143 Million orphans worldwide …you can help.

TEAMSIM

Mission to Simferopol, Ukraine

Team update

Dear family & friends,

According to UNICEF, it is estimated that there are over 143 million orphans worldwide. An orphan, by definition, is a child who has lost one or both parents. Add to that number the millions of social orphans and abandoned children.

Seems over-whelming doesn't it? Almost immobilizes you, right? The numbers are too big to imagine. Seems like a problem that's so big it can't be fixed.

You might even ask yourself, "What can I do? How can I make a difference?" Well, just keep reading….

During the last six years I’ve been partnering with YouthReach International and  traveling to Ukraine to minster to orphans and abandoned children. I've witnessed ONE CRITICAL MISSING ELEMENT in their lives — RELATIONSHIP!

For them, relationship means the difference between life and death; between hope and hopelessness.

In Ukraine, at the young age of 16-17, children "age out" of the orphanage system. Every year during the spring following their 16^th or 17^th birthday, teenagers are ceremoniously turned out on the street with “great pomp”.

Some of these kids won't survive to see the next summer because they will choose to end their own lives out of despair. Many will be homeless, jobless, helpless, hopeless, unskilled and unprepared for life with no one to turn to. Most will be addicted, prostituted, turn to crime, go to jail, or become a statistic in the human-trafficking industry. Many will die from exposure, disease, violence, or suicide before age 21.

As you may already know, I'll be leading a mission team this December and we'll be returning to Simferopol, Crimea in Ukraine. My wife Linda and I, along with Christy Blazer, are currently preparing to depart on December 1, 2011.

Imagine a child who has no family with which to celebrate the holidays. Imagine no gifts or Christmas treats. Imagine there is no one to share the story of Christ' miraculous birth on a cold winter's night. Our mission is to teach and provide life-giving relationship to 50 or so children in a day camp setting living in a local children's home.

Our goal is to continue the work we began 4 years ago in developing and maintaining relationships with institutionalized orphaned and abandoned children in Simferopol, Crimea. We will partner with local Ukrainian Christians we call 12-3-1 Mentors. We work together to share the story of our hope in Jesus Christ and connect them with a local young adult mentor who speaks their language. Our team mentors will continue teaching and discipling our kids throughout the year.

Help us share the story of salvation and bring hope to the hopeless. Help us bring relationship into the lives of children who desperately need your help.

We currently have travel costs of $2700 and mentor costs of $900 totaling $3600. We will host a holiday party and provide each child with an age-appropriate Bible of their own and a gift bag (see “Support a Child at camp” below).

Funding Deadlines:

$1800 (50%) due Sept 30

$1800 (100%) due Oct 31

To donate securely on-line: visit our funding website hosted by Blackbaud. Click the link or copy/paste the URL into your browser.

http://www.youthreach.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=993793&lis=0&kntae993793=179E92BE63D54C4EB948E4BB29A09B80&supId=0&team=4826230&cj=Y

Find the list of names on the right and click the name of the team member you wish to support. You may also click “General Team Donation.”

To support a child at camp (Check Only): Make a check payable to Donelson Church of Christ. Attach a note stating Ukraine Winter Camp Child Sponsorship. Individuals, families, classes or study groups can support each of our 50 children at winter camp for just$20/child. Your donation will cover art/craft supplies as well as a Christmas gift bag for each child. Mail checks to: Joel & Linda Butts, 2221 June Drive, Nashville, TN  37214.

Thanks for prayerfully considering supporting our effort.

Peace and Grace,

Joel