Janna and I go to church at Safe Haven. Its just a home church with several families from Kyiv and the family at Safe Haven. Often in Ukraine kids who come from the orphanage aren’t accepted into most churches. So they’ve built a church there in the home that is completely accepting of the kids. We love it.
Normally on Sunday, Janna and I leave once church is over. After 30 minutes to an hour of small talk (in Russian) and then about 3 hours of Church (in fast Russian and Ukrainian) we are pretty tired and ready to head home.
But this Sunday I stayed a little late, I had a meeting with one of the young couples and then I was getting some pictures from Bogdon. And there were just a bunch of things that happened that I wanted to share. I think they speak to what Safe Haven is and the job that Anya and Bodgon have done at creating a wonderful home for these kids.
Pasha, Anya and Bogdon’s youngest
It was Pasha’s birthday. He turned 4. So Janna and I gave him a gave him a little present. When I handed it to him, he looked up with a big smile on his face and said, “Spaceeba.” (Thank you) Janna and I try to say please and thank you regularly because I know mom will find out if I don’t and pull off my ears. But we don’t hear it all the time here and its usually quiet. But throughout the day, when people gave Pasha presents, he kept saying it loudly and clearly, “Spaceeba.” And I’m pretty sure about 20 of his older brother’s and sisters gave him a present.
Later in the day, I was sitting around waiting for Bogdon to get me some pictures. And Vitya and Pasha rolled past me on the skateboard. They were sitting side by side on this tiny little skateboard, and were scooting themselves along awkwardly. It was one of those moments I wish I had my camera. Vitya is 20, Pasha is 4. I love seeing all the kids who come and live at Safe Haven just becoming a big brother and sister to Anya and Bogdon’s kids. Later, during dinner, Anya told everyone that the next day they were taking Bogdon’s Dad to the doctor and they needed two volunteers to take care of Pasha and Danya in the afternoon. There was almost no pause, Dasha and Oksana volunteered.
I was staying later than I planned, so some of the boys asked me if I was going to stay for dinner. I said why not? They wouldn’t let me go get my own soup, so I sat down and they served me.
There were about 20 people in the house and I was one of the first people to get my soup. I almost started eating. Surely, we wouldn’t wait for the whole group to get their food before starting, it could get cold. I was wrong. 20 people all in their early 20’s waited until everyone got their food and the prayer was said before eating.
Some of the family at the dinner table. Anya has her arm around Vitya.
And the soup was amazing. I asked who made it. Sergei and Vova. I couldn’t cook like that when I was in college. And I’ve been helping my mom in the kitchen since I was a kid. In the orphanages, kids aren’t allowed to help in the kitchen. Anya says that when the kids come to Safe Haven, they no absolutely nothing about what to do in the kitchen. I was impressed.
Yulia and Dasha always sit together, off to the side in church. They are quite and shy. But on Sunday, I watched Bogdon’s dad, Petya, go and sit with them throughout church. They didn’t talk, just sat together. When dinner was served, Grandma and Granddad were served first. Then I watched as Yulia and Dasha climbed around so that they could sit between them.
Nothing huge had happened, but once again I was struck by how this very packed house had become an amazing home for so many kids. I’m grateful, that in a small way, I get to be a part of what they are doing.
Normally on Sunday, Janna and I leave once church is over. After 30 minutes to an hour of small talk (in Russian) and then about 3 hours of Church (in fast Russian and Ukrainian) we are pretty tired and ready to head home.
But this Sunday I stayed a little late, I had a meeting with one of the young couples and then I was getting some pictures from Bogdon. And there were just a bunch of things that happened that I wanted to share. I think they speak to what Safe Haven is and the job that Anya and Bodgon have done at creating a wonderful home for these kids.
Pasha, Anya and Bogdon’s youngestLater in the day, I was sitting around waiting for Bogdon to get me some pictures. And Vitya and Pasha rolled past me on the skateboard. They were sitting side by side on this tiny little skateboard, and were scooting themselves along awkwardly. It was one of those moments I wish I had my camera. Vitya is 20, Pasha is 4. I love seeing all the kids who come and live at Safe Haven just becoming a big brother and sister to Anya and Bogdon’s kids. Later, during dinner, Anya told everyone that the next day they were taking Bogdon’s Dad to the doctor and they needed two volunteers to take care of Pasha and Danya in the afternoon. There was almost no pause, Dasha and Oksana volunteered.
I was staying later than I planned, so some of the boys asked me if I was going to stay for dinner. I said why not? They wouldn’t let me go get my own soup, so I sat down and they served me.
There were about 20 people in the house and I was one of the first people to get my soup. I almost started eating. Surely, we wouldn’t wait for the whole group to get their food before starting, it could get cold. I was wrong. 20 people all in their early 20’s waited until everyone got their food and the prayer was said before eating.
Some of the family at the dinner table. Anya has her arm around Vitya.Yulia and Dasha always sit together, off to the side in church. They are quite and shy. But on Sunday, I watched Bogdon’s dad, Petya, go and sit with them throughout church. They didn’t talk, just sat together. When dinner was served, Grandma and Granddad were served first. Then I watched as Yulia and Dasha climbed around so that they could sit between them.
Nothing huge had happened, but once again I was struck by how this very packed house had become an amazing home for so many kids. I’m grateful, that in a small way, I get to be a part of what they are doing.
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