Pishana life skill lessons

A new ministry started up several months ago with the girls that had graduated from the Pishana orphanage. They live in a dormitory in a small village an hour or more from Odessa. These girls study in a trade school and learn to live on their own without much guidance. Several volunteers travel to teach the girls life skills and to build relationships with them. They enjoy conversation, craft time, and the lessons. Pray for these girls as they learn how to care for themselves.

Pishana

The team visited the children in the Pishana orphanage last weekend. They had a great time with the children playing games, doing crafts, and building relationships. This team has been going through the program, The Greatest Journey from Samaritan's Purse. It's an excellent multiple lesson program that walks the children through the Bible from Creation to the Resurrection. This month's lesson just happened to be about the Birth of Christ. So they talked about this even though we just finished the Christmas season!
The children in this orphanage often are a little chaotic, but they specifically prayed that it would be a calm day. Praise God that He provided peace and it was a calm and effective day of ministry!

Winter Camp in Pishana

This January the volunteers organized the winter camp in Pishana orphanage. Our goal was to bring holiday fun to the children who don't have anyone to share the holidays with. During the camp, kids made Christmas crafts, baked a real cake, played different games, sang songs, had discussions about Christmas, and in the evening had quality time with the leaders. We were grateful for the opportunity to share His love with them during this time. At the end, the children said that they are looking forward towards the summer camps.

Pishana 11-14 Prayer Day Marathon

This weekend a small team went to Pishana for the weekend as part of the Prayer Day Marathon and as a regular visit.  On Saturday, we were able to spend the whole day in the orphanage.   We got to spend about an hour with each class and it was amazing to see how content they were with just a few simple crafts and games.  For these kids, the most important thing is spending time with them and we are so thankful for the opportunity we had to be with them.
​On Sunday we visited some of the kids who have graduated from the Pishana orphanage that now live in Balta. We invited them to church and then we played games and had lunch together.  They were also very happy to see us and content just to be with us.  Later in the afternoon we traveled to a tiny village called Isaevo where some other orphanage graduates live.  We hope to be able to continue to visit the kids in Pishana more often and also begin regularly visiting the graduates. Praise God for the commitment of this team.

Pishana

The team missed the trip in September, so the kids were really excited to have visitors in October. This year they have started working through the Samaritan's Purse material called, The Greatest Journey. The kids will get an overview of the Bible from Creation through the Resurrection. The first lesson was on Creation and the kids had a great time acting out the story as it was told to them.

They celebrated Birthdays by giving the children a cupcake, gifts, and cards sent for friends in America. The kids love receiving the cards and feel special when they get to blow out the candle on their cupcake.

Thank you for supporting this team in prayer.

Pishana

The team had a great time with the kids in Pishana on Saturday. The best part is acting out the skits and this is the best part for the kids, too. They all patiently wait and quietly listen. We are thankful to be able to share Bible stories with them in this way and that they are interested.

Here you can see that the women are shocked that Jesus's body is missing, but the angel tells them HE IS RISEN! RISEN INDEED!

During small group time, we further discussed the Easter story, memorized the Bible verse, did several crafts, and celebrated Birthdays! We also had an egg hunt! The kids really enjoyed that part.

This little girl Tania was a little disappointed that she wasn't getting a cupcake! She really wanted one, but put on a very happy face and sang to Kolya who had a Birthday. We will be happy to celebrate her Birthday soon! :)

Pishana 3-21

Our team traveling to Pishana in March was smaller than usual, but even though there were fewer adults we still found moments to spend time with individual kids. In an orphanage of over 100 children it is easy to be lost in the shuffle and not have anyone pay attention to you. One of the most important things that happens during our visits is one adult having a meaningful conversation with one child.  Please pray that these special friendships between our team members and children will continue to grow.

Pishana 2-28

Each month when we travel to Pishana we have a special program with games, songs, a Bible story, and verse with all the kids.  Then after lunch we break into smaller groups to further discuss the Bible lesson, work on craft projects, and play. Many of the kids know exactly which adults are in their class and eagerly anticipate the small group time.  Here are a few photos of some of the small groups.

Winter Camp in Pishana

Winter camp in Pishana was held from January 9^th to January 11^th. The team left on the 8^th and arrived at the orphanage in the evening. It was an interesting experience for our teams to be able to stay in the orphanage with the children. The best part was being able to interact with the children and to experience their life with them.

 

During the 3 day camp the children participated in games, fun contests, educational games, making of crafts, singing of songs from summer camp, and listening to Bible lessons. The children really enjoyed the time with the team. This was an opportunity to build strong healthy relationships with the children.

 

The best part of the camp was that one boy accepted Christ. Praise God for this.

On the last day, there was a talent show. The kids performed skits, danced, sang, and recited poems. For their great performances, they were given lots of encouragement and applause!

The time ended by distributing gifts. There were warm fleece blankets, slippers, and treat bags with a small flashlight for each child. They were excited and blessed to receive such gifts.

 

Pishana 12-20

Seventeen volunteers visited the children in Pishana last Saturday. They shared Christmas Joy, the Christmas story, made some crafts, and had a structured play time with play dough, Lincoln Logs, and Play dough. The best part of the day is spent in conversation in building stronger relationships with the children. We love these kids! Praise God for the resources to be able to travel four hours on the road each month to visit them.

Pishana 11-15

Over 20 people boarded the bus for a trip to visit the children in Pishana. We had a great trip! It was a really fun day for the kids and the volunteers. We shared the Bible story about how Jacob deceived Isaac to get his blessing. We talked with the kids about how telling the truth was always important. We sang songs, played games, celebrated Birthdays, made crafts, and how fun spending time with each other.

 

One interesting object lesson that we shared with the kids involved squeezing all the toothpaste out of the tube and then trying to get it back in...this is not possible! They learned that being dishonest is hard to undo.

There was also a special program for the older kids that focused on love. What is love and how to show love to one another in a Godly way.

Coats for kids

Thank you to a generous donor we were able to purchase 24 winter coats to deliver to the Pishana orphanage on Saturday.

Day #5 Zhovten, Pishana, and Ananiev

Day 5 was 3 teams, 3 orphanages, and 100's of happy kids. The teams headed out at 9 AM sharp and were excited for the last day on the road.

Zhovten - The kids had a great time doing several crafts, adding their fingerprint to the tree, and performing songs and skits. The team was able to share several stories about how God had answered their prayers. They also spent time praying over the children. Over 30 volunteers came to love this children! Praise God for a great team of volunteers.

Pishana - A long trip to Pishana, but the team was greeted with lots of joy and hugs! The kids were excited to be reunited with volunteers from camp and were ready for a fun afternoon. The kids enjoyed the skits, crafts and games.

Ananiev - This team that has traveled the road everyday is a collection of many people that aren't from Odessa. They have lived in the office all week, sleeping on air mattresses, sharing one shower, and traveling everyday. The spent the last day in Ananiev and enjoyed their last day together as a team. Praise God for these people that are willing to go the extra mile to love His children.

 

Pishana 10-18

The team traveled to Pishana on Saturday to spend time with the kids. We are still trying to figure out how to best to work with twice as many children in this orphanage. We started out with a large group and played some games, had a skit telling the story of Eleazar finding Isaac a wife, and learned a Bible verse.

During small group time, the children acting out the story themselves, made bracelets, colored, and helped classmates celebrate their Birthdays.

The day ended playing outside and then back inside because it was quite cold!

The older children had a program that included interesting videos, fun games, small group discussion times, and tea time.


Comments from the volunteers:

That was a great day!

I had many great conversations with individual kids after the program for the older kids. I am so encouraged by this.

I helped a child do his dot to dot worksheet and helped him learn to count. I just couldn't believe he didn't know how to count. I am so glad I could help him with this.

I celebrated the Birthday of a child from Eastern Ukraine. I don't think anybody had really celebrated with him before. He was so happy to receive cards from America, fun gifts, and a cupcake with a candle.

We were also able to give several pairs of socks to each child.

Pishana orphanage receives supplies 10-15

Thank you to some generous sponsors we were able to purchase many needed supplies for the orphanage in Pishana. We spent many hours shopping at a local store and also at the big market. We were able to purchase general supplies (laundry soap, cleaning supplies, and toilet paper), hygiene items (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and toothbrushes), and office/school supplies. We also bought socks, underwear, pajamas, warm shoes, and sweatshirts. Praise God for the way that He provides for His children through others. It is an honor to be His hands and feet.

 

 

Pishana 9-20

As always, on the third Saturday of the month the team headed to Pishana to spend the afternoon with the kids. This month they shared about Abraham and Lot and how Abraham trusted the Lord as he parted from Lot. They also shared the story of how Abraham prayed for Lot. They memorized verses with the kids about trusting God and about praying to God about our concerns.

They also spent time with the kids outside. Summer is almost over and this could be one of the last times to play out doors.

 

A few kids watched from the window of the infirmary and were sad they couldn't join in on the fun. We were able to join them inside briefly to encourage them as they were feeling sick.

 

 

Sending off the graduates in Pishana and greeting the new refugee orphans

Our team visited the graduates in Pishana on August 27th. They prepared gift bags for them that included many needed supplies as they leave the orphanage and start at trade schools around the region. Orphanage personnel thanked us for providing these things as they are low on funds to help these kids with much needed items like food, blankets, pillows, sheets, dishes, and food. Thank you to one of our sponsors in the States that sent beautiful quilts for the orphan grads.

We also spent some time sharing our hopes and prayers for the children. We also gave each child a Bible. Please pray for them as they start their independent lives.

After the time with the graduates we spent a little time getting to know a few of the refugee orphans that we transferred to Pishana. We are looking forward to making lots of new friends!

Assisting Refugee Orphans

 

As you are aware, our country is in the midst of heavy battles in the east. Thousands of people have left this area to flee for their safety. This summer hundreds of orphans were also taken out of this war zone. The children were placed in a sanatorium along the sea for many months. Many of them remembered the destruction of their cities and wondered what would be next for them. We heard about these children and throughout the summer prayed for them and thought about what would be next for them.

The government decided to disperse them throughout the Odessa region into the orphanages where we are currently working. This puts a large amount of financial pressure onto the orphanages that we work in and many directors began calling us asking for our help. The first and greatest need was to get the children bussed to their orphanages. Praise God that many of you have provided us with the funds that were needed and we are able to help bus the children to their new orphanages. The opportunity to help these orphanages and directors further builds our relationships.

Last Friday, August 29, we drove to the sanatorium to greet the kids and see them load the buses. Several directors greeted us and saying they had no idea how they would have been able to do this without this financial assistance.

We were also able to greet many of the children and encourage them as many were fearful to leave yet another temporary home and move onto the next.

Please pray for these dear children, our ministry to them, and for the orphanages as they reshuffle to accommodate 40 to 70 more children in each orphanage.



Ready to board the bus and head to the Kilia orphanage.

Kids loading the bus to head to the Pishana Orphanage

These kids are seated and ready for their 7 hour ride to Pishanna. 

These kids are loading the bus and heading to the orphanage in Karolina Bugaz.

We also assisted in transferring 31 children from one orphanage where we work to another orphanage,
so the empty orphanage could be filled with refugee orphans. Pray as they transition to their new home.







Pishana 7-19

The team traveled to Pishana this past Saturday to visit the children. The children were so excited to see us as they have gotten a little bored with summer. Some children have gone home to a relative, so there were a smaller amount of kids. As usual, we had a large group meeting with games, singing, and a lesson. After that were small groups with crafts, games, and celebrating Birthdays. We ended the day playing outside.
Thanks for your prayers for our team and for the children.