I remember when Mandy first approached me about hosting an orphan child from the Ukraine during Christmas. Many thoughts ran through my mind and I started to seek reasons NOT to proceed. As September led to October, Christmas began to loom. When Mandy mentioned going to an informational session in October, the date was one I was going to be out of town. Had I found an opening? As the date drew closer, I soon realized that I would be in town for the informational session... it was around this time that I finally decided to stop running from the idea and to start embracing it. God has a funny way of working...
Mandy is an amazing person, a true Godsend. I probably don't tell her that often enough, but I am continually reminded of her gifts. She has a profound love to help others, giving selfishly of herself. It is a blessing to call her my wife and to be able to walk along side her. God has truly blessed me, our marriage and our family. I realized that hosting was something God had laid on her heart and He was working on me.
After leaving the informational session, I knew we were about to embark on an adventure. I started to embrace the idea of having someone stay with us during Christmas as I knew this would be something we would always remember; it would make a lasting impression of God's love for others on our children; and it would demonstrate God's love to those we interact with. More importantly, we would be able to demonstrate God's love to us by pouring out our love on Zhenya. As I started to share with others what we were doing, I felt as if I always had a "goofy" smile on my face!
As Mandy has mentioned in other posts, getting Zhenya was an adventure in and of itself. Of course, God's hand was in everything and his arrival turned out for the best. We were concerned and apprehensive about how we would communicate, but God has provided a universal language - laughter. Zhenya has brought additional laughter to a family that has never been in need of laughter itself!
We have spent countless hours playing basketball, both on our patio in our back and at our church's gym. Sports are another universal language and a have proved to be a great way to communicate. Zhenya lights up when playing any sport! During his first few hours, he and I played basketball (me in dress clothes for work) and finished the afternoon with some american football.
Christmas was a very special time - spending time with family leading up to the celebration of Christ's birth and then the day itself. Zhenya was overwhelmed with the gifts and outpouring of love on him! The boys gave Mandy and I a gift - a 2 hour nap! - after an early morning! Zhenya, Jeremy and I then enjoyed basketball with the Byars!
Philippians 2:3-4 says "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." It is my prayer that we live this out daily and that Zhenya comes to know the love of the Lord through the outpouring of love received daily from us and friends. Many thanks to those who have walked along side us with prayer and gifts. Your contributions have been a tremendous blessing.
God Bless.
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