In the heart of central Ukraine lies an orphanage, Shpola. The old home of a wealthy baron, the orphanage itself is suprisingly beautiful, but its beauty has now faded. After WWI, the government took it over and turned it into an orphanage. A century later, the main building is crumbling, its heating system nonexistent. Despite constant cold temperatures inside and other shortcomings of this building, the orphanage houses over 150 children. They live and go to school there, safe at least from the abuse and neglect that many of them received at the hands of family members.
These children come to the Shpola with emotional and, often, physical scars. But Cyndee Knight, my friend here in the US and her Ukrainian staff at HopeNow Ministries work tirelessly to make these orphans’ lives better, to bring them hope, to provide for any needs that the orphanage does not. Cyndee established an orphan sponsorship program that our family has participated in for many years. We have sent our little guy letters and photos, clothes and shoes, Legos and Hot Wheels cars. In turn, he has sent us letters, artwork, little handmade gifts, and photos of himself holding our gifts.
In addition to the sponsorship program, HopeNow has also paid for improvements to the orphanage, for scholarships and schooling for graduates, and housing for graduates.
And for many years now, HopeNow has run a three-week summer camp of nonstop fun for the orphans and other children at a facility called Kompas Park. (My daughter interned for Cyndee a few summers ago and helped serve as a camp counselor.)
When Putin invaded Russia, the state conscripted the orphanage to use for evacuees from a neighboring town that had been bombed. And while it’s wonderful that the evacuees had a place to go, it was bad news for the children: they were sent back to their “homes”, where in the past they were most likely neglected and abused by adults who should have loved and cared for them. The kids have been thrown back into the very environments they had originally escaped from. And now, with the coming of this war, circumstances are even more dire.
Since the first bomb fell, Cyndee has been working tirelessly here in the States to help her staff of Ukrainian nationals as well as the children. Due to her efforts and many prayers, three convoys of women and children have reached safety across the border and been welcomed into Romania. Almost 100 Ukrainian lives have been saved thus far, and Cyndee continues to do what she can to organize and fund evacuation efforts as well as comfort and encourage those she’s in contact with.
I’m sharing this with you because if you’re like me, it’s so easy to be overwhelmed when we see the news—when we see tragedy and suffering, hatred and violence on such a level as this. It’s easy to turn away, feeling helpless, thinking we can’t do anything.
But all week, I have been remembering what Mr Rogers used to say to the kids (and parents) who watched his show, “Mr Rogers’ Neighborhood.” When he was young and something bad happened in the news, his mother would say, “Look for the helpers, Fred. You will always find people who are helping.”
Look for the helpers, friends.
HopeNow is a helper. I have had a front row seat to what God has done through Cyndee’s and her staff’s efforts in Ukraine and the prayers of so many supporters here in the US.
If you want to help this helper, I encourage you to check out their website and make a donation. Our family supports HopeNow quarterly, and I made an extra donation this week. If you have any questions for me, just leave a comment below or email me and I will get back with you.
Note that HopeNow is a Christian ministry. The Hope they offer is not just in meeting physical needs but also spiritual needs—by teaching about salvation through Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, and the grace, love, and eternal life God offers through Christ. If you are not comfortable donating to a Christian ministry, I urge to find another helper who is doing good work for Ukraine—an organization who wisely uses the money donated to them to help those who desperately need it.
This is an opportunity for us to make a difference in the lives of the innocent, helpless, and vulnerable in the face of great evil. Let’s be helpers too.
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Kids swimming photo by Malik Skydsgaard on Unsplash