Today I've been thinking about the juxtaposition of two emails I recently received. One is from Ukraine, from Our Father's Home, a nationally led charity providing orphans with loving care in a Christian orphanage in Kiev and a network of other programs for children-at-risk. In addition to the orphanage Our Father's Home sponsors, they are also trying to place children with families in Ukraine. I can't stop studying a recently flyer with photos and descriptions of 17 of the children who could be placed in a family--if homes could be found. There is Stasik, five years, who is smart and clever beyond his years and already knows most of his letters. He wants to excel and tries to be noticed. There is Yaryk, seven years, looking shy in his photo, who is somewhat vulnerable as he struggles to overcome delays in his development, that were caused by circumstances before he came to the orphanage. There is ten-year-old Anya, who makes friends easily and is often noticed sharing her food and toys with others. There is Andryusha, three years, who asks many questions, is polite and a little shy. And the list goes on. Children who are doing well in the orphanage but yearn to be connected with families.
The other email, that captivated me came from Karmen Friesen and Cristi Hillis of The CoMission for Children at Risk. This organization, which has done so much to make known the needs of children-at-risk and also many ways to help them has just launched an ORPHAN CARE RESOURCES website. There is a treasure trove of information and contacts here for anyone who cares about orphans and wants to help. The
website address is www.orphancareresources.org.
