Summers in Ukraine

Dear Stranger,

I have so many things to tell you! I cannot do justice to my feelings inside. This summer, I returned to the beautiful country of Ukraine. I was fortunate enough to travel there last summer and spend time with some of the most amazing kids in the world. When I go there, I spend time with orphans. Most of them are 12 and up. It is unbelievable to hear their stories. One girl ran away from home because her mother was trying to sell her organs. Others told me how their father's work takes him away from home and their mother began drinking heavily. They (twin boys) moved from Russia to Ukraine to live with their grandmother. When she died, they were sent to the orphanage. Almost all of these orphans have families who, a) didn't want them, b) couldn't afford them, c) were unfit to care for them.

Despite everything these kids have been through, THEY STILL SMILE! I go there to put on a summer camp environment for them because in the summer, they are at a state park with NOTHING to do. We have morning and evening programs, master classes, craft time, (in smaller groups), REC, and we spend time with them. It is the most rewarding thing I have EVER been a part of.

Last year, I met a guy named ______. He was about sixteen at the time, he has a brother at home, who lives with his family, and he loves to break dance. When I first saw him my stomach tangled into knots. On each arm, front and back, he had at least 10 GASHES. Self inflicted gashes. If this were to happen in the states, he would have gotten stitches for each cut and been seen to be evaluated. It turned out he was in my group (we spent time with our groups in the morning and evening. Groups are determined by the orphanages, so the kids are with the people they live/attend school with during the year.) We became friends, but were unable to keep in touch over this past year. When I returned to the camp this year, he really began to open up to me. He told me that he missed me and would miss me again when I left. He told me this past year was different for him. I asked why and then he said, "When things in my life were difficult, I thought of you and I felt better and I could deal with what I was going through." Wow. There is nothing special about me Stranger. I am an ordinary person and to know that I could be used in such a great was is beyond humbling, even though we have to speak through translators, it still comes across why a group of us go there every summer. It's because we want them to know that somewhere on this Earth, there are people who love them. You may go to Radooga.com if you would like more information about these camps.

Thank you for listening Stranger! I will leave you with this: You don't have to be extraordinary to make a difference, if you are willing to love someone, you can change their life and give them hope.

With love, Me

P.S. I believe.

(On back: Eventually everyone's heart will be full.)