August 31

Tomorrow is August 31. To most of us here in the US that date does not mean anything too significant, other than signaling that Labor Day and a 3 day week-end is near. In Ukraine, this date means something totally different. September 1 is known and Knowledge Day in Ukraine, and marks the first day of school each year across the country. So what happens on August 31? Well, this is the day that all of the graduating teens from the orphanage leave for trade school. These young teens leave the relative safety of the place that has been their home for most of their lives. They leave with a small backpack of their worldly possessions and head off to an unknown world. 

What awaits them at trade school? For starters, these kids do not get to choose what trade school they will attend. It is assigned to them by the government. Some will go to construction school, others will go to cooking school. There are many other trade schools as well. It does not matter what you are interested in, you are just assigned to one and must go. Where do the kids stay? The trade schools have dorms. Imagine 15 and 16 year old kids all living in a dorm environment with no supervision. Not a lot of good can come from that. With no money, no supervision, and attending a trade school to learn a skill that you probably have no interest in learning, just to be assigned a job that you have no interest in doing...well, you can see why the statistics are not good for these kids. Crime, prostitution, suicide...these are all words that are repeated over and over again about the fates of many of the aged out orphans in Ukraine. 

August 31...the day that aged out teens really "age out". August 31...the day that Ryan and I will leave our little nest and fly back over the ocean to go get our girl. August 31...one less orphan will be leaving for trade school. Thank you Lord for helping us find our precious daughter before she too had to face this day with fear and sadness! To our sweet daughter....we our coming for you baby girl! You will never have to face an unknown future alone again....EVER!! We love you SO much and cannot wait to wrap you in love every single day for the rest of your life!

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you;

    I will bring your children from the east

    and gather you from the west.

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I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’

    and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’

Bring my sons from afar

    and my daughters from the ends of the earth—

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everyone who is called by my name,

    whom I created for my glory,

    whom I formed and made.” Isaiah 43:5-7

Would you please join us in praying for all the kids that will be leaving for trade school tomorrow? Please pray for peace and comfort that can only come from the Lord for these kids as they set out on their own.

Please also pray for Ryan and me as we prepare to leave tomorrow morning. I will be staying in Ukraine after court to finish out all the necessary paperwork, etc. to bring A home, which means I will be away from my little girls for around 4 weeks. You can imagine how anxious I am about this! Ryan will return home immediately following court. Please pray for safe travels for us. Also pray that our court hearing will go extremely smoothly next Friday!! We appreciate each of you and all of the support and prayers we have received. We are getting closer to having our family all together!!!!