Happy Thanksgiving!

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

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!!!

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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