Prayer Request...

Last Friday, the government of Ukraine issued a nationwide quaranteen. All schools, universities and orphanages are closed for the next three weeks as a result of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) outbreak which is cutting through Ukraine.

Due to the quaranteen, our ministry team is not allowed into the orphanages during this 3 week quaranteen period. Please pray for the children as we will not be able to see them during our weekly or monthly orphanage outreaches.

To read more about Ukraine and the flu pandemic go to: www.kyivpost.com

Help Jeremiah's Hope Meet Our Budget in 2010...

During the last month of two, Jeremiah's Hope has had a difficult time meeting our monthly ministry budget for the transitional living center and orphanage outreach. This is due, in large part, to the current US economic situation. It is also partly due to the overwhelming needs of the children with whom we minister to in the TLC, orphanages and pediatric hospitals of Ukraine.

At the present time, Jeremiah's Hope is short of meeting our monthly budget by about $1,200 a month. We are in the process of seeking out new partners who will come alongside us in 2010 to help introduce the orphans and at-risk youth of Ukraine to Jesus Christ.

Between now and the end of the year, we hope to find 100 people who we are calling our "2010 Partners." Our 2010 Partners are supporters who committ to giving $20.10 a month to help Jeremiah's Hope reach the children of Ukraine in the upcoming year.

If you would like to become a "2010 Partner" please contact us at donations@jeremiahshope.org

Ugligorsk Orphanage Outreach in October...

Read this report from Tanya, our administrator in Mariupol...

Today, we went to Uglegorsk to do the birthday party for the kids who had their birthdays in September and October. There were 16 smaller kids who had cakes, bananas and drinks. They got toys as gifts and we played games. There were also 22 bigger kids and we gave them chocolate bars each. We also delivered some board games, small sport equipment and hygiene products for the orphanage.

The Current TLC Family...

Let me introduce you to the current family living at the Transitional Living Center in Mariupol...

Top Row: Julia and Yan
Middle Row: Natasha, Marina and Yana
Bottom Row: Denis, Ruslan, Andrei and Maxim

Ugligorsk School Supplies Delivery & Quarterly Birthday Party...

Today, Tanya (JH Administrator in Mariupol) and Anya (former TLC resident) went to the orphanage in Uglegorsk. This has become a quarterly trip for Tanya and a project which she really enjoys. This trip was not only for the quarterly birthday party, but also to deliver notebooks, pens and drawing paper for the new school year.

After delivering the school supplies, they hosted a birthday party for 20 kids (grades 3-6) who had their birthdays during the time of June 16 to August 28. The party included time doing activities together and then sitting at the table enjoying cakes, bananas and soft drinks together. There were only 2 girls in this group and they got soft animals. The boys got all kinds of toy cars. They also brought chocolate bars and beanie babies for 39 older kids who celebrated their birthdays.

Some of the boys unloading the school notebooks from the car
and carrying them into the orphanage.
Enjoying their small birthday feast together!

Meet Ruslan Tkachenko...

Ruslan Tkachenko was born in Mariupol, Ukraine on March 9, 1994. Ruslan has lived in our transitional living center since October 2008 when the Social Services Department in Mariupol asked us to take him and his younger brother into our care.

Ruslans parents lost their parental rights due to heavy drinking and child neglect. His father was fired in 1999 because he missed work. He hasn't worked since. His mom has never worked telling everybody she was taking care of the children and did not have time to work. Ruslan and his younger brother lived with their parents and their grandma who was also a drunkard.

Ruslan has finished the 7th grade and started going to a Sailor's Club at school and really enjoys it. Now he will have the opportunity to go to a Sailor's College in Sevastopol, Ukraine following his 9th grade year of school.

Ruslan will be living in the transitional living center for 2 years and needs a sponsor (or a couple of sponsors). Would you consider helping sponsor this young man?

Ukrainian Orphan & Youth-At-Risk Conference...

Last week, Jeremiah's Hope hosted a conference titled the "Ukrainian Orphans & Youth-At-Risk Conference." The conference attracted over 45 missionaries & local Ukrainian Christians who are involved in ministry to orphans and juvenile inmates in the Ukrainian prison system. John Kinsley (Straight Ahead Ministries in Boston, MA) and Andrew & Jenny Kelly were the speakers. John held main sessions addressing the psychological nature, etc. of children who are at risk and then each of the speakers had "breakout" sessions addressing Orphanage Outreach, Running a Post-Orphanage Home for Teens and Juvenile Justice.

Maxim (left) translating for John (right) during on the main sessions.

Over 45 attended the conference which lasted Wednesday to Friday.

There was a great deal of fellowship and networking during meal times.