Harsh-Ukraine Ministries

SO MANY CHILDREN!
During our time in Ukraine, we were painfully aware that happy stories like ours can help only one or two children at a time.  We were blessed with total clarity that this was the right answer for our family, but the problem-solving part of my brain could not help thinking about larger-scale solutions. 

We are told that there are hundreds of thousands of orpahns in
Ukraine (a country the size of Texas).  Here in 2006, these are just a few of the
beautiful kids at L&V's orphanage.  See Lera, age 8, on the back right, wearing blue, waving to the camera.


As we spent time at Vitalik and Lera's school, in the classrooms, on the grounds, playing cards and tossing balls, we were smacked in the face with the reality that our two beautiful children were just two kids in an ocean of beautiful children.  I continue to struggle with the heartbreak that dear friends of my children - people who have been like siblings to them - continue to live their lives without knowing what it feels like to be in a secure and loving home.  I can't fix it, and I have to trust that God has them in his care. 

Vitalik in his room with two of his very dearest childhood friends.   
I'm pretty sure he will still miss these guys when he is fifty.

MEET ESTHER AND JASON HARSH
Since returning home from Ukraine, it has been our family's privilege to support a couple of really special American missionaries who are living in Ukraine, loving and mentoring many of these awesome children and young adults who might otherwise be forgotten.


After spending many years serving in short and long-term missions on various continents, Jason and Esther were married in August, 2010.  They are spending the first three years of their married life showing God's love to the beautiful children of Ukraine, where Esther's ministries have focused since 2003.  Esther and Jason do their best each day to emulate the example of Jesus, showing the orphans of Ukraine that they matter, that they have purpose, that they are important, and that they are loved.

Esther recently wrote:  "By the grace of God, lives are being changed – forever. Jason and I focus on recreational and relational activities that enhance self-esteem, feeling of purpose, coping and communication skills, and, most importantly, understanding love. Knowing youth on a personal level opens up channels for ministry and conversation to help guide, direct, and to be examples of God’s love and grace."


Jason and Esther visit orphanages weekly to build relationships with the kids before they age out of the system.  They teach character development, life skills, decision-making, relationship building, etc. through small group and one-on-one activities.  Here they have invited a group from a local oraphange for dniner and movie night.



Along with working inside the orphanages, Jason and Esther spend several days a week with teenagers and young adults who have aged out, and are basically on their own from age 16.  Their den is used as a ministry room, and is put to great use throughout the week.  





Jason and Esther help meet spiritual and emotional needs, teach life skills, counsel, and prepare them for a more successful life. They help give these youth the opportunity to grow and learn through these spiritually focused groups as well as weekly English clubs and game nights, movie nights, annual conferences, ski trips, hikes, and other fun and healthy activities.



Before we left Ukraine, Esther and Jason hosted us for lunch. 
Vitalik remembers asking her if he could have a soda, to which she responded, "Vitalik, my home is your home.  Of course, you can have a soda!"   It is difficult to convey how radical this must have sounded to Vitailk, who had spent his life as an orphan - to have a "privileged" person treat him with such respect and hospitality.    

PRICELESS PHOTOS!

We are one of several adoptive families who have received the great unexpected blessng of a collection of photos from our new children's past.  Thanks to Esther's photo collection, we don't have to wonder just how adorable Vitalik and Lera were when they were younger.  What a gift to have this window into the years that we missed with them.  What a gift for them to know that they were beautiful children, and that they were loved by people who kept pictures to prove it!

2004 - Vitalik (almost 8) with a missionary friend on Esther's team.

2005 - Vitalik (almost 9) in the middle wearing orange.  Esther left back wearing navy t-shirt.

Vitalik (almost 9) front right in orange.  Check out the attitude. :-)

2006 - Vitalik (almost 10) and Lera (8) enjoying some special
attention from missionary friends on Esther's team.

Lera (8) and missionary friend.  Her hat is covering a shaved head.  Like most orphans in Ukraine, she was accustomed to having her head shaved without warning from time to time.  She can tell you exactly how many times this occurred, and she is very thankful to know that it will not happen ever again. 

2006 - several kids on the playground.

2007 - Esther and Vitalik (10).  He hates this "chubby face" photo.
I think he is adorable.



2008 - Sweet Lera age 10 If she looks happy in this photo, it's probably because Esther
and friends were taking a group of the kids on a trip and making her feel special and loved.  

2008 - Vitalik (11) and Lera (10) enjoying an outing with Esther's team of missionaries.

2008 - Sweet Lera (10) on the playground.

2008 - Vitalik (11) and his special pal Caryn, a close friend of Esther's who accompanied her on many trips to Ukraine, and who spent the last 5 years praying for God to send parents for her sweet friends, Vitalik and Lera.

Sept 2008, Vitalik (12) and many friends playing Uno with a member of Esther's team. 

Sept 2008 - Lera 10.5 with Esther.

Sept 2008 - Vitalik (12)

Sept 2008 - Lera 10.5 on her school's playground.



2009 - Vitalik (12.5) and Esther. 

 



2011 - Our happy ending.  Esther and her new husband Jason invite
Vitalik and Lera (along with their new parents) to lunch.  :-) 

What a joy it was for all of us to look at photos from the past many years.  L&V were very interested and excited to see photos of their smaller selves.  Eugene and I were just ... well, there are no words.



Of course, most of the children Esther and Jason dare to love are not adopted.  We are told that at age 7, an orpahn in Ukraine has a 20% chance of being adopted, and of course, the chances drop each year so that being adopted becomes a real statistical improbability for teens.  This is where Jason and Esther's critical ministry comes in. 



SUPPORT HARSH-UKRAINE MINISTRIES

Esther and Jason run their lives of ministry on a tight budget.  Our contributions of American dollars buy more in Ukraine than they do in the U.S. and every dollar makes a difference.  If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to support this important ministry, checks may be made payable to "ComeNServe" with "Friends of Esther and Jason Harsh" in the memo line. 

Mail to: 

ComeNServe
c/o Kathy Redmond

12230 Teegarden LN

Independence, KY  41051

An online version of their most recent newsletter is available at:  http://tinyurl.com/cchaupm and financial reports are available upon request. 

Seven Months as a Family of Seven

Well, the half-year mark passed without fanfare, and without a blogpost - I was just too tired.  We have now been living as a family of seven for SEVEN months, and in general, all is going very well.  Vitalik and Lera are now, in so many ways, just typical American kids.   

The English is coming along wonderfully - we really don't struggle at all to communicate anymore.  We are so blessed to be just living life.  Over the past few months, we have started posting family rules on the white board that sits above our mantle, and keeping track of behavior using a 3-strike system...  anyone earning 3 strikes in a day doesn't get dessert... and we do love our dessert!  We love how this system is firm, but leaves room for grace - which we certainly all need sometimes!  We are working on very typical things like self-control and respect, tidiness and kindness.  We are just very thankful that these are the types of issues we are facing - just normal stuff.  All of our five children take turns bickering and need reminders to take their dishes to the sink and put their dirty clothes in the laundry room instead of on the floor!  Overall thouth, they all seem to feel secure and happy, and we are filled with hope for each of them. 

Last week, Vitalik completed his first official soccer season.  He was fortunate to be placed on a team that was perfect for him.  He played goalie a lot, and scored a few goals as well.  He will play again on the same team in the spring.

Lera continues to enjoy sketching and painting.  She is blossoming in our church family, and is revealing that she may have a real gift for being at ease with people in need of a hug and a smile.  She seems to be particularly popular with the elderly women in our church family, who just think she is so sweet and kind.

Harmony and Grandpa visited during Spencer and Heath's fall track-out. 
We took our gang plus a couple of cousins to a local corn maze and had a great time!

We've been having our season of fall birthdays.  Here, Spencer turns nine.

Harmony visited for 10 days - it was wonderful!  Adam and Eleni came over for Korean food!!  Mmmmm!

V&L on Dress-to-impress day.  Smiling for the camera was just
too much work for Vitalik this early in the morning! ;-)

Vitalik and Mom dancing in the family room. :-)

Lera and Dad - happy at home.

Our silly faces shot at Grandmother's house on Spencer's birthday.

We had the joy of celebrating the homecoming of Christian (Yasha) Hooper - a very special friend from last summer's hosting program.  We are so thankful that he is finally home with his forever family!

Vitalik helped Spencer pose for some slam-dunk photos. 
This picture reveals the true story!