I’ve been in Ukraine now for a little over two weeks. Every day I spend with Last Bell is rich with meaningful experiences. So rich, in fact, that I’ve found it a difficult to choose what I’ll write about here.
For today, I want to share a particular theme I picked out on at least three separate occasions: in a lunch conversation with a staff member, at church last Sunday, and on a home visit to the Samborskis.
You may remember the Samborskis. We’ve known these former orphans for many years now and shared their story with all of you in late 2022. They graciously welcomed us into their home, and at my request Tolik gave me a tour. I knew he’d built or repaired most of the house himself, with help from the Restoration Project crew.
Their home was clean and well-loved. The kids played or goofed around with the staff, clearly happy and comfortable. Olya pointed out the window to where their garden will be this spring. In the tradition of all Ukrainian hosts, after the tour she made us sit down and served us tea and cookies.
Tolik and Olya give praise to God for all the blessings of their home and family.
staff member Natasha, Tolik and Olya, me
As I watched Tolik and Sasha talking off to one side, or Natasha playing with the Samborski kids, it was clear this couple hadn’t been “trained up and kicked out.” Instead they had been invited in. Fully integrated into the community.
It was their church I attended on Sunday, March 15th, the church pastored by our own Director Andriy. It wasn’t a Last Bell event, but the room was dotted with Last Bell staff, students, Stop the Cycle families, and graduates. During the prayer time, Tolik stood up and shared a prayer request for a friend who’d been in an accident.
At lunch a few days before, staff member Khrystya told me about a young woman I’d met at the Day Center. Her dorm was just too cold this winter, and one of our staff couples invited her to live with them for several months.
I know our staff also invite students and moms to attend church with them, and they host Bible studies for orphans in their own homes.
Khrystya’s explanation: they’re following the example of Jesus.
Here’s what I kept seeing over and over: For our staff, orphaned youth aren’t just clients at their day job, set aside when the day is over. These precious young people belong here, with us: at Last Bell, in church, in the Kingdom of God.
Thank you for sharing our vision of wholeness for orphaned youth!
-Emily