Of course we have made plans and have made connections with people to begin work in Ukraine immediately. We have our bullet points of planned ministry. We have outlined a timeline of learning the Russian language, building/buying/renting a home that our family will fit in and even planned when we might return to the USA for a visit. (I’ll share that in a moment…) But first, let me say that we are holding all of those things VERY LIGHTLY because we know that those plans may just be in our minds to make us think we have a plan so it will easier to make this very difficult transition. We know that God’s plan may be totally different. We will FOLLOW His plan…wherever it leads…and whatever it entails. I would LOVE to print out a calendar with a daily agenda for the next 10 years and just follow it. Yet, as you probably know, that’s just not the way God usually does things. Okay…maybe He NEVER does things like that. But we DO know and BELIEVE that His plans are “not to harm us” and that the One who “began this good work is the One who will complete it.”
Here’s our “plan…”
- For the first 6 months, we will be acclimating our family the new culture of Ukraine and LEARNING RUSSIAN through classes and private tutelage. During that time we will also be building and strengthening relationships with the orphanages and baby homes in Brovary to set the stage for ministry in those places.
- We have established relationships with missionary couples who are already in Ukraine already and will be joining them in work similar to theirs in the area we will live (where work is not currently taking place.)
- During the summer of 2010, UMO established a small church in Brovary. We will be joining them in their work. Chris will teach/preach, establish a music/worship ministry and oversee that (using Ukrainian believers). In addition, we will be activating outreach into the community.
- We will continue to advocate and be voice of the voiceless children trapped in the orphan system of Ukraine and help connect “forever families” with these children through Eli Project.
- We will actively participate in community life with our children (including our five special-needs children) with the intent of bring awareness to and advocacy for these precious ones that are discarded and forgotten in Ukraine.
- We will partner with friends in the USA to provide camps for orphans during the summer and breaks from school.
- We will continue providing leadership training opportunities for pastors and church leaders through UMO (Ukraine Ministries of Oklahoma).
- We will minister to nationals who give birth to special-needs children and encourage them in the knowledge that these children are beautiful and wonderful creations of God and perfect in His sight.
- We will offer support opportunities for families who choose to keep their special children in their home instead of abandoning them through:
- support group meetings
- family outings and gatherings
- teaching from friends from the USA who specialize in these areas
- We will minister to families who are visiting Ukraine to adopt children. People come from all over the world to adopt in Ukraine.
- We will provide training opportunities for care givers and orphanage workers.
- Most of all, through our every-day living, we will bring glory to God so that others will see His hand in our family’s life, so that many will see and fear and put their trust int he Lord (Psalm 40:3).
As you can see…there is PLENTY to be done. We are committed to following God in any direction He leads. We trust Him and know that He loves us and wants to use us. We are His. Here we are…send us, is our heart’s cry to Him.