Sunday, July 22, 2012

Alyona

The Schwarz family will be hosting a precious 13 year old orphan from Ukraine for the month of August!  It was discovered that 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 or she would be told she wasn’t coming to the US.  
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
 
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.
Written by Cindy Schwarz, group member, adoptive mom