It is hard to believe that we are once again returning to Khabarovsk, Russia. It has been a few years since our last visit there. Our travel will be interesting. We will fly from Michigan to LA, to Tokyo and then to Khabarovsk. Our visit will last almost a month. We look forward to once again seeing friends, visiting familiar places, and enjoying walks along the river. The city has changed much since our last visit. We will spend our first days readjusting and settling in. Sunday we will visit Pastor Yuri’s church and worship together. We thank you for joining us on our journey. We hope to keep you updated along the way.
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Russia Kenya connect Sept 2014
Tuesday, September 30th, 2014God has a unique way of weaving a picture. Often times we do not see it in the making but then come the “ah ha moment”. Let me step back in time. I met Lena, a teacher of English, in Khabarovsk Russia in 1997. Her heart overflows with love for orphan children. From our first meeting our hearts connected and we began working together. We have spent many hours visiting orphanages, filling needs and sharing God’s love. Lena’s passion have led her to start many programs in Khabarovsk that make a difference in their lives. Recently I saw her love stretched further than Russia. I met teacher Pauline in Kenya five years ago. She lived at the mission house and has the title of “head teacher” at the Echoes of Mercy school. Her passion for teaching the children is amazing. At the time we met they had little resources but she poured all she had into teaching the children, many who are orphans. This year one of her students was given the honor of the best student in the district. I love to watch her in action. Last year Lena contacted me and had a great desire to help the orphans in Kenya as well as Russia. She wanted her English students to start a pen pal project and to send funds to meet a need. She sent letters to me via someone that was traveling to the US. I hand delivered them to eight students and teacher Pauline. The
Meet Tonya
Monday, May 28th, 2012Tonya is a former orphan brought up in orphanage #8 in Khabarovsk. She completed her high school education and attended one year of art school. She then entered the Pedigogical University Arts and Graphics department and eventually graduated. Tonya also began taking English classes. In addition to her art work she enjoys singing, and sports. FOV was one of Tonya’s sponsors for several years while she completed her degree and got a good job. The sponsorship program helped to provide her with clothing, art supplies, food, fees for some classes and various other needs of a college student. Lena is our Russian contact that works with the orphans and sees to their needs. With the help of sponsors she has been able to touch the lives of many orphans like Tonya. Tonya sent a thank you letter for Lena to pass along to her sponsors. We would like to share this letter and say thank you for making this dream possible for Tonya. “Dear Sponsors, I would like to thank you. You are indifferent to the orphans’ fates. Ther parents usually are not chosen. The children who become orphans can’t be blamed for having parents who are deprived of their parental rights or waived the rights for their children. Leaving the orphanage at 15 years the orphans are not mature yet and they have a risk of following their parents’ way of life and becoming criminals. The orphans have no idea of goals. They haven’t got any skills to get
“The AfriPacks”
Tuesday, October 4th, 2011Children are a precious gift from the Lord. Echoes of Mercy began by supporting just two orphaned children and are now helping approximately 200. EOM is a non profit Christian organization in Kenya founded in 2008 by Moses Omondi. Following Christian values, they work with excellence and integrity teaching dignity and servant leadership. Their goal is to alleviate suffering among widows, orphans, and needy children and their families in rural Kenya. In 2010 they established a Christian School that operates in a recently completed modern facility. It is staffed with caring qualified teachers. Children come from miles around to looking for a helping hand, a meal, and hope for the future. Many are without parents because of the AIDS virus that lurks in the villages. For most the simple meal they receive at the school will be the only food they will have for days. EOM currently assists the children through a feeding program and education. But they have a greater vision. They want to impact lives and express mercy. They want to empower the suffering towards a better future. The staff of EOM wish to provide not only physical needs but also offer spiritual needs as well. They want to sponsor orphans at all levels of education, improve health and diet, educate them about AIDS and prevent the use of illicit substances among the children. And, someday they desire to build a medical clinic to treat the people of the village. Currently they have to travel many miles on
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