3 Things: A Special Day!

Today... was awesome.

Reason 1, which isn't really a reason, is it's the 15th. And you probably know if you've been reading awhile that the 15th of the month is a special day to me. :)


Now for the other 3 things.

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Today started way too early, when half of us and Rachel left to go to a church over 2 hours away.

We went to see one of our favorite Ukrainians preach - MAX!

He wasn't able to get it in his schedule to come to our church this trip to the States, so we went to see him.

The church he was speaking at is the church our friend Alice pastors. Alice has known us for probably 8 years now, and she led the mission trip my dad and I went on to Ukraine to work with Max. She has been over to Ukraine 14 times to work with Max, and is a great friend of ours, even though we don't see her often enough!

After the service we got the special treatment and got to go out to lunch with Max and Alice! It was a great time to catch up with them, and just spend some time with them we never get to have.

So grateful we got to see them and grateful they took time to visit with us!

If you don't know who Max is, go read here about the last time he came. You are missing out if you don't know who he is and about his AH-mazing ministry! Visit his website HERE!
(Side note: While going back and reading that blog post to link it here, I realized I was wearing the same shirt I am today. Whoops.)

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The second thing.

One year ago today, on September 15th, Lyla Spitz came home!

It was actually after midnight on the 14th, but I count it as the 15th, because ya know, I like that day.

After the three hard but awesome weeks as I took care of Lyla's siblings, Dave and I headed to the airport in the middle of the night to for him to pick up his wife and bring his daughter home, and for me to finally meet the baby girl I had prayed for and blogged about hundreds of times.

It was emotional for sure. I couldn't believe she was actually HOME with her family and I got to witness it! I blogged about it here.

I've seen Lyla twice since then, and my oh my is she doing well!

Welcome home Beanbean! One year! You rocked it, now rock the next one!

*Visit her mama's blog to see how she's doing!

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Third.

Today, someone has a BIRTHDAY!

Maxim is 9 today!!

Max, not the one we went to visit today, but our other favorite Max, has been special to our family for a long time. But he waited and waited and waited for a family.

But then he found one, the Nance family, and I ended up taking care of Max's siblings too while his mama was gone. 3 weeks last December, and another 4 in January and February.

It was by far the hardest 7 weeks of my life. But so incredibly worth it.

Sick day, for me and the kids, and definitely was not the only one!

Because Max got to come home. When I held him for the first time and looked into his eyes... all the pain and hardship, all the sickness and struggle of the previous weeks faded away. Because he was worth it.

I would do it all over again to get him home.

Because today, for the first time in his LIFE, he got to spend his birthday with a FAMILY. Who loves him soo very much. He is learning and growing, and changing the world, because a family said yes, I will love you.

Happy Birthday Max-a-million!

*Visit his mama's blog to see how he's doing!

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What a day! Happy 15th to you all!!

Heavy Hearts

Tonight my heart is heavy, and I'm sad.

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Yesterday was the last day Joseph had to find a family... he didn't find one. His only hope for a family now is someone in country will adopt him (they have until 18, I believe). Please pray that is so. If that doesn't happen that an organization like Max and True Hope will come into his life and save him from the life that otherwise awaits him.

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Also yesterday, with heavy hearts Reece's Rainbow announced they are relocating the grants of the children in Russia to other waiting children in other countries. This followed a meeting last week in Russia to discuss the ban, and the outcome of that meeting basically was Russia is not reopening anytime soon. [tears]

This news is breaking so many hearts and taking away the last bits of hope many families and advocates were hanging onto. Please pray for these families and advocates, the children stuck in Russia, and that God would move His mighty hand in this situation.

I put this video together last week... these are some of the faces that are now banned from having a family. You will probably recognize some faces.


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And there is all the tragic events in the news. The Boston Marathon bombings, the fertilizer plant explosion in Texas, the earthquake in China, the building that collapsed yesterday in Bangladesh, the barge explosions in Alabama... I could go on and on.

My heart is heavy tonight... so much evil, so much sadness. I'm grateful I know and trust the One who holds the world in His hands.


Do you know Jesus? Do you trust in Him? Have you asked Him to forgive your sins, and asked Him in into your heart? Do you know for sure that you'll live with Him in heaven someday? If not, I strongly encourage you to get to a point where you can answer those questions with a yes. (Email me if you want help inviting Him into your life, contact info on sidebar.)

Life with Jesus isn't a free ride, and no where does it promise bad things don't happen to those who believe in Jesus. But choosing to know Him is the best decision you'll ever make, and He will help you through the hard times and carry you and your burdens when you just can't do it yourself anymore.

There is a heaven and a hell, you don't want to spend eternity in the latter. Get ready, Jesus is coming back soon!

Sometimes Max comes to visit

For the 3rd year in a row, we've gotten a visit from our friend Max during his time in the US. This years visit took place almost 2 weeks ago. It was soo great to see him, if only for a few hours. We all love Max!!!! A couple pictures from our time with him when he shared at church.

Anna, Max, me, and Isaac

I am part of the mission committee at church, and this year, we launched a drive to collect 2013 items for Max and his ministry in 2013! It's only March, and we are at 560+ items!

We had a nice size group (for how unadvertised it was) come to hear him, and a dessert social afterwards. He treated us to some absolutely amazing stories of how God is working and what he is doing through Max and True Hope Ukraine.

Max loves seeing how much bigger the boys are every year! He met them both when he visited my parents when they were over there adopting the boys.

Visiting & making new friends

Posing by the mission spotlight board about him.

With the Mission Committee Head... aka my dad.

And with the committee head's wife. Please note the double cups of coffee and treats, he had a 5 hr drive ahead of him. :)

If you don't know who Max is, aside from this post... he is an amazing young man, who runs a ministry in Ukraine ministering to the hopeless. My dad and I met him while on a mission trip summer 2010, and he visited my parents when they were there with both adoptions. I blogged more about him here.

Please, please, please take the time to watch this video about the new project Max is working on. You will not want to miss being a part of the amazing work God is doing!!!

**Oh and fun little tidbit of info. The lady seen in much of the video walking around with Max, in the black jacket and pink scarf. That would be Stephanie, the mother of the kids I took care of while she was in Ukraine adopting little Max[im]. She was able to spend quite a bit of time working with Max and his team while she was there!

Please consider partnering with Max and support the renovations of the True Hope Center. Former orphans caring for orphans, that is what is going to break the cycle.

the Block Party

Every year we ask a bunch of knitters and crocheters to make 6" squares or blocks, and then we get together at the "Block Party" to sew them into blankets to send to orphanages and institutions that Max works with in Ukraine. I came up with the idea the beginning of 2010, and since then, God has blessed this project immensely and it has grown to beyond what I ever imagined!!

On Saturday, we hosted the 4th Annual Block Party.

All the blocks not already laid out into blankets. We had a total of 1770 blocks this year!!! Not sure yet how many blankets that will make as we are still laying them out and sewing them together.

Everyone sewing!

My sister Anna and her friend working on the rainbow blanket

My mom, Rachel's mom, and Mrs. O (Jimmy's (whom I've blogged about here and here) soon-to-be Mom)

Rachel and I ♥ How did I get so lucky to have such a great best friend??

Jim... trying not to be outdone by Gary :)

First finished blanket!!!

Anita, Betty, Rachel and I with the last finished blanket of the day! It was decided we weren't leaving until it was done!

To read more about the Block Party, or see more pictures from this year, please visit the Block Party website, or my crafting blog, For His Glory Handiwork.

So, that's what I've been up to lately! We are still sewing blankets, and still working on borders, but hopefully they'll be done soon! And we have a visit with the amazing Max himself scheduled in a little less than 3 weeks!! So excited!

Looking Back Part 14: Max

This is Part 14 of the Looking Back series, previous parts are Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, and Part 13.


So I want to tell you a little more about Max before I finish up this series.

Victor and Max

Max is a native to Ukraine, and grew up in a broken home. When he was young her met an orphan girl, and He realized that what everyone had always told him was true, she wasn't any different then him, except she didn't have a family. So his ministry, True Hope Ukraine started, and it has grown and grown. Here is a video I made about him before he came to our church the first time to introduce him:

Max has an absolutely remarkable anointing of the Holy Spirit. It's a.m.a.z.i.n.g. (Yes, I know, like everything else on this trip, but this trip was truly amazing! ;)) I don't remember where we were or where coming back from, but we didn't have a bus and a driver like we did to go out to the institution, and we needed to get back to the apartment. A city bus came along, but it was WAY over-packed already and there was no way 15 more of us would be able to squeeze on. We considered a taxi, and Max was about to call one, when we noticed two guys sitting on a bench with an empty bus parked on the street in front of them.

Max walks over and started talking to them. One of the guys is the bus driver, so Max asked him if we could rent his bus and have him take us back. He can't make those decisions because this is one of the buses that is a city bus and on a schedule, BUT, the main bus manager guy is sitting right next to him on the bench!! He says sure that's fine, so we had the whole bus all to our selves, and we paid 2 grivna less than we would have if we crowded on to a packed city bus! If you've ever been in Ukraine, you know how amazing that is! :)

Max is absolutely hilarious, and here are a few funny stories he told when he was here in the States this past time, that I have to share. I guess you kinda have to hear Max say it for it to have it's full effect, but hopefully you get a kick out of them! :)

- Shortly after he arrived back in the states, Max went to Wal-m*rt. This lady greets him at the door and says "Hi, how are you today?" He says back to her, "Well, I'm a little jet-lagged still and very tired..." And he goes on to tell her all about his flight and starts to tell her about his ministry when he sees the annoyed look on her face. Then he says, "In my country, when you say 'How are you?', you really mean it!"

- On a flight in northern Canada, Max was sitting next to a lady who was dressed like a prostitute. He had told her a little about his ministry when they first said hi to each other, and then out of the blue Max says "You aren't from around here are you? You are dressed different from everyone else." She says thank you, and the next words out Max's mouth were " You know, I also minister to prostitutes." LOL no joke! Max said it's sounds really rude now, but he didn't think of it being rude when he said it. You would think she would have slapped him or something, but instead she puts down her book, and says "Tell me more!". By the end of the flight she accepted Christ as her savior, and Max has been in contact with her since! Gotta love Max! :)

I have many more Max stories and you could talk to him all day and not get bored, but they don't have the same effect when I tell them, and I can only make a post so long.


Here is Max's new ministry video:


And here is the link for his website - TRUE HOPE UKRAINE


Max is an amazing man of God, and I hope you all will have the chance to meet him someday!

Looking Back Part 13: To Kiev and Beyond

This is Part 13 of the Looking Back series, previous parts are Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, and Part 12.


After coming in on the overnight train, we spent the day sightseeing and shopping in Kiev. In addition to Independence square and a few other places, we walked through the mile long market.

Metro

Max holding up the ceiling

Baby in the middle of the street!!! :)
(Don't worry, the road was closed because it was a Sunday)

Independence Square

It was HOT, so we were lovin the fountains!

A sundail clock thing, without the sundial in the middle. :)

Nice statue eh?

Help me out here guys.... Saint Sophia or Saint Michael's?

Some important government building...

Dogs... everywhere!!!

Love this van!

What the typical side of a building looks like...

This guy was the only one in the compartment of whatever you wanna call it with all of us (we filled up the other side too), so we were getting a kick outta talking in English to him (see the expression on his face)... not exactly what we should have been doing on a mission trip... lol

Max and his pizza!