In the evening, we had our Wednesday night Bible study with our faithful Stepan and Lyuda. As we were leaving, the director of the building where we meet greeted us and asked us if we wanted to use a large sign that is in front of the building. This was a nice gesture and she went on to tell that the charlatans (my choice of words) who have been conducting various healing gimmicks in the building will soon be moving on to another location. God continues to bless our work of teaching the gospel here in Nikolaev, Ukraine. Thanks for the prayers and words of encouragement.
On our walk away from the campus, we were blessed with an overcast sky and slightly cooler temperatures. We maneuvered past some cattle that were grazing down by the river.
As we were leaving the main entrance two of our boys who had been painting in another area heard we were there and came running to speak with us. We also gave them their hot wheels cars for which they were very thankful.
This is a room where the boys keep their clothes and personal items, as little as it is. She was showing us some second hand clothes that had been donated by some organization in the USA and arrived in a container that eventually made it to our Boys Home. Sadly, most of what was in this large shipment was dirty and torn. It makes you wonder why people think orphans need someone's discarded clothes. On the other hand, we can suppose that the donor is thinking that something is better than nothing. Two of our boys will have to leave in September to go live in a college dormitory. We asked if they had proper clothes. She hung her head and showed us what little they had. She explained that the boys were concerned they would not have anything to wear in this new environment. We agreed to purchase them each a 2 piece sports outfit and investigate what else we can find to help them with this transition.
We asked Margarita to give us another tour of the boys living quarters. The only other time we had been in this building was on our first visit to the home last year. The boys are sleeping on mats in the gym while some remodeling is being done to their living quarters. These are some of the nicer beds in the building. "Our boys do not have such nice beds and Margarita didn't even want me to take a picture of their beds. I'll get that later when they finish remodeling that room.
The director was not there yesterday, and asked Margarita to show us a small tractor with a mower attachment that someone lets them use for a small rental fee. They need an industrial type mower to handle the grass on their 4 hectares (almost 10 acres) of land that comprises their campus. This is something they will need next spring and they have asked us to help them with this purchase. We agreed to gather some information.
They are still working on various remodeling projects all over their campus. It is good that they have a balance of work and play. They always want a group picture which we are compiling for an album we will give them.
Some of the boys were on a lunch break and others were playing their favorite ping-pong when we began to distribute the Hot Wheels toys that we had received from friends in Montgomery, Alabama. They all came running to receive the little cars that they value and collect. All these boys who are here now are true orphans without parents or other relatives who can provide them with a home. Next month some of the other boys will be back who do have some family member that allows them to be with them in the summer.
When we arrived at the Boys Home yesterday, the first thing Margarita and the boys wanted us to see was the work they had done in "our" classroom. The boys did a good job of installing the wall covering that we recently purchased, with help from some of our partners. Of course the new walls make the old blackboard look more obsolete than it really is.Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (Romans 14:19 NIV)
Итак будем искать того, что служит к миру и ко взаимному назиданию. (К Римлянам 14:19 Russian)
Отож, пильнуймо про мир, та про те, що на збудування один одного! (Римляни 14:19 Ukrainian)
Por lo tanto, esforcémonos por promover todo lo que conduzca a la paz y a la mutua edificación. (Romanos 14:19 Spanish NVI)
Glorious and Mighty God, our Dear Heavenly Father ~ Thank you for the brightness of your presence on this new day that brings new blessings from your providence. Give us greater wisdom regarding the freedoms that we enjoy in Christ our Lord. Help us to behave peacefully and in a non-aggressive manner with our brethren who may have scruples about some requirements from the Law of Moses that we know are not binding on us today. Help us to learn to be more effective in teaching the truth while making peace, so that the Body of Christ may be built up in the most holy faith and mutual love. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
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