Prayer for Ukraine Mission Trip (Sept 11 - 20)

Friends & Family -

As many of you know, I leave this Thursday for a mission trip to the Ukraine. Many have asked what we will be doing and how can we pray for you all. So I thought I would drop you all a note and provide some of this info. There will be 8 of us traveling from here at The Church at Trace Crossing (http://www.tracecrossing.org/).

Most of our time in Ukraine will be spent ministering in the local orphanages. Consider the following orphan statistics for Ukraine -

• Ukraine has over 100,000 orphans.
• Only 10% of these are orphaned due to death of a parent; the rest are social orphans – due to alcoholism, abandonment, or imprisonment of parents.
• Every year, more than 2,000 mothers abandon their babies in maternity hospitals. Between 6 and 7 thousand more are abandoned at an older age or removed from home due to crime or neglect.
• Many social orphans have experienced abuse and violence from parents who were drug addicts or alcoholics.
• Orphans typically grow up in large state-run homes, which may house over 200 children.
• Many children run away from these homes, preferring to live on the street.
• Children usually graduate from these institutions between 15 and 16 years old and are turned out, unprepared for life outside the home.
• About 10% of them will commit suicide after leaving the orphanage before their 18th birthday.
• 60% of the girls will end up in prostitution. Those who run prostitution rings target orphaned girls, who are especially vulnerable due to their lack of options and lack of people who care what happens to them. Though promised good jobs, they end up on the streets and brothels of cities across Europe.
• 70% of the boys will enter a life of crime. Many of these will die young of violence or end up in prison.
• Ukraine is now encouraging long-term foster care in private homes as an alternative to large state-run orphanages.

Our primary goal(s) there, love the children, love the children and then love them some more. All along the way we will be telling them about Jesus through games, Bible stories, and the plan of salvation. Pray for clarity through all of this. Pray for our strength, wisdom, and courage as we encounter many stories of abandonment, loss, abuse, and many other problems. Pray for kids to smile that haven't smiled before, to dance that haven't danced before, and to laugh that haven't laughed before. Pray for our goodbyes, many will not understand when we leave to come home and for many this may be their last earthly experience of what it means to be loved.

James 1:27 says "religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world". Pray that we have the opportunity to make that a reality this week.

We will be partnering with Ian Thompson on this trip. You can read more about Ian's ministry at http://www.bringinggoodnews.org/.

Jennifer has also graciously allowed me time on "her" blog - free of cost I might add. So if I can get internet connectivity, I plan to post during our time in Ukraine. Jennifer's blog address is http://www.thelovesinms.blogspot.com/.

Here is our itinerary at a high-level so when you are pray for us you know what we are doing -

Thur, Sept 11 & Fri, Sept 12 - travel
Sat, Sept 13 & Sun, Sept 14 - spending time in local churches, partnering with "Schools without Walls" (preaching & teaching)
Mon, Sept 15 - Fri, Sept 19 - orphanages
Sat, Sept 20 - travel

Thanks again for your support and many prayers,

- Drew