Spring 2021

Remember this. I can do something you can’t do and you can do something, I can’t do. But we both have to do it.

Mother Teresa

In the first three months of the new year, we as a team and also together with the children and young adults at Living Hope have often thought about how important it is that everyone takes up their place, fulfils their tasks and that only this way something beautiful can be created as a whole. What a blessing it is to make a difference together, to support each other and also to walk through challenging times. It is amazing what happens when each individual does what they can do. In the case of our ministry, this applies both to you, the supporters from home and abroad, and to us, who do the practical things here on the spot. One would not be possible without the other. Thank you very much for your involvement!

A large number of cheerful givers packed gifts for children and for pensioners the weeks before Christmas. We were able to distribute these wonderful boxes around Christmas and New Year holidays. Due to COVID 19 restrictions, we had to cancel any big celebrations as well as the traditional visit to the elderly home. However, this did not lessen the joy about the presents.

Around 200 residents of the senior citizens’ home were presented with wonderful gifts by two of our employees. The gifts were provided by our friends from a church in the south of Germany. Many of the residents were moved to tears. And we could once again understand why the Bible says that giving is more blessed than receiving. For our children, who were with their families during this time, we organised a mobile Christmas team of young people and staff members, who packed a well-filled food package for each family, which was then delivered together with the Christmas presents from Luxembourg and Germany. Thus, with the help of many, we were able to really turn the holidays into holidays for numerous families as well as lonely elderly and disabled people. Many thanks to all who participated!

We are glad and grateful that despite many restrictions, such as online teaching and closed schools, we are allowed to keep our three day centres open every day. One reason for this is that we are recognised as social services. Especially in the countryside, some of our children have no or only poor internet connections at home and are happy to be able to use the internet at the day centre for learning. It is very noticeable how positive it is for all the children that they are allowed to come every day and that nothing has changed in the stable environment that our NGO offers. More and more families ask us for financial support for housing and food costs and it is not easy to decide who to give extended help to and who not. For Easter, which we celebrate here according to the Orthodox calendar at the beginning of May, we are planning to surprise 100 families again with a food package.

We are happy that also people in Odessa do not ignore the need of others and get involved in our work, for example an advertising company that made a small video clip about our progress over the last 10 years, which you can also watch on our website www.hope4kids.de. A local dentist with his own clinic has also been involved in our work since the beginning of March, doing what he does best – providing the children with excellent treatment free of charge. At first, the kids were informed about proper dental care in an educational event, had an initial check-up and were given dental care products. Now they are being treated one after the other at the clinic. This is a wonderful project for which we would like to thank Doctor Aref and his team. It is always amazing to see new doors open for us.

We would like to thank everyone who responded to our fund-raising appeal. Negotiations to purchase one of our day centres have started. At the moment, we have to pay an additional 1000 Euros per month for rent, which challenges us financially, but unfortunately cannot be avoided at the moment. We would like to solve this problem in the long run by buying at least some of the buildings. We are planning our summer camp for July and very much hope that we will be able to welcome our friends from Luxembourg here with us again. Please pray that we will be able to run the camp. The children are really longing for this holiday together, which had to be cancelled last year due to Covid 19.

We hope that our letter has given you at least a small insight of what we are able to do in Ukraine thanks to your support. A heartfelt thank-you from all of us. We wish you God’s protection and blessing.