“You’re child has a rare disability, you need to have an abortion.” “Your son’s disability will be too difficult and too shameful for you and your family, you need to give him up to the state.” For years during the Soviet Union, this is what moms were told by doctors. Many moms of children with disabilities were pressured to have abortions, and even more were compelled to give their children to state orphanages to be raised.
Parents made these decisions with heavy hearts. Moms who gave their children to the orphanage did so because they thought it was best for their child. Every week we minister to children who have grown up in the orphanage system in Ukraine. Five of our office staff goes every week to different orphanages to teach the Bible, play games, do crafts, sing worship songs, and love the children.
Most of these children will spend their whole lives in institutions, but every now and then, we are blessed to see a child leave the institution, to become part of a family. Many years ago, a young boy, Michael, was adopted from the Baby House orphanage in our city Bila Tserkva, by a family in Arkansas. Doctors told Michael’s parents he would be born with a rare condition known as Amyoplasia and that they should consider abortion. His mother chose life for Michael, but because of his severe medical needs, gave him up to the state orphanage, hoping he would receive the medical care he needed.
Michael (right) at the Baby House Orphanage in Ukraine
Michael was found by a family from the US and adopted. In America he went through many operations and eventually was able to walk. He attends school in the US, learned English, excels in Math, and is a very polite, loving child.
Michael in the US
When he was a little older, his US parents told him something that was quite a shock to him. He had a twin brother, who still lives in Ukraine, with his birth parents. Ever since he found out he has a twin, Michael desired to meet him someday. A few weeks later we received a message on Facebook from Stacey, Michael’s mom in the US, asking for our help getting in contact with his birth parents. Stacey’s heart broke when she saw a video online of two twins who grew up in different countries reunited for the first time on an American talk show. She began praying about facilitating a meeting between Michael and his twin and eventually contacted us.
Michael and His Mother Stacey
Our staff went to work, Liliya, our office manager phoned the orphanage, found out the family lived out in one of the villages 40 miles away, with no internet and no email. So, we had to get creative. Stacey Skyped us, and we called the family by phone, and with Tanya from our office acting as the mediator, the two moms spoke for the first time. The mom’s first question was if her son could now walk. She prays and thinks about him every night.
The mom in Ukraine agreed to talk on the phone with Michael. I was there with Tanya helping to make that first conversation with his birth mom happen, and all of our eyes were tearing up. The mom was so happy to hear her child is healthy and doing well, it is best she could have hoped for. Michael, had so many questions about his Ukrainian family. He discovered, not only does he have a twin, but he has a little brother as well. The families continue to keep in contact, and discuss the possibility of meeting someday, for now the brothers in Ukraine do not know they have a brother in the US. It amazes me that Michael, who grew up in an orphanage in Ukraine with no family, now has two families. He was blessed with an American family, a mom and dad who took him in and lots of siblings in the US, and now his birth family is slowly becoming part of his life too. God worked powerfully in Michael’s life, God has big plans for him, and he is an incredibly fun, God loving child.
Michael and his Sister, both adopted from Ukraine.
Our hope at God’s Hidden Treasures, is that every child in the orphanage would have a family. That Michael’s story could be every child’s story. Our dream is of a village for the children, where every orphan could live with host parents, and experience the love of a mom and dad. There is so much work to be done and many obstacles to overcome, to make this dream come true, but with God all things are possible. The God who found a loving home for Michael, can find a home for all His children. Please pray for the village, that God would open all the right doors, and stir in the right people’s hearts, so that we can make a difference in these children’s lives, for they are God’s family. I’ll leave you with Michael’s recap of his first conversation with his birth mom. While there were many questions asked (Michael prepared a whole list), these are the things that stood out to him the most.
“I was nervous while waiting to talk to my birth mom. If you’re wondering if I have a birth mom, yes I’m adopted. I was scared to talk to her but I prayed to God and he gave me courage to say the right words I had to say to her. The first word I said to her was “hi” and she said back to me, “Do you have good grades?”. I said back to her “Yes, I have good grades”. I asked her if my brothers know that I’m their brother. She said, “No. Are you mad at me?” I responded to her, “No. What does your house look like?” She said it is a small house”
Luke 18:16 “But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
I have the pleasure to share with you about our office manager Liliya. She has worked for God’s Hidden Treasures for 13 years. Like many of our staff, she came to know Nita through one of Nita’s Bible studies. God would change her life, and through Liliya many lives have been changed. Liliya spends countless hours overseeing and scheduling all the different ministries that are going on at GHT. She does so much behind the scenes work in preparing our camps for the summer, scouting out locations, contacting the director, the campers, all the families, along with finding new children to come to camp. She keeps everyone on track, and helps figure out the logistics for every big event we have.
Liliya helping lead a seminar with Nita.
