BE - I too this photo at an outdoor book market in Paris. Through 2020, many have learned about being rather than doing as we've been in and out of quarantine, shutdowns, and lockdowns.  Exploring and adventure doesn't always mean traveling somewhere, join me as I blog and explore!

lauren's musings

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January 5, 2013

Preparing to say goodbye.

Last night we had the opportunity to visit a local family who adopted 5 kids, one of them was from Zeleny Gai.  The family was very hospitable to us.  At one point it felt like we were watching the sound of music as the kids all sang together and performed songs on a variety of instruments for us: accordion  piano, and guitar.  We were witnesses to the great difference that love can make in a child’s life.  These children were adopted just 5 years ago, and the way they interacted was so different than the kids at the orphanage who were abandoned. The adoptive parents are so proud of them, and have cultivated their natural talents.  This family is a great encouragement and example to follow not only for foreign missionaries but for other local families, since they can manage in this lifestyle, others can be encouraged to sacrifice in the same way; in fact,  some of their family members have started adopting children as well.

We went back for some rest and started up with our final day at Zeleny Gai.
This morning, a couple of us skipped craft time and went to the “school” to visit a couple kids special to our hearts.   I was touched the way they were so excited, they started hugging us and grabbing our hands and wanting us to do everything with them.  It’s obvious that they feel less loved than the older kids.  These kids don’t need much “cool program” or expensive presents, they just need time, attention, and love.  
Tonight, we will leave these kids after the evening program and finish off with with 3 more days in Kharkov.  We are anticipating January 8 when we will visit a hospital for kids that were abandoned and preparing to enter into the orphanage program.  It will really complete our view of how orphans are treated here, from start to the time in the institution to the hope and change of being accepted into an adoptive family.

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