|
Those No One Else Wants This month you will be introduced to the children at our Girls’ Town in L’viv, Ukraine. Last August we accepted seven girls from two different government orphanages. At the age of 8 these children are usually moved into a larger old Soviet style communal home where the average number is up to 300 children, mixed sexes and ages. The state orphanages are chronically low on funds, the children’s diet is not adequate, nor can you effectively take care of 300 youngsters! These children are generally traumatized at a very young age, and our girls are no exception to this. But at least living with us in a more normal environment we can save them from further trauma. Having good meals, a regular schedule and a prayerful family atmosphere gives our girls a sense of stability and security. Ruslana is 7 years old. A beautiful child but rather slow in her learning. Her brother is retarded and in a government home. Her mother is a severe alcoholic; the government took the children from the mother and put them both in homes. We think that the mother’s drinking problem contributed to the children’s learning disabilities. Mirichja is 7 years old and a bright girl. Her mother is in a mental institution – her father disappeared. Her little sister, who is 4 years old, is in a government home, but we are working to have her come and live with us by May. Julia is 7 years old. She is a smart girl and the most balanced. Her mother was raised in an orphanage too. After she gave birth to Julia she put her in an orphanage because she thought herself incapable of taking care of her daughter properly. She wants no responsibility, but she does come and visit Julia from time to time. Roksolana is 7 years old and the youngest of seven children. Her mother didn’t want her, and put her in an orphanage soon after she was born. The family won’t have anything to do with her. No one visits her from her family. One of the jobs we have with these children is preparing their legal documents with the government for their future, so that at the age of 18 they are able to receive either a pension from the government, or they are able to receive inheritances. Her family will not even answer our inquiries; as a result she will receive no pension or inheritances. Roksolana is a real tomboy, hyper and hungry for love, always looking for attention by doing crazy things. She’s good with the other girls, but often gets competitive. Svitlana is 7 years old. She was regularly beaten by her mother, and finally left to live with an elderly neighbor lady, who couldn’t take care of her properly. Many times she was on her own wandering the streets. One day Svitlana fell through the ice on the lake; fortunately, a man nearby saved her, and took her to the orphanage. Mirichja is 12 years old. We found her at a state-run children’s home in the Carpathian mountain area. This home, a former prison, housed 160 children. There was no running water and all the children had lice. Mirichja comes from a very poor family in a small village with no school nearby. She was put in this home due to the poverty of her parents but also so she could receive an education. We visited her parents who are simple, honest and hard working people. A friend of ours from the USA who was with us at the time wanted to give a donation to the parents to help them out. The mother said “no”; give the money to the Church instead. Amazing generosity from one so poor! When we asked what we could do for her family, her response was that we find a better home for her daughter. How could we refuse such a plea as that? Mirichja is a good girl, mature for her age and big help taking care of the younger children. Olja is 13 years old. Her father is an alcoholic who beat her and her mother often, finally throwing them both out into the street. The mother is quite mentally ill. The government office in charge of children’s homes, called us asking us to take Olja, since she had no where to go. Her mother begged us to take her daughter too. Olja is a nervous child but well behaved. When the girls first came to us, they were hyperactive, insecure and did poorly in school. Some of their emotional blocks were so bad, that they couldn’t even draw lines or circles. Now, all are reading and writing and are more calm. I will end this letter with a story that explains how well these children are adjusting. One evening Roksolana went to the chapel and knelt there alone in front of the Blessed Sacrament. The only light in the chapel was the sanctuary lamp. She is normally very afraid of the dark and being left alone. When one of our members went to the chapel and found Roksolana in the dark, alone and being quiet, she remarked about that. Rokosolana replied: “When everything is darkness, Jesus gives us light.” God bless you and keep you. Know that your prayer petitions are in our chapel before the Blessed Sacrament. You are gratefully in our prayers. |