Apartment Number Four

The Chernov family is settling in to their new home. They still need some furnishings, but those are on the way. The lousy economy and depressed construction market in Ukraine made it possible for us to finish this apartment for about half of the original estimate. The final apartment will only cost one third of the original estimate. We are pressing on!

Lilya vs the Crew

I was able to visit Dyetski Dom yesterday. The construction is finished! All that is left is installation of the kitchen cabinets and appliances and some minor touch-ups. There was a big discussion between the construction crew and Mama Lilya. The topic was, "Who is going to clean up before the family moves in?" In Ukraine, the constructin crew very rarely does any clean-up. Lilya was saying that she couldn't clean until the crew stopped tracking in dirt (they were actually wearing shoes in her home) and smoking everywhere. Both sides were very passionate about the issue. I was so happy we were at this point, that all I could do was smile and watch.

A large family room- before and after renovation.

Sasha at Project Sasha

On Friday I met Sasha again. I first met her in March of last year. She came to Project Sasha very pregnant and looking for help. The friend she was living with wanted her to leave. She delivered her daughter that very night. The staff at Project Sasha worked hard to get her into a home for young mothers in Sevastopol. It was one of very few places where she could keep her baby. She insisted that was what she wanted to do.

After about two months, she took her baby and left the home. Shortly after that, she left her baby and a bottle of milk in a crowded train station. She just disappeared.

Friday, she was back. She needed help again. Baby Maxim, in her arms, is only eleven days old. She sat in a corner and wept. She wants to keep her baby. The staff found a home for young mothers that has room for her. Sasha is seventeen.

Off to Ukraine

For months I've been planning a trip to Ukraine. At first, we had a team of five. Then it went to a team of three. Then two. Finally it came down to me going alone. I was really wondering what was going on.

Then I learned. This past Sunday morning my Mother fell and broke her arm. She was in the hospital until Thursday night. (I was scheduled to leave on Friday.) At considerable expense, my itinerary was changed to leave on Sunday. Who would have thought that a two day delay would be so expensive?

I went to the rehab facility Saturday afternoon for one last visit before I left. For the first time this week, she was calm and pleasant. I don't know whether it was because she finally caught up on her rest or she finally got enough pain medication. Either way, it will be a little easier to leave tomorrow morning.

God remains in control. There would have been no way to pull off a two day delay if there were still five people on the team.

What Happened to My Comfort Zone

This article was published in the Southeast Outlook on September 10.

In early 2008, I left my corporate job to become the director of Mulberry International. Mulberry is a Christian ministry working with at-risk children in Ukraine. Our ministries reach out to street children, place orphans in Ukrainian Christian foster homes and minister to abandoned babies in local hospitals. And all of this takes place seven times zones away with a staff that doesn’t speak English. Speaking a foreign tongue has never been my gift.

This was a big change from my financial management role in a subsidiary of a multinational, German company. I went from managing a budget of 150 million dollars to fund-raising a budget of 200 thousand dollars. Before making the change, I think I convinced everyone in the company that I had completely lost my mind. First, I announced that I would only be working four days a week. While there never was a formal response, I did hear my boss make the comment, “Who ever heard of a part-time CFO?” I think I sealed my status as out-in-left-field when I told him that I would be in Ukraine in August of 2007. He asked me about the specific dates and I replied, “August.” I would be there the whole month. Shortly after my return I gave notice that I would be taking early retirement.

Several friends have commented on how far out of my comfort zone I’ve gone. I feel guilty whenever I hear that. The “comfort zone” that I was in wasn’t really all that comfortable. I was working harder and harder but never feeling like I accomplished anything meaningful. I had to be careful not to say this around my employer, but I kept coming back to the idea that this was all going to burn up one day. The unending cycle of monthly updates to one year plans, quarterly updates to three year plans and annual updates to eight year plans somehow all felt kind of hollow. My comfort zone just wasn’t comfortable. There had to be something better.

So instead of thinking of myself as outside my comfort zone, I may have finally found it. Jesus told us that His yoke was easy and His burden was light. In that case, following Him should put be the most comfortable zone we can find. He also said that He calls us to a narrow road that not many will follow. That casts doubts on the zone that the world sees as comfortable. It sounds like we can’t expect to find our comfort zone until we figure out the zone He has chosen for us.

Now I oversee Mulberry’s ministries. We have translators to handle the language. Cultural and the legal issues are something else. Seventy years of Communism created a country without a moral compass and with no concept of the “rule of law.”

I spend a good portion of my days writing. I write newsletters, thank you notes, ministry updates and cold contact letters. I’ve even tried blogging, but I haven’t quite got the hang of that. For someone who spent his career working in spreadsheets, WORD is like tackling a foreign language.

I am also learning to ask people for money. That has been a huge adjustment. I used to prepare a cost/benefit or a payback analysis when we needed business funds. Now, I find myself boldly asking for donations and explaining that the return will be realized in eternity.

I still wake up at odd hours of the night wrestling with issues that don’t seem to have a solution. I still spend hours poring over reports looking for potential improvements. And there are still deadlines set by someone else that control my schedule. But, I get the privilege of watching God at work everyday. And, when I remember to get out of the way, He does some pretty spectacular things.

I don’t think I’ve ever been more comfortable.

Didn't see that one coming

We received notice last week that a boy in one of our foster families was being adopted. I know I have told several of you that was technically possible but it would never happen. The State closely controls all adoptions and NEVER offers a child in foster care. They would rather place a child from one of their institutions, primarily because of they are furnishing all of the support.

I've asked a couple of times how this happened. The only response I get is that the adopting couple is a very wealthy couple from Kiev. I guess there were other cost considerations involved.

It appears that Misha will have a comfortable life. But, that wasn't our main goal. Now, we must pray that the seeds planted in a few short months will develop into a hunger to know God.

Elton John in Ukraine

While I believe this whole Elton John thing is a publicity stunt to raise money for this organization (which is actually doing some very good work,) this article has some good information about the plight of orphans in Ukraine. And why we are so intent on rescuing as many as we can.



Don't grow weary,

Charles


http://www.kyivpost.com/nation/48884

It's sold

It is finally done.

Last Thursday, we closed on the sale of the apartment in Evpatoria. The Chernov family (all nine of them) is living in the library. The money is available to get them into their new home.

God is good.

New Dynamite Video

During our visit to Ukraine in April, Phil took videos of everything we did. It seemed like he was always watching the action through his camera. Then, as we left Crimea, he interviewed us about our experience.

Well, the finished product is here and it is super. The title is Mulberry Impressions. It pops up under the Video Bar on the right side of this blog. Or, you can link to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewa23_dy9Bc. Either way, I hope you will check it out.

Don't grow weary,
Charles

God's Timing

A friend of Mulberry made a significant donation yesterday (Tuesday.) I called to say thanks and he asked an unusual question. "Was there some kind of immediate need?" It seems he left home with no intention of making a gift. Then, sometime yesterday morning he just felt a strong leading to make a gift to two ministries.

I explained that we were in the position of borrowing from our operating budget in order to pay for construction so the Chernov family would have temporary quarters after we sell their apartment to get the needed funds for construction. I know that sentence is hard to follow. But it is clear that God understands and will work through those who are tuned in to His leading.

God's timing is always perfect. Even when His timing doesn't match mine.

Don't grow weary,
Charles

Are we there yet?

I received notice today that the contract to sell the four-room flat in Evpatoria had been signed. The earnest money payment of $2000 has been received and we are beginning the necessary paperwork- a process that is supposed to take two months. Somehow we have planned the final closing for one month from now.

I know we aren't there yet. There are always hurdles in between signing a contract and closing a deal. But, I can't help getting excited about this. God has used this project to teach me the difference between His perfect timing and my selfish timing. I hope that I've learned the lessons and there aren't more to come.

Don't grow weary,
Charles

Waiting

Waiting is difficult. Especially when you are waiting for something that is several times zones away and you can't keep bugging people for an update.

Mulberry received an offer from a potential buyer for the four-room apartment in Evpatoria. If the deal goes through, there will be enough cash to finish the Chernov's flat in Dyetski Dom! We've been working on raising enough money for over a year. To finally be this close and not be able to do hourly checkups is torture. There could be an answer this week.

Someone told me once to never pray for patience. You just don't want to go through the training. I understand!

Obedience

For some reason, I've been learning about obedience lately. It started in Ukraine last April when a team member told a story about trying to reach a teenage boy. He did everything he knew, but the young man ended up dying tragically. The lesson was that the outcome didn't make this was a failure. The real failure would have been if he hadn't attempted to reach out.

A couple of weeks ago I made a comment to a friend that I thought was pretty clever. I told him I was learning to be bolder in asking people to support Mulberry. I said that there really wasn't any difference between me not asking for a donation and you saying no. His response was that there is a big difference. If he says no, I have still been obedient to the position God has given me.

Applying this to Mulberry, I am beginning to realize that we don't exist to "rescue" children from an unbelievably hard life. We exist to introduce them to Jesus and a chance at an eternal life. If every child we touch grows old, fat and happy that won't indicate that we've succeeded. Our success will come if we remain obedient and let God do the rest.

Don't grow weary.

God is Good

God is so good.

On Monday I mailed out 300 appeal letters asking for donations to help us finish construction of the third unit at Dyetski Dom. By Friday, I had received $1,525 in contributions. The quickness of the response really surprised me- until I received a note from our Ukraine Director.

He informed me that in order to begin the next phase of the construction he would need $1500. He needed permission to borrow money from the operating budget to continue the work.

God is good and His timing is perfect.

Don't grow weary,
Charles

Well, I missed the first week of my new commitment. Maybe I should just shoot for blogging twice a month? I think I can handle that.

Probably my top observation from the April trip is how God supports His work. Every time I visit, the staff at Project Sasha has changed. There is always a new staff member. And, at least one staff member is serving in a new position.

Lena, who had been in charge of feeding and clothing the children left last year. She was such a positive, energetic force that I knew we were losing a treasure. Faya, her replacement, was raised in a Muslim home. Her family still doesn't know about her Christianity. She brings a new enthusiam to the job and the children already love her. She greets everyone with a huge smile and laughs at having to learn to cook borscht. The beet soup is basic to every Ukrainian, but not in her Tatar home.

Bogdan has been replaced by Igor in conducting the street patrols. He already knows all the usual hiding places and is constantly looking for new lairs. The stream of new children hasn't slowed down at all.

So now I am saying that the staff I saw is the best we've ever had. And I expect to being saying the same thing after my next visit. God does provide. He loves those children so much more than we can.

Don't grow weary,
Charles

OK. I promise to do a better job of this blogging thing. I just never seem to get around to it. So, I promise weekly entries. If anyone is checking this, I ask you to hold me accountable to that promise.

You may be expecting me to review my just-completed visit now. That will have to wait. I arrived home Friday at one a.m. By nine a.m. I was on my way to admit my mother to the hospital. The doctors have determined that she is fighting two infections and she is receiving hospital strength antibiotics. One of the side effects of infections in the elderly is confusion. Last Saturday she told the nurse that she hoped to get better in time for a scheduled visit with her other son who lives in Dallas, Italy. I do have a brother living in Texas, but I have no idea where that Italy part came from. I love old people. They are just like children, except easier to catch when they try to run away.

For now, let me say that the trip was both heart-breaking and encouraging. The need seems to grow with each visit. But, the determination and dedication of the staff is growing even more. The other guys on this trip- Phil and Cody- did a good job of documenting the trip at www.ukraine2009.com. You might want to check that out.

Don't grow weary,
Charles

March News

This month has been a whirlwind.

At the beginning of the month, we found out that we needed to relocate our office. The new space will have some advantages, but we will also be paying office rent for the first time.

On the 15th, I had the opportunity to visit with Mt Carmel Christian Church in Cincinnati. The reception was wonderful. The generosity of the congregation was eye-popping. And, the personal encouragement was priceless. (I sound a little like a MasterCard commercial.)

Finally, I just received a note from Kostya about new children in our ministry. Two have been added to foster care and two more are entering transitional living. If you've been keeping count, that is plus eight over the last four or five months. Keep these children and the parents in your prayers.

Don't grow weary.
Charles

Finances, Finances

I just received a note from Ukraine. Someone has done a calculation and told the Ukrainian people that their economy is 40 time worse than the US. I don't know how you would measure something like that. I do know that I believe the Ukrainian life is at least 40 times harder than life in the US. Prices for basics like food and transportation are skyrocketing while jobs and income are disappearing.

We received an extremely generous gift this week that will allow us to continue the next phase of construction at Dyetski Dom, our foster home. At the same time we have made the decision to sell some assets we hold in Ukraine and use the proceeds for construction. This will require us to change the way we are doing some ministry, but we feel the construction is THAT important.

My April trip is close now. I'm getting anxious to see families and friends that I miss. So far, I've received about 200 pounds of "gifts" to deliver. The airline only allows me to take half that much, including my clothes. Sometimes, I get antsy to see how God plans to get me through the situations I get myself into.

Don't grow weary,
Charles

Boxes for Ukraine

Several groups collected clothing for our kids around Christmas. Those are always a treat when they arrive in Ukraine.

I got a note this past weekend that two more boxes had arrived. The number of children visiting daily is approaching thirty and the staff could offer warm clothing to all. We always ask the children to turn in their old clothes. That way we can launder, make repairs and recycle for the next group. This time, we had to burn their clothes because of lice. In case I haven't already said it, thanks to all of you who make the effort to send us clothes.

Last month the government actually went through with their threat to interrupt monthly support payments until the 2009 budget is approved. Several families we work with are affected.

Still, we know that God is in control. Sometimes, He waits until there is absolutely no other alternative before He steps in. We may be getting close.

Don't grow weary,
Charles

Giving- It's a state of mind.

Often, I hear sermons or read articles about giving strategies. There always seems to be a process. The steps include assessing the worthiness of different charities, using a formula to determine an amount and committing to a strict schedule. That's good, but then I meet people who just give because they see a need and decide to help.

Two examples come to mind. I know there are others.

Friends in Michigan are constantly surprising me with a phone call. They say something like, "We were in K-mart and all the children's coats were on close-out sale. The prices were so good we just had to figure out someone that could use them." Then they will pack them up and ship them. Or, I find a sack in the Mulberry booth at a convention and it's filled with all the children's underwear from the close-out table at Walmart. I know who left it.

Another family in Iowa read a recent report from Project Sasha. In it, Galya is expressing her gratitude for several boxes of clothing that had been received. Her comment was that she could provide everyting but shoes for all the children. I got an e-mail asking, "Why weren't there any shoes?" That wasn't the point. Her point was how thankful she was to provide clothing. As I sit at my desk now, I can see four boxes of shoes (over 70 pounds), all from Iowa. And, I was just informed that another box is on the way.

What a great family of supporters we have! Like I said, there are many other examples.

Structured giving has its place. But, when we adopt a giving mindset that is constantly on the lookout for opportunities, the Spirit can really work through us.

Don't grow weary,
Charles

So much to learn, so little brain to absorb it

In the last post, I shared my understanding of the holidays in Ukraine. A friend in Ukraine sent me the correct story about Grandfather Frost. See the below.


I read your blog and find it interesting. In your post you mentioned the new year celebration in the countries of the former SU. Would you mind if I share some about the traditions? The Father Frost was not invented in soviet times. He was a real person who lived in Russia, many centuries ago, after the people accepted Christianity. This man lost his family - they were killed by Mongolians while he was in the field working. The house was burnt, so he started living in the woods. He helped animals (fed them in cold winters and treated their wounds,) in summer he made lots of preserves - dried fruit and berries, mushrooms and herbs; then in winter he would go to villages and give the food to poor families and orphans. He did it in secret. Since it was mostly winter and especially the Christmas time when he came out of the woods, people called him Frost, as he got older, he was called Grandfather Frost. After his death many wanted to carry his mission further - people helped each other and supported those in need. That's how this wonderful tradition was developed. Not everyone know the story behind the Ded Moroz figure, though. The Orthodox church celebrates the day of St Nikolaus as well (Dec 19) but after the revolution surely the government would rather promote the idea of a simple village man who was famous for his good deeds than the idea of a religious person who was also famous for his good deeds. Well, I just wanted to share.

In Christ,
Anya