Category: Bruce Posts (Page 122 of 211)

No, I’m not one of the sweet kids.  But we know them and they need our help.   The 10 orphaned lost all but the clothes on their backs.

To donate, please click GIVE on our 501C3 Non-Profit Site – Missions Network

Today Broderic, Dema and I visited the school, and scene of the fire again.  Cleaning was underway on the Orphanage level.  They hope to have the building’s 2nd floor (school) re-opened in a couple of weeks.  The living quarters on first floor however will be at least a month of reconstruction.

Three monkeys come out from their new bedroom ready to play.

We were told the kids had been moved to the nearby town of Burty.  We’ve had some contact with this orphanage over the years, but not much.  The orphanage in Burty is a Senior age teen orphanage and the orphanage where fire took place are the younger kids 4-13yrs old.

The clothes are their backs were saved, their shoes, but that’s about it.

Interestingly we picked up a teacher at the Burty school on the way.  We prayed last night as a family for God to lead and direct us as we seek to show God’s love.  Upon arriving several of the kids recognized our van, and we were able to hug all the kids.  The young boys crave so desperately the affirmation of men.

This is Yura. He’s been there probably the longest of the group. He was tough to befriend at first, now gives the strongest hugs.

Anyway, we met with both orphanage directors and discuss the immediate needs.  We exchanged phone numbers and plan to reconnect next week as currently it’s sort of chaos as the two sets of orphans merge.  I was pleased to see a lot of smiles, and gracious staff, I believe the kids will be well cared for.

Their cozy temporary accommodations.

The problem is however that Ukraine government does not have any money.  The kids lost all clothing except the ones on they were wearing.   While they do have beds,  it would be great to provide some fresh bedding, along with toiletries and a few things the kids could call their own.

Dema standing outside the main Burty orphanage building.

It would be one thing to hear of a need 100 miles away, without knowing any of the kids.  Knowing these boys in particular, my heart goes out to them.  They already have had to transition as their parents were taken away, then to be uprooted to unfamiliar territory again, and lose the most basic things like your favorite shirt.

We are going to make it a point to visit next week, and then every week at least once to provide some familiar faces – taking our kids and possibly some other Ukrainian believers to play soccer, do crafts etc.

Some tears were shed as the kids realized they were being left for the night.

As we entered the school grounds in Burty, we received some colder stares from the older teens.  Reminder of how hurt turns to anger and self defense.  I know inside those teens is a little boy or girl that simply wants love and acceptance.  Pray for us as this opportunity to give help will open doors to perhaps reach some more kids with love.  It would be really wonderful to see, out of this terrible fire, that some more of God’s people invest into lives, sacrifice their time to sow into the lives of others.  We aren’t looking to do all the ‘missionary work’ here, but to walk though open doors and prayerfully connect the body of Christ.   Pray our steps lead to eternal fruit.

Let’s raise $2,000!  We need your help.  I will oversee the spending, and ensure that it all goes to what it’s supposed to.   After caring for the kids themselves, any additional funds raised will help towards materials needed for the actual orphanage, so they can return to their familiar.

We’d like to bless the orphanage workers as well somehow as they also are hurting, going to have extra expenses traveling and lost personal things as well in the fire.   The average worker makes $300 per month.

Any amount will be a blessing folks, so join in!   Please share this need with your friends and family.

To donate, please click GIVE on our 501C3 Non-Profit Site – Missions Network

You may also donate directly on this site, however I can’t supply a tax receipt if given from this site.

We can accept Paypal, Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.  James 1:27

If you have any questions please feel free to email me at bruce@liftupyoureyes.org.  If you are in Ukraine and would like to donate through bank transfer, we can arrange this if you email us.

Bruce & Deb

This is the front of the kids school in Kuzmenci – 10 minutes from where we live. The first floor is an orphanage/foster living quarters.

The kids school caught on fire today, destroying the first level where the foster/orphaned kids live.  Thankfully, this happened during the school day and both the regular school kids on the second floor, as well as the workers on the first were able to quickly get out in time.

The orphaned kids may have one or even two parents – but those parents have lost their legal rights due to drugs, alcohol, abuse and/or neglect. The difficult thing is that these kids are not adopt-able – yet they are stuck in the system.

It was believed to be an electrical fire, set ablaze their old couch and quickly spread to the bedrooms and another classroom.  This is where we visit, the very room I like to lay on the floor and let the kids pile around, play legos and wrestle.   If this had happened in the night, there would have most definitely been casualties.  Our boys escaped with all their classmates on the second floor – the teachers were all visibly shaken, yet the kids, as only kids can think – were delighted to have the rest of the week off.  Thank you God for this mercy, and protection of these precious lives.

The boys bedroom. The fire was put out just before consuming this room.

I talked tonight with one of the teachers, who was the makeshift guard on duty tonight to prevent theft – they are meeting in the morning to determine the next steps.  I think it will be a real community effort to get the downstairs cleaned up.  The smell of smoke is deadly at the moment, he took me inside for 10 seconds and it was enough!

The living area where the fire is believed to have started as an electric fire. This is where we would wrestle, build legos and do crafts.

Praying for a possible avenue to help, whether raising some funds from our facebook friends and family, and/or gathering some men and serving out there.  We have relationships already built and a good time to support – salt and light.  I will find out tomorrow whether the best avenue would be clothing/materials for the kids for the next few months, or help towards the restoration of the living space.

On a different yet similar note, we also met with the Fire Alarm System (government run ‘business’) to pay and begin installing the detectors/computerized system.  If there’s a fire, it will text our cell phones (if we’re not there), and set off a number of bells on the first and second floor, as well as the garage.   They told us not to bother connecting the system to the actual fire department, as it wouldn’t help – they said the signal would first go to Kiev, then maybe make it to our regional department 20 minutes down the road, and then maybe to our town – then maybe they would come – so better to just have it text the owners.

After seeing, and smelling the Kuzmenci school fire damage, and realization of how fast the powerful flames do spread, I’m glad we haven’t cut corners or did a shady deal to just get a stamp and paper.  By Friday the Cafe should be fire legal – and only gas and health inspection remains.

Speaking of Gas, yesterday Dema and I ventured to visit the regional chief again to complain on the delays.  He sees us coming and looks like a cat escaping a toddler.. where do I go, how can I get out of this!  The tables have turned, at least emotionally for me.  I am now pressing him, and find no pleasure in any of their excuses.  While being as respectful as possible, the political environment is so shaky right now, everyone (especially crooks) are concerned for their jobs.  I am getting more bold to stand up, and pressure these guys to do their jobs.  We’re not asking for anything but this basic thing.   8 months, no gas, unbelievable but true.

Ladies and gentleman of the web, I bring to you our newest daughters head, and 3d brain!

Today, I was in Kiev with Deb’s continued tests for baby #8.  We found out it’s a girl!  As many of you know we were given some scary news that the baby signs early on were leaning towards down’s syndrome.  We are still cautious, but thankful that today’s ultra sound was more comforting and the baby looks to be in good health.  We do however still have more blood tests to return in the coming days which will tell us more.

While in Kiev, I hopped off the subway (called metro here) to Maidan, the central square where all the protests and battles have taken place.  It was such a gorgeous day out, fresh clear sky.  I took this panoramic of the square, still assembled are 30 or so tents, and remnants of the peoples malitia.   With all that is going on in Odessa, and the Eastern parts of Ukraine, I wonder if this area will once again heat up, and flood with the nationalists.  With elections looming, their currency losing value (40% in past 6 months), and civil unrest, things are bound to get worse before they get better.

You can find very current, albeit very western leaning news on the situation in Ukraine at kyivpost.com. 

Thanks for checking in, and please consider donating soon towards helping the kids school and orphanage get cleaned up and back in operation.  Currently the kids are sleeping at the local kindergarten – and the 15 of them will be shipped to another town temporarily (15 minutes away) for boarding at another orphanage (for teens).  Pray for these little ones, they are some precious kids.

Sincerely,

Bruce & Deb

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.  2 Cor 2:14

A triumph (Gr. θριαμβεύω) was essentially a Roman parade.   In fact, you could say the Romans invented parades.  After a significant military victory, the Senate would institute a triumphant procession in commemoration of the battle, and in honor of the General responsible.  These parades symbolized the power of a seemingly indestructible nation.

There are over 200 historically documented Roman Triumphs.  Caesar Augustus, just 12yrs before the birth of Christ had issued a particular historical undertaking called the, ‘acta triumpalia.’  This was a record of these triumphs, dating back 750 yrs.  Portions of these original records in stone remain today.

The processions were 4km long, lasted 1-3 days!  They included shackled enslaved, along with their family members.  Senators, the spoils of war, the Roman General, Oxen to be sacrificed, and the Roman soldiers all took part in this spectacle.

The Apostle Paul knew that the Corinthians would understand the illustration.  200yrs earlier their own city was laid to waste by Rome’s General Momeus.  So significant was the victory over the Corinthians that a Triumph was held in his honor.  To the Romans, a grand victory – to the Corinthians, a tragic defeat.

Paul, praising God for the work of God throughout his 2nd missionary journey, despite his original plans to head elsewhere.  He declares that he, the apostles and all who have been conquered by the Love of God – are now being led in Christs triumph!  We’re part of the procession, manifesting an aroma of the knowledge of God in every place. 

The Romans were into incense.  Their pagan temples were open to the public throughout the City during a triumph and wafted their scents throughout the streets.  The procession itself would often include incense bearers added to the shouts of triumph, songs and flowers lining the parade route.

God has designed to manifest, or reveal His triumph through His people.  The knowledge of Jesus Christ dispels ignorance and sin.  This knowledge is called the gospel and is embodied through the ones it conquers.

We were all enemies of the King.  He has come, not in physical might, but restrained power.  His weapon is humility and love.  His sacrifice on the Cross and resurrection from the dead was a consummating triumph.  He defeated death, took away it’s sting, and offers not only forgiveness and life today, but eternal hope for the future.   Embrace this for your happiness and reject it for your misery.

The following verses Paul says that to some the aroma emitting from the incense bears is ‘death to death.’  For those that reject the truth that only Jesus can forgive and save, the message is a convicting, and bitter pill to swallow, reminded of their guilty state and foreshadowing their eternal condition.  Like the slaves that were bound and displayed at the front of the Roman Triumph, the incense was a revolting reminder of their looming execution.

For those that surrender to God’s work, the incense is life.  The message of grace and mercy is clung to with gratitude.  The incense incites a joy, pointing to the King’s victory, and a future hope when all things will be reconciled.

This was the heart of my message this morning at Christian Life Church in Kiev.  I found the study invigorating, and a much needed reminder that I am saved only through the victories Jesus secured.  What victories they are!

¹⁵ having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Col 2:15

We enter His Triumph over sin and death through surrender, receiving the implanted Word in our hearts.  We don’t influence this world through outward moralities, at least with any meaningful effect.  We aren’t called to witness to Jesus through a personal showing of obedience as if our marching in His parade was of our own doing.  We were enemies, and He has made us friends.  We point to His Cross, not a reformed goodness.

We are invited into His great procession. We bring nothing to the dance.  Jesus paid it all, and all to Him I owe.  Thanks be to God who leads us in His Triumph! 

Lord help us to live daily, by faith, in His Triumph.  While this world wars and economies shake, let your people be incense bearers by reminding the saved and lost alike – that your victory stands and your Kingdom will not be shaken.   Let us exalt our General, who led His Kingdom to victory on the Cross, and in all hearts that believe.

Peace of Christ from Ukraine!