Gypsy family

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

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

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!!!!

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

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!!!

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!

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.