January 2020 Lydia’s Testimony

See page 5

Inside this month’s newsletter...

Dear Partner in Hope Page 2

Single mothers Page 3

Village Bible Clubs Page 4

From the history of Swindon House - P 4

Lydia’s Testimony Page 5

Foster Parents Page 5

Students Page 6

Love Ukraine Page 7

Prayer Diary Page 8 Help for single mothers. See page 3

“Bringing hope by sharing the love of Jesus” www.hopenow.org.uk Dear Partner in Hope “For I know the plans I have for you”, Ukraine is most praiseworthy, but they know, as we do, that declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you all praise goes to God, who guides us and leads us as our and not to harm you, plans to give you Heavenly Father. hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. As we now move into a New Year, I am reminded of There has been an uncertain time for Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the Lord will renew Hope Now with many changes during their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they 2019, but I am happy to report that we have turned the will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be corner and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Brenda, faint.” My prayer is that the Lord will renew the strength of Maddie and Claire have been so supportive, giving freely of Hope Now, giving us all we need to complete the task we their time making it possible for us to go into the New Year have, in the knowledge that He calls each one of us to a with a positive mindset and fresh hope. different role, but to be a part of His worldwide work. What The team in Ukraine also had a very difficult year with a privilege that is, thank you for being their Director, Misha, having a serious stroke, worries about a part of Hope Now, for your support, the finances and even more people coming in for help. prayers and friendship that is truly Jon Budgell Their commitment to serving the most vulnerable people in making a difference to so many lives.

Ray of Hope testimonies and silver and thanked him for his willingness to help Nina Serdyuk brought four people to our her daughter. After the man group. She said that in Telepyno they have got left she decided to call her a new pastor. Everybody loves him, he is very son-in-law and check. It caring. Nina takes home some of the clothes appeared her daughter was to give away in her village. Six weeks ago Nina sleeping at home, and Nadya decided to visit some rich families. Knocking had been robbed. at five doors only one was opened and she shared with them about God and about the Peter shared the message: need of poor people. They gave three sacks of “God is our King, He came clothes and shoes. Nina was so excited and it has become to set us free from our sins. We her ministry. It helps her forget about her pain, sleepless need to talk to Him and follow nights, diabetes because there is much work in God’s field. Him.” Everybody could look at their life. Why do I follow Christ? Nadya (the lady in blue) shared the story that one night Or why don’t I follow Christ? she received a phone call. The lady on the other end told her that she was her daughter and has had a car accident. Nadya Beskrovna asked us to pray for her son. He was Her voice didn’t sound like her daughter’s voice but the coming home after his work one evening and was beaten explanation was that her jaw was damaged. The lady asked severely by some men, especially around his head (the lady in purple). for money and Nadya believed her. She opened the door at Larisa 3am to a strange man and gave him all the money, all gold

JANUARY 2020 Hope Now 2020 ANNUAL WEEKEND at Ocean Beach Hotel, Bournemouth, www.hopenow.org.uk Friday March 27th - Newsletter contact: [email protected] Sunday March 29th Editor: Claire Zillwood Our Annual Weekend will Contact us: Hope Now International, Head Office, again be held at the popular Ocean Beach Hotel & Spa. Malvern Centre, Malvern Rd, Southampton SO16 6PY We do hope that many of Tel: 023 8078 0720 you will be able to join us Hope Now is a Christian charity that aims to “bring hope, by for this year’s event. sharing the love of Jesus and making Him known by ministering Please fill in and return the booking form in this to those in spiritual, physical and emotional need.” newsletter as places are always limited. We would We want the message of the Gospel to touch the hearts of young love to see you there. and old, rich and poor, healthy and infirm, free and imprisoned. Ocean Beach Hotel & Spa Hope Now works mainly in Ukraine. 32 East Overcliff Drive, Reg. Charity No: 1072038 GAYE No: 7201 Company No: 358953 Bournemouth BH1 3AQ

2 SINGLE MOTHERS Rejected ladies A new meeting for single mothers This Monday was unusually noisy. We were welcoming single mothers. It was our first meeting. When we invited them to pray they had no idea how to do that. Sergey Sobko prayed. We have found that each lady had a lot of problems in their family life. Each one of them was abused and finally decided to put a stop to the situation and left home. How these ladies survive only God knows. We gave each of them a food bag and they chose some clothes. The most important thing was that the ladies want to know more about God. We invited them to come for the next meeting and they gladly agreed. Next time we want to find some people to take care of the children during the session time. Larisa Vovk

Food parcel

Collecting clothes & food from Alpha House

Hi, my name is Liliya. buy bread. My children are the only joy that I have in my life. For My oldest son is Vanya, 9 years old. He has sight 4 years I and my children had to endure the tortures of problems. Twice a year we have to go through the my husband. Finally, I made the decision to run away treatment to keep his sight from getting worse. This year from him. I took only my children. We even didn’t take we need to buy medical lenses. Their cost is over £600. our things. Later we found out that my husband sold our My next son is Mykyta, he goes to day care and the things. youngest is my 4 month old baby daughter. We found shelter at the centre for single mothers. We hope that our life will change for better. They helped us with clothes and food. Right now I rent Lyliya the flat. The money that I get as child support goes to pay the rent. I can’t work because I have to take care of Please pray for Lyliya and her children. If you would my children. Very often we don’t have enough money to like to help support her, please contact the office.

In November we were able to send 2020 Summer Camps boxes to Cherkasy (DATES TO BE CONFIRMED) 23 containing: June - Camp for Youth with disabilities - clothes and supplies for vulnerable families June - Camp for Children with disabilities - children’s clothes & toys for Anastasiia’s Ministry July - TEFL (Teaching English) Camp - medical items August - Childrens’ Camp - gifts for the Christmas Mission August/September - Widows’ Camp Week 1 The boxes cost £30 each to send. September - Widows’ Camp Week 2 Thank you to everyone who donates to this fund. 3 VILLAGE MINISTRY Village Bible Clubs “Brain Ring” Competition

Anastasiia with the youngest participant, baby Margaret!

Discussing an answer to a question

All the participants of the “Brain Ring” Competition

What can I say about autumn? It is as ministry? always – a time to see fruit. Of course - How many disciples did Jesus have? the best fruit for me was my little Can you answer them? I think you Margaret. She was one month old in can. But the atmosphere during our September 25th. game was so special that children And the second fruit was the “Brain could forget everything because Brother and sister from poor family Ring”with teams from different villages. they were too scared to lose. Anyway, Different village Bible Clubs were everyone enjoyed the game and this was the first time when they went asked to read and learn the Gospel of received prizes. out of their village. So there were a Luke. Many questions from that book After the “Brain Ring” one of the brother and sister from a very poor were prepared. The preparation lasted participants – Polina (12 years ) went family. They visit the Bible Club in one month and finally six teams came home and decided to read the Gospel their village and brother Andrew, their together to test their knowledge. The of Luke once more, then she prepared leader, did his best to take them to this children were really worried. Here are questions and played “Brain Ring” with event. The children were so so happy. some simple questions that were on her younger brothers! There are many different ways to the “Brain Ring”. That was a really encouraging story make children happy. Let us share the - Who has better clothes than king because we saw that such events also Gospel with little ones and use our life Solomon? motivate children to continue studying time to make them happy. - How long had Mary spent with the Bible. Anastasiia Vovk Elizabeth? This “Brain Ring” was also so special - How old was Jesus when he started His because for some of the participants

From the history of Swindon House church. One of the first girls that we accommodated in Being in the choir Anya was invited to visit Swindon House in 2002 was Anya. There were 10 prison with the programme. She declined children in her family. The parents died. many times but one day she was talked in Anya came to Swindon House and she started to attending the church meeting in the local attending church. Later, her sister and her brother prison. There she has met Sergiy. He sent a first joined the church, also. Anya has a good voice letter. They kept in touch and in the year of 2019 and she sings in the church choir. Eight years got married. They are expecting a baby. Sergiy ago Anya’s older sister died and left a six year will have to stay in prison another 6 years. old daughter who Anya adopted. Because Anya When Anya is asked about her life, her experienced a lack of food, she decided to be a answer is: “I am happy.” She is grateful for cook. She would make very delicious cakes and Swindon House and thanks her sponsors for sold them. The money would go to support the their support. Larisa Vovk

4 TESTIMONY CEREBRAL PALSEY CAMP In August’s Newsletter we printed the testimony of Lida, one of the widows from Cherkasy. Here she shares another experience from her life. Lida writes: was turned on. My grandson breath. I knelt before him and prayed, My husband, came to me and told me that I called people’s name when I prayed Kolyunya, and I a lady was waiting for me at for them. Suddenly I felt somebody’s loved each other the door. I opened the door, it presence in the room but couldn’t stop very much. When was dark already. A very young praying. In a while I looked back but I learned from and pretty girl, my sister in nobody was there. But in my spirit I doctors that my the Lord, was standing at the felt that the angels in white came to husband had door. I was all trembling and take my Kolyunya. I stopped praying, leukemia, I wept asked: “Are you an angel?” froze for a moment and saw that they very much. When She said: “It could be!” I asked disappeared in the corner of the room. I came home I her: “Why did you come? Do I thought: “They took his body, what knelt before God you know what is going on will I say to my children, other people?” and looking up said: “Lord, I believe in this house?” She said: “I could only I was trembling like a Maple leaf. And I that you are God and you don’t guess. But God told me to stand up and started crying out to God. I was afraid make mistakes. Do you want to take go into your house even though I was to turn my eyes from the spot where my Kolyunya from me? It looked so getting ready for bed.” Then I let her in I saw angels. I forced my head to turn horrible to bear. But if you want – OK, and asked her and my grandson to go and saw that the body of my husband take him. May your will be done and wait in another room. I ran to see was there. He was not there though. I because you know what is best for us. how my husband was. He was laying said: “Well, Lord, everything is normal, You told us to be grateful in everything.” humbly. I asked him: “Are you going his body is here. We will bury the body I could hardly squeeze out words of to leave me?” He answered: “Yes”. “Do and he is with You! Praise and glory be gratitude. And at that moment I asked you know where are you going?” The to you!” God not to forsake me or my children. answer was: “Yes”. “Are you going to Then I asked my beloved sister to It came time for my husband to meet Jesus.” “Yes”. “Do you have fear?” come in and we prayed together. leave this earth. It was autumn. The “No”. I was so excited to hear that, so Well, it is 14 years already since he third of November. It was getting dark I told him that I loved him dearly. He passed away, I didn’t grieve, not once. outside. The electricity went off. Our told me that he loved me, too. I asked I know that my husband is in the best oldest grandson stayed with us. He him to worship Jesus and to tell Him place and he is waiting for me. was 12. I knelt before God and asked that we all are waiting for Him. I told With love, your sister in Christ, him to help the electricians fix the line my husband to wait for me there since Lydia quickly because of my situation. As the Lord decided to take him first. soon as I said “Amen”, the electricity And suddenly my husband held his

FOSTER PARENTS CEREBRAL PALSEY CAMP continue to support him, visiting, A group for support providing food for the family, helping him with the food. When he came back At our Foster Parents’ Meeting last parents is to teach their children to they went to the church. Both repented, Tuesday our foster parents looked at choose between good and evil, to took and raised orphans. They have their Christian temperament and learnt teach them to follow the right people. bought and rebuild their house. how to plant it into the hearts of their Only the Son of Man, our Lord Jesus Because she was faithful and did good children, too. had the worthy to follow temperament. she is worthy to be followed. The question was: “Do I sometimes We need to learn from Him. Zhanna – when our children live suffer from my own nature?” Everyone Are there some people among us with us it seems everything is good but had to think it over. The task of the who are worthy to be followed also? when they grow and leave our house All, who were present then you understand what could be pointed to Galya done better. But we are not supposed Mikhlkova. Her to cry over our mistakes - we need to husband married her continue to plant good. when she had a child. Ira says that she doesn’t have She had to pray for enough firmness. him, to support him, Alexandra says that she is very to endure a lot. Her sensitive to the relationships with other husband had been people, especially at her place of work. imprisoned for three years. Galya would Larisa Vovk 5 STUDENTS Girls, girls, girls ... Our ministry to help how to live in a group. They are trying how God works and little by little they orphans and children from to encourage each other. They get become friends and their life becomes together when somebody has an interesting and meaningful. families that are not able occasion, like sisters. For example they Study takes a lot of their time. to pay for their education help Diana. One boy comes and brings And it is their main responsibility. Not started in 2002. her flowers and gifts and says that he all the girls have sponsors so we are Fifty-seven girls have received loves her but she doesn’t love him. trying to save every penny. There are accommodation in our Pre- There are two girls, they are sisters, some girls that need extra support independence Homes. This year we from the orphanage. They need a lot for their accommodation. They all are were able to provide a place for 14 of help. For example one girl was in from orphanage:- girls. The girls are protected from trouble with her teacher because one Ira Beresenko (orphan), medical many temptations in the flat. They day she arrived late. Now she goes to college, nurse. have certain rules and it helps them to bed very early because she wakes up Karina Veber (orphan), Painter, study well to do everything on time, at 5 am, at 6:30 goes to her college plasterer, tiler. to have good visits and to carry on and waits there for an hour before her Lyuba Borshch, office manager. normal student life. They have been lessons start. It is not convenient for Snizhana Poltavets, computers. staying here for almost two month. other girls but they need to be patient. They all are different. But they learn They all go to churches. We can see

Ira Beresenko Karina Veber Lyuba Borshch Snizhana Poltavets

Pre-independence flats have positive influence The girls made some sandwiches and we were drinking afraid of teachers at her school, she learns how to spend tea together. money wisely. Praise God! We were working on the programme to present it in The girls pray every night for their support. They were the orphanage. Diana is responsible for the programme very excited about one girl, when she was told that a and all the other girls are helping. sponsor had been found for her. The girls have much fun living together, 3 out of 7 are All the girls keep the rules which we set for them. students at the university. We noticed a positive result in Four lovely girls, who finished their study live in flat №1. Rusanna and Karina are two sisters who recently Swindon House. They are: Yulya Sova, Valya Lytovets, came from the orphanage. They have to learn a lot and Tamara Magerramova and Tamara Gnidchenko. often make lots of mistakes. Another issue was that We are grateful that we have this opportunity to help Rusanna would oppress her younger sister Karina. We saw orphans. that and worked with them. It helped. Karina blossomed, Larisa Vovk she is more brave to start the conversation, she is not

If you would like to sponsor a student, please contact Jon at the office. Thank you.

6 January Svieta’s Ministry My name is Svitlana (Svieta for short) worship at, many students enjoyed their studies and many and it means “light”. Those who have met prisoners got a glimmer of hope just because of someone’s me or look at my picture would doubt generous heart, constant prayers and a living example. the correspondence of its meaning. As a This year I started working for Kompas Park. God little girl I used to hear comments: “You continues to broaden the opportunities to bring His have a wrong name. ‘Galka”’(after a black light to enlighten the hearts of many, as we work with bird - jackdaw) would suit you better”. vulnerable children, adults with disabilities, just those who When I became a Christian I realised there were many need comfort, support and encouragement. doors opened in front of me to live up to my name and Consider please to join with us in bringing hope carry out its meaning. The doors opened even wider when and light to the hearts of people in Kompas Park next I started working for a Christian organisation. Hope Now summer through teaching English, leading crafts/sports/ was my first job after a university. I remember my study sharing God’s light through word and living example. years as hard work, sleepless nights and support from the The opportunities are in childrens’ camps, for people with whole family who would give their time and efforts to disabilities, hard-of-hearing and deaf people, village family make my study possible. camps, ladies retreat. The dates are still to be confirmed. Working with Hope Now I began to understand God’s Please contact Jon for more information as you consider purpose in my parents’ decision to give me the name. Hope the opportunities. Your prayers and financial support Now has been bringing light and I could not stop crying, would be greatly appreciated by those who would be witnessing many people in my dear Ukraine, who were shown light and changed for His kingdom. taken out of “swamps”, many children got smiles on their Svieta faces, many churches got new and improved premises to

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DONATIONS BY CHEQUE DONATION OF CLOTHES, etc. Due to limited storage space and limited funds to send boxes of aid, we are not able to regularly accept donations of clothes or toys at Please note that cheques the present time. PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE TO FIND OUT WHEN WE CAN ACCEPT need to be made out to DONATIONS. As each box costs around £30 to send, we would appreciated a financial ‘Hope Now Ltd’. contribution towards the cost of the courier. Also, please note that we are no longer able Thank you to send knitted Baby Clothes as the House of Babies boils all items of clothing. Telephone: 023 8078 0720

HEALTHCARE ORPHANS EVANGELISM • Medical Treatment Fund • Foster Care • Village Camps • Hospital visiting • Rescue Shelter / House of Babies • Ray of Hope Group • Internats (Orphanages) • Christmas Mission

PRISON MINISTRY SUMMER CAMPS EDUCATION • Support for ex-prisoners • Kompas Park • Alpha House English Classes • Working in Prisons • Alpha House • Student Sponsorship Hope Now International Head Office • Prison Evangelism • Camps for the Disabled • School visits and support Malvern Centre, Malvern Road Southampton SO16 6PY ZOZULENKA SUPPORTING CHURCHES ELDERLY • Ukrainian Music Group • Bible School • Widows’ Camps Tel: 023 8078 0720 from the School of Arts • Pastors • Food Programmes www.hopenow.org.uk • Equipment and facilities • ‘The Nest’