Wednesday, April 22, 2015

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN

MIRACLES
IN
Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan

Dasha Then and Now
A little of her story..

Dasha came to Dayspring as our first child.  She is a beautiful little girl, goes to school, is good in math and is continuously happy and kind to everyone.

When she arrived, she was forbidden to go to school, as she had two holes in her heart.  She also was seeing triple due to an eye problem.  Stepping forward for her surgery was Ed Dickson - with Loads of Love.  And later stepping forward for her was a dear Canadian donor family allowing this eye surgery, and yet another to be her monthly sponsor.

Dasha has flourished.  She is in school (two years behind due to starting so late) and looking forward to "jumping" ahead a year in the next school year.  

Our team has worked hard to ensure she can have a permanent family and we now have all paperwork done and in place to make this happen. 

Our first adoption from Dayspring happened in December 2014.  And NOW - yes we are looking for adoption #2.  Dasha is a child who will join a family and be their delight with her humor, kindness and willingness to serve.  If all goes well, we will see Dasha into her adoptive family this summer or fall.

We know she is prayed for EVERYDAY by our team and our dear Canadian family who loves the work of Dayspring and the lives of the little children growing there.  We just ask you continue to pray for the right plans for this wonderful little treasure!

DEAR SPONSORS - THANK YOU - 
THIS IS YOUR STORY TOO!

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

SERVING IS NOT JUST FOR ADULTS

Age is Just a Number

James 1:27 gives a command to care for widows and orphans in their distress… and that is not limited to adults.! 


Check out our Jeremiah and Dayspring youth learning to serve!

Babushka Valentina THINKS she is 80 years old.  Here is her story...


Her name is Valentina.  She was an orphan.  When she was about to be hired for a job, she had no passport, birth record or papers.  The potential employer took her to the passport office and said, "We need a passport for her, I want to hire her."

After some discussion, "How old are you?" - "I don't know."  etc.

The employer said - let's just guess and they decided she looked to be about 22 years old, and they decided her birthday would be April 13th (the day they were at the office) , and year of birth would be 1935.  A passport was made for her with this information, making her legal to work, etc.  

Valentina lost her husband 15 years ago.  She has lived in the same apartment for over 50 years, raised two sons. One son has passed away, she lost her sister six months ago and the other son is distant and seldom part of her life.  He lives in Siberia.

Babushka Valentina is alone - sits day after day with no company, no activities.  She told Olga and Kosta that she had never celebrated a birthday in her life.  Well, this was about to change.  

The team of kids from Dayspring and Jeremiah house had started to visit her recently and they decided to make her a birthday party!  She told us that this day was such a joy for her.   And as a special treat, we took her to Shashleke the next day - filling a little plastic bag after dinner with some wonderful Shashlekek beef and lamb chunks as we had way too many cooked (sound like a plan?).  :)

You see the important part of this story is about the kids - learning to serve in their own country to those in need and without hope.  

THE RESULTS?  Omerbeck, said, "I can come and wash windows for you!"  Sveta said, "I can come on Saturdays and help with things and just visit with you, would that be okay?"  YES!!!!!!  All the kids love Valentina and she loves them... relationships building.

Blessed to see serving in action - building sustainable ideas, activities and change.

Thank you Sponsors!
This is what you are helping to create - a James 1:27 movement!

And perhaps the most blessed moment of all - Genia praying a blessing over Babushka Valentina





Monday, April 20, 2015

DAYSPRING AND JEREMIAH HOUSE IMPROVEMENTS - MAKING CHANGES FOR THE HEART

"Why are you doing this for us?"
WE CARE ABOUT YOU
You are all treasures!

JEREMIAH HOUSE - NEW ENTRANCE
And their little dog!

JEREMIAH HOUSE LOOKING OUT
NEW ENTRANCE

JEREMIAH KIDS
'Soon the big kids will move to the big house and the little kids will move to the little house."
EVERYONE IS ECSTATIC ABOUT THE CHANGES.

THE OLD WALS WILL BE REPAIRED AND REPAINTED
NEW PAINT THAT CAN BE WASHED!

DOORS WILL BE BE TAKEN OFF AND ARCHES MADE
OPENING UP THE SPACE TO FEEL LARGER
AND MORE COMFORTABLE

OLD DREARY WALLS TO BE REPAIRED AND REPAINTED

ALL NEW LAMINATE FLOORS TO BE ADDED

EVEN FLOORS - LAMINATE WILL REPLACE THESE VERY "RICKETY" ONES

BRIGHT PAINT, HAPPY COLORS AND ALL OUR LITTLE CHILDREN
AT HOME AND HAPPY

JEREMIAH HOUSE FROM OUTSIDE
WITH JEREMIAH HOUSE NEW VAN!

THANK YOU SPONSOR FOR THIS AMAZING AMAZING GIFT TO OUR DAYSPRING AND JEREMIAH CHILDREN

We are so excited to see the joy of caring touch the hearts of these wonderful children.

Just in time for summer enjoyment!

TOMORROW NIGHT?  A SHASHLEKE PARTY FOR THE CHILDREN AND HELPERS!

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

WHEN EVIL LURKS IN THE SHADOWS

MAKE YOUR PLANS 
 BUT BE PREPARED FOR A CHANGE IN DIRECTION
FOR THEM - I DO NOT POST THEIR PICTURES
There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t experience some change in direction.  We make plans, dream dreams and even believe we are solid in the way we will go for this day.  We work with vulnerable youth, hear their promises, their commitment and then we see the struggles they face when they go out into the world.

We have just walked through such a challenge.  Three beautiful little ladies – all 15 years of age and all from a “hard place.”  They want freedom, yet protection.  They seek nurturing and kindness, but settle for exploitation.  They have dreams that are grand and hopes that are pure.  Yet their paths are hindered by a world waiting for them to expose them to dirt and grime.

Such is the case of many orphans – graduating from the orphanage at a tender age of 14 – put into tech schools with little to no supervision in the dorms, and no skills to cope with the new freedoms they are feelings and wanting desperately to have.  And sometimes there is a caring adult waiting in the shadows – praying and hoping for new ideas to turn them around and point them to the light!

I remember a beautiful story from a friend of mine who lives in the USA.  She had a daughter that turned to prostitution and her message was the same – over and over to her.  “You are a treasure and you are loved deeply.  You are always welcome home.  We love you.”  The pain the mother must have endured for months and even years.  Yet the little prodigal daughter returned.  Why?  Was it because the mother was relentless in her love, in her message and in her understanding of how direction changes daily? 

Yes, the direction of this little one as this mother experienced - is to bring us hope ourselves.  The plans being made, the dreams being tossed aside – still can lead to a change in direction even for these little 15 years olds we treasure and love.


So we must be relentless and show them they are precious, they have a purpose and a hope and it is not for destruction.  It is for a purpose so grand that ALL THEIR DREAMS WILL BE FULFILLED.

AND THIS IS THE REASON JEREMIAH 29:11 EXISTS

THANK YOU FOR CARING AND PRAYING

Saturday, April 11, 2015

WE TAKE OUR FREEDOMS FOR GRANTED - LOVING ON THOSE WHO DON'T!

CENTRAL ASIA
upon leaving Kyrgyzstan
to there...the land of beautiful people and arriving here


"a little about the journey from there to here"

We take so much for granted.  We walk outside get in our cars and go anywhere we want – never thinking about who is watching our license plate, who is reporting on us or what we are doing that might cause problems for others.  We never worry about talking to someone as we walk.  We would be appalled if we had to be dropped off at church several blocks away – and often in different places in different days – just to walk into a church.

We would be so hurt if someone told us to leave the hotel in the morning and just start walking - we will find you and pick you up.

We never worry about sharing last names, or taking pictures of each other.  It is unheard of for us to not be able to share pictures of groups, fun activities or new friends we meet.   We would be shocked and likely enraged to go to a training and know you cannot get paper copies of anything because you never know who will show up in a short while and what the consequence will be.

We would be frustrated to have to take notes for a two or three day training – knowing there are handouts, written materials available for you – but you cannot, nor is anyone else able to make the copies for your use.  You just write all day.

We could find fear quickly when you are unsure who will look at your computer material, your smart phone pictures or your camera shots.  We would be shocked that is could be a huge problem if you had pictures of a group meeting – even a training.

Yes, we take our freedoms for granted.  We move about, talk and make decisions never to consider being watched, judged and potentially even consequence severely for an infraction.

So, for the love of children and for those who work in silence and tirelessly to make a difference, sacrificing so much to make it happen.  I salute you and yes, we will be back.

Driving to the border - a great stop for a sweet treat!

Treated so kindly - and with such humility!  Serving was such a blessing.
For the Children - For Families for Them
We Serve!

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