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| Symbol and Symbat |
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| Zhanai |
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| Genja |
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| Daniel |
Lisa and Lena
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| Max |
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| Masha |
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| Vanya |
 |
| Lena |
 |
| Tanya |
 |
| Dima |
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| Medina |
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| Johnny |
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| Camilla |
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| Christina |
Saturday, October 8, 2011
40 Days of Prayer, day 11
Day 11: "Today, pray specifically for any orphans you may know by name. Pray for their healthy and safety. Pray for their shelter. Pray that they will be brought into loving families who will provide for their education."
Friday, October 7, 2011
40 Days of Prayer, day 10
Day 10: "Today, ask the Father to set the lonely in families. Pray specifically for families in your community who may be in the process of adopting an orphan. Ask for God's provision for all their needs: physical, emotional and spiritual."
Adoption is a miraculous gift! It has changed our lives and because of it we are here serving the beautiful children left behind in the countries of our children's birth.
Christians are lovingly commanded by God to love others, particularly the innocent, the young, and the poor. If you have ever felt even the smallest pang of curiosity about adoption, the merest flicker of interest in an orphaned child, ask God if he wants to fan it into a flame. Then trust him to take care of the details. As you consider adoption, focus on the resources you do have and let God take care of what you don't.
This Lord has greatly blessed our family through the gift of adoption:
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| N, adopted from Russia in 2005 |
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| J and H, adopted from Kazakhstan in 2007 |
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| E, adopted from Russia in 2009 |
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| S, adopted from Kazakhstan in 2010 |
Thursday, October 6, 2011
40 Days of Prayer, day 9
Day 9: "Today, pray that God would break the heart of your city's pastors with the plight of orphans. Ask that He would convict them to lead their churches to pray, go, and love in Jesus' name."
What Are
The Benefits Of Short-Term Mission Trips?
· A greater
commitment to Christ and His plan.
Doing work for God, and seeing results, is like
starting a fire. It is natural for it to continue and grow larger. Once you get
a taste of it, you want more. You will see first hand what breaks God's heart and you will have a greater desire to follow his command to care for orphans.
· Advancement
of the Kingdom of God.
Souls are usually won to Christ, churches are
strengthened, missionaries are encouraged, by those taking
short-term mission trips. No matter how big or small a project is you still are making a difference
in the kingdom of God.
· A better
understanding of what it is like in other countries.
You realize that other countries and cultures are
different. That other people have different ways of looking at life and doing
things. Your thinking will expand to consider other ways of doing things which
you never have before.
· A better
understanding of orphans and their universal needs.
You find out that children, though they may look
different, are the same all over the world. They have the same feelings, hopes,
and desires - they are human just like you are. They need the same love and attention as your own children. They have the right to care and love. You will understand they deserve a better existence.
· A greater
vision for missions.
When you see the need first-hand, orphans are
not just statistics, but real children you will come to know and care about. Your heart will overflow with love while you are with the children and grieve for them once you return. You will see that missions are an important part of any ministry, especially those that involve loving orphans. You are more likely to come home and follow God's command to care for orphans.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
40 Days of Prayer, day 8
Day 8: "Today, pray for the Lord to raise up workers for the harvest from your church and community. Ask Him to call Christians to go to the "fields of the fatherless" to experience the joy of caring for orphans as we are commanded in Isaiah 1:16-17...."Give up your wicked ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the right of widows."
If you would like to get involved with Two Hearts for Hope, visit our website and fill out our volunteer form! There are many ways to get involved with our organization.
You can:
1) Pray: All of the orphans in Kazakhstan and Russia have a name and a story. They are real children waiting for a family but unfortunately only 15% will ever find one. We can still make a difference in their lives with prayer. The power of prayer is very real and evident. Please keep the orphans of Kazakhstan and Russia in your daily prayers.
2) Organize a donation drive: We are always in need of physical donations for the children we visit. A great way to support us is to organize a donation drive in your church, school or community.
3) Participate in "An Orphan's Hope 5K": Our 5K will be held at Edwin Warner Park in Nashville on the 22nd! Join us for a family fun day as we walk or run for the orphans in Kazakhstan and Russia! If you can't join us this year please consider becoming a sponsor. 100% of the money raised will go towards the Ust-Kamenogorsk window restoration project.
4) Join us on a mission trip
5) Donate: 98% of donations provide basic necessities to orphans living in Kazakhstan and Russia. We do not receive any compensation for our work. Each person associated with our organization is a volunteer. All cash gifts are tax-deductible.
6) Shop in our store!
"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine and injustice in the world when He can do something about it, but I am afraid He will ask me the same thing!"
If you would like to get involved with Two Hearts for Hope, visit our website and fill out our volunteer form! There are many ways to get involved with our organization.
You can:
1) Pray: All of the orphans in Kazakhstan and Russia have a name and a story. They are real children waiting for a family but unfortunately only 15% will ever find one. We can still make a difference in their lives with prayer. The power of prayer is very real and evident. Please keep the orphans of Kazakhstan and Russia in your daily prayers.
2) Organize a donation drive: We are always in need of physical donations for the children we visit. A great way to support us is to organize a donation drive in your church, school or community.
3) Participate in "An Orphan's Hope 5K": Our 5K will be held at Edwin Warner Park in Nashville on the 22nd! Join us for a family fun day as we walk or run for the orphans in Kazakhstan and Russia! If you can't join us this year please consider becoming a sponsor. 100% of the money raised will go towards the Ust-Kamenogorsk window restoration project.
4) Join us on a mission trip
5) Donate: 98% of donations provide basic necessities to orphans living in Kazakhstan and Russia. We do not receive any compensation for our work. Each person associated with our organization is a volunteer. All cash gifts are tax-deductible.
6) Shop in our store!
"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine and injustice in the world when He can do something about it, but I am afraid He will ask me the same thing!"
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
40 Days of Prayer, day 7
Day 7: "Today, thank the Lord in advance for all that He is going to do to bring glory to His name in your church and community. Thank Him for the care He is going to provide for orphans through your church."
Creating an Adoption Culture in Your Church - OS from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.
Creating an Adoption Culture in Your Church - OS from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.
Monday, October 3, 2011
40 Days of Prayer, day 6
Day 6: "Today. ask the Lord to help your church family to live out Proverbs 31:8...Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute."
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Day 8, Karakastek/last day
We headed out this morning for our last day of painting. We stopped at the bazaar in Uzynagash to get some lightbulbs to replace the burned out ones in the bedrooms we painted. While we were there everyone was able to do a little shopping. We got track suits, Kazakh traditional dresses and hats, etc. The merchants had never seen Americans at the bazaar before so it was fun to see them get so excited to serve us. We got some great deals.
We arrived at the orphanage and delegated the work that needed to be done. Two people to each room to do a second coat of paint and two people to the room that had not been painted yet. It went by so fast, it was amazing. On day one we knew there was no way we would finish but Praise the Lord on day 3 we were done and cleaned up by 4 pm, and we even got to play with the babies for an hour.
By the second day the babies were excited to see us and today, day 3, they were crying when we left. It is such a sad place. No love, no stimulation but I do have to say that the children looked healthier and "meatier" than last year. Even the babies looked better and some even had little chub rolls. I believe the water filtration systems we installed has made a huge difference along with the vitamins. The nutrients they are able to get are being absorbed.
A few of the children cried before we said goodbye, and of course the entire team was crying. Before we left the orphanage we prayed over it and the children. It was my favorite moment of the whole week. We all sobbed as we lifted up these precious babies in this orphanage and all the other children we visited. It was a very emotional time for all involved. As we headed out I thought I know we can't change the way they live as a whole but this week we changed the world they live in. It is now bright and beautiful, full of life and color.
On the two hour ride home we all talked about our favorite moments of the trip. Everyone had a different moment and it was so awesome to hear but the common was that we started off as a team and ended up as a family.
We hit the Tsum store for some souvenirs and then out to our last dinner. After that we headed back to the hotel to pack. We left around 1:00 am for our 3:30 am flight out of Almaty. Our flights were awesome (long but smooth) and we are now in Chicago. This is where we all said goodbye. Sad but all of us are ready to see our family and sleep in our own beds!
This week was physically and emotionally hard for every member of our team and our friends in Kazakhstan that traveled with us. We have the most amazing in-country team. This week we ate horse, played with over 300 orphans, replaced bed covers and curtains, took a Soviet train, painted 7 huge rooms in 3 days, built murals out of wall decals and paint, bonded as a family, laughed, cried and drank lots of tea, ate wonderful food and lots of it, got slammed in doors of elevators, hardly got to talk to our family in the US because of bad WiFi, slept less than 5 hours most nights, were treated with the utmost hospitality, listened to the Dombra being played, saw orphanages that were wonderful and some that were not so great, came within inches of car wrecks, shopped at village bazaars, danced and saw men cry and most importantly, brought glory to God. I am sure that I did not mention everything but in a nut shell, that was our week.
This week would not have been possible without all of you! We want to thank everyone who supported this trip, whether it was by sending donations, financially, spiritually or emotionally. We felt your prayers. We are so grateful for the 7 other people that sacrificed their time and money to join us as we were the hands and feet of Jesus by making a difference in the lives of these orphans.
We are forever grateful.
We arrived at the orphanage and delegated the work that needed to be done. Two people to each room to do a second coat of paint and two people to the room that had not been painted yet. It went by so fast, it was amazing. On day one we knew there was no way we would finish but Praise the Lord on day 3 we were done and cleaned up by 4 pm, and we even got to play with the babies for an hour.
By the second day the babies were excited to see us and today, day 3, they were crying when we left. It is such a sad place. No love, no stimulation but I do have to say that the children looked healthier and "meatier" than last year. Even the babies looked better and some even had little chub rolls. I believe the water filtration systems we installed has made a huge difference along with the vitamins. The nutrients they are able to get are being absorbed.
A few of the children cried before we said goodbye, and of course the entire team was crying. Before we left the orphanage we prayed over it and the children. It was my favorite moment of the whole week. We all sobbed as we lifted up these precious babies in this orphanage and all the other children we visited. It was a very emotional time for all involved. As we headed out I thought I know we can't change the way they live as a whole but this week we changed the world they live in. It is now bright and beautiful, full of life and color.
On the two hour ride home we all talked about our favorite moments of the trip. Everyone had a different moment and it was so awesome to hear but the common was that we started off as a team and ended up as a family.
We hit the Tsum store for some souvenirs and then out to our last dinner. After that we headed back to the hotel to pack. We left around 1:00 am for our 3:30 am flight out of Almaty. Our flights were awesome (long but smooth) and we are now in Chicago. This is where we all said goodbye. Sad but all of us are ready to see our family and sleep in our own beds!
This week was physically and emotionally hard for every member of our team and our friends in Kazakhstan that traveled with us. We have the most amazing in-country team. This week we ate horse, played with over 300 orphans, replaced bed covers and curtains, took a Soviet train, painted 7 huge rooms in 3 days, built murals out of wall decals and paint, bonded as a family, laughed, cried and drank lots of tea, ate wonderful food and lots of it, got slammed in doors of elevators, hardly got to talk to our family in the US because of bad WiFi, slept less than 5 hours most nights, were treated with the utmost hospitality, listened to the Dombra being played, saw orphanages that were wonderful and some that were not so great, came within inches of car wrecks, shopped at village bazaars, danced and saw men cry and most importantly, brought glory to God. I am sure that I did not mention everything but in a nut shell, that was our week.
This week would not have been possible without all of you! We want to thank everyone who supported this trip, whether it was by sending donations, financially, spiritually or emotionally. We felt your prayers. We are so grateful for the 7 other people that sacrificed their time and money to join us as we were the hands and feet of Jesus by making a difference in the lives of these orphans.
We are forever grateful.
40 Days of Prayer, day 5
Day 5: "Today, pray for the fatherless in your community. Ask the Lord to protect them and to care for them and to defend them and keep them safe."
The fatherless=widows, strangers, and orphans.
Ideas to care of the fatherless in your community:
- Befriend an international student at your local university.
- Mentor a child through community organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters.
- Volunteer at a retirement center.
- Organize a donation drive for any community organization supporting the fatherless.
- Reach out to foster families and offer to provide a day of respite care.
From Fields of the Fatherless:
"I believe when you strip Christianity down to its basics, this is what it means: to feed, clothe, and treat the fatherless as members of one's own family."
The fatherless=widows, strangers, and orphans.
Ideas to care of the fatherless in your community:
- Befriend an international student at your local university.
- Mentor a child through community organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters.
- Volunteer at a retirement center.
- Organize a donation drive for any community organization supporting the fatherless.
- Reach out to foster families and offer to provide a day of respite care.
From Fields of the Fatherless:
"I believe when you strip Christianity down to its basics, this is what it means: to feed, clothe, and treat the fatherless as members of one's own family."
Saturday, October 1, 2011
40 Days of Prayer, day 4
Day 4: "Today, ask the Lord to help your church congregation to feel His heart for the orphans as seen in Psalm 68:5-6...A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families...."
Why Love Orphans? from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.
Why Love Orphans? from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.
Day 7, Karakastek
Today we headed out to the baby house again. As soon as we arrived we started painting. We had 3 people cutting in so we didn't have to tape and the others were working on the murals and rolling the walls. It was so much fun to watch God at work. We weren't sure we would be able to finish all the rooms in 2 days. It went so fast. We were able to finish 5 and half rooms before we left!
The walls are in very bad shape. They are moldy, covered in mildew and the plaster is peeling. The windows are rotting out. They are replacing the windows and the linoleum but it needs so much more work. My prayer for this orphanage is that it shuts down. I hate to be so blunt, but that is what it really needs.
The painting and wall decals have brightened up the rooms a lot and it actually looks beautiful. The colors we painted are pink, blue, green, yellow, purple and orange. It has been so fun to work with everyone on our team. We have laughed constantly and there never has been a dully moment.
At one point during the day Lance and I were painting the yellow room (which is the room my youngest daughter was in) and I heard a single baby crying on the floor above us. It was so so surreal that these children have no one. I wanted to run to the baby and comfort it. The emotions are so strong here for all of us. We have cried through our smiles and yearned to bring every single child home.
While we were there a thunderstorm came through and the entire 3rd floor, the baby floor with about 30 children, started to cry. It makes me so sad to know there are no adoptions going on right now and these children are probably destined to life here.
Around 5pm we went to play with the toddler and older children. Today was much better with them. We gave them all hot wheels, cookies and bananas. They were more engaged and open with us. They laughed, giggled and played. It was a much harder day to leave them. Seeing the children who were babies last year (when we were here building the playground) was especially difficult.
We left the orphanage around 8pm and headed to dinner at The Patio, pizza and sushi. We got back to the hotel around midnight. Tomorrow we head out for our last day at the orphanage.
Keep praying for our team. Thank you for all the encouragement and comments.
(For regular updates and more pictures, please "like" us on facebook)
The walls are in very bad shape. They are moldy, covered in mildew and the plaster is peeling. The windows are rotting out. They are replacing the windows and the linoleum but it needs so much more work. My prayer for this orphanage is that it shuts down. I hate to be so blunt, but that is what it really needs.
The painting and wall decals have brightened up the rooms a lot and it actually looks beautiful. The colors we painted are pink, blue, green, yellow, purple and orange. It has been so fun to work with everyone on our team. We have laughed constantly and there never has been a dully moment.
At one point during the day Lance and I were painting the yellow room (which is the room my youngest daughter was in) and I heard a single baby crying on the floor above us. It was so so surreal that these children have no one. I wanted to run to the baby and comfort it. The emotions are so strong here for all of us. We have cried through our smiles and yearned to bring every single child home.
While we were there a thunderstorm came through and the entire 3rd floor, the baby floor with about 30 children, started to cry. It makes me so sad to know there are no adoptions going on right now and these children are probably destined to life here.
Around 5pm we went to play with the toddler and older children. Today was much better with them. We gave them all hot wheels, cookies and bananas. They were more engaged and open with us. They laughed, giggled and played. It was a much harder day to leave them. Seeing the children who were babies last year (when we were here building the playground) was especially difficult.
We left the orphanage around 8pm and headed to dinner at The Patio, pizza and sushi. We got back to the hotel around midnight. Tomorrow we head out for our last day at the orphanage.
Keep praying for our team. Thank you for all the encouragement and comments.
(For regular updates and more pictures, please "like" us on facebook)
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