A Leap of Faith & I Need your Help
May 7, 2012 by christine
Filed Under Orphan Hosting, The Menu Mom Chit Chat
I am scared to death to write this… because it makes it so real… But it is time… As we are almost out of time…
So the story goes like this…
This past winter a dear friend of mine, Nicole Dean, hosted a beautiful young lady from Latvia for a few weeks, around the Christmas Holiday, through the New Horizons for Children Orphan Hosting Program. I loved hearing her story and it continues on still, as she is now working on adopting Ivita. Her experience intrigued me, but the whole idea wasn’t for me. Afterall, four children of my own is PLENTY… Even for a few weeks, adding another boggled my mind.
So time went on, and the summer hosting program opened up. Nicole gave me a little nudge, so I went ahead and checked it out. I took a look at the photo gallery, and printed off about 10 kids who really stood out as those I would like to pray for. Afterall, I could certainly do my part and pray! That night I woke up several times with a certain young man in my mind. Soon I asked my husband to also pray for these children, and I asked him if a particular one stood out… He picked the same one I did. His name is Sergiy.
We prayed some more and felt God leading us to perhaps one day host an orphan in our home, but definitely not this year – the timing wasn’t right. We have plans this summer and financially we aren’t ready. Maybe in a few years.
I let it go for several weeks, although Sergiy continued to be on my mind. Whenever I would think of him, I would pray that the right family would come along to host him.
I am not sure what prompted me, I think perhaps the New Horizons for Children Facebook Page – but at any rate, I ended up back on the photo gallery about a week ago and low and behold most children I had originally been praying for have been hosted. However, Sergiy has not. My heart broke and I started praying even harder that the perfect family for him would come along. A few days later still nothing… the deadline to find him a host is this week!
And then, the still small voice… “What about You?” Oh no… not us! We simply can not do it financially right now – not us. “Are you really going to let money be your only roadblock?!? Do you not trust Me to provide?” And honestly after that things were just too obvious to ignore. We prayed for a couple more days, I talked with Nicole and other close friends about it, and I even called the coordinator to find out if any other families had inquired about him. No one had…
So I want you to meet Sergiy:
His Profile says: A ray of sunshine and hope is what you see when you look into this young man’s eyes. When you talk with Sergiy he engages you completely with his smile and excellent eye contact. When asked what he likes to do he said he likes to help do things with and for others. He likes to do what he is asked. He said he had many friends at the school that he likes to play with. He loves soccer and drawling. When asked three wishes he said he would wish for a forever family in America and to learn how to drive a car in America and that was it, just 2 wishes. He was very polite through the entire interview. When asked if he had a choice of a forever family would he like other kids. He said yes but he would like to have younger brothers and sisters. His favorite subject in school is programming and his least favorite subject is math. He said if he could choose anything to learn it would be how to ride a bike. He has been to America with another hosting program once and he was hosted in a city so he never could learn how to ride a bike because he would have gotten hit by a car. He told us this with a great sense of humor laughing. He said he loved cats and dogs and size did not matter.
He is perfect for us… We live in the country – he can learn to ride a bike! Our kids are all younger than him… We just had kittens!
We talked to our kids about it tonight and shared things they might have to give up in order to host him – they were all perfectly content with that. I am not concerned about the language barrier, or adding another child, or much of anything at this point – my only fear is how hard it is going to be to send him back after our five weeks are over. (He will be here June 28 – Aug.2)
The coordinator said he has been in the orphanage for 8 years. He has a mom, who has completely released custody, and they do not know of any other relatives – at all…
He will come with his clothes on their back and that is about it.
Financially, I am trusting that God is going to provide. It is $2950 to get him here. Then we are responsible for getting him clothes, an eye & dental exam, and of course every day living expenses. I put him on Hold tonight, which means I have 72 hours to send in $1100. Then I need to send in another $650 by May 15th. That freaks me out a bit, but I am trusting.
Would you be willing to help? Would you be willing to give up one night eating out this month, or a new outfit, or even a few premade snacks at the grocery store and donate that amount?
You can donate here:
Here is a direct link if you need that: http://fnd.us/c/eJ3d9
We are making a huge scary leap of faith and I can’t wait to share this experience with you!
Love,
Christine
“The Menu Mom”
Hi, Christine!
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (NAS) The Lord has truly convicted you, so stand firm in your faith, and trust Him. And BREATHE, okay?
I’ve donated, I’ve shared this message, I’ve prayed, and I will continue to pray. Our God owns the cattle on a thousand hills — NOTHING is too big for Him!
Julia
Thank you so much Julia! Blessings!
I wish you love and blessings in this endeavor. I’ve made a small donation, I only wish it could be more.
Thank you so much Carolyn!
When I read your story this morning and clicked through, your donations hadn’t rached $100…you are well on your way to your goal, an you have everything you need to move forward. God Blesses each and everyone of us in different ways! I am so looking forward to seeing pictures of Segiy during his stay with you.
Okay so I have no reason as to why I clicked to read this I usually skim through with out hesitation. Then I read the story and a huge lump formed in my throat. I read your asking for donations and at first my thought was we really cant afford anything right now. Then I teared up, here I am sitting asking myself what I want for mothers day being that was the question asked of me last night, I kept saying I don’t know. While it isn’t much I donated, this is my mothers day gift to myself and to you. Best wishes to you and Sergiy <3
Chasity, Wow, that makes ME tear up…. Thank you so much! HUGS, Happy Mother’s Day & God’s Blessings!
Chasity, you blessed ME with your sacrifice! Thank you for giving us all another example of what Jesus looks like. Happy Mother’s Day!
Chastity – wow. What a beautiful story.
Isn’t it amazing how goodness multiplies?
It does multiply! I read this story and couldnt help but feel like I was meant to read it. When I first donated there was under 50 dollars in the donations, now there is over $1000 how great is that! I am so happy
I agree it does multiply! I felt the same way that I was ment to read that same article. Good Luck Christine. I hope my small donation helps make a positive impact on Sergiy life! God Bless you and your family for such kind hearts!!
Christine, I’m so happy for you and your family and for Sergiy. God bless what you’re doing!
Thanks Kelly! You are great!
I don’t have a monetary donation for you but can offer my prayers for a successful visit and perhaps God will find you a way to keep this young man in your life. No family, no home, no clothing! How forturnate he has found you and yours. God Bless All of You.
This story is a true Mother’s Day story. I put in my donation and will be praying for you and your newly expanded family regularly. God Bless! This is what life is about!
It’s great that you want to help other children! Please keep in mind there are a lot of children in the us that need a home or a family that could foster them as well and it does not cost as much!
I appreciate what you’re saying in your comment, there are kids in the US who need homes. But God didn’t lead them to a child here in the US did He?
We also must know being an orphan in America is a far different experience than being an orphan in Latvia or the Ukraine. I am glad that God has given Christine and her family the heart to reach out and impact one more life for the better
If the rules in the US are anything like those here in the UK a lot of people have’t a hope of fostering any child, no matter how much they might want to. The rules converning foreign children are so much less stringent, and it does seem a shame that we cannot help our own sometimes, but who cares/ We are all children of God and does it really matter that much whether we help someone from our own country or from somewhere else? Isn’t the point to be of help somewhere, anywhere, just to be of help, rather than sitting back and doing nothing. Bless you for helping where it’s needed, too many do not when they could.
What an amazing opportunity God has put before you! It sounds like He has made it pretty obvious as to the direction to go but it’s the leaving the outcome up to Him that’s the scary part isn’t? Will be praying for you friend
I do wish I could contribute, but wish you well. I hope this young man gets to spend the time of his life with you! We fostered and adopted many years ago. Many times the children came with just the clothes on their backs. What a blessing you will be to this young man! Our prayers are with you in this adventure!
I’ve been so moved by your story, I just made a donation. I opened your email on an intuition while I was in the subway today. I had a huge smile on my face! The signs were there, your family is the right family for Sergiy. God will decide for how long!
Sergiy will feel so loved! God uses you to give back the love you receive and it’s so wonderful. I’m grateful for that and for the goodness your story brings out in others. Much love, Louise.
All the best to you all. Caroline x
His face says it all. I’m recovering right now, empty-nester but this does my heart great joy to be a part of answering his dream. Thank you for having the Faith.
Thrilled to hear this youngster has taken hold of your heart. I know how this happens! My prayers are with you. I couldn’t give much, but thought maybe today I can give a few dollars, and maybe after payday give a few more dollars. I’ll sure do what I can.
My prayers are with you. We have hosted 3 kids through 4-H (kids that have homes and parents sending them to America) and it is heartrenching to let them go home. I can’t imagine what you will be faced with when you send him him back to no one….I pray God will provide and provide some more for what you are doing!
Very heart touching! Your words brought tears to my eyes. I wish you best!
Yeah Christine! It is soo good to hear of yours and your family’s faith and knowledge in our Lord and Savior!! He will provide for every need for your family with Sergiy in it! He looks sweet and I hope all goes very smoothly. I already know that you and your family are going to be so blessed with Sergiy! I pray that all will work out so that Sergiy can very soon become a part of your forever family and that each and every one will be so greatly blessed. Thank you so much for sharing and for your willingness to follow the very best ways — the Lords!!
I bought a subscription from you a couple of days ago. Feel free to use that towards Sergiy’s support. Our prayers are with you and your family.
I am sending a very small donation but also wanted you to know that I put your story on my FB page. With almost 600 friends, maybe some will come through.
Carol Smith
Thanks so much Carol!
Christine, I wept as I saw Sergiy’s photos and read his profile and was stirred in my spirit to support and give and pray. I am excited for your family, for God’s confirmation to you, your husband and children. Praying God’s Shalom Peace and Blessings on your lives, household, and provisions!
Know that faith is not to believe long and far into the misty future. It is simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step.
If you have read any of the journals of Corrie Ten Boom, many times she sensed the nudge of the Lord to go here or there and she sometimes did not even know the ‘where’, except that she was to go to the train station at a certain time. Out of obedience to God and only a small suitcase and no money, she went. Everytime she did so, God had pre-prepared his other servant to make a similar step of faith and to meet her there and offer the provision that is needed.
The joy in our earthly life journey I believe, is knowing we are pleasing Him (“without faith it is impossible to please God”)and obeying Him (“if you love me you will obey Me”). That is a joy no one can steal away.
I appreciate your products (I’m an affiliate) and thankful you became transparent to share this new step with all of us so we all can share in the blessing! Hope you blog about your summer with Sergiy!
Lori,
Thank you so much for your note. I will for sure blog about our experiences! I can’t wait to share it with all of you!
I shared on my Facebook page and hopefully that will raise your balance some more.I decided I can stretch my grocery budget just a bit farther this month and I pray that more ladies who read this will decide that they can also.I gave what I could,I only wish I had more. I believe God will answer our prayers and help you bring this young man to America.
Thank you so much Mary!
I was very, very touched just by your faith & the promptings you paid attention to! You were listening & the Spirit was speaking! That in itself is amazing. Hope you have the time to share your adventure with us along the way!
Thank you Maria, and yes, that is the plan!
Could only make a small donation, but with many of us working together to help this young man, great things can come to pass. I just hope you will be able to share some of your wonderful summer experience with all of us. Let him know that we are praying for him and for all of you, and that we know the Lord has a plan for him….and for you. Best wishes in this grand endeavor!
Thanks Marsha, and will do!
You so inspired me with your story, that my husband & I are also now going to host a child from there too. We just put our hold on him today; talked to our 5 kids tonight to be sure everyone was on board in adding to the craziness! To which everyone was very excited & already asking if we can adopt him too! I think first we should meet him!
Anyways, thanks for bringing this program to my attention. I’ve never heard of it before, but I think it’s a wonderful thing!
Janet! WHAT!?! That is Amazing! So exciting!
Christine,
I opened my Menu Mom account several months ago and I really didn’t do too much with it. (Sorry! I hate to admit it, but I think it’s an important piece to share.) I continue to get your emails (thank you!) but honestly, I have not opened one in recent memory. I get SO many emails in my inbox. Well, the title of your post was about your amazing friends. That (normally) would not make me look twice. However, this time…THIS time I was compelled to open it. Only to read about Sergiy and how God put this young man on your heart. I gladly gave to the cause and I am SO thrilled to be a part of God’s plan in getting Sergiy to you ASAP so you can have an eternal impact on his precious soul. I read about him and I am almost sobbing. I am so touched. The money is the one thing that would keep me from doing the same thing. My husband would definitely need God to make it VERY clear because he doesn’t have the same desire as I. But, reading this I am encouraged to know how God works in amazing ways and how He will complete His plan through regular people like you and I. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He will provide. God bless you and your family! Please let us know how it goes!!
As I was reading HHW today the word of you hosting a child from the Ukraine leap from the page. My daughter & son-in-law are also hosting two children from the same orphanage. The are brother (13) & sister (11) from Latvia. I won’t be able to help with the funds you need as I am helping them bring these two dear children here. I will pray for you & for God’s blessings on this new adventure. These Children need so much love,My daughter was in Latvia for 4 years as a missionary. They saw the hopelessness in so many people.It is such a blessing that these children can come here to feel that people & most of all God’s loves them.
I heard about Sergey through Living on a dime. Since I am a charity crafter, I have made many things for orphanages – mittens, scarves, litle dolls and teddy bears. Would you like to receive some of these items for Sergey to take back with him?
so, I got your email and read your story. We felt moved to look into hosting a girl for next summer. Do you have a button/graphic that I can share on facebook to help get the word out!?
That is great Julie! They also do hosting at Christmas time. If you go to our fundraising page: http://fnd.us/c/eJ3d9 there are various ways to share.