Walking through an orphanage changes you. Seeing those kids reach out to you, call to you, beg you for any bit of attention-you just will not be the same. The utter lack in that institutional world that these children live their lives in is overwhelming and frankly hard to process. I am so thankful that Nathan and Anna Faith were able to witness this with their own eyes. I'm so thankful that their hearts continue to be broken for those left behind. My prayer is that their hearts are broken for the things that break Yours, Father.
As a family, we commit ourselves to working to help those children that remain. We intend to continue The Hope Project this spring to help families pursuing adoption. Our Christmas presents to each other will be donations to those still waiting. And this Christmas, we commit to help The Circle of Hope with their Christmas box collection, praying that this ministry can be expanding to include our orphanage next year. Please join with us!
This year we will be collecting shoebox and monetary donations for baby house 19 in Nikolaev, Ukraine. My friend brought her Sveta home from this orphanage, but they left behind 115 boys and girls from infant to 5 years old.
How you can help:
1) assemble shoe boxes or donate items to be used to fill shoeboxes
Please keep the contents between $5-$20
Label the outside "boy" or "girl" and rubber band close
Decorate if you wish
Include-socks-white (girl) or black (boy)
Underwear
Sunglasses or hats for warm or cold weather
Small toys-barbies, legos, puzzles, crayons, action figures, dolls with clothing, etc
Children's gloves
Hair bows or barrettes for girl boxes
New or gently used clothing for infant-size 5
**do not include nail polish or candy
Please contact me at bldahlen@aol.com to arrange for drop off or pick up of boxes. I will need these on or before October 22nd to get them to Huntsville. That isn't much time!!
And/or 2) monetary donation to help with shipping/gifts costs
All donations over $25 are tax deducible if made to Circle of Hope, PO Box 4921, Huntsville, AL 35815
All boxes will be hand delivered to orphans in baby house 19 by a group of volunteers living in the area. Pictures of those smiling faces should be up on www.operationchristmasinnikolaev.blogspot.com after Christmas.
If you are out of town, please contact me and I can give you the address to mail your box or please consider a monetary donation.
Thank you!
