Ukrainian Life Connections

For visitors to the ULC Website:  It may look like nothing new is happening here, but something IS happening!

Additional reports after December 2007 are being published on a private web area for sponsors. This is to help maintain privacy for sponsors and children and to give sponsors a place to share their thoughts and experiences with sporsorship in Ukraine.

All active sponsors will have access to this new web area.

Viktoria Prepares for her December Trip

You can’t imagine the rush of my last days… I praise God that all info and money were sent in TIME!!!

At family I’m working today all 3 kids stayed at home and 2 previous days I had 2 boys together… 2 kids are sick and baby all the time searches for mother’s milk… WOW!!! Praise God I’m supported and kept by ALMIGHTY FATHER!!!! But I’m tired. I’m exited for my coming trip to kids and I know they wait for my visit.

Today I met Anastasia’s Sugoniake mother and gave her money AND I used the opportunity to talk to her and gave the brochure from Genry Madava’s church close by to the room she lives!!!! I told that I like this church very much and they’ll have great New Year’s and Christmas celebrations!!! She was interested and promised to come with Anastasia. We talk very well, know one an other a little and ready to be friends. I made a picture of my preparation (money, Cynthia’s address for the letter she wants to write with daughter and invitation to the church. Then I made a picture when I gave her the package with all I told you. She was sooo glad and thankful. Anastasia called me yesterday may be 20 times and asked to do like this, because she’ll not be at orphanage when I come there.

I’ll call or write letter from orphanage later and will tell all this info, please, don’t worry. Both secretaries know me and try to help. I’ll try to organize all things in the best way.

Nadia worries about classes she told you especially for her debt to musician.* She needs his help very much! I see that she looses a head ache when he organizes celebrations. I see that it’s too much for her and she needs a real helpers in different areas she can trustworthy people. This musician is one of the helpers we asked God to send her!!!

Also I asked Victor Ivanovich to find rechargeable batteries for Lucy’s digital camera she left them and a thing (I don’t know it in English) for charging them. Many times he told me that they need a camera and then I realized that first of all they need such batteries till Lucy take her camera and we’ll think what to buy for them!!! They told me that I can get money at  ATM in town and you shouldn’t worry about my safety with them on my way!

With the computer equipment ALL kid’s letters will be safe and delivered directly to the waiting sponsors!!!!! I asked the director about letters and envelopes and she responded that kids wrote a LOT of letters! You see now WHY I’m rushing with computer and especially SCANNER!!!! The director thinks that maybe kids made mistakes in writing addresses and then these letters were thrown somewhere instead of returning them…. Such a pity situation!!!! Oh!!! My heart is crying when I see kids writing and drawing and sponsors ARE WAITING and all thrown out letters!!!!!

The director says, that Vitya Fishtik is at orphanage. I don’t know WHY/HOW he hide from me?... Oh, I remember first my trip one boy come in to school with Viktor Bovkun, they fled from me first time, then I made some pictures of Viktor Bovcun, but never met again other boy. Maybe he was escaped Fishtik.

I asked my employer Irina to teach me how to make all notes about accounting money. Before it was easier with fewer kids. She’s experienced lady and showed me example, also she told the thing I know already, but we should tell it to one an other: these money belong to God and I have to be careful with them. That’s why I better ask you before and to tell all things openly. I desire to be used by God in His mighty way and to be faithful in all things He gives me: none of them is a little for me.

It’s late again and I need to rest. Tomorrow I hope to get your last letter before my coming to orphanage and to send this one.

Hugs and love from Ukraine!!!!Sincerely Victoria.

* the director has employed a music teacher to teach the kids singing, this has been very popular with the kids, and he is also helping her plan programs and celebrations.

DECEMBER REPORT

Hello, my Dear current and future Sponsors!!! 

SO - Yesterday I made my December trip to orphanage.

As our former leader told “we’ll go by other way” on the picture teachers showed us at schools, I tried to do it yesterday. I awaked at 4 a.m., fed my animals and made all I need in the morning. Then I came to bus stop to get FIRST bus, to go to FIRST train from my town to Kyiv train station. I found that the train at 7.06 just departured and next one will be at 8.58 a.m. I bought a ticket and went to other cash to ask about tickets for traveling by comfortable electric train. As always before any celebrations there was no tickets for this train. I don’t loose my hope to get in time to kid’s holiday party where I have to make my AVESSOME pictures of kids in OUTSTANDING costumes. How can I make them IF I’ll late!!!

I’m coming to the platform with arrived comfortable electric train and trying to buy a place even staying all the way at the door… I told God that it’s His plan for me to come to the orphanage and He knows that my employers had no ability for me even to know the day and time of my coming to orphanage because of their business and kid’s sickness... AND I don’t know how after my pray and tears, but I’ve got my place at this early train and arrived earlier then I used to do before!!! Praise God!!!

Then I took a bus to the orphanage without problems and even with place to sit. I know that I need it before I’ll walk some hours at orphanage! The Director met me and we went to the ATM with long line of people who desire to get money! I tried to get a 3.700 grivnas at once. ATM refused some of my tries of 3.000 and less sums. I felt myself trapped! I didn’t want to get money previously and carry such a sum by myself.  And now I come to orphanage empty-handed!  I become nervous… Line behind me is growing … People, KIDS and Director are waiting!!! I don’t want to look like big fool.  Then we used our wisdom and get money as milk from cow -- part by part!  This way we got all sum we need to give to Director and kids!!!

Then we came to some shops to exchange this money. The Director knows all and helped me very good! After it we come to school and talk about all you asked me to tell and ask, had a tea, and I gave her money sponsors gave for the kids party. The director told that she gave her own money for yesterday’s celebration… Thank you, Dear Sponsors for your care about this lady!!!  This school director has such a big heart that she puts orphanage higher then her own purse! AND she accounts: “Aha, now I’ll cover the debt to music teacher and will pay him for the next month”… I have no words… AND I know God will bless this lady with great heart!!!  Director says her THANKS TO ALL who opened their hearts and purses to this kids.  Let God bless you, Dears, abundantly!  I saw happy faces when I told about your love and care, when we bought gifts this trip… I can’t paint this happy picture by poor words… Someone who come to these kids and met them, he/she knows this happiness… and happy tears… Thank you, dears!!!

I packed all money by little packets with written names on pieces of paper. Lena L. was preparing to go home with her mother and I made their picture together then I asked her does her mother take money from her IF I give them to her right now. She promised to buy her gifts at home and then to bring them to make pictures. I read notes and told all warm words to all KIDS I CAN CATCH!!!

AND!!! You know they made all parties on Friday!!! They changed their plans!!! Before they planned to make on Friday a party only for little ones and I was rushing for the 2 parties for middles and older kids!!! I tried to understand and not to loose optimism… I’m ready for the making my pictures!!!! They showed me the same wonderful pictures I would do IF I come to the parties!!! They made them by themselves YESTERDAY and gave saved on the disk!!!! I used my time to making shopping with kids stayed at orphanage and don’t escaped home!!!

Other money on the packets with names I left at school safe and when kids return, the director will make the same shopping trip with each one and will make pictures.

As for computer equipment we agreed to buy it in this way:  Victor (till they have enough free time and the kid’s holydays!!!) will come to Kyiv and I’ll give him the money. He returns to the orphanage and buys reserved and waiting just for HIM equipment, takes all checks, makes pictures and waits for me. I’m planning to come to orphanage when all kids will return to orphanage in the middle of January. I hope to catch sponsored kids I don’t find yesterday and to come to shops with them by myself.  The director says that it’s the best way for them and better don’t give even to adult kids money to their hands… When we shopping yesterday together I see that it’s profitable for kids more then when they do it by themselves. For example, while boys choose sweaters and shirts with director, girls and I are looking at perfumes, crèmes and tonics close by. There were 3 girls with us and boys: Valia, Alla and Sveta. I showed them a good crèmes and taught how to choose right one, how to use them and that they should use tonics and de-makeup. Then I showed them titles they should read when they choose shampoos or cosmetic soap. At first girls gave me not much attention, but then they asked their questions. I just asked them to share their new knowledge with girls around them… To Alla I told how to care about youth problem skin.

When I came to school office in the morning I heard Alla’s voice and director's refusing her ask… Then I saw sad Alla. When I asked her what was happened, she told that all things are OK with tears on her eyes… Director and Alla told me that Alla asked to give her opportunity to come to one woman, but director refused this, because this woman didn’t give all necessary papers about girl’s safety and the woman’s responsibility. I described to Alla some awful pictures and told that it’s her happiness when someone says her “NO” for her protection! AND when we made our shopping trip we laugh, joking and hold our hands most of all time.

I read to all kids (whom I saw!!! To other’s I’ll read them later!) the notes you’ve sent me and about sponsor’s love and care about them! We caught some boys, gave them paper and pens and told to write! If you could see their faces!!! I was laughing at them and asked how are their pregnancies… When they’ll born the letters… Some boys think that their lives are not interesting to someone else and we told that ALL in their lives is interesting to sponsors!!!  After such words they wrote and even draw some!!! Kids told that some of them just sent their letters. Sveta S. can send letters by e-mail and does it. She already knew about my coming and money sent to her. I think later she can help others to write letters and to send them.

As for room for computer. The director says that they have enough good safe, locked comfortable ones! And that she think that the best way is to put comp at the separated room at school. Because they have no connection at dormitory and better not to make it. .

I told to director about Alexandr A. and Yana’s talking with his sponsors. The director asks to sponsor Alexander's sister as well! These kids have the same family name, but they’re from different families.

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My helper with photos Marina promised to send me her photo to show you. She was shying when I asked her about it, but when I told that it’s necessary FOR YOU to show all who helps me, she agreed. I don’t know how, but I’ll try to send all “old” with ENGLISH titles and new pictures from somewhere, may be from post office in Kyiv. After our holidays I’ll go to post office and begin a process for making a connection at home.

I hope you’re resting now after celebrating Christmas and New Year!!! I’m working all this week and I’m glad! I’m not ready to celebrate all the night and then to die all the week at work and trains and it’s better for me not to seat alone at empty house. My son with his girl-friend are celebrating with my mother in Slavyansk Donetsk region right now.

With pray, love and hugs

Sincerely Victoria