Krivoy Rog, Ukraine.
As a former soviet nation, Ukraine is still under many of the same mentalities that
communism brought, “If it’s not a picture of perfection, get rid of it.”
I am involved with a small group of believers in the city who have devoted their
time to helping men and women whom the government has tried to get rid of. The Home
for Invalids was purposefully built outside the city where they cannot be seen or
heard. We simply go with some food and the love of Jesus, telling them that Jesus
does loves them and that God has not forgotten them.
Pulling up to the home you will find a group of men sitting outside in a large cage.
The government has classified these men as a danger to society so they spend their
days in their rooms, or literally locked in a cage. None of them are harmful, just
misunderstood.
Other residents have been locked inside their room because they are “sick.” When
visiting one of these rooms, one man immediately began crying and told the nurse
that he was not an animal and did not deserve to be treated like one.
Another room holds a lady who used to be a teacher. A few years ago she had a stroke
and lost some of her mobility; therefore, the government classified her as an invalid
and made her move to this home even though she is still in her right mind.
Many of these men and women, whom the government and society has deemed as nothings,
are capable of living a normal life. I’m working together with a group of dedicated
Ukrainians to see that these men and women have the life that God has promised them.
In a nearby village is an unfinished house for sale. We want to buy this house and
turn it into a retreat. Our plans are to fix it up, put in a therapy pool, and cultivate
a vegetable and a flower garden. Our vision is to be able to take up to 15 of these
men and women per day to this retreat so they can enjoy life again.
COUNTING THE COST:
- $4000 Village house
- $3000 Renovation and labor
- $1500 Electrical, gas and water connection
- $250 Therapy pool
- $500 Initial food and garden supplies
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