Many of you know that our family has participated and led missions trips until this last year when we traveled to Africa and saw our mission in settling our newly adopted sons. As we began to think about how we would spend our ‘vacation’ time and energy this summer, we kept coming up short. We have missions ingrained in the heart of our family. The Lord has been good to us during those trips, individually and as a family. These mission opportunities become a place of not only serving others, but seeing the Lord at work in and through us. It’s a blessing. So as we began thinking about what we wanted for our time, we were wishing we had planned a missions trip. Ironically, God was already orchestrating the mission, but it isn’t going this time, it’s coming to us!
This past week, we were led to a precious 13 year old orphan from Ukraine to host for the month of August! We heard she would not be able to come for her hosting trip because the previous family was not able to keep their commitment. A family had to be found for her by this past Thursday, 36 hours after they heard or she would be told she wasn’t going to be able to come.
We discussed briefly, prayed and then thought, ‘If we can help, we’d love to’. Little did we know we were one family of many with that response. Immediately they responded with some comment that assured me we probably were out. So, that night, I prayed..and prayed....for Alyona. For her to be given the chance to be hosted, loved and for a forever family. I prayed that the family that hosted her would be THE FAMILY that would help connect her to a family that would love her and point her to HIM.
Flashforward to 4:30pm the next day...
I got a message saying: CALL US BY 5PM PLEASE...WE WANT YOU TO BE ALYONA’S HOST FAMILY!
You can’t understand how fast this came down yet how slow the minutes seemed as we prayed for her. The Lord just sometimes gives us these specific kids to pray for. It’s holy ground. When we realized ‘our work’ wasn’t going to be done with praying her to her host family, we were thrilled.
So, without further babbling, here is sweet Alyona:
Do you see the look in her eyes? She still has a look of hope. She has a spark of ‘look at me, I’m worthy’. That’s what we see...how worthy and delighted Jesus is with HER! So, she’s coming aboard to our home 7/28 for 4 short weeks. Not long in the span of her orphanage life. We already ache (how is that??) for her return to her world. Still, we ache with a hope that her story is about to change.
Here’s what we know:
Alyona’s parents rights were taken in 2007. She is behind in school a little, but catching up. She is a hard worker and her teachers love her. Here’s all we were initially told:
Alyona – born July, 1998. Alyona is a very nice and kind girl, she is friendly and generous, quiet and shy. She likes dancing and playing outside games with her friends, she likes drawing and reading books. Her favorite color is pink and blue, she likes animals and wants to have her own puppy some day.
Her parents lost rights in 2007. Has older siblings, no problem with separation, they don’t stay in touch with Alyona, don’t visit her at the orphanage.
Available for adoption.
That last line sits so heavy for us as part of her “identity”.
Motivated by God’s grace that we’ve experienced and know, we move...toward her and in Him. That’s about all we DO know. Christ in us...and for Alyona.
We are hoping to communicate the Gospel and Christ’s love to her in her short time, in spite of language barriers and even in light of her being orphaned.
Many of you are already being the body of Christ to US and to her through your offers of support. If you would like to partner with us in this mission opportunity, we’d love it! Consider any of the following ways:
PRAYING! Please commit to praying for our family, our time and for Alyona’s heart. Also pray and consider others to share her need for a forever family!
Financially. If you are led to give to support our cost for the hosting program($1,500), then please do. We will be covering all her clothing, food, and expenses while here. Any additional funds will begin her ADOPTION FUND.
~You can contribute via paypal or check;
We also have a paypal account that will send donations directly to us. Sign in to YOUR paypal and make a ‘person to person’ payment to andyschwarz2@gmail.com
3. If you are partnering with us, please email us a picture of you/your family to include in a book for Alyona, send it to: andyschwarz2@gmail.com . We’d love to ‘show’ her the body of Christ coming around her this way.
4. If you have a tangible way you could ‘love’ Alyona (special services like dental or experiences for her to have) then let us know those too.
Grateful for the way Jesus knits HIS PEOPLE in unity and by His Spirit. We’re encouraged and pray Alyona will be too:)!
The Schwarz Family
Andy, Cindy, Justin, Kaylee Ann, Aliza, Jacob, and Jeremiah
This past week, we were led to a precious 13 year old orphan from Ukraine to host for the month of August! We heard she would not be able to come for her hosting trip because the previous family was not able to keep their commitment. A family had to be found for her by this past Thursday, 36 hours after they heard or she would be told she wasn’t going to be able to come.
We discussed briefly, prayed and then thought, ‘If we can help, we’d love to’. Little did we know we were one family of many with that response. Immediately they responded with some comment that assured me we probably were out. So, that night, I prayed..and prayed....for Alyona. For her to be given the chance to be hosted, loved and for a forever family. I prayed that the family that hosted her would be THE FAMILY that would help connect her to a family that would love her and point her to HIM.
Flashforward to 4:30pm the next day...
I got a message saying: CALL US BY 5PM PLEASE...WE WANT YOU TO BE ALYONA’S HOST FAMILY!
You can’t understand how fast this came down yet how slow the minutes seemed as we prayed for her. The Lord just sometimes gives us these specific kids to pray for. It’s holy ground. When we realized ‘our work’ wasn’t going to be done with praying her to her host family, we were thrilled.
So, without further babbling, here is sweet Alyona:
Do you see the look in her eyes? She still has a look of hope. She has a spark of ‘look at me, I’m worthy’. That’s what we see...how worthy and delighted Jesus is with HER! So, she’s coming aboard to our home 7/28 for 4 short weeks. Not long in the span of her orphanage life. We already ache (how is that??) for her return to her world. Still, we ache with a hope that her story is about to change.
Here’s what we know:
Alyona’s parents rights were taken in 2007. She is behind in school a little, but catching up. She is a hard worker and her teachers love her. Here’s all we were initially told:
Alyona – born July, 1998. Alyona is a very nice and kind girl, she is friendly and generous, quiet and shy. She likes dancing and playing outside games with her friends, she likes drawing and reading books. Her favorite color is pink and blue, she likes animals and wants to have her own puppy some day.
Her parents lost rights in 2007. Has older siblings, no problem with separation, they don’t stay in touch with Alyona, don’t visit her at the orphanage.
Available for adoption.
That last line sits so heavy for us as part of her “identity”.
Motivated by God’s grace that we’ve experienced and know, we move...toward her and in Him. That’s about all we DO know. Christ in us...and for Alyona.
We are hoping to communicate the Gospel and Christ’s love to her in her short time, in spite of language barriers and even in light of her being orphaned.
Many of you are already being the body of Christ to US and to her through your offers of support. If you would like to partner with us in this mission opportunity, we’d love it! Consider any of the following ways:
PRAYING! Please commit to praying for our family, our time and for Alyona’s heart. Also pray and consider others to share her need for a forever family!
Financially. If you are led to give to support our cost for the hosting program($1,500), then please do. We will be covering all her clothing, food, and expenses while here. Any additional funds will begin her ADOPTION FUND.
~You can contribute via paypal or check;
We also have a paypal account that will send donations directly to us. Sign in to YOUR paypal and make a ‘person to person’ payment to andyschwarz2@gmail.com
3. If you are partnering with us, please email us a picture of you/your family to include in a book for Alyona, send it to: andyschwarz2@gmail.com . We’d love to ‘show’ her the body of Christ coming around her this way.
4. If you have a tangible way you could ‘love’ Alyona (special services like dental or experiences for her to have) then let us know those too.
Grateful for the way Jesus knits HIS PEOPLE in unity and by His Spirit. We’re encouraged and pray Alyona will be too:)!
The Schwarz Family
Andy, Cindy, Justin, Kaylee Ann, Aliza, Jacob, and Jeremiah
