UPDATE ON OUR DENTAL PROJECT – SASHA PASKO
Thanks to your support through the Christmas fundraiser, we’ve been able to provide much needed dental care for one of our graduates: Sasha Pasko! One of his front teeth was broken years ago and had been rotting while causing decay on the surrounding teeth. These were simply the visible problems, Sasha also had 6 molars that needed extensive work due to years of poor dental care at the orphanage.These previous experiences wherein no pain medication was provided had left Sasha terrified walking into his first consultation with the dentist. After the broken tooth was pulled, Sasha walked out of the dentist with a numb smile saying, “that didn’t hurt at all!” From that point on, Sasha’s fear turned into sheer excitement. He couldn’t wait to “never stop smiling”!
We are excited to share with you that during the weekend of April 6th-8th we will be having a Spring grad retreat! It will be a time for the grads to get away from their trade schools and enjoy a weekend of fellowship, games, crafts, and learning more about God’s word. This retreat is the weekend before Easter and we want to utilize this opportunity in sharing with them the hope they can have through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Please join us in praying for this time that we will have with the grads. Pray that the Lord would be with us as we plan the retreat and that He would begin to work in the hearts of the grads even now. Be sure to look for more updates regarding this retreat as the time approaches.
Katya Kashenko is a joyful part of our graduate ministry. She finished the 9th grade at the Pravdinska orphanage in 2011 at the age of 15 and began her study at a trade school in Sumy this past September. Her younger sister and brother are currently staying with an aunt and uncle in a nearby village while her older sister has the privilege of studying in the US. Though Katya may appear quiet to those who don’t know her she is actually full of spunk with a contagious giggle. She loves to be with her friends and enjoys the pastimes of many other teenage girls: painting her nails, doing hair, and dancing. Katya is incredibly creative and has a patience for seeing projects through to completion. At Open Arms camps, you can always find her creating another beautiful gift for a friend or helping someone else with the craft at hand.
2012 has been off to an amazing start thanks to so many of you! Our Christmas fundraiser has brought about dental work projects, birthday celebrations, and has kept many kids warm through these winter months. Spring is upon us and the new addition of our Spring Grad Retreat has us beyond excited! This retreat isn’t the only goal that God laid on our hearts as we prayed about a new year in ministry. We wanted to share with you all the plans we have for Open Arms in 2012.
Thanks to your support through the Christmas fundraiser, we’ve been able to provide much needed dental care for one of our graduates: Sasha Pasko! One of his front teeth was broken years ago and had been rotting while causing decay on the surrounding teeth. These were simply the visible problems, Sasha also had 6 molars that needed extensive work due to years of poor dental care at the orphanage.These previous experiences wherein no pain medication was provided had left Sasha terrified walking into his first consultation with the dentist. After the broken tooth was pulled, Sasha walked out of the dentist with a numb smile saying, “that didn’t hurt at all!” From that point on, Sasha’s fear turned into sheer excitement. He couldn’t wait to “never stop smiling”!
One of the best moments through this entire process came after his front 4 teeth were capped and sealed. Sasha had only felt the work that had been done and upon seeing it in a mirror he all but yelled, “It looks exactly like a real tooth!!!” Alongside this work, our team is doing our best to educate Sasha about the importance of proper hygiene while providing the tools he needs to take care of his “new teeth” in the future.The work on Sasha in nearing completion, but he is not the only graduate we work with who is in need of dental care. If you are interested in helping support our dental project you can send checks to Open Arms Ukraine, PO Box 277, San Lorenzo, CA 94580 or you can donate online at www.openarmsukraine.blogspot.com. Simply put in a note “for dental care” and we will make sure that gift is used to help kids like Sasha achieve a healthy smile. Once again, to everyone who has already given, prayed, and supported us in this project: THANK YOU!!!
SPRING GRAD RETREAT
We are excited to share with you that during the weekend of April 6th-8th we will be having a Spring grad retreat! It will be a time for the grads to get away from their trade schools and enjoy a weekend of fellowship, games, crafts, and learning more about God’s word. This retreat is the weekend before Easter and we want to utilize this opportunity in sharing with them the hope they can have through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Please join us in praying for this time that we will have with the grads. Pray that the Lord would be with us as we plan the retreat and that He would begin to work in the hearts of the grads even now. Be sure to look for more updates regarding this retreat as the time approaches.A FACE OF OPEN ARMS – KATYA KASHENKO
Katya Kashenko is a joyful part of our graduate ministry. She finished the 9th grade at the Pravdinska orphanage in 2011 at the age of 15 and began her study at a trade school in Sumy this past September. Her younger sister and brother are currently staying with an aunt and uncle in a nearby village while her older sister has the privilege of studying in the US. Though Katya may appear quiet to those who don’t know her she is actually full of spunk with a contagious giggle. She loves to be with her friends and enjoys the pastimes of many other teenage girls: painting her nails, doing hair, and dancing. Katya is incredibly creative and has a patience for seeing projects through to completion. At Open Arms camps, you can always find her creating another beautiful gift for a friend or helping someone else with the craft at hand.Katya is currently studying to be a “cook” at her trade school, but sadly, this trade will offer her very few opportunities in life. The adjustment to life outside the orphanage has been rough for Katya – she went from seeing her younger brother and sister daily to seeing them on occasion when she is able to make her way to the village. In light of these challenges, the Open Arms team is so very grateful that she is going to a trade school in Sumy which allows us to see her frequently and keep in close relationship to her in ministry. Katya has a special heart for others and a unique tenderness that is combined with a beautiful strength. We look forward to sharing with you all that God does in this beautiful girl’s life!
2012 Goals
2012 has been off to an amazing start thanks to so many of you! Our Christmas fundraiser has brought about dental work projects, birthday celebrations, and has kept many kids warm through these winter months. Spring is upon us and the new addition of our Spring Grad Retreat has us beyond excited! This retreat isn’t the only goal that God laid on our hearts as we prayed about a new year in ministry. We wanted to share with you all the plans we have for Open Arms in 2012.To begin, we have increased the duration and frequency of our graduate camps. After such positive responses from the kids, we want to utilize the chance to take these kids out of their negative environments and spend time with them in worship, Biblical discussions, games, and crafts, while they connect with our team and learn more about their Heavenly Father.
Another big goal on the table for 2012 is to purchase a ministry van! This would be huge for us for many reasons, but taking a trip that currently requires 3 hours using public transportation down to 1 hour by van would drastically change our abilities to connect with more children on a daily basis.
Additionally, our ministry has always felt a strong tie to the children in villages who are living in circumstances that will most likely bring them to an orphanage. Many families struggle deeply to survive, but within each village are many children who aren’t provided for in terms of their basic life essentials. We desire to begin a new project to bring children food, clothes, and friendship in a specific village while hoping to share with them the love of Christ through it all.
We share these goals with you to ask for your prayers, support, and accountability as God moves and works through the ministry of Open Arms Ukraine. You each play a critical role and nothing would take place without your support. We can’t wait experience the journey with you all this year!
PLEASE JOIN US IN PRAYER…
• For our spring graduate retreat: that the children’s hearts would be open, present, and that God would direct all our planning as we prepare.
• For our 2012 goals: that God would open doors and provide for the ministries He has placed on our hearts.
• For our Ukrainian volunteers: that our church connections within Ukraine would continue to grow and flourish; that leaders would rise up to help with these broken children