THE WRIGHTS ARE ON THE ROAD SOON

See the Wrights blog - they are on the road to raise funds for their upcoming work in Kyrygzstan. You all know "they are the best on the ground - working hand in hand with the nationals - equipping them and activating them to work in serving those without hope or dignity." Let's encourage John, Julie, Bekah and Emma as they return to Kyrygstan to meet us with us as a team.

IT IS THE WRIGHT THING TO DO!!!!!

HOME FOR DISABLED MEN AND WOMEN - UKRAINE

MANY TEAMS HAVE PASSED THROUGH THIS HOME AND have blessed our dear friends at Bari Oglie. Some of those teams have been ours and others too have brought teams.

When here in Ukraine a few days ago, we wanted to reconnect and bless them once again. Some time ago, the Church of Praise in Krivoy Rog, Ukraine got on board with helping the home. There is a woman, Ira who goes frequently to Bari Oglie and helps deliver aide, do crafts and bring worship to the group. She is their little "angel" and now has a team of church members helping her. Yes, the needs are great and her ability to help is limited to the support and encouragement she receives from others.

We did a little. When we asked what we could do, the needs were of course food, adult diapers, potties, and a rug for the front entrance. Your gift of finances was shared with her and she will meet the need as she can. We thank you - Bari Oglie thanks you!

TICKET PURCHASED - KATYA IS CONFIRMED TO TRAVEL

Just a quick update to all who have been following this situation. Katya's ticket is booked and she will be traveling soon. The sponsor has completed the reservation and all is settled. We cannot tell you how pleased we are at all the help that has gone into this...international cooperation not in chronological order - but to let you see the different players....

1. Missionary in Italy - contacts youth in Netherlands - they donate funds for ticket.
2. LAMb in Canada - connects with U.S. Embassy in Kiev to get ball rolling for repatriation.
3. U.S. Embassy in Kiev - coordinates with U.S. Department of State - Health and Human Services to create a repartition plan to return Katya to Georgia.
4. NGO worker in Krivoy Rog, Ukraine contacts Social Services in Ukraine, other volunteer workers and gets Katya moved out of the orphanage where they are attempting to get her to surrender her U.S. citizenship.
5. Workers of NGO in Kiev - continue connecting with U.S. Embassy to update all.

WE THANK YOU ALL...YULIA, MAX, VIKA, PAVEL, CHERI, GREGG, OLEG, MAX S., ANNYA, OUR NETHERLANDS YOUTH TEAM, OUR EMBASSY TEAMS IN THE US AND IN UKRAINE, JOB CORPS TEAMS IN ATLANTA, FULTON COUNTY CHILDREN SERVICES, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST ALL YOU WHO WERE WILLING TO GIVE KATYA A HOME! The help and support has been so amazing.

God Bless You All.
The LAMb Team

ABANDONED NO MORE - KATYA RETURNS TO AMERICA

HELP HELP HELP HELP

Katya will be traveling to Atlanta within the next several days - and we would like as many people as possible that are willing to get to know her to have her contact information. If you want to be her friend - please contact us as soon as possible and we will keep you connected. No one can have too many friends. We have arrangements for her made as follows:


1. Sponsor will be purchasing her ticket today.
2. U.S. Embassy in Kiev has made arrangements with the U.S. Department of State; Health and Human Services to get her repatriated. She will be in Atlanta - and helped by Fulton County Children Services and the Job Corp - they will get her started and help her complete her final year of high school.
3. We will stay involved with her and do what we can to encourage and support her.


Keep in mind this young woman was SENT back to Ukraine - two months after she turned 18, with the Russian language of a 12 year old, and absolutely no Ukrainian language. She went to an orphanage (illegally) and was being coerced to give up her U.S. citizenship. She was sent to school and was approached by our staff (who also teaches at the school). She recognized such a discrepancy between her very poor Russian and her good English. She began asking questions of where she learned the language so well. The story surfaced.

The story is complex and there are many decisions that were made that were wrong - not good for anyone. Bottom line - this young person was "kicked" out of her adoptive family. Bottom line, she was a rebellious teenager (aren't there lots of them out there still living with their families!) Bottom line, she asked to be sent back to Ukraine every time they had a blow up in the family. But let's be reasonable - you don't send a child off to a foreign country to punish them!

Success for her was most unlikely - as the statistics for orphans in Ukraine are dim and very disturbing. Only 1/3 of the graduating orphans are successful. Those who are successful have grown up in the culture. The other 2/3 have also grown up in the culture, but cannot find success. They end up being trafficked out of Ukraine for sex, coerced into prostitution, addicted, homeless, in prison or committing suicide. Those who are successful are fully Ukrainian - culturally. Katya is not culturally Ukrainian - she is American. She is an American citizen, resident of Georgia, has a "southern drawl" and has become American fully over the last 6 years.

There is a very large team working with Katya in Ukraine - people who are professional, know teenage behavior and have come to know Katya over the last four months. I have met her, talked to her and know she is suffering terribly. She is an 18 year old, trapped in the emotional state of a 12 year old. She needs people who will just be her encourager, her friend and help her through this very difficult time. And she is a child of God.

She has talked to her aunt in the U.S. who told her that the Job Corp was a terrible thing and she gave her details of how bad it would be for her - causing Katya to stress over the return to Georgia - causing her to doubt her ability to cope with such a move. She is suffering - confused and unsure of how she can make it alone. She has been abandoned by all she has know for the last 6 years.

Katya will return to Georgia - she will have people to help her, yet she needs friends, people who will call her once in a while, write emails to her, pick her up for dinner or just be a sounding board for her. We will follow her - encourage her as well. But we do not live in Georgia - we need you to help us too. God has protected her - brought her to people who could see the damage for life that giving up her citizenship would cause. She is coming "home", yet she is a wounded little bird. She will need lots of encouragement and support to move forward. She is loved by many - and God, our heavenly Father has NOT abandoned her. He has made her for a purpose and it is yet to be revealed. And each of you who have been so supportive, are part of this larger plan for her life. We thank you.

Jeremiah 29:11 I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil to give you a future and a hope. (NASV)

KATYA - HEADING HOME

UPDATE! WE HAVE THE SPONSOR AND ARE WAITING FOR THE BOOKING TO BE CONFIRMED.

Katya's passport has been scanned, the sponsor has confirmed he will move forward just as soon as getting the scanned passport. We fully expect Katya to travel between February 7th and February 18th, depending on availability of the flights needed to meet the expectation of the U.S. Embassy.
1. Katya must arrive into Atlanta on a weekday.
2. Katya must arrive between 9am and 5pm.
Keep posted - and hey Atlanta friends - we need you to be her friend too. Let us know you are willing and we will get you connected!
THANKS SOOOOOOO MUCH!
The LAMb Team

LET'S BRING MEAT TO THE BABIES

RETURN TO THE BABY HOSPITAL in Krivoy Rog, Ukraine was both a sad and happy event. We were able to leave funds for them for feeding for the next five weeks. (Thank you for giving us this resource to do this!) Yet we found out they have not been feeding the children meat or milk for the last two years. This is devastating. This is a children's hospital, receiving children of all ages. Presently in the abandoned baby wing, there are four babies - two from a mother who just died of aids, another child abandoned because of being born with downs and another with a health issue.

They prepare a soup three times a day - it has either rice or buckwheat as a base, mixed with water and sometimes carrots or other vegetables they can get. They are attempting to feed the children on about 40cents per child a day. They would need about 20 kilos of meat each day to actually give them meat on a plate. To add meat to the soup, we could do this for about $10 per day.

Much has been done to help this hospital, we had a sponsor for two years to help in the feeding - but now need another. Would someone like to be a sponsor for even one year? or a month? a day? We would love to bring meat to the babies! and milk?

KATYA'S TICKET HOME IS SPONSORED!

THANK YOU THANK YOU! Katya's ticket has a sponsor and the arrangements are being made right now. Keep posted on how you can encourage her - let's consider creating a Welcome Home card blitz to her - I will have an address for you later...or maybe we could just do it via facebook or email? Anyone have any ideas?
AGAIN, WE NEED PEOPLE IN ATLANTA WHO WANT A NEW FRIEND - LET'S GET KATYA CONNECTED.