphanage and said that it was a safe and stable place for her compared to her home.

As we talked and she literally cried on my shoulder I had a chance to share these words of God with her: Luke 4:18-20 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him."

Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and kids without parents are definitely on His heart and mind. As I shared these words with the girl I sensed the strong presence of the Holy Spirit. He was there to calm her pain with these words. The word of God always bears fruit and healing of the hearts of His people is one of them . God is almighty so He can heal any wound. I also shared these words with her: Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

No matter what people might do to us, it can never ruin God's perfect plan for your life.

First day of School in Odessa

2009-08-31T08:34:00.000-07:00

School year here starts on the 1st of September (it is officially called "Tha Day of knowledge").On the first of Sebtember it feels strange not to go to school even though I am already 30 years old:) Everyone seems to be going to school. Kids wear white tops and dark skirts or pants and have flowers to give to their teachers. At every school the kids and the teachers line up in front of the school building and a boy from 11th (last) grade carries a girl from the 1st grade on his shoulder and she rings a school bell. Usually they are the most handsome and strong boy and the cuttest and tiny girl.

Alternatives to Violence

2009-08-23T20:17:00.001-07:00

Last week I had great time and experience doing training with the kids from Odessa area orphanages and schools on a team of the "Alternatives to Violence" project. All this summer I have been attending their trainings and learned a lot. This time we worked with the kids and it was absolutely wonderful. I am looking forward to more tranings with the kids that we will have this fall and will keep you informed.

God truly DOES provide!!!

2009-08-22T12:43:00.000-07:00

At our last Bible study we celebrated Ira's birthday. It was a fun time together filled with laughter, jokes and love. We gave our gifts, had birthday cake and played board games. We prayed for Ira to have a great new year of her life.
One of the cool things was that Michelle left a birthday gift for Ira with me before she left for the States. When I saw Ira she was barefoot and had her slippers in her hand. She broke one of them on the way to the Bible group. When she opened a birthday present from Michelle guess what was there? You are right! A pair of nice new slippes! Thank you Michelle, thank You God for taking care of us even in small things like slippers exactly at the moment we need it!

Julia's Recent Training

2009-08-07T09:48:00.000-07:00

This last week I completed a three days course on how to be a facilitator in the program “Against violence”. This program is not Christian in a way our organization is but it uses Christian morals to teach kids to resolve coflicts, to deal with own emotions, build healthy relationships and set life goals. The people who taught us (this is my third training this summer) are all professional facilitators who travel all over Ukraine and organize trainings for the teenagers and for the people who work with teenagers. I believe that all truth is God's truth wherever it might be found and this effective program (it has been used for about 70 years) can be used to explain to kids Christian values using different games, interactive exercises and discussions.

As I have been in the ministry working with youth and kids for a number of years I gained some experience in being a facilitator, still I realize that I have a lot to learn and a long way to go to become all God wants me to be in this area, I am very thankful for this opportunity to learn and sharpen my skills in the area of facilitating.

The next step I will take with this program is going to the orphanage in the Odessa area to have a training with the kids there. I am really looking forward to that. It should happen this month. I enjoyed becoming a part of a great team and pray for effective work and cooperation with this organization in the future.

Please pray that as I am involved in this work I would use every opportunity to glorify God by sharing the gospel with the people on the team and with the kids in my personal encounters with them.

These are someof the characteristics of an effective facilitator that I wanted to share with you:

A facilitator is, someone who is skilled at helping everyone in a group express their leadership qualities. They help things go smoothly without imposing their own ideas upon everyone else. Negotiators are skilled facilitators.

Effective facilitators are adaptive. They modify their small-group activities along critical tensions.

Effective facilitators are proactive. Before using a small-group activity, they modify it on the basis of the characteristics of the participants and the purpose of the activity.

Effective facilitators are responsive. They make modifications during the small-group activity to keep the different tensions within acceptable ranges.

Effective facilitators are resilient. They accept whatever happens during the small-group activity as valuable data and smoothly continue with the activity.

Effective facilitators are flexible. They modify their small-group activities before and during the training.

July Donations

2009-08-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our wonderful July Donors!! We are SO very thankful for you and for what you do! I was recently to a Leadership conference here in Omaha, and I was reminded of what Jesus said, "What you have done for the least of these, you have done for me." Wow!! That just blows me away! So, what you are doing for these orphans in Odessa, Ukraine, you are doing for Jesus!! Isn't that incredible!!! Jesus is saying to all of you, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Rick and Mary Coates

Ken and Vera Gustafson

Edward Push

Les Stutzman

Russel and Donna Rediger ( a big thank you...$800 donation!)

What's on your mind?

2009-08-06T05:45:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share what has been on my mind this summer. I love spending time with younger girls – listening to them, praying with them and just hanging out with them. Two of the girls I have been meeting with regulary this summer are both 16 years old from the orphanage. Both of them started dating for the first time in their lives this summer and they were sharing all about it with me. As we sat at a cafe or at my place or at the park talking numerous times this summer, as we prayed together,as they called me and shared on the phone I thought that it has been a great priviledge and responsibility for me to be the person they turn to for advice and feedback. I also felt sad at times because every girl should have a mom to talk to about their boyfriends and other things in life.....I felt a strong sense of God's presence during these talks because God wants to fill every empty place in the lives of His children with His love. Emptiness in the lives of these kids and teenagers is great. They dont have a father to give them a hug and take them for lunch, they dont have mother to listen to them and fix them a cup of tea, they dont have grandparents to spoil them. Still God's desire is to lavish His love on them abundantly and He does it through people whose hearts belong to Him. He can do it through you as well. There are many ways to minister to these kids if your heart's desire is to serve them, just pray and God will show you His way.

Ministry Update from Tonya

2009-08-01T13:59:00.001-07:00

Hi all! This is Tonya! I thought I would write a quick update on how things are going with Youth of Ukraine. Things on Julia and Sergey's end are going great to our knowledge! I am SO proud of all that they have done and are doing! They have great big ole' crowns waiting for them in heaven some day with all kinds of rare stones all over them!! :-) The work they are doing is making a big difference in the lives of A LOT of kids!!! I get chills just thinking about what they are doing.

On this end, we are still very small...I read a quote the other day. I honestly don't remember where it came from. Just know...it is not my quote, but I am going to borrow it.

"When the idea isn't right, God will say NO. When the timing isn't right God says SLOW. When everything is right God will say GO; because I have created you to love and share the meaning of love to each and everyone "

This quote made me feel better. I don't think the idea is wrong...so I don't think God is saying no...but the timing isn't right perhaps, and that is why God is saying slow. OR...now IS the time...but maybe I am not being obedient in getting the ministry into other people's hearts and minds. Either way, we are going slow...but WE ARE growing...it just is still a bit of a struggle to get everything that Julia and Sergey need on a month to month basis. My dream is that we have around $800-$1000 a month for them...we average about $400 a month...sometimes more...sometimes less. So we have a ways to go in our support...but we will get there. I ask that all of you spread the word of Youth of Ukraine to your family and friends. See if this is something that they might consider supporting. Julia and Sergey are doing wonderful things...and I can only imagine what they could do if they had even more resources at their disposal. Thanks for listening!!! We are SO thankful for each and every one of you for the support you give whether it be financial support or prayer support. All support is SO appreciated!!!

Hope you are having a wonderful day!!

Blessings to you and yours!

Tonya

Small Group Time

2009-07-19T16:12:00.001-07:00

These are the pictures of us - the small group girls. We are visiting the only boy from our small group who invited us to his place for a little board games party. We had a great time together. It was so great and fun that we decided to have the day of board games again!

and board games party......

Repentance

2009-07-13T08:44:00.000-07:00

Last week our small group that meets this summer got together to share about the creative things that we like to do. We called it our "small talent show". One of the girls in our group has become a Christian this last September and she made a little video about her feelings then. She combined one of her favorite cartoons and a song. I hope you enjoy it too. Be sure to pause the music at the bottom of the page before listening to the video.

Special Donor

2009-07-11T20:43:00.001-07:00

I wrote in the previous update that I (Julia) started to learn tp play the guitar to be able to lead worship with the kids we minister to. To play the electric guitar in public I needed the guitar amplifier (a special thing to connect a guitar to so you can play). The one I needed costs 146$. I want to thank a very specal donor - my mother Valentina who gave the whole sum to buy it. We have already sang a couple of times with the girls and this week are going to have worship at the weekly Bible study.

June Donations

2009-07-08T14:22:00.000-07:00

The Filleman's are home!!! We had a great time and we are all nice and tan...or burnt. The really white folks in our family (Jeff and Cam) are burnt. The more olive skined people (me, Major, Jake and MaKenna) are nice and tan!!

Thanks to our June Donors!!!

Rick and Mary Coates
Ken and Vera Gustafson
Edward Push
Les Stutzman

We couldn't do it without you guys!!! Thanks SO much!!!

On Vacation

2009-06-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

Hi all!! The Filleman's will be on a vacation for 2 weeks! Continue to send your donations...my dad will be retrieving our mail for us, so don't worry about that. But, I just wanted to let you guys know if you call or e-mail with questions or concerns, we will not be able to answer right away. We will be on a boat at Lake Powell, Arizona/Utah. We will have a laptop, but chances are we won't be able to access the internet. Have a great 4th of July holiday!

Blessings to all!!!

In Him, The Fillemans

His heirs!

2009-06-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

"We are God's children. That means we are His heirs! (see Romans 8:16-17)........a girl in Christ is a real princess because she is a daughter of a real King. If a King has adopted you as a daughter, then as a princess you are His heir and will receive an inheritance - a mansion in His eternal palace!"

BRIO
I just wanted to thank Tonya for the subscription to the BRIO magazine for the last two years. This a quote from an article that we have just read with one of the girls from the orphanage. She is also my English student so we read it in English. It is a great priviledge from God to see His children grow in His love. As Ira read it she exclaimed: "I see that I am very special to God! I am His daughter"

Friends and Partners of the Ministry

2009-06-24T20:07:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and partners of the ministry,

I wanted to share with you what we have read and talked about at our last Bible study. I hope and pray that it will be as strong encouragement for you as it was for us. May God bless you and show you His Fatherly love in a special way today!

A Love Letter from Our Heavenly Father
by One Vike

When asked by His disciples to teach them how to pray as the John's disciples prayed, Jesus gave them this prayer as a model. Luke 11:1-2 “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13

When you read the Bible, you are not just reading one book, instead you are reading a compilation of sixty six books. I like to think of them as sixty six love letters from the lover of our soul, our Father in heaven. On this Fathers Day, I would like to present a love letter, from our heavenly Father to us.

My child, you may not know who I am, but I know everything about you. I know when you sit down and when you rise up, and what you are thinking. I am familiar with all your words and your ways, Psalm 139:1-4 I even know how many hairs are upon your head. Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in My image, Genesis 1:27 and in Me you live, move and have your being. You are My offspring Acts 17:28 whom I knew before you were even conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5 Do not think that you were a mistake or made by chance, because I personally knitted you together in your mother's womb so that you would be fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13-16 On the day of your birth when I brought you forth, Psalm 71:6 I not only knew the exact time of your birth and where you will live, Acts 17:26 but I also know when you will die. Job 14:5 & Ecclesiastes 3:1

Those who do not know Me have misrepresented Me, John 8:41-44 but let Me assure you that I am neither distant nor angry. Fact is, I am the complete expression of love, 1 John 4:16 and it is My desire to bestow My love upon you. I do this simply because you are My child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1 And because I am perfect, Matthew 5:48 I can offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11

I am the One who provides all your needs, Matthew 6:31-33 all the good gifts that you receive come from My hand. James 1:17 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope, Jeremiah 29:11 because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless as the sands on the seashore, Psalms 139:17-18 and I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 While showing you great and marvelous things Jeremiah 33:3 I will never cease from doing good to you, Jeremiah 32:40 because you are My treasured possession. Exodus 19:5 If you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me. Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart, Psalm 37:4 because it is I who gave those desires to you. Philippians 2:13 I am your greatest encourager 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 and I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18 Like a shepherd who carries a lamb, I will carry you during your times of frailty and hold you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11 Then one day soon, I will wipe away every tear from your eyes Revelation 21:3-4 and take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4 As I said, I am your Father, and I love you even as I love My own Son Jesus, John 17:23 in whom My love for you is revealed. John 17:26
You see, My Son is the exact representation of My being, Hebrews 1:3 and He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31 He also assured you that if you believe in Him I will not count your sins against you. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 because He would pay the price for all the people. John 1:49-51 My child, I love you so much that I do not wish to condemn you but instead I gave My only Son for you, John 3:16-17 so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death is sufficient to cover all your sins, 1 John 4:10 and if you accept, and receive My Son, then you shall also receive Me. 1 John 2:23

It is my promise that nothing will ever separate you from My love again, Romans 8:38-39 and that the good work I began in you, I will perform it until the day My Son returns. So come home to Me now, and I will throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7 I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15 My question to you is, “Will you be My child?” John 1:12-13 Come, I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32

I pray that those who have ears to hear will hear His voice and call upon the name of the lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Update from Julia

2009-06-23T20:05:00.000-07:00

I (Julia) am very blessed to have a chance to continue my participation in the trainings where they teach how to work with the tenagers in the risk group. This past weekend (20th and 21st of June) I completed a second level of the training and was invited to get a training to be a trainer myself. After I complete a third level of that training I will be able to be in a team that works with people who work with teenagers of the risk group. The themes of this last training were: how to help teenagers deal with anger and agression; how to help parents build relationships with the teenagers who are in the risk groups; how to help teenagers manage their lives, set and achieve life goals. I am very thankful to this program because all the things they teach are very useful and practical in our work with the teens and youth.

Bible Study and picture

2009-06-17T14:38:00.001-07:00

At the last Bible study that we had I was really impressed by the openness of the young people who came, they openly shared about their feelings and lives and were at ease with each other. We actually spent 4 hours together talking, drinking lots of tea and reading the Bible. I am thankful for the work of the Holy Spirit among us, Who brings us closer together. No technique or psychology can do it so well! Praise God!

Here is a picture from the last training that Julia attended:

Eyes Wide Open...a book by Jud Wilhite

2009-06-14T20:32:00.000-07:00

Recently I was given the opportunity to read and review a book. It was an extraordinary book! I am so happy I got to read it. For the entire review and links to purchase the book go to www.nebraskafillemans.blogspot.com. Anyway, in one chapter he spoke of us all being priests. The Bible tells us that each of us is a priest as a Christian. In Revelation, John wrote "He has bade us a KINGDOM OF PRIESTS for God his Father." Whether you work at a hotel, manage a bookstore, stock shelves at a supermarket, lead a law firm, manage a medical practice, whatever...the same this is true. If you're a Christ follower, then you're a priest. As you realize this, your life will take on new meaning. A simple task at work is suddenly infused with purpose becasue you are representing God in all you do. A conversation takes on greater depth becasue you understand your role in helping to reconcile others to God.

We are ALL priests if we are a Christian, and we should always act like that. People are watching us...seeing what the "Christian's" will do...seeing how we will handle situations, etc. We need to be sure to handle everything in a Christ like manner. We are more than just children of God, we are representing His great Kingdom.

Thank you Julia and Sergey for going out daily and sharing the Good News! You are such a blessing!

Training Seminar

2009-06-13T18:01:00.000-07:00

"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven...." Ecc.3:1

On the 6th and 7th of June I (Julia) attended a training seminar on how to work with teenagers in the risk group. I was invited because of the ministry with the orphan kids. The training was designed to teach how to train the kids to build healthy relationships with others, how to express your feelings in a constructive way, how to understand your own feelings. It talked a lot about how to teach the kids to respect themselves and others around them. We learned many useful exercises and games that we can use in our communication with the kids, in our visits to the orphanages and at the Bible group that we have at our place. I am very blessed that I was able to attend that training and I feel like the last several weeks were filled with many opportunities from God to learn new skills that can be used in our work with the youth and teenagers. There is a time for everything - time to learn as well.....This Saturday I am going to use several exercises and games at our group to talk about the importance of the words we say every day.

Alina's Birthday!

2009-06-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

At the last Bible study we had a great time together: played games, had great fellowship and celebrated Alina's birthday. She was very happy to have a little party, she said it was the only celebration she had this year for her birthday and was very ecxited about it. Please continue to pray for us to have a good time together on Saturdays as we study the Bible together, play games and have tea. This last time we talked about the Second coming of Jesus, there were many questions and discussion during the group. We had two students there and it was cool to see the girls from the orphanage and them involved in the discussion together. We hope that the older kids from the orphanage will be able to meet new friends from there with whom they can talk and develop their social skills.

Guitar!

2009-06-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

"I will exalt the Lord at all times; His praise will always be om my lips." Psalm 34:1

It was on my heart for a long time to learn to play the guitar to be able to lead worship. For the last 2 months I have been taking guitar lessons. I am very thankful for my teacher who is a worship leader from one of the Odessa churches and am thankful that God provided me with the guitar. It is a good electric guitar. I am very ecxited about this new role that God is giving me. I want to start leading worship at our Bible group in a few weeks. I still need to practice a lot to be able to do that. I wanted to share this with you and ask you tp pray for me to be able to use this skill for God's glory.

May Donations

2009-06-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

Thank you to our May Donors!

Whether it be your regular donation, or your donation to help a student learn english...it is all SO helpful and we are just SO thankful to God for each and every one of you!!!

In the future Julia ans Sergey are going to give us an idea of how they use your donations every month! Stay tuned!!

Thanks to:

Rick and Mary Coates

Ken and Vera Gustafson

Edward Push

Les Stutzman

Kathryn Alexander

If you donated for the month of May and you are not on this list, please contact me...that means I don't have accurate records for May and I want to make sure that they are accurate. Thanks so much!!!!!!!

Update from Julia

2009-06-08T12:47:00.001-07:00

On the 16th of May, Sergey and I went to a family retreat to Kiev (capital of Ukraine). There were many useful topics presented (conflicts, difference between man's and woman's thinking etc.) It was a very useful time for us to spend that weekend with other couples, in small groups we discussed many things and prayed for each other. There were also times when you had time with your spouse to talk about different things in your family. We liked the closure of the retreat: romantic time in a cafe where each couple could sit at the table and talk over supper with candles. Just wanted to share this with all of you, our dear friends and partners. This past month we were blessed by this special time and we are thankful for that to our God.

More insight

2009-06-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

In the same book that I was reading, it talks about the Great Commission and how it is among the most important of the tests we now face...the future of missions. It gives statistics of the church seemingly losing it's "voice" in missions. The late Carl F. H. Henry said that the words of support for the missionary cause are meaningless if we don't produce a new generation of bold, courageous, and committed Christian missionaries. Christians MUST take our stand for the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone has made atonement for our sins. We MUST point to the only gospel that offers salvation. We MUST learn again to define the true gospel in terms of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. This is the sum and substance of the genuine gospel - and the true gospel is always a missionary gospel.

Insight

2009-05-31T11:45:00.000-07:00

Recently I (Tonya) read a book that had a lot of reminders and "a-ha" moments for me. One part was the reminder that The Christian's proper assurance of salvation is God's gift, a gift given to the believer by the very God who has accomplished our salvation. True believers are those who have genuinely responded to the call of the gospel, whose belief is evident in a life transformed by God's grace, and whose profession of faith in Christ is accompanied by repentance from sin and an eagerness to follow Christ. Believers DO sin, and may sin grievously, but they can never finally remain in sin. Peter promised that God will guard His own through faith, even as salvation will be revealed "in the last time." In the end, the gift of assurance and the doctrine of perseverance take us back to the very essence of the gospel - we are saved by grace through faith.

Grace alone...

nothing more

and nothing less.

Happy Anniversary!!

2009-05-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

I want to take this opportunity to wish Julia and Sergey a Happy 2nd Anniversary! At least I THINK it is their 2nd anniversary!!! Time flies by so fast, but I am almost positive this is their second!!! So HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!! AND MANY MORE TO COME!!!!!

You guys are an extraordinary couple, doing extraordinary things!!! We are SO thankful for you both and the service you are giving gor God's Kingdom!!!

LOVE AND HUGS!!!

The Filleman's!!!!!!!

Christian Counseling

2009-05-22T20:26:00.000-07:00

This last week from the 11th to the 15th of May. I (Julia) was attending seminars on Christian counseling. All together there were 20 lectures (every day from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M). on topics such as: anxiety, anger, loneliness, eating disoders etc. The course was taught by professional Christian counselors Birmingham, Alabama Covenant Counseling and Education Center. The information that I got from this week is going to be very helpful for me as I minister to teenage girls in one on one relationships every day. I am very thankful to God for this great week, because I was praying for several months to provide me with helpful counseling information to be a better servant in the area of orphanage ministry.

A simple cup of tea....

2009-05-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

Ira (a 10th grader from the orphanage) is the girl I get together with quite often. This month she went camping for a week to the mountains in Crimea. As we got together and got some tea and cakes in a cafe she shared with me about her trip. It was a great time for her and her friends and though they got wet one time under the rain she really enjoyed the trip. We talked for about an hour when she finally said that sitting like this in a cafe with me listening to her over a cup of tea is just what she needed to feel that she is back from the trip, because a real home you return to is a place where there is someone ready to listen and ready to make a cup of hot delicious tea for you.....Sometimes, Sergey and I are wondering whether we are making any difference in the lives of these kids, there are so many of them and they have so many needs....but moments like these make me both - want to cry and want to continue serve to God by serving them. God, thank You for the cup of tea I can offer to these girsl!

Sasha

2009-05-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

Sergey keeps on going out to the streets of Odessa looking for the homeless kids. One day he met Sasha. As he talked to Sasha he found out that Sasha has 4 more siblings (2 brothers and 2 sisters). Sasha agreed that Sergey would contact his parents. His mother and stepfather were really anxious for Sasha to come back because if he wouldn't all 4 siblings would be taken to the shelter by the social service. Sergey bought Sasha new clothes, let him take a shower and took him back to his family. It took them almost 10 hours to get to his home village near town Ternopol (first a night on the train, then by car). Sasha's mother was really happy to see Sasha and was thankful to Sergey. He promised to keep in touch with them and wants to direct them to a good loving church. Please pray thatGod would help him to do so.

There are many kids Sergey talks to every week, he offers help to everyone, there are some kids who have homes and orphanages they ran away from and are too embarassed or afraid to go back to. Some of the kids ran away in search of adventures and their parents or supervisors are really looking forward for them to come back. Sasha was one of such boys and God let Sergey be on his path right at the moment when he was ready to go back, probably fed up with the "adventures" of the street life. Please pray that God would use Sergey in this ministry and that we would have enough financial resources to pay the way home for the kids who are ready to go. Some of the kids are open to be prayed for and many ask why Sergey helps them, these questions provide him with perfect opportunities to tell them about the love of God. Today one girl asked Sergey this question and was surprised to hear that Sergey wants to help her because God loves her. It took her some time to understand this, because she thought that when you do something good for God you do it so you look better in His eyes. So, Sergey talked to her about how when you become a Christian God gives you so much love that you want to share it with others. He offered her lunch at the nearby McDonalds and when he asked her whether she wants a cheesburger or a BigMac, she asked what are these? So, he took his time to explain what a cheesbuger and a Big Mac are. She ate a BigMac for the first time in her life. She liked it a lot!

Interested in how you found us! :-)

2009-05-13T18:50:00.000-07:00

Hi all our wonderful supporters! I was just curious...I have a few different things out there that help promote this ministry, and I was just wondering what works to bring people to our blog. Could you please post a comment and let me know how you found out about Youth of Ukraine? That would be SO helpful! And also where you are from! There are a lot of hits from different countries and I am just so interested in where you are and a little bit about you!! Thanks!!!!

Blankets

2009-05-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

Ira and Alina, after the Bible group at our place. They are happy that now they will have blankets different from everyone else at their orphanage.

Bible Study

2009-05-06T08:36:00.000-07:00

We wrote in one of the previous updates about the Bible group that we have started on Saturdays at our place. This group is for the young people to learn more about Jesus, read the Bible together, have tea and good fellowship. At the last group Sergey talked to us about how God never leaves us and wants to help us in every difficult situation. Please pray that it would be a good time for everyone where we can learn more about God and become good friends.

Orphanage graduates

2009-05-06T08:32:00.001-07:00

We keep on meeting with the orphanage graduates and trying to see how we can participate in their lives, help them and show that God the Father cares for them. Recently we met with two girls (one is 20 years old, another is 17 years old) to have tea, talk and see how we can help. The older one has three little kids (2 month, 1,5 years and 3.5 years old), another one is pregnant. We had some childrens clothes of different sizes to give to both of them. Please pray for us to have wisdom as we talk to the girls in the situations like that. We are especially thankful to Pat and Sharon who sent us blankets. Now the kids of these girls and the girls themselves have each a blanket to keep them warm and cozy.

April Donations

2009-05-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

Thank you to our April Donors! Whether it be your regular donation, or your donation to help a student learn english...it is all SO helpful and we are just SO thankful to God for each and every one of you!!!

In the future Julia ans Sergey are going to give us an idea of how they use your donations every month! Stay tuned!!

Thanks to:

Rick and Mary Coates
Ken and Vera Gustafson
Edward Push
Les Stutzman
Russel and Donna Rediger

If you donated for the month of April and you are not on this list, please contact me...that means I don't have accurate records for April and I want to make sure that they are accurate. Thanks so much!!!!!!!

Definition of Sin

2009-04-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

Billy Graham talks about the definition of sin:

The Bible says, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" and God's request for your life. And you're a sinner. You have to confess it and acknowledge it; say, "Lord, I have sinned, and I'm sorry for my sin." Sin is when you disobey God. … If you've broken God's law, you have to pay a price. It's a terrible price because you're separated from God forever, unless you repent and receive Christ into your heart. … Christ took your sins, He shed His blood for you, and He said the reason was that He loved you.

He Wants You!

2009-04-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

What does it mean that God loves us?

Here’s Franklin Graham:

He wants you, He loves you, He created you, He made you, He’s given you life. And you’ve turned your back on Him and He’s wanting to forgive you. He’s wanting to set you free. He wants to give you a new start. But you’ve got to be willing to come to Him tonight. Confessing your sin to Him, telling Him you’re sorry, asking Him for forgiveness, and receive by faith Christ into your heart, God will set you free. You see, Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life and no man comes to the Father but by me. There is no other way to God, except through Jesus Christ. Why? Because Jesus Christ is the only one in history that paid the debt of sin.

A little bit about Easter in Ukraine

2009-04-13T12:22:00.000-07:00

I asked Julia to give me just a small snippet of Easter in Ukraine. Here is what she said....

We actually celebrate Easter this year on the 19th of April. The Ukrainian orthodox tradition is to go to the orthodox church in the night (Saturday to Sunday) and the priest has an Easter service and "sanctifies" Easter bread, painted eggs, honey and other Easter food that people bring to chruch in baskets (he sprinkles it with holy water). Also we have a tradition of taking the Easter fire from the church. This fire is brought to every church from Jerusalem and people take it home and try to keep it for as long as possible. In Russian Easter is called "Pas-ha" which is similar to the Jewish name of this holiday.

Sasha

2009-04-13T12:21:00.001-07:00

In 1999 Sasha was 10 years old, he used to come to a presbyterian church where we had a ministry for orphans and a great Sunday school where the kids from the orphanage were welcomed. After the Sunday school there was always lunch provided for the kids from the orphanage. Sasha came every Sunday. After he graduated from the orphanage he went to the construction college in one of the villages outside of Odessa. When he came back to Odessa he realized he has no friends to turn to so he found my number and called. He remembers the "good old times" when he used to go to Sunday school with warmth and is thankful to all the people in the presbyterian church of Odessa who cared for him. We got together several times and Sergey is building a friendship with Sasha. Please pray that he would grow in his relationship with God and get settled in Odessa.

Sveta and Vika

2009-04-13T12:19:00.001-07:00

These are two girls Sergey met on the streets of Odessa. They are Sveta and Vika. One of them ran away from the orphanage and lives on the street. She sniffs glue, that is a thing most of the homless kids do. Another one has a mom who has a difficult life and hardly ever finds time for her daughter. As you pray for these girls pray for God to do a miracle in their lives and give them future and hope and please pray that we would be able to help them the best way we can. We want to give them clothes but they didn't come for an appointment.

Bible Group

2009-04-12T18:49:00.000-07:00

Sergey and I had it on our hearts for a long time to start a group for young people who are interested in the Bible and spiritual questions. There are many young boys and girls we meet with, invite to our home and have chances to minister to and we want it to be a place for them to ask the questions they have about God and learn more about Jesus. Today we started...we had one friend who came (a 4th year student) - we had lunch together, prayed and talked about Easter and read a Bible passage about Easter. It was a good time and we are praying for more people to come and benefit from this time. Please pray for that with us!

Gypsy family

2009-04-12T18:47:00.001-07:00

Almost every day Sergey goes out to talk to homeless kids on the streets of Odessa. One time he met gypsie kids. There are 9 kids in their family. One of the two youngest is with his mother while she is begging for money near the train station. Another is at home, sick (he has burned himself with hot water). The rest of the kids are begging on the streets of Odessa. This is a poor family, they live in one of the villages outside of Odessa but they tried to have a more or less normal life for as long as they could. The kids went to school and this is the first year when they are not in school - the family just got really stricken by poverty. Sergey is going to visit their home and see how the little one with the burns can be helped. They mentioned that the local church has given them christmas gifts so Sergey will try to contact that church to see that maybe they could help them somehow...Please pray that God would really help this family through us and other believers and that they would see love of God. Sergey printed out the picture that is on the blog and gave it to the kids - they were really excited, this is a rare treat for them - have their own picture.

Denis

2009-04-12T18:45:00.001-07:00

Sergey keeps on searching for the lost kids on the streets of Odessa offereing them prayer, a word about God's love, some food and warm clothes. He talks to them listening to their stories and if someone has an orphanage to go back or a home he offers to take them back there and pay for their way. He met Denis in one of the McDonalds in Odessa, talked to him and prayed for him. They met one more time and Sergey gave him a coat since the clothes that Denis had on wasn't warm enough for the cold nights in Odessa. Denis spends days looking for warmth and food and some money and in the night sleeps in the internet cafe..Denis siad that the only people who ever did at least something good for him are Christians.......They agreed to meet again but Denis didnt show up on that day, Sergey hopes to meet him someday again.

Paid the debt

2009-04-01T10:57:00.000-07:00

Paid the Debt
Franklin Graham talks about the debt that Jesus paid:

There is no other way to God except through Jesus Christ. Mohammed didn’t die for your sins. Buddha didn’t die for your sins. It’s the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. What are you going to do? Are you going to accept Him? Are you going to reject Him? It’s your choice. God’s a gentleman. He’s not going to force Himself into your life. He’s paid the debt of sin. Glory to His Name. He’s paid the debt of sin. All you have to do is be willing to receive it by faith. You can’t buy your salvation, you can’t work for your salvation. It’s free. It’s a free gift from God. And it’s by faith. All you have to do is simply believe.

As Franklin said, all you have to do to receive God's free gift of salvation is to believe in Jesus Christ as your savior.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIA!!!!

2009-03-26T13:11:00.001-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JULIA!!!! I am sorry I didn't post this ON her birthday! I have been having a bout with pneumonia. Her birthday was actually Sunday, the 22nd of March. So...if you think about it could you send her a little note of encouragement and Happy Birthday's!!!??? I know she would appreciate it!!!!!

Thank you Julia for all you do for Youth of Ukraine!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

Christian Student Union, and Holiday's

2009-03-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

On the 23rd of February we have a holiday when we honor the men in our families and society. It used to be a Day of Soviet Army but became a day of manhood. On the 8th of March we have a Women's Day when we honor women. So in the CCX (Christian Student Union) we had two parties. The 23rd of February party was at our flat. There were 3 orphanage graduates and two girls who are still in the orphanage. On the 8th of March party came two girls (Alina and Ira) from the orphanage. They really enjoyed the parties and want to come again to the events of the CCX. We are very glad that they can meet other young Christians. This is our dream for the orphanage students and graduates to be involved in this great organization that provides them with many opportunities to study the Word of God with other young believers. Recently I (Julia) started to study the Bible with Ira. Please pray that God gives me wisdom in this and work in Ira's heart so she may grow in her personal relationship with Jesus.

Gifts, gifts, and MORE gifts!! THANK YOU!!!

2009-03-16T18:46:00.000-07:00

In February and March we went twice to the place for the kids from 3 to 8 years old who are in the TB group of risk. Most of them are orphans or kids from homes where parents are drug and/or alchohol addicted. Right now there are 20 kids. When we went there the first time we delivered the Christmas gifts collected by the churches in the States. I want to thank again everyone who participated in the Christmas gifts project! We made many kids happy (about 300 gifts were collected, wrapped and delivered to 4 orphanages). Thank you again! In March we went to deliver them some of the things they asked for: underwear for the kids, clothes (special thank you goes to Sharon and Pat Paterson who donated some of the clothes for the kids), toilet paper, detergent and soap enough for two months (special thanks goes to our Ukrainian friend who donated money to buy that and chose to stay anonymous). Our friend donated a lot of childrens books and videos with cartoons that they will use to entertain the kids. We are very blessed to be in a team of all these people who donated in this way or another to we can bring some good and useful things to the kids.

Thanks to our Ukrainian friends!

2009-03-16T18:44:00.000-07:00

When we went to Troitskoe this month we delivered 33 nice sport type jackets and pants for the kids there. Special thank you for tha,t goes to our Ukrainian friends ( a family) who donated money to buy it.

Thanks to Pat and Sharon Paterson!

2009-03-16T18:37:00.000-07:00

Pat and Sharon Paterson sent Julia and Sergey a large amount of blankets and other necessities...we are so thankful to them for helping out the kids like they have. Here is their story.

Our youngest son passed away in December of 2000. We wanted to do something to keep his memory alive. In 2004, our niece and her husband traveled to the Ukraine to adopt a darling little boy. She told us about the dire needs of the children in orphanages. We began sponsoring children; all total with family and friends we have sponsored 9 children. Even though we were sponsoring children we felt we could do more. Thus we started “Blankets in Memory Of Brian. We are happy we could make a difference in a child’s life.
Pat & Sharon Paterson

In the pictures are a few of the 12 boxes that we got from Pat and Sharon Paterson. Half of the things which were sent we delivered to an orphanage for the kids with special needs about 2 hours away from Odessa. The staff was very thankful and happy, they really liked nice blankets. We still have other things to deliver to another orphanage.

A BIG thanks!

2009-03-10T20:50:00.000-07:00

Thank you to our generous donors, Jason and Stacia Siemer and their family, Payton, Hailey and Anthony! They donated $1,000 recently to Youth of Ukraine! Thank you SO much!

Compassion

2009-03-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

Compassion … means to suffer with another. It means that when another person experiences pain or sorrow, we feel that pain. Throughout the Gospels we read that Jesus was moved with compassion—for the multitudes, for two blind men, for a leper, for a widow whose only son had died, for orphans. … Yet the disciples had a difficult time learning this quality of compassion. When people in one village did not welcome Jesus, they said, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" (Luke 9:54, NKJV).

Jesus said, "The Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them" (Luke 9:56).… The place to learn compassion is here, right now. The Apostle Peter wrote, "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate" (1 Peter 3:8, NIV).

Update from Julia and Sergey

2009-02-23T16:31:00.000-08:00

Col. 1:27-28

27 to Whom God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you the hope of glory

28 Whom we announce, admonishing every man, and teaching every man, in all wisdom, to the end that we may present every man perfect in Christ.

As we keep on following God in this ministry we wanted to ask you to pray for us to be the people who have all the needed resources to help the youth we minister grow in the knowledge of our Heavenly Father's love and live in a real vibrant relationship with Jesus. This verse has been on our hearts for a long time and we believe that the true meaning of every Christian ministry is to help every person see Jesus and develop a relationship with Him. It can be done in many different ways and we should use every way possible. We can bring clothes, shampoos and toys, Christmas gifts and crayons to the kids and this is great but to help them see that they can have a Wonderful Friend Who will always be with them is the most important because all those things will end, but a relationship with a Living God will never end. Also, as we meet with the young people to listen to them, encourage them and just show that we care we need to always remember to point them to Jesus, because only He can perfectly comfort them and love them with the love that satisfies. Sometimes we need to be reminded on that because when we see all of their pains and troubles we want to take it all away but in reality only Jesus can do that, so we pray that our love and care would be a window into God's heart for them. Please pray for us to be open windows into our Father's heart.

More and more God has been showing us that He is looking for every lost person in this world and wants to show that He is a good Shepherd Who cares for the sheep. How does He do it? He does it through people who know Him personally. Often we think that pastors should take good care of us (pray for us, listen to us, show compassion to us and guide us spiritually). This is true, but it is also true the other way around - we can all do some of that to every lost person in this world thus reflecting the pastoral side of God's character. There are times when we feel neglected and not appreciated by the church leadership, but we need to remember that there are people in this world who have never experienced God's love and who are lonely and desperate inside, so instead of focusing on what we want and need (even though these needs can be absolutely legitimate and normal) it is importamt to remember that we are called "to announce Jesus and admonish and teach every man in all wisdom to the end that we may present every person perfect in Christ".

Donations

2009-02-23T07:55:00.000-08:00

My Mops group is being incredibly kind, and has adopted Youth of Ukraine as their service project this semester. They were curious as to what needs Julia and Sergey have for the kids in Odessa. I asked Julia and she said they need stuff for crocheting (special material, threads, patterns) and also stuff for knitting. Any crafty thing is always a huge blessing. However, Julia wanted me to convey that it is fairly expensive to send things by mail, and if you would rather send money, it is cheaper to buy things there in Odessa. I am MORE than happy to send your items though....I would simply ask for a small donation to help with the shipping costs. Also, there are families that travel to Ukraine from time to time....I could always wait and send things with them too in their luggage. So, whatever it is you wish to donate, please do. We will find a way and make a way for almost anything!! Thanks for your willingness to help! We SO appreciate all of you!!!

From Julia and Sergey

2009-02-13T11:55:00.000-08:00

During the month of January we delivered the Christmas gifts to the two orphanages outside of Odessa (both of them are located in the villages about 2.5 hours of drive). The gifts were collected by many churches in the States and shipped to us along with nice Christmas wrapping paper. We had a lot of fun wrapping each gifts (we had a lot of pizza too!!) those "gift wrapping parties" were at our place, so in the pics, you can see some of our place and all of us who One of the pastors of our church drove us to the first orpahange which is for the kids with special needs. Sergey shared about Christmas there, we made a craft together and had a great time. You can see the happy faces of the kids in the pictures. The trip to the second orphanage was even more fun. We grouped together with a small church from the nearby town close to the village where the orphanage is located. They made a puppet theatre show and the pastor from that church prayed for the kids and blessed them in the end of our time with them (the staff of the orpahange gave him an eager permission to do that).

We are thankful for every person who participated in this Christmas project: donated and shipped the gifts, wrapped them, drove us to the orphanages, played with the kids and shared the love of Jesus while we were there. That time was very rewarding for us and next Christmas we want to visit more orphanages and bring some joy to more kids. This year we had gifts for about 235 kids. It is amazing to see how the Body of Christ united in one effort can do so much and can do even more!!!

Prayer

2009-02-10T20:25:00.000-08:00

Before I got on with my short "prayer" topic, I just want to apologize for being VERY absent the last month or so. Many of you know that my mom has been very sick. She has had breast cancer for the past 5 1/2 years, and recently it has gotten much worse. She went into hospice care in January, and went home to be with our Lord on the 27th of January. So, our family has been very busy taking care of her, then taking care of arraingements, then taking care of my dad. It is quite the adjustment, but we are managing. I have prayed since the beginning of my mom's illness to "take this cup away from her". I KNEW that Got could perform miracles, and I just KNEW that he would bless us with one in healing my mom. I held out hope for a miracle until her dying breath. My prayer was not answered. I realize that prayers are not always answered, or at least not answered in the way that we would like them to be. Sometimes, looking back on some things, I am thankful to God for not answering certain prayers...but this prayer....this prayer I NEEDED him to answer. Alas, it isn't my will, but His will. His will did not include my mother living past the age of 62 years. I read the following from Focus on the Family today. I wondered...why He didn't answer my prayer. I prayed boldy, often and in faith....

Are you waiting for an answer?
It's easy to think that God's not listening--especially when you've been praying that "one special request" for longer than you can remember.
Don't be discouraged! Here's what He says about prayer...
1. Pray boldy. God wants us to approach Him with confidence! (Hebrews 4:16)
2. Pray often. God desires a relationship with us. (1 Thessalonians. 5:17)
3. Pray in faith. He is able and willing. (Mark 11:24-26)

...so why didn't He answer my prayer? This is the response I have come up with after researching a bit.

Mom had taught all of us that her eternal relationship with God was above and beyond anything that this life could offer. We had all prayed for Mom to live, and God answered with a wondrous “YES!” (John 11:25). Mom is living...just not in the way we wanted her to. Sometimes, God just answers, “No” to our prayers. Any delay or unexpected outcome really shouldn't discourage us. We have to ask ourselves...what is God's purpuse through our prayers...what does He want to complete in us through prayer? God wants us to bring our every need to Him as He answers (yes or no) according to His will. God will never say yes that are contrary to His will. I'll be the first to agree that receiving a “Yes” makes us happy. But God never promised us happiness. Happiness is based solely on circumstances. God wants us to have everlasting joy -- even when He responds, “No, it will be done in My time, not yours.” Don't forget, in Luke 22:41-44, Jesus really struggled with the events leading up to His death. In fervent prayer, His greatest desire was to allow God’s will, not His suffering and pain (Hebrews 12:2). When we pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), God will always respond, and every answer will bring joy, just not always the joy we had in mind. I have to remember though, that mom is in an incredible place. Our little minds can't even wrap around what heaven is like. She has won. She is with our Father, and she will be there with open arms when it is our time.

Below is mom's obituary:

Name: Mrs. Suzanne Stutzman, 62

Died: January 27, 2008, in her home, Omaha, Nebraska

In Memory ofSuzanne Stutzman

Suzanne was born on September 29, 1946 in Milford, Nebraska to Roman Sr. and Edith Jantzi. Suzanne was the fourth of four children, their only girl.

Suzanne attended Milford grade school and high school. She was a cheerleader, majorette, homecoming attendant, class treasurer, class vice president, and a member of the drill team, pep club, Future Homemakers of America, mixed chorus, madrigal, triple trio, student council, drama club, etc. She was crowned "Centennial Queen" of Milford in the summer of 1964.

Suzanne met the love of her life, Les Stutzman, while in high school and married him on October 10, 1964. The first few years of marriage, Les and Suzanne lived in Milford before moving to Portland, Oregon where they lived for 2 years. They moved back to Omaha where their first daughter, Rhonda, was born. Shortly after, they moved to Albany, Oregon where their second daughter, Tonya, was born.

Suzanne spent many years of her life as a stay at home mom, a bank teller, personal banker, and investments assistant. Suzanne and Les moved from Albany, Oregon to Phoenix, Arizona in 1986, then to Omaha, Nebraska in 1995. Suzanne was able to go "truckin" with Les for just over a year after moving to Omaha which she enjoyed a lot. In 1999 her first grandchild was born with six others to follow. Her grandchildren, Cam, Shawn, Jake, Kayla, Brooke, MaKenna and Major were the joy of her life and the focus of her attention. Her passions included God, family, shopping, traveling and camping "luxury" style.

Suzanne was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. She spent the remainder of her 5 ½ years creating wonderful memories for her, her daughters and her grandchildren! Suzanne fought a courageous battle before passing away in her home on January 27, 2009 with her husband and two daughters by her side. She was 62 years, 3 months and 29 days old.

Suzanne is survived by her husband, Les Stutzman, Omaha; her daughters and son-in-laws, Rhonda and Mike Flanigan, Omaha; Tonya and Jeff Filleman, Omaha; her grandchildren Cam, Shawn, Jake, Kayla, Brooke, MaKenna and Major, Omaha; brothers and sister-in-laws Ron and Linda Jantzi, Salem, Oregon; Dick and Karen Jantzi, Fairmont, Nebraska; and sister-in law Ruth Jantzi, Fairmont, Nebraska.

Suzanne is preceded in death by her parents Roman Jantzi Sr. and Edith Jantzi; brother Roman Jantzi, Jr.; and sister-in-law Julie Jantzi.

The funeral service will be held at Brookside Church at 11607 M Circle in Omaha on Monday, February 2 at 10:30 am with Pastor Tim Wiebe officiating. Interment in Blue Mound Cemetery, Milford at 3:00 pm. Memorials may be directed to Methodist Hospital Foundation/Estabrook Cancer Center at 8303 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68114, in memory of Suzanne Stutzman.

Rick Warren

2009-01-19T20:09:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine shared this with me, I thought it was wonderful and needed to be shared.

You will enjoy the new insights that Rick Warren has, with his wife now having cancer and him having 'wealth' from the book sales. This is an absolutely incredible short interview with Rick Warren,'Purpose Driven Life ' author and pastor of Saddleback Church in California.

In the interview by Paul Bradshaw with Rick Warren, Rick said:People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were not made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven.One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body-- but not the end of me.I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal.. God wants us to practi ce on earth what we will do forever in eternity.We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense.Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one.The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort.God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer.I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth.. I don't believe that anymore.Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life.No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for.You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems.If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness,'which is my problem, my issues, my pain.' But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others.

We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her.It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people.You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy.It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease.So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72. First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases.Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church.Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation.Fourth , I added up all that the chu rch had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity?Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)?

When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do.That's why we're called human beings, not human doings.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.

Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.

Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.

Painful moments, TRUST GOD.

Every moment, THANK GOD.

One day from our life - By Julia and Sergey

2009-01-12T14:23:00.000-08:00

Today Serjey went to the orphanage and invited three boys he regulary meets with to talk and spend time with at our place. I had two girls from the same orphanage I get together with to study English and just spend time together coming over later. All of us spent great time together. After playing UNO and having lunch we gave them some belated Christmas gifts (our Christmas is on the 7th of Jan) and then the boys read the Bible with Serjey in one room and we studied English with the girls and had LOTS of tea. It was a wonderful time and we want to have as many times like these this year as possible!

Tax Receipts

2009-01-08T21:44:00.001-08:00

Hi faithful partners! I am just writing to tell you that I WILL be sending out end of the year tax receipts. I plan to do that this weekend and I hope to have them out by Saturday or at the latest Monday! Thanks for your support this past year! We look forward to 2008!!

Closure of 2008

2008-12-28T17:22:00.001-08:00

At the closure of the year 2008 we want to thank from our whole hearts all of you, people who have been encouraging and supporting us in all the different ways to do the work of God here in Ukraine! We are really thankful to God for all of our dear brothers and sisters in Christ and we feel the support of this big and loving family of God in our lives, because of you! Lets continue together making better and happier the lives of children who have no loving families!

With love in Christ,

Serjey and Julia Yarovie

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T13:08:00.000-08:00

We pray that you all have an incredible Christmas this year! Please remember the reason that we celebrate Christmas. The greatest gift of all was given to us by God more than 2,000 years ago wrapped in a bundle, lying in a manger. What an awesome gift to give us! And we don't even deserve it! As we give gifts to our loved ones this year, let us remember why we give the gifts and give unselfishly. We are so fortunate to live in the United States of America and that we can worship freely and celebrate Christmas in the way that we do. Many people reading this blog are not as lucky as we are. The orphans in Odessa are without parents tonight, the street kids are without warmth and shelter. Please remember them in your prayers and thoughts this Christmas while we are warm by our trees and presents. We serve such a loving God, I can't tell you enough how grateful I am to all of you for all of your support this past year....and to Him for sending all of you to Youth of Ukraine. It is because of all of you that Youth of Ukraine is making a difference in Odessa. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2008-12-23T20:48:00.000-08:00

Our One and Only Savior

2008-12-23T20:44:00.000-08:00

By: Franklin Graham

Savior is a term many people throw around casually. Recently we’ve heard it used frequently by the media as they discuss political campaigns and economic bailout packages.

When people are looking for dramatic change, it’s human nature for them to seek some sort of savior—someone who is powerful and compassionate enough to rescue them from their sins.

As long as they are blinded by sin, though, people seek salvation in the wrong places. They desperately need someone to lead them to the one and only Savior. “There is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me. Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:21–22).

Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of our Savior on the pages of history. When the baby Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem, the Word became flesh. As the angel announced more than 2,000 years ago: “Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Jesus Christ showed us the Way, died for our sins, rose from the grave and poured out the Holy Spirit to establish His church.

He taught us plainly that the only way we can be saved is by repenting of our sins and trusting in Him as our Savior. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

That’s the message my father and I have always preached. Despite what the world may say or wish, there is no other way to be saved. There are many ways to share the Gospel, but they all bring people to Jesus Christ, our one and only Savior.

Americans have just been through a presidential election. Both parties made extravagant promises that won’t be easily kept, but the promise of eternal life is always kept by the Savior for those who come to Him for forgiveness.Our hope is never placed in men or governments, but in God alone. We will pray for guidance for our leaders as the Bible commands, while knowing that the Lord works through worldly rulers to accomplish His greater, sovereign purpose. The king’s heart is like channels of water in God’s hands, the Bible says, and “He directs it … wherever He pleases” (Proverbs 21:1).

As you celebrate the birth of the Savior in the next few days, rejoice that God “the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:14–15).

Thanks be to God for our glorious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

At risk TB kids

2008-12-21T23:29:00.000-08:00

Below is an update from Julia and Sergey. All of their updates touch my heart so fiercely, but this one especially for some reason. I don't know if it is the spirit of the season or what, but look at the little angelic faces of these children? Doesn't it just break your heart? This season and this coming new year, lets ask ourselves...what more can we do to help? That is what I have found myself asking God, what more can I do?

Recently we went to the place for the kids from 3 to 9 years old who are in the TB group of risk. They are mostly from the orpahanges and poor families where parents are often addicts. This is where they are supposed to strengthen their immune system but often the institution cannot provide them with the necessary fruit and vitamins that they need so much! The staff there is really good and pours a lot of love into these kids.

We were able to bring them vitamins, warm scarves, alot of DVDs with the cartoons and movies for the kids and some secondhand shoes and clothes as well as a bed for their medical room. Also we brought a lot of small snacks for the kids (there are about 35 kids now).

More from Julia and Sergey

2008-12-18T07:17:00.001-08:00

In the end of November, Michelle and Serjey went to Balta to visit some of the kids who used to live in the Odessa orphanage#4. One of the pastors of our church drove us there. Valya, sister of one of the boys went there as well. She is a graduate of the orpahange#4. The boys were really happy to have visitors. Valya's brother was really HAPPY. She brought him gifts for his birthday that he had recently and it was really special for him. This is not the first time we visited there and we are especially grateful for our pastor who goes there with us and shares the love of God with the kids there.

More from Julia and Sergey

2008-12-18T07:12:00.000-08:00

Last week Serjey went to a conference for the staff of the Student Christian Movement of Ukraine. It took place in Kiev and was for all the Ukrainian staff. It was a really good and encouraging time of sharing and praying and worshipping God together. They were planning the next year 2009 and praying for the next year to be the year when many of the students come to know Jesus. We are blessed to be partnering with this organization because it provides great opportunities for the orphanage graduates to meet God. (conferences, summer camps, Bible studies)
In the picture Serjey is becoming a toilet paper statue with the help of other staff (just having fun).

From Julia and Sergey

2008-12-18T07:06:00.000-08:00

For many years it was on Serjey's heart to go out to the streets of Odessa, meet the kids who live on the street and talk to them. Usually he tries to find out why a kid is on the street and if he has a place where he can go back (an orphanage or home). If there is a place like that and the kid wants to be helped he offers to take him back and talk to his parents or supervisors at the orphanage. Some of the kids end up on the street because they were looking for an adventure and often they left with an older sibling or older kid from the orphanage and then are afraid to go back. We wrote on the blog about few cases like that and today I wanted to let you know about Vova - a 15 year old boy from an orpahange several hours drive away from Odessa. Serjey met him at the McDonalds and had lunch with him, he found out that he ran away from an orphanage with an older classmate and that he wants to go back but is afraid. So, Serjey took him back by bus (it took them about 7 hours to get there) he met with the director and the director and the staff were all really happy to meet Vova. The director even wrote a special "thank you" paper for Serjey and it was really special! They showed Serjey around the orphanage and it seems like a really good one. Many of the kids there are really into sports, they win a lot of competitions. Serjey got Vova an inexpensive cell-phone to stay in touch with him. Please pray that Vova will study hard and stay at the orphanage (get involved into the sports team of some kind). Please pray for the street kids of Odessa - it got really cold here please pray for special provison from God for them and for all the people in Odessa who try to help the street kids. Please pray for Serjey as he goes out in the evenings to meet them and tries to help them .....
the picture is Vova

Giving Thanks in Times Like This

2008-11-26T09:07:00.000-08:00

By Franklin Graham

Some of you may have seen your life savings evaporate in the financial chaos that has brought down some of the pillars of our economy. Some may have lost your homes in a hurricane or foreclosure. Many of us have a personal stake in the battles against terrorism, and thousands of families are grieving for brave soldiers who have sacrificed their lives overseas. Most of us are anxious about what the future holds. And that’s just the national headlines—not to mention individual tragedies like cancer and divorce that overshadow many of our lives. If this is what we have in our lives in the land of the free...imagine what it might be like for orphans anywhere in the world?

In times like these, when nations are desperate for someone they can trust, Christians know we can always find strength and hope in the Word of the Lord. He tells us through the Apostle Paul, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NKJV). Paul knew what it meant to praise God in the midst of suffering. He gave up a relatively comfortable and prestigious lifestyle to become an itinerant preacher who was repeatedly persecuted, beaten, shipwrecked and imprisoned. When he prayed to God for relief from a thorn in the flesh—what he called “a messenger of Satan to buffet me” —God answered, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NKJV).

As the world struggles to cope with disease, famine, war, disaster and poverty, it is our responsibility as Christians to assure the world that God is still in control and that He has a plan to rescue all who repent of their sins and trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Not only has He suffered on our behalf, but He has promised to bear our burdens. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, NIV).For that, we can be eternally thankful.This old world may be falling apart, but ultimately this is not our home. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28, NIV).

Pasha update

2008-11-19T13:07:00.000-08:00

We wrote about Pasha before. There is a picture of him at the drug rehab clinic (he is in the T-shirt with black and white stripes). Pasha is back to the orphanage – he said that he wants to study and live a good life free of bad habits. Please pray that God would help him and please pray for Serjey who gets together with him to talk and encourage him. Pray that God would give Serjey wisdom and the right words to say.

Julia's update

2008-11-19T12:59:00.000-08:00

Hello dear friends and partners in the ministry,

In this picture is Ira – a 10th grader from the orphanage #4. she is a wonderful girl and I am very thankful for the friendship I have with her. (I, Tonya, tried really hard to turn this picture...but no matter what I did, it wanted to stay crooked...sorry...)

During the month of November we attended two wonderful Christian conferences together – one conference was about how God has a special plan for the life of every person and about how God wants us to fulfill our calling and be happy in it. It was really inspiring.

The second conference was for Christian students and it was about how Christ wants to be the Center of our lives and Lord of every area of our life. Serjey and I were really happy that Ira was able to attend those conferences and learn about God and worship Him with other young Christans.

There are some pictures from those conferences. There is a worship team on one of them – I (Julia) was happy to participate in leading worship with that team at the christian student conference (Nov 7-9).
This weekend we are attending the worship night with Ira. Please pray that she would continue to desire to grow in her relationship with God.

The Urgency of the Gospel

2008-11-13T20:32:00.000-08:00

THE URGENCY OF THE GOSPEL

The World Must Hear Two thousand years ago Jesus Christ was killed outside the walls of Jerusalem. Yet today, more than 40 percent of the world has yet to hear the news of the Savior’s death on the cross of Calvary.

by Billy Kim

The New Testament records five statements Jesus made about world evangelization after He was resurrected from the dead. In the first instance, recorded in Matthew 28:18–19, He said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [You go] therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."Jesus’ second statement about world evangelization is in Mark 16:15, where He said, "[You go] into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."The third statement is recorded in Luke 24:47, "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached … among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." The fourth statement is found in John 20:21, where Jesus said, "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." And Jesus' fifth statement about world evangelization, just before He ascended to heaven, is found in Acts 1:8, "[You] shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: [you] shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."Paul declares, "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Corinthians 9:16). Do we have the same burning determination?

Lawlessness Demands Evangelism

Why do we evangelize? Why is evangelism so urgent? First, the lawlessness of our world demands evangelism. Scripture tells us, "As it is written, 'There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God'" (Romans 3:10–11).Jesus said, "Repent or perish" (see Luke 13:3). The United Nations cannot stop the lawlessness in our world. Education cannot stop the lawlessness. All of the armies in the world cannot stop the lawlessness in our society. Only the power of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ can stop the lawlessness of our world! Therefore, we must preach the Gospel at all costs.

The Lostness of Mankind Urges Evangelism

We cannot evangelize aright until we believe that the person outside of Jesus Christ is lost and undone, without hope in this world or the world to come.Scripture tells us, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; … so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12).Jesus said, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). A minister once said that he never knew what it meant for a person to be lost until a little girl was lost in a town where he pastored. This child and her little brother went out into the country to look for the cows. They did not find them. When nightfall overtook them, they got into an argument as to which way led to their home. Neither one would give in. They went their own ways. When the little boy arrived home a little after dark, his mother asked, "Son, where is your sister?" He replied, "She said I was lost and would not come home with me. She went the other way."The news went out for miles around. Neighbors gathered to help search for the child. Women prayed with the mother while men searched the woods. It was understood that if anyone found her, he would fire a gun.The next morning about daylight, the crack of a rifle was heard resounding over the wooded area. Everyone rushed back to the home and learned that the little girl had been found alive. The preacher said that strong men put their arms around each other and wept with joy. No one went to work that day. Plows stood still; stores were unopened. People gathered at the village church, rang the bell, sang praises, rejoiced that the child who was lost had been found. The minister said he rejoiced with them and then began to think, "We spent all night searching for this child and now we are rejoicing that she has been found. Yet there are millions of lost souls around us. We have spent no sleepless nights in prayer for them. May God forgive us for not being deeply concerned over lost, hell-bound souls. May we pray and weep over the lost and join God’s searching party, seeking to find them and bring them home!" There is only one way for God to banish the darkness of sin, to remove the degradation of sin, to heal the disease of sin, to cleanse the defilement of sin, to abolish the death of sin, to pay the debt of sin. This God has done in the redeeming work of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. He paid the debt. He died the death. He cleansed from defilement. He removed the degradation. He healed the disease. He is life.

We Evangelize Because the Love of Christ Compels Us

What is our theological rationale for making Christian disciples? We evangelize because the love of Christ compels us! The New English Bible reads, "For the love of Christ leaves us no choice" (2 Corinthians 5:14).Precisely what is this love of Christ that leaves us no choice but to engage in the ministry of reconciliation and evangelization? When Sam James was serving as a missionary in Vietnam, one day he got into a taxi and struck up a conversation with the driver. The cab driver, realizing that James spoke his language, asked him how long he had been in Vietnam. Then he said, "You must really love the Vietnamese very much. What do you love about them?" The question kept nagging at James all day, into the night. "What do you love about them?" James couldn’t sleep. He went into his study and began to pray. As he talked with God, he realized that he really did not love the Vietnamese, and he confessed it to Him. It seemed as though God spoke to James, saying, "I didn’t send you here because you love the Vietnamese. I sent you here because I love them and want to love them through you."There is no higher motive for evangelization than the love of God. It was agape love that moved God to send His only begotten Son into the world.A young man in Korea killed 17 people. He was arrested, tried and sentenced to execution. While he was waiting on death row, a Christian woman visited him. At first he did not respond to her visit. However, when he was hungry she sent him food. When he was cold she sent him warm clothing. During the Christmas season she sent him a card to express her care and love for him.Finally, one day he received Christ as his own personal Savior. Before he went to the gallows, he wrote 11 letters to the woman, stating that he believed God had forgiven him and that he trusted Christ as his Savior. Just before he was executed, officials asked if he had any final words.He said, "Gentlemen, I have accepted Christ as my Savior. Today I’m going to meet my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. I long to see you trust Christ as your personal Savior, so that we can meet in heaven." If the love of God can change a murderer, He can change my family, my neighborhood, my community, my nation and my world! "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).Let us evangelize, evangelize, evangelize the whole world with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen and amen!

Pictures of Pasha and Nadia

2008-11-05T20:46:00.001-08:00

In the first picture is Julia and Nadia. The one below that is Pasha. There story is a couple blogs earlier.

Thanks to our October Donors

2008-11-04T20:35:00.000-08:00

Thank you VERY much to our October donors!! We couldn't do this without you!!! Every penny helps...every prayer helps!!!!

Russ and Donna Rediger
Vera and Ken Gustafson
Mary Coates
The Wolffs
Martha Swinney
Laura Haug

If you are interested in donating, please contact me at jtfilleman@cox.net. You can mail a check to 6012 S. 149th St., Omaha, NE 68137. We are non-profit...EVERY penny goes directly to Ukraine. We keep NONE of it. If it is a one time donation you will receive a receipt immediately. If it is monthly donation, you will receive a receipt at the end of the year.
THANKS FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR VERY GRATEFUL HEARTS!!!

Prayer Requests and update

2008-10-30T21:09:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,
we just wanted to share some of our prayer requests for some of the kids here in Ukraine. Serjey, Michelle and I have are getting together once a week for a prayer meeting and we want to ask you to join us in prayer for the kids.

We believe that prayer is one of the most significant things we can do for these kids since we are involved in a spiritual battle ministering to them. It is not merely a social waork we are involved in but a real battle for their lives and souls. These kids really need our prayers and the old saying says that "it takes a village to raise a kid" and I want to say that "it takes the Body of Christ to pray for the orphan kids". Please join us in prayer for these kids this week:

Nadya an orphanage graduate who ran away from the orphanage at the end of the last school year. She never passed her final exams and she doesnt have any documents and doesnt study anywhere now. I heard that she lives with a guy who doesnt treat her well in great poverty. Please pray that God would reach out for her and transform her heart and life.

Pasha has been running away from the orphanage many times during the last several years. He has been struggling with addiction to glue sniffing and right now is at the drug recovery clinic. Please pray for him to get well, to go back to the orphanage and live and study there and grow into a healthy and mature young person who can succeed in life.

Vera is an orphanage graduate a sweet and nice girl. Please pray for her to grow in her relationship with God and reach out her goals professionally (she is studying at the trade school and is thinking of continuing her education). Vera's picture is below.

Inna is an orphanage graduate please pray that she would trust God in her life and make wise choices which please Him.

Slavik is an orphanage graduate please pray that he would trust God with his life and desire Him more then anything else and follow Him and grow in the relationship with Him. A picture of Inna and Slavik is below.

The Duty and Blessing of Stewardship

2008-10-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

INVESTING IN ETERNITY
Every Christian Is A Steward
The Duty and Blessing of Stewardship
By: Ross Rhoads

Can we ever say that anything is truly ours? All things—possessions, talents, jobs, ministries, loved ones, even our very lives—belong to God. Our responsibility is to use these gifts to glorify Him and point people to Christ.

"If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have" (2 Corinthians 8:12, NIV). In the following pages, Decision explores the Bible’s guidelines and promises for giving, as well as how some Christians have uncovered the joy and freedom of stewardship.More than any other topic, pastors seem to avoid teaching about stewardship and giving. Christians are not hesitant to give, but they are leery of being told how to give and certainly, how much they should give.The recent downturn in the U.S. economy brings fear, and we may try to hold on to whatever wealth we may have. Giving away money does not seem to be the thing to do right now. The "good life," whatever that was perceived to be, may never be the same.Modern culture thrives on "no money down" offers, delayed payments and discounted interest rates, with little thought of the future implications in a changing world. A similar approach has influenced Christian living standards. Many Christians have lowered the perceived cost of what is required to follow the risen Christ. Jesus stated that those who would follow Him must deny themselves and take up their crosses and follow Him (Mark 8:34). Christ's followers are to first give of themselves. "Anyone losing his life because of me will find it" (Matthew 10:39, HCSB). Any understanding of giving that doesn't begin with the total surrender of self and all things to Christ cannot begin to approach the meaning of Christian giving. All things—currencies, land, property, goods and services—will lose value at some point, resulting in discontent, struggle, restlessness and disillusionment. But the worth of a soul exceeds the total wealth of the entire world, Jesus said (Mark 8:36). When someone secures a loan, the lender requires a financial statement and asks some key questions: What are your assets? What do you do? From these two questions the lender determines the person’s worth. But this is only his financial worth. We must not forget that life itself is a gift. The breath of life is from God, and our times are in His hands (Psalm 31:15). Time is a gift. Our prayer should be, "Teach me to number my days that I may develop wisdom in my heart" (Cf. Psalm 90:12).

What Is a Pure Gift?

Here is the key to understanding what the Bible defines as stewardship: Every Christian is a steward. A steward is a trusted, responsible servant over all that is entrusted to him, which encompasses all of life.Biblical giving differs from philanthropy. Philanthropy often comes from surplus resources and often provides tax advantages that benefit a wealthy estate or individual. Although wise stewards will take advantage of these benefits—allowing them to give even more to the Lord’s work—these donations may not involve sacrifice. Jesus watched people giving money in the huge, trumpet-shaped containers in the temple. Many rich people were putting in large sums. Then a poor widow came by and gave two coins worth about a half-cent. Jesus took His disciples aside and said, "I assure you: this poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury. For they gave out of their surplus. But she out of her poverty has put in everything she possessed—all she had to live on" (Mark 12:42-44, HCSB).The value of a gift is judged not only by its size but also by the attitude of the heart and the motive behind it. Lasting memories often come from small gifts. Jesus said, "If you give a cup of water you do it as to me" (Cf. Matthew 25:31-46). The young boy who gave his small loaves and fish to Jesus saw them transformed to feed thousands of people. The result was that many said of Jesus, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come" (John 6:14, NIV). As a general principle, it is accepted that a Christian should at least give a tithe—10 percent of all income. But then people ask, "Is that 10 percent before or after taxes?" Here, two errors emerge. First, the Scripture teaches that the tithe belongs to the Lord—it is not to be discounted. Second, if our chief motivation is to receive a tax advantage, it calls our devotion and obedience into question. We want to know, "How much can I keep?" and "How little do I have to give?" Is this not an insult to God? Like any other spiritual devotion, the giving of time, abilities and wealth never should be determined by self-interest or the withholding of possessions. The purer the gift, the deeper the meaning.

Mary’s Gift

The Gospels record an experience in which a pure gift was given to Jesus. The gift—unsolicited and unexpected—came from His follower Mary. At a dinner she broke the seal of a very expensive oil, poured it on His feet and then wiped them with her hair. It is fair to imagine that she had treasured this possession for a very special time, maybe for her wedding day. The fragrance was so powerful that it filled the house where they were having dinner. No obligation could have prompted this expression of love. Her act was spontaneous, deliberate, thoughtful and sacrificial. The reaction was explosive. Judas challenged her actions, and, surprisingly, the other disciples chimed in, criticizing Mary and Jesus. "This fragrance could have been sold and the money given to the poor," Judas said. People often think that they know how a giver should give. Judas was stealing from Jesus’ account; he wasn’t interested in the poor. He wanted the money for himself. Generosity is always an embarrassment to greed. Deeper still, Mary’s gift was personally to Jesus Himself. The disciples' criticism of it implied that Jesus was not worthy. But on the contrary, when you realize the worthiness of Jesus—the Son of God and the only Savior and Lord—no explanations or apologies are ever needed to justify generosity.Mary's gift designated Jesus as her Lord. Her action anticipated the cross and His sacrificial death for the sins of the world. Jesus saw her heart and interpreted the deeper implication. He was indignant at having to defend this gift. Imagine the loving Lord Jesus, just days before His suffering and death, having to explain such tender and loving devotion. Mark records His response: "Leave her alone. … She has done what she could; she has anointed My body in advance for burial" (Mark 14:6, 8, HCSB). What perfect insight to the most sincere gift, for God only requires of any believer to do what he or she can. When we give what we can out of God’s gifts of life, He promises to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). A believer’s giving is never unnoticed. Jesus said of Mary, "Wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her" (Mark 14:9, HCSB). There is value in anonymous giving, but Mary’s public gift became an example of heartfelt devotion. It is known worldwide. It enhanced the Gospel. It was befitting of the Gospel. Our Lord Jesus gave His all, and her gift mirrors that. Openly acknowledged gifts do not limit the Gospel; they advance it. Givers encourage others to give and advance the work of Christ. They challenge ingratitude and remind us of the debt of love we owe to God. Mary invested in the future of redemption and received a return on her gift with dividends that have benefited believers up to now. And it will continue to be so until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Giving Principles

The scope of Scripture provides examples and principles for giving. David’s prayer in 1 Chronicles 29:14 reveals the necessary attitude: "Who am I," he asks, "and who are my people that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your own hand" (NIV). "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops" (Proverbs 3:9, NIV). This defines giving as honoring to the Lord and defines the priority in giving. Guidelines are consistent throughout Scripture as to why and how any believer should give to God.

Giving must be the gift of one’s self.

Self-denial is the beginning of discipleship and the formula for giving. The Apostle Paul challenges the reluctant Christians in Corinth to give like the Macedonians. "They … first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God" (2 Corinthians 8:5, KJV). You will hesitate to give to the Lord’s work if first you have not given yourself to the Lord.

Giving is proportional.

The amount of any gift will be according to the prosperity of the individual. King David said, "I have given all of my private treasure for the building of the temple" (Cf. 1 Chronicles 29:3). His example is a challenge to all the people to give at their level of sacrifice. Christians in the first century were told, "Let every one of you lay aside as God has prospered him" (Cf. 1 Corinthians 16:2). Not all people can give the same amount. It has been said, "Not equal gifts but equal sacrifice." The affluent person who gives proportionately less does not feel the sacrifice of giving as would someone with a fixed income who gives in spite of his or her needs.

Giving is an investment for eternity.

The impact of stewardship is eternal. Countless stories could be told of every gift to Christ and His kingdom. Jesus promised His followers, "Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29, NIV). He also warned them not to value temporary wealth. "Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth. … Collect for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19-20, HCSB).

Giving is generous and joyful.

Remember, "The Lord loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7, KJV). The Apostle Paul commended the Macedonian Christians when "out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity" (2 Corinthians 8:2, NIV).

Giving pleases God and will be remembered.

The Book of Hebrews emphasizes this. "Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased" (Hebrews 13:16, NIV). "For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you showed for His name" (Hebrews 6:10, NIV).There has never been a time when the preaching of the Gospel and ministry of Christ needed financial support more than now. The lostness of mankind never changes; the power of the Gospel to save never changes; and Jesus' command to go into all the world never changes. In His day Jesus said, "The harvest is great and the workers are few" (Cf. Matthew 9:37). What would He say of this generation?"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:38, NIV). ©2008 BGEA

2008-10-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

Another post from Julia and Sergey:

This July Sergey was on the team organizing the student Christian camp in Crimea. The camp lasted for 9 days and was a great time for both Christian Ukrainian students and their non-Christian friends. On the organizational team there were French, Canadian and Ukrainian Christians who made that time special and worked hard to present the Gospel message to the non-Christiam students (there were about 30-40 of them out of the whole number of the students). Please pray for the non-Christian students who were exposed to the Gospel during the camp so that during the school year they would keep attending the Bible groups on their campuses and would meet Jesus personally.

From Odessa

2008-10-12T20:53:00.000-07:00

The following is from Julia and Sergey:

Last week we were able to go visit the kids in the orphanage in one of the villages 2 hours away from Odessa. We were really happy to see the kids and they and the staff of the orphanage were happy to see us. We are really thankful for the special bond we have with the people there. We really miss all of them and it is always our joy to go there. We made a craft with the kids (there were about 60 of them in the room), played a game and talked to them about how God made each one of them special and has a plan for each one of them. We are especially thankful to our Christian Ukrainian Baptist friend who donated money to pay for the gas of the car and also we were able to buy the feminine products with the money donated by the same friend. Also we were able to deliver the scarfs for them for the winter, the scarfs were made by the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Omaha. Please pray for us to be able to visit these kids regulary and have a real impact on their lives.

An Anchor in Your Storm - Billy Graham

2008-10-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

Sir Winston Churchill once made the statement, “Our problems are beyond us.” Nathan Pusey, president of Harvard University from 1953 to 1971, said that the whole world is searching for a creed to believe and a song to sing.Where are we going to turn?

The Apostle Paul, many years ago, faced that question from the crew of his storm-tossed ship. He said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.” (Acts 27:21-25).

The angry waves lashed against the ship, the lightning flashed, the thunder roared, yet Paul stood in the midst of the storm and declared, “I have faith in God.”

There are storms in the world today: storms of unbelief, materialism, secularism, moral degeneracy and international difficulties.

And there are storms in your own life: storms of temptation, confusion and difficulty. By neglecting church, by neglecting daily Bible reading and prayer, you have broken away from moral moorings and you are out in a storm.

You thought that you could find some satisfaction, pleasure or peace; but you have not found it. An uneasy conscience says, “Stop before it is too late!”

Our international problems are reflections of these personal problems. There will be no peace in the world until individuals have peace in their hearts. A world structure based upon peace cannot be built when there is bitterness and hatred, jealousy and pride, envy and immorality within the individual human heart.

As long as there are people who hate, people who have prejudices, people who strive for wealth or power at any cost, we are in danger of a world explosion that could blow us into oblivion.

The Need for Faith

Humans have five physical senses: we can see, hear, taste, smell and touch. We have a body with eyes, ears, mouth, nose, hands and feet. But we are more than a body; we are a living soul.

Our soul is that part of our being which possesses intelligence, conscience and memory—the real personality. Your body will die, but your soul lives on. And that soul has a “sixth sense”—the ability to believe, to have faith.

The Bible teaches that faith is the only approach we have to God. “For he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Faith pleases God more than anything else. “But without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Cliff Barrows and I have been close friends for years. Suppose I went to him and said, “Cliff, you are a wonderful person, but I don’t believe a thing you say.” How would he feel? That is the way some people treat God.

You may be saying, “God, I believe You are great, but I do not believe Your Word; I do not believe what You say.” In order to please God you must believe Him. God and God’s Word are inseparable.

Faith is loved and honored by God more than any other single thing. The Bible says that we are saved by faith. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

“And by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things” (Acts 13:39). “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5). We are to believe in God through Christ.

No person has sins forgiven, goes to heaven, or has assurance of peace and happiness, until he or she has faith in Jesus Christ. “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8).

This faith Christ recognized above all else. The blind man had earnestness, but Christ said, “Your faith has made you well” (Mark 10:52). The Syrophenician woman had perseverance, but Christ honored her faith. The centurion had humility, but Christ honored his faith.

The Christian life is dependent upon faith. We stand on faith; we live by faith. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Do you have that kind of faith?

What is Faith?

Faith is clearly defined in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith implies four things: self-renunciation, reliance with utter confidence on Christ, obedience and a changed life.

First, to have faith implies self-renunciation. The problems of the world are not from without. They are not political, social or economic in origin. Christ said that all of these evil things come from within.

Our soul has a disease called sin.

What is sin? Sin is transgression, lawbreaking, coming short of God’s standards. You break a law of the United States and you are a lawbreaker. You break the moral law of God and you are a lawbreaker. Every person who has ever lived is a lawbreaker; he or she is a sinner in God’s sight.

Christ died on the cross for our sins. The Bible teaches, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

Christ did not die by accident. He died voluntarily in your place. God took all of your sins and laid them on Christ. God says He will not forgive you, He will not transform you, He will not give you the peace and joy that you search for, until you choose between your sins and Christ. The moment you turn from your sins and turn to Christ, you are forgiven.

And He can break the chain of every sin that binds you if you are willing to give it up. The moment you receive Christ by faith, He comes into your heart and gives you power to overcome sin.

Second, faith implies reliance with utter confidence in Christ. Martin Luther put it this way: “He held on to Christ, whom he saw not, just as though he saw Him.” Although we cannot see Him, hear Him or touch Him, we can believe in Christ and rely upon Him.

Everyone can have this confidence. If God had said, “Pay your way into heaven,” the poor would be left out. If God had said, “Work your way into heaven,” many of the blind, the deaf, the mute, the lame and the sick would be left out. But He said, “Believe.” And anyone can believe!

Third, faith implies obedience; and obedience implies action. We must be faithful in our daily devotional life; we must read our Bible and pray; we must be faithful in the church; we must be faithful in putting into practice the teachings of Christ in our daily lives.

Some people think that going to church once on Sunday and owning a dust-covered Bible makes a person a Christian. That is not true. A Christian is one in whom Christ dwells, and the person’s life will give evidence of this. The moment you receive Christ by faith, He comes into your heart and life and gives you a love for that which is good and the power to do it.

Faith and Conversion

Fourth, faith implies conversion, or a change in one’s life. Jesus said to Matthew, “Follow Me,” and Matthew immediately got up and followed Him. Jesus said to the rich young ruler, “Follow Me,” and the young ruler went away sorrowful.

Matthew chose to follow Christ.

The rich young ruler rejected Christ and went his way.

Every one of us is faced with this choice.

Some people are frightened at the word “conversion”; yet Christ says, “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).Some people think that conversion must be some great emotional experience.Some people think that conversion is a mysterious feeling that comes over you.

That’s not it at all!

Conversion takes place when people turn their back on sin and follow Christ.

If you have never surrendered yourself to Christ by faith, your life is not anchored. Temptations confuse you, and storms rage, and there is no peace in your soul. Christ wants to give you peace (John 14:27). Do you have faith in Him?

Perhaps your faith is very small and weak. It does not matter how big your faith is, but rather, where your faith is. Is it in Christ, the Son of God, who died on the Cross for your sins?

The suspension bridge at Niagara was started by a thread attached to a kite. When the wind was favorable, the kite went across. Then on the thread they put a string and pulled it across. Then on the string they put a rope and got it across. Then they were able to build their bridge.

Your faith may be just a little thread. It may be small and weak, but act on that faith. Receive Christ as Savior and Lord. Let Him bring peace and joy to your soul. Let Him change your life of defeat and confusion into one of purpose and peace. He can do it and He will do it—as soon as you put your faith in Him.

A Fishermen's Net

2008-09-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

Every night before bed, my three year old daughter and I sit and read a short story from her Toddler's Bible. One of the stories recently from Matthew 13:47-49, really caught my attention. It is a story I have heard several times throughout my life...but for some reason...the simple way that it was written in this Toddler Bible was all I needed to fully comprehend it. It goes as follows:

Jesus told a story. "One day, " he said, "some fishermen took their boat out." "They threw their net into the water. All kinds of fish swam in the lake." "When the fishermen returned to shore, they dragged their net out of the water and looked through their catch," said Jesus. "They kept all the good fish and tossed out all the bad fish." Jesus said, "The fishermen's net is like God's kingdom." "Everyone watns to be apart of His kingdom. But the angels will come and separate the godly people from the ungoldy people." "The godly people will live in heaven with me forever."

Now...I know that the story is so simple...and it is something that most of us probably grew up learning...but it really paints a picture for you. Have you ever envisioned yourself as one of those fish? Wouldn't you like to be a sparkling, healthy fish, rather than a scrawny, unkempt fish?

They Don't Find It

2008-09-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

Billy Graham speaks about the search for meaning and contentment:

Young people are searching for something … anything to find peace and happiness in a world that seems to have gone mad and insane. Nothing seems to make sense to some of our young people anymore. And many of the people that are your heroes, and many of the people that you think are at the top, are really in their hearts at the bottom—searching. They don't find it in all this popularity. They don't find it in all the adulation. They don't find it in money. They don't find it in some other philosophy. But they can find it in Jesus Christ, and so can you.

Thanks to our September donors!!!!

2008-09-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

Thank you VERY much to our September donors!! We couldn't do this without you!!! Every penny helps...every prayer helps!!!!

Laurie and Edward Push

Kathryn and Daniel Alexander

Vera and Ken Gustafson

Kimberle and David Wolff

If you are interested in donating, please contact me at jtfilleman@cox.net. You can mail a check to 6012 S. 149th St., Omaha, NE 68137. We are non-profit...EVERY penny goes directly to Ukraine. We keep NONE of it. If it is a one time donation you will receive a receipt immediately. If it is monthly donation, you will receive a receipt at the end of the year.

THANKS FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR VERY GRATEFUL HEARTS!!!

Deuteronomy 10:18

2008-09-15T11:53:00.000-07:00

Helping orphans is a direct reflection of the heart of our heavvenly Father, who, "defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow"(Deuteronomy 10:18).

Can you think of anything more frightening for a child than to enter the world without knowing security, reassurance and stability that a family can bring? I am not saying that we all need to go out and adopt. We are not all called to adopt, but Julia and Sergey help these young people to feel that security...give them reassurance and stability...their ministry is SO important.

I hope that you and your loved ones will develop a deeper sense of concern and empathy for the millions of kids worldwide who begin their lives without the loving influence of a mom and dad.

If your church has not become actively involved in this issue, you might encourage your pastor or church leadership to take up the torch. And maybe you will also consider whether God might be leading you personally to make a difference in the life of an orphan no matter how little.

Have you ever thought about how many orphans there are in the world?

2008-09-14T12:43:00.000-07:00

When you hear the word orphan...what do you think of? China? Russia? Ukraine? Romania? Africa? The United States? Around the world, there are more than 143 MILLION orphans. They live on the streets, in train and bus stations, and often care for younger brothers and sisters.

The worldwide church is best equipped to address this issue. So what are we waiting for??? Let's get going!!!

Great Quote

2008-09-08T08:04:00.000-07:00

I felt that this quote was excellent for our cause.

"Never doubt that a small gruop of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead

Keep the prayers going up...Youth of Ukraine will be fully financed in the 2008/2009 year...I just know it! I can feel it!!! This small group of people that are thoughtful and committed will make it happen!!! Pass on our info to anyone and everyone! Let's make a HUGE difference this year in the lives of the Ukrainian orphans!!

Boosting Self-Worth

2008-09-05T20:41:00.000-07:00

Did you know that as early as age 3 or 4, kids start to ask basic self-worth questions? Who am I? Who needs me? Who cares about me? Every child starts to gather evidence to answer these questions and more. Each mistake, each time he or she is not invited to a party or picked for a team, called a name, it all gets stored in his or her memory bank. When the child starts going into adolescence, all of that comes back with an explosive force to attack his or her sense of self-worth.

There is a story about a farmer who found an eagle down by the lake on his property. One of its legs had been caught in a steel trap, but even though it was heavy and it was in pain, the bird flew many miles, but now was totally exhausted. A damaged self concept is like that. You can fly with it for awhile, but it weighs you down. Unless you, or someone else, can find a way to deal with it...remove the trap....it will ground you and lead to your destruction. The high incidence of teen suicide may relate to this lack of confidence.

Think of these kids in Ukraine who are lost souls. Who have no parents to love them. Their only love and support are coming from the busy workers in the orphanages and hopefully, they are lucky enough to meet Julia and Sergey who will give them that unconditional love that they are so desperate to have. When children are weighed down by those steel jaws created by a crisis of confidence, they need to have a response of love, understanding and affirmation. If they don't get that, terrible things can happen...rebellion, running away, suicide.

Please continue to support Julia and Sergey through Youth of Ukraine both financially and prayerfully so that they can give these lost kids the love and understanding and affirmation that they so DESPERATELY need. By helping to boost others' self-concept, we are mirroring the heart of God, "who comforts the downcast" (2 Corinthians 7:6).

From Billy Graham's Decision Magazine

2008-08-26T14:51:00.001-07:00

A Servant Heart

by Paul Rader

Before Jesus went to the cross, He gave His disciples an unforgettable lesson in love's humility. The Lord of glory, Maker of worlds, the Firstborn over all creation, bent low before ordinary men, knowing full well that within hours they would desert Him, deny Him or betray Him outright. Without fanfare He washed their feet. It was only when He had finished and had resumed His seat that He made a point of what He had done: "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you" (John 13:14-15, NIV).

When the hatred of others bound Jesus' loving hands so that He could no longer touch the pain of the few, He stretched His bleeding form upon redemption's tree and died a ransom for the many: "Just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28, NIV). In that act of love's supreme service He called us all to a life of costly caring, "just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:2, NIV).

Thanks!!

2008-08-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our latest July/August donors!!!

Edward and Laurie Push
Jeff and Cara Norby

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Remember, please feel free to send our info and this blog site to others! We need all the exposure we can get! Also...can you think of ways we can further our ministry? Does your church allow speakers of ministries? Brainstorm with us if you will. We are willing to go to speaking engagements, fundraisers, etc. But, we can't do it all ourselves. We have 4 little ones that require a lot of time and attention, so your help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for all you do!!!

Trusting...a gentle reminder for all of us...

2008-08-21T20:52:00.000-07:00

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Trust is the antidote to anxiety; it's the resolution of worry and the destruction of fear. Trust is the act of my will to give my burdens to God. It's like a muscle--as you exercise it, trust gets stronger.

Trust is walking forward moment by moment, having rolled your burden onto God. You've no doubt said, "I gave it to God once, but here it is again in my grip." When you sense that you've taken it back again, get back on your knees, get the burden back on God, get on your feet again, and continue to trust.

When you off-load your burden on God, you can pick up a promise from His Word. Second Peter 1:4 tells us that "he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world." There are literally hundreds of promises that apply to your specific burden. God's Word is filled with treasure.

I'm claiming Isaiah 41:10 right now for a burden I leaving at God's feet. "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." There it is! God is doing this whole thing with one hand tied behind His back. He's not stressed or strained. He's not worried about what to do. He has absolutely no capacity limits!

Isaiah continues, "Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you'" (vv. 11-13).

Take a moment to read that awesome promise again. Trust means you anchor your heart in the reality of God's awareness of your situation. He sees more than you can ever see. God, who loves you and is committed to you, will not disappoint you now or in the future if you put your weight fully on Him.

Passionately Christian

2008-08-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

I am part of MOPs International...Mothers Of Preschoolers. We have a group at our church where I am the finance leader. I get Leader e-mails from them every week, and this one just really hit me differently and I thought you all might like to read it too. My prayer is that we can ALL be passionately Christian.

Passionately Christian
By Liz Selzer, Director of Leadership Development and Events for MOPS International

“What do you love about Jesus?” Simple words really. Margaret Feinberg, (author of The Organic God) says that this is her favorite question to ask people … whether they are Christians or not. Most people we come in contact with regardless of their religious beliefs can and usually will answer this question, and their replies might surprise you.

“He was good … powerful … peaceful … inspiring … interesting … caring … accepting … loving …”
An amazing list—surprising in that these descriptors came from people who are not Christians. What is it about Jesus that is so compelling? Why is it that so many are drawn to him, even if they reject Christians and the Christian church? Why is it that most world religions acknowledge Christ’s existence, his wisdom and impact? And why do we as Christians often dilute him into a glorified friend, a God that can be ignored if inconvenient or an impersonal deity? We are called to be passionately Christian, to show those who come in contact with us what we love about Jesus.

So what does being passionately Christian look like?
It's pushing past fatigue to make that phone call to a troubled friend.
It's telling the story of how Jesus touches our lives with such passion and joy that it literally overflows onto those around us.
It's doing what we imagine Jesus would do for those around us if he were here in the flesh.
It's rejoicing in his deep love for us, and resting in that peace. It's trusting him with all we have.
It's being loving, patient, kind, not being envious, not boasting, not being proud, not being rude, not selfish, not easily angered, keeping no record of wrongs. It is rejoicing with the truth, and always protecting, trusting, hoping, and persevering (1 Cor 13:4-7). It's showing Christ to others by loving them in all the ways we can.

Being passionately Christian is being the hands and feet of Jesus to those we are uniquely in a position to touch. So I’ll ask again now … what do you love about Jesus?

I mean the right hand side...

2008-08-11T08:37:00.001-07:00

Ugh...it is still early for me.... :-)

Subscribe via e-mail

2008-08-11T08:35:00.000-07:00

Hey all!! I put a new icon over to the left. It says, "Subscribe via e-mail." If you click on that, you will receive e-mail updates everytime I update the website!! Have a GREAT day!!

Tonya

New Beginning

2008-08-10T20:20:00.000-07:00

Ugh! For a VERY long time...if you look at the dates you will see exactly HOW long...I couldn't get this blog to work...miraculously it is working again!! YEE HAW!! Praise God!! So...I need to clear a few things up. I am also going to be sending out an e-mail to explain myself. In fact, the e-mail will probably be this post verbatim! But...be checking this blog in the future for updates on a regular basis. This is our new website! Okay...I need to come before you know with honesty and let you know what has been going on and why we made the decision that we made, and how things are going into a new norm. Let's see...I guess I will start at the beginning. We decided to not continue with Youth of Ukraine due to family issues, lack of funds, etc. It wasn’t that we were giving up on the ministry…we just didn’t feel that we could give it 100% of our attention. We spoke with an organization called Shepherds Purse about 6 months ago. They thought about taking over. Nothing would change except they would take over the newsletter and helping us find funds. Jeff and I would still be on the board as well as Julia and Sergey…it just wouldn’t be JUST Youth of Ukraine anymore…instead it would be Youth of Ukraine as part of Shepherds Purse. Anyway, Shepherds Purse decided they didn’t want to take the ministry due to lack of sponsors. So, after praying and grieving, we decided we just couldn’t do it alone anymore…hence…the last newsletter we sent out. However, since then, God has truly convicted me to keep “running the race.” So, this is where everything stands now. We are still Youth of Ukraine. Shepherds Purse is rethinking their acceptance of us! We still have Julia and Sergey’s account so no change there…keep making the checks out to Youth of Ukraine and sending them to us. No website anymore, HOWEVER I FINALLY got the blog working…as I said above, so THAT will have all of the updates and news on it now. That web address is: http://youthofukraine.blogspot.com/. I will no longer be doing newsletters, I will just keep updating the blog. You can register at the side of the blog to receive e-mails everytime I update it. I will continue to raise funds as I can, please continue supporting our ministry so that Julia and Sergey can spread the Good News of Jesus to these teenagers. Just to clarify…we are not and never did STOP Youth of Ukraine…we simply took a step back, and now I see things more clearly. That is where the changes will come in. So, stop in at the blog…e-mail me if you have any questions…keep sending me your donations, and I will keep depositing for them. As a young ministry, it is having troubles taking off. I often times will tell people that the thing they are waiting for will happen in God’s timing. I simply need to take my own advice. God wasn’t saying “no”, God was simply saying, “simplify.” With everything that is happening in the world…poverty…prostitution…hunger, etc…how are people supposed to believe that God is good? WE ARE God’s plan to show people that God is good and to help them believe. When we help them, they will see the body of Christ show up and they will believe that God is good. We need to refocus our eyes on WHO God is and WHAT He wants to do. If God is passionate about getting it done, then HE is responsible for getting it done. Look at His feeding of 5,000 people!! Jesus tells us, “Give it to me.” Jesus asks us to follow Him beyond what we think we can do and we will experience Him. Recently I was able to attend the Leadership Summit through Willow Creek Church in Chicago at our church through satellite. It was truly an experience and a wake up call to me. One of the speakers said that failure is a necessity. Failure is often the first step to success. I am not saying that we failed Youth of Ukraine, but we didn’t feel we were doing what we should be doing. I have learned…been reminded…that we don’t learn things unless we fail. So, here I am…in front of you all, opening my heart. I pray that you understand our anxiousness and accept our failures, for we are only human. God has set my heart afire once again though! So lets go!! Remember…no more newsletters so check the blog for updates and news. Continue sending your donations to Jeff and Tonya Filleman, Youth of Ukraine at 6012 S. 149th St., Omaha, NE 68137. If you have questions e-mail jtfilleman@cox.net, or call us at 402-733-2369.

Julia's 28th Birthday!

2007-03-27T21:23:00.000-07:00

This Thursday I celebrated my 28th Bday. It was a good day and Michelle made my favorite apple crysp pie for me so it was my Bday cake..What was my Bday wish?
Sorry but I cannot say!!!!! If I say it it wont come true (this is the Ukrainian superstition) but maybe one day I will tell you!!!!!!!

Sveta

2007-03-27T21:22:00.000-07:00

Sveta graduated from the orphanage a couple of years ago. At the time when she was at the orphanage Michelle and I spent a lot of time with her and other girls from her class. We invited the girls to the Inter-Varsity meetings and just were friends with them. A year ago I met Sveta and learned that she was pregnant and her boyfriend broke up with her when he found out that she is pregnant. Michelle, Sergey and I tried to see how we could help her but mostly just prayed for her and for the unborn babe and for the father of the babe to come back to her and take care of her and the babe...
Sveta's daughter Lena is 10 months old now...She has both a mother and a father (when Sveta's ax-boyfriend asked to Sveta to come back he didnt even explain why he did it, he just pleaded for her and for the babe to live with him) Sveta is excpecting a second babe, she is 20 years old now.
Sveta came over and we had a great time cooking and chatting. Even though God did answer our prayers still Sveta needs a lot of encouragement and help. Her husband comes home drunk often (they live in the countryside and it is common for people there to drink alchohol regulary). Please pray that God would use Sergey and I to witness to this young family. Please pray for the new babe who is due this summer!

Saturday Group

2007-03-27T21:21:00.000-07:00

Michelle, Sergey and I are ecxited about the new group that we have started together at out place. We want to invite the graduates of the orphanage and older kids who will soon graduate to this home group and try to encourage them and see how we can help them. At one meeting we had Nadya Molohova and her classmate Vera over. I was such a great time together! We are actually open to any kids who would want to come to this youth meeting so we also had my English student Sasha who is the same age as Nadya and Vera and goes to the presbyterian church. We cooked pizza together, watched some thought provoking videos and made collages about ourselves (good that I didnt throw away those old magazines!) We all had a lot of fun and all the girls want to come back to the group after the spring school break is over. Please pray for God to bless our team work and for us to be able to make the group welcoming asnd interesting. Pray that we would be able to get in touch with the orphanage graduates that we lost contact with. Pray that God would use this group in the lives of young people to bring them closer to Himself!