US and Ukraine Orphans

In a session at the Global Missions Health Conference, the topic was AIDS orphans. Almost as a side comment, the speaker said there are 127,000 adoptable orphans in the US. That number sounds too small, but I don't know the definition of "adoptable." If that represents half, then the total would be around a quarter of a million.

In Ukraine, the government admits that the number of children in state institutions is over 120,000. Estimates are that the actual number is probably closer to 200,000. And, there is an equal number of children living on the city streets.


The total population of Ukraine is about one seventh the population of the US. Why are these children allowed to remain in these places?

In my position, I get to ponder that question a lot. The answer isn't simple. Basically it's one of the differences between a country founded on Judeo/Christian moral values and a country rooted in Communist atheism.


One illustration that I think sums up the difference is this one. When you visit Ukraine, there are high-rise apartment buildings on every street. Almost without exception, these buildings look abandoned. The outside is a shambles. The stairwells and elevator lobbies are covered with grafitti and trash. However, when you enter one of the flats you find a home that is neat, clean and well-maintained. There is a definite line of separation between the flat (it's mine) and the building (it's not mine.)

The same attitude applies to the chidren. Orphans and street children fall into the category of "not mine." They are the responsibility of someone else. Adoptions aren't just rare, they are frowned upon. The work Mulberry is doing with foster homes is so counter-culture that our parents can even be shunned at church. Ukrainians just don't recognize a responsibility for the "not mine" children. And, they will question why we care.

There was a time when God could have looked at me and said, "Not mine." He didn't. Now, my goal is to see these children through God's eyes. That makes them my responsibility.