Pray for their futures

Heather Harris once again brings our prayer request this week:

Pray for their future, and that they would think seriously about their future

The children we serve in Kharkov are between the ages of 8 to 19. Most of them are on the older end and are nearing graduation from their boarding school/orphanage. Statistics show that most orphans don't do well with the transition into a university or vocational school and the majority drop out within the first year. After living most of their lives in an institution, they are not equipped to handle simple life skills like going to class or living in an apartment. Not only have they not been adequately prepared leading up to graduation, but once they leave the orphanage they are left with virtually no support system. Imagine your first semester at college without parents, family, or anyone simply encouraging you in a new experience. Even someone prepared for life after high school would struggle without any support.

Many of them also have no idea what they want to do with their future. They live in the moment and most have no plans outside of what they're doing that afternoon. They don't always have clear aspirations of what "they want to be when they grow up." The future is bleak for them and knowing the stories of other graduates, they believe their options are limited. Others may have an idea or a dream about a job and a life after graduation but again, don't have the resources or the support to make it happen.

Pray that they would begin to think about their future and possible options for schools and jobs. Pray that those with plans would find encouragement and support from each other or other people in their lives. Also, since knowing these kids for the past 2.5 years, we know many kids in their first year of college/vocational school. Pray that those already out of the orphanage would have support in their hope to obtain a degree and create a better future for themselves.


Please also lift up the 11 of us who will be leaving in just a few weeks, on January 2!  To meet us and learn more about our stories, visit midtowninukraine.blogspot.com.

Thanks to all of you who joined us this past Sunday to pray for these kids!  We ended up finding some space on the second floor of the skate park (which is through the coffee bar at Rocketown).  That is where we'll be meeting at 9:30 am once a month until further notice.  Our next meeting will be Sunday, January 16, where the returning team can give a full report on the success of our trip.

Don't forget to join the Facebook group !