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.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
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.
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.
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