Engraved

Orphan Photo Project [VIDEO]

engraved — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:52:05 +0000

To read more about this project, please read this related blog post.

A Picture’s Worth a Thousand…Hugs

engraved — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:23:30 +0000

DON’T MISS THE VIDEO AT THE END OF THIS BLOG!

How many pictures would you say you have of yourself?

For an orphan, the answer is most often “none”.

Imagine having no real evidence of your past, no tangible objects to remember what you use to look like, no documentation of your memories.

A camera is fascinating to the children in orphanages. They always want to see themselves and their friends through the lens. I always dreamed of finding a way to give them pictures of themselves, so when the opportunity came to do just that, we jumped at the chance!

Through our amazing in-country partners planning and diligence, the Photo & Prayer Project Began!

Come with us as we share how a Photo & Prayer Project Day unfolds:

Our team arrives early to the orphanage to set up. Gathering at the door and in seats, are eager children dressed in their best and waiting for their turn.

The fun and pampering begins with a fresh new haircut or style!

The girls get an extra touch of pampering with a little powder and lip gloss. They loved the attention and enjoyed feeling pretty!

It’s time for photos! Our photographer, Wes Graham, and our in-country team helped ease nerves, explain the process, and encouraged big smiles.

Our team then records each child’s name and will place their photos in a database they can access in the future.

We had all the photos printed and returned to the orphanage to give them to the children. They receive a small photo album to hold their new photos.

The joy and excitement was more than we expected. The children were so proud of their photos. Some stared at theirs for a while, others ran to their teachers, and others celebrated with friends.

Even the teenagers showed their excitement!

Our hearts were full as the children came to us and shared that these were the first pictures they have of themselves. That was enough thanks for us, but they had a more demonstrative way to show their gratitude!

Michael shared with the children how they were each fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image!

Our photos will also be used as prayer cards, so Christians here can pray for these precious children.

If you would like more children to have this experience and have photos of themselves, Click here to bring Joy and Memories to the fatherless

Watch This Video

Alexsander’s First Day at the Orphanage

engraved — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:05:42 +0000

Every time I’m in Ukraine the Lord reveals a difficult piece of an orphan’s life; from watching a group of 9th graders walk out of the orphanage to face the world alone, to sitting at a kitchen table with an older orphan girl dying of TB, to watching an ambulance pull up to an orphanage to take a preteen girl to the hospital alone, or hearing a young man tell how he was on the brink of suicide before he found our transition home. When you have the privilege of working with orphans, you find the Lord unveils many of their struggles. As we prepare for our trips, we are keenly aware of the prospect of one of God’s “special moments” for us. We don’t look for them. We are busy ministering. But usually, when we least expect it…

October 11, 2012

We were running late to one of our orphanages in Rivne. Serhiy, our partner, our teachers and volunteers had their folders and bags ready to teach the lessons. We were excited to see many of the same faces we saw on our last visit and follow up with the kids. Serhiy and our in-country team are there every week like clock work. However, this week the “Americans” had thrown a little wrench in the timing. When we arrived the kids were already in their “rest time” for an hour. But some snuck out on their balcony to wave hello!

We were disappointed, because we would not have time to teach our lessons. The director was accommodating and allowed us to wait for the kids to say hello and visit.

After we finished a tour of the orphanage grounds, clinic, and cafeteria, the kids were allowed to come down to the foyer and visit with us. They piled in hugging our team and sharing memories of our last visit. The kids, teachers, and volunteers filled the foyer with sounds and excitement.

Girls hugging our Bible teacher

She ran to me and remembered singing for me on my last visit!

However, there was one little boy standing alone in the corner.

Alexsander in the corner alone, while other boys are excited to see Oleg from our transition home

Oleg, one of our loving staff in Rivne, noticed him. Moved by the Lord, Oleg, went to speak with him and found out his name was Alexsander. Learning it was his first day, Oleg, gave him a yo-yo that he had brought with him. Alexsander lovingly tucked his treasure safely under his chin.

Oleg speaks with Alexsander as he lovingly tucks his yo-yo under his chin.

Oleg has a way with the kids. His gentle and loving way sets them at ease right away!

Alexsander starts to relax

He can make anyone smile and laugh!

I went over to speak with Oleg, and he introduced me to Alexsander. He explained that this was his first day in orphanage. Immediately my heart hurt for this little boy. I remembered several conversations I had with orphans about their first nights in the orphanage. They shared how they were so scared and had cried in their pillow night after night. A clip from a documentary came into my mind where a tough, aged-out orphan told how he wept for weeks when he entered the orphanage. He hid his crying to avoid ridicule and bullies. I asked Alexsander if I could hug him. He said yes. As I wrapped my arms around this precious boy, all I could do was whisper a prayer and fight back the tears. I didn’t want to scare the child by holding on to him for a long time, so I forced myself to let go. His eyes were full of tears. My heart ached.

I wanted to stay, tuck him in at night, say prayers with him, and tell him he was loved!

As the hour unfolded, Alexsander made friends. Praise the Lord our team was there to welcome him. To love him. Miraslav, a former orphan who lives in our transition home, lived in this very orphanage as a child. Now he spends his days serving the Lord by ministering to orphans. He was there to hug Alexsander. Who could understand him better?

Alexsander gets a hug from Miraslav, a former orphan, who use to live in this very orphanage.

Alexsander received love and hugs. He learned Miraslav’s famous handshake – (Jesus loves you – ending with fingers pointing at each person).

Learning Miraslav’s famous handshake. The kids, in all six orphanages where we have lessons, know his handshake!

He participated in our group prayer!

Holding hands and listening to our prayer time.

He was accepted, given a gift, given love, given hugs, and given a hand of friendship. He was accepted into the group.

Alexsander with whole group – bottom left

As hard as it was to walk away, we left knowing our group would be back. Every week, they will love him. Every week they will share the truth that the Lord loves him. He will have someone he can turn to in times of need. Like the other kids, he will eagerly await our team’s arrival!

Thank you to all who invest in Engraved’s goal! Thank you to all who pray for us, support us, and go with us! Because of you, over 800-900 children like Alexsander will go to bed having heard the Word, having felt a hug, and having the knowledge they have someone they can turn to in difficult times!

MAY THEY ALL BE FOREVER ENGRAVED IN HIS PALMS! (Isaiah 49:15-16)

Darkness Piercing Light

engraved — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:27:21 +0000

I love the image of light piercing darkness. Light can make it’s way through even the tiniest crevice. The crevices of an orphan’s heart are many; cracks from loneliness, rejection, hurt, abuse, insecurity, and pain. Each time they are injured, abandoned, hurt, neglected, or ignored it’s as though their heart is cracked or damaged.

What can penetrate through those dark crevices? What can pierce through the darkness?

We can’t fix their heart.

Time does not heal all wounds.

Money can’t heal a broken heart.

ONLY the Lord and His Word is able to pierce heart and soul (Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than a double edge sword it penetrates soul and spirit…”).

ONLY the Truth of the Gospel and the Spirit of God can search their inner-most being. (Proverbs 20:27 “The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of man; it searches out his inmost being”)

Picture in your mind the heart of an orphan hearing the Truth that they are loved, they were created in His image, they are a treasure! Imagine the light and the love of the Gospel pressing through the crevices and cracks of a hurting heart!

Daniel 2:22 - “He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.” No one knows the heart of an orphan better than their Heavenly Father.

2 Cor. 4:6 “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We can’t fix their hearts – But, we are called to take the Light of the Gospel to the ends of the Earth, to take up the cause of the orphan, to share the love of Christ! Our teachers are in the orphanages daily carrying the light!!

Time does not heal all wounds – But, we can take time to pray for these crevices to be healed by the power of Christ. We must be a continual presence in their lives for them to see our commitment and genuineness. The more time they hear and experience the Light of God’s love, the better their chances of understanding, accepting, and applying the Word of God.

Money can’t heal a broken heart - But, resources are needed to do the work. God provides resources, talents, and gifts for us to use in His name for the sake of the fatherless.

“If you SPEND yourself in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the need of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness…The Lord will guide you always.” Isaiah 58:10

About Engraved, Inc. [VIDEO]

engraved — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:57:50 +0000

For the visual learners out there, here’s a video overview of ENGRAVED, Inc. See the faces of the fatherless children we have been able to reach and how you can partner with us! You can help reverse the statistics!

Ministry Spotlight – Tatyana (Bible Teacher in our Village orphanage)

engraved — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:15:00 +0000

Part of our ministry is providing daily Bible lessons in orphanages. Tatyana is one of our precious missionary teachers that has been called by the Lord to serve orphans. She completed her teacher training seminar and began working in our village orphanage outside of Kherson, Ukraine in 2010.

On our recent visit with Tatyana, we sat down in her modest home and enjoyed a meal she had prepared for us. Our team was overwhelmed with Tatyana’s willingness to live in such a difficult situation in order to take the Gospel to these precious kids. Below she shares a few stories with us!

Tatyana’s Words

I’d like to share with you a conversation I had with orphans of this school. “I am grateful to God that I attended School of Training and have been able to complete the seminars. I have been fortunate to have had a Christian couple work with the children of the orphanage where I now teach before I arrived. I did not have to begin from ground zero. The children already knew and loved Jesus. I would like to share some of my impressions working with the children.

One of the girls, Maria, is an orphan. Her parents are dead. She suffered a lot of emotional and psychological trauma as a consequence. Although she tried to hide her pain and tears, they were obvious. I wanted to comfort Maria but did not know how. How can you comfort a child with such great emotional scars? I decided to share my story with Maria and other girls. Although I had parents, I was alone and lonely. I always felt abandoned and unloved. But Heavenly Father found me and provided me with unconditional love. I told them that this loving God also would like to bea part of their lives; to comfort them, to put His loving hands around them. Maria calmed down and we prayed together.

A boy named Vitaly began to tell me about the scar on his face. It resulted from his mom striking him across his face with her high-heeled shoe. Vitaly wanted to talk to someone, to share his pain. I talked to him about forgiveness and we prayed. Do we need to forgive? How are we able to forgive? Yes, we do. God forgave our sins and tells us to forgive others. It is important to get rid of the burden of bitterness. I told Vitaly that if he forgave his mom, it would take a burden off his soul. I know from personal experience how difficult it may be to forgive; but we can ask of our Heavenly Father to give us strength to do so.

Another young man, Artem, had confided in me of his dream to become a missionary. He had been praying about it. I am thankful for these children and that they are now able to seek help from their Heavenly Father. Please pray for them, and so their destiny may be with God. I am also very grateful to have the opportunity to serve the orphaned children in Ukraine.”

Tatyana M.

Filling the Void for Orphans Left Behind?

engraved — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 20:33:00 +0000

There is something hard to describe about an orphanage. Although there are beautiful faces of children running the halls, there is also something oppressive there. The feel of the institution permeates your being. There is no way to explain this feeling to someone, other than to explain it as a “spiritual void”. While visiting, you are constantly aware of the unyielding fact that the children live in an institution instead of with a family. Through 18 years of hosting many unadoptable orphans and visiting many orphanages, I have left pieces of my heart in orphanages in Russia, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine. Each time one leaves my house, or I leave their orphanage, I ask myself, “what will happen now?… who will help these kids?… what can I do?” There is a helplessness in leaving.

I hear countless adoptive parents return from their trips saying “my heart breaks for the ones I left behind.” While our first choice is to see orphans placed in forever families, the truth is, a large percentage of orphans will never be adopted or are not available for adoption.

That’s where Engraved steps in. We take the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, to the ones left behind. Our teachers are trained and missionary minded. They devote their lives to going to the orphanages on a daily basis teaching structured Bible lessons. When we attended our Bible lessons in many different orphanages this fall, our team was repeatedly amazed at the response of the children. Their eyes lit up when their Bible teacher arrived. They gathered around her for hugs and encouraging words. When we left the cold hall and entered the Bible class, the “void” was lifted by songs of praise on the lips of orphaned children, prayers of orphans were earnestly lifted up, and the Word of God was being opened and embraced by orphaned children. They applied the Word of God to their lives.

During one particular lesson on the Fall of Man in the Garden, the teacher was sharing that before sin, Adam and Eve knew no disappointment. An 8 year old boy looked thoughtfully at the teacher and said, “I do”. What an opportunity for our teachers to meet these kids where they are and share what the Word of God says about the hurts and disappointments they have in their lives! If these sweet children must live in an orphanage, the church must step forward and provide them with the opportunity to know their Heavenly Father and be “Adopted” into His family. But not just leave them there, but disciple them to know Him and serve Him with their lives. What better thing can we offer them than eternal salvation and a life of knowing their father, who loves them!

“Sympathy is no substitute for action.”

— David Livingstone, missionary to Africa

Please consider making an eternal investment in the lives of these orphans by becoming a monthly sponsor of Engraved Orphan Ministry – as an individual, as a church, as a Sunday School Class, or as a group of believers. You could “Adopt” an orphanage and be a part of discipling a whole orphanage. You could “adopt” an aging out orphan or whole transition home and keep aged-out orphans off the street. No amount is too small to make a difference!

We can send you or your group pictures of the work being done with your investment.

Contact us if you would like to schedule us to speak to your church or group about how we minister to orphans from baby to adulthood.

Learn MoreInterested in becoming a financial partner?

Annual Valentine’s Party

engraved — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:25:00 +0000

Several years ago, a group of local teens got together for Valentine’s Day to celebrate their friendships. The next year, they decided they wanted to switch their focus from themselves to serving others. They reached out through Engraved to a local children’s home. Each year they choose a theme. Last year was Princess Pampering party. (See old post - Daughters of the King)

This year was a Pink & White Tea Party! These teens also serve throughout the year and have formed friendships with the girls. Their heart to disciple and mentor these precious girls lines up with Engraved’s mission of evangelism and discipleship, so we are thrilled to help them accomplish their outreach.

Miracle’s House – “We needed love like we needed bread”

engraved — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 20:23:00 +0000

One of Engraved’s missions is to provide transitional living for aged-out orphans. Our prayer is to save as many orphans as possible from the street, crime, prostitution or sex trafficking, jail, and loneliness. Our goal is to provide a safe, Christ-centered environment where these teens and young adults can learn life skills, Biblical morals, be discipled and know what it feels like to be loved!

“Miracle’s” House – Rivne, Ukraine

Pictured above is our transition home for boys in Rivne, Ukraine. We now have 6 teens/young adults living here. The home was rented from a local Christian man who moved out of country. The boys are supported and mentored by our in-country partner, Serhiy, a youth pastor at a local church.

Serhiy leading a Bible Study and time of Worship with the boys and local teens.

Meet Miraslav – or as we call him “Miracle”. He has lived in the transition home the longest, teaches Bible at local orphanages, and mentors the new boys.

Say Hello to Miraslav

This past fall we were able to sit down with Miraslav as he openly and honestly shared his story. His mother was handicapped and his father sent him to an orphanage in 2nd grade because he would not obey. He described that orphanage as “prison”. He was moved to another orphanage for children with health issues, because something was wrong with his heart. He was then moved to yet another orphanage where he was visited by Christians. He said he liked when Christians came, because they loved on them. He said, “We needed love like we needed bread.” However, the Christians didn’t stay, and by 4th grade Miraslav ran away and lived on the street. He would go home to see his mom occassionally. On one visit, she needed to go to a local church to get a wheelchair, and Miraslav took her. He made a few friends at the church and started going there to see them. He eventually moved back home, but was abused by his new step-father. Running away seemed his only choice. He found himself back on the streets trying to survive.

At 16 years old, a new conflict began in his heart. He was drinking, smoking, and living on the street. But, he repeatedly found himself drawn back to the church. He joined the church drama team, but they only gave him the “bad guy” roles and he still felt unaccepted. Friends continued to witness to him. He was struggling with the decision to surrender to Christ and surrender his anger over his past. Could Christ forgive him and actually accept him as he was? He turned to drinking and at one point stayed drunk for a week. When he woke up, he found himself among strangers. In shame and desperation, Miraslav went to church. While there, a rehab pastor spoke about repentance and salvation. Miraslav stepped out and slowly made his way to the alter with help from a friend he had met. He said he was so filled with emotion, he could not speak. The pastor asked him if he was ready to accept Christ and let him lead his life – Miraslav could only nod.

Conditions did not immediately change for the better in his life, but his spirit was renewed and he was ready to live for Christ. He still had difficulty finding his place in the Christian community until he met our in-country partner, Serhiy, and his team. He said it was like coming home. He finally felt like he had a family. He has matured and now mentors the other boys as they enter the transition home in Rivne. He has spent the last three years being discipled and now returns to the same orphanage he once attended, and others, to teach Bible to the kids, love on them, and offer them the “Bread of Life”! He serves the Lord daily with his life! His nickname around the ministry is “Miracle”, because the Lord has done a miracle in his life, and he is sharing that miracle – the miracle of the Gospel – with other boys and girls that need it.

Miracle’s room at the Transition Home

How You Can Help

PRAY FOR:

*Miraslav as he serves orphans full time

*Andiy and Peter. They entered the home in Nov. after walking 230 miles from Kiev to Rivne for help

*Andiy and Volodomir who recently earned jobs at a local supermarket similar to Walmart

*Sasko who has been in the home since April and has been alone his whole life

*Oleg who entered the home 3 weeks ago from an unsafe situation

INVEST:

*Make a one time donation to help with the many one time needs in the Rivne region
*Make a monthly donation to support the Rivne boys with rent, food, clothing, discipleship, etc.

Go to our Give Page and make a donation. After selecting an amount, click on Add special instructions to the seller and let us know what you would like your donation to support.

Like our Facebook page to see more pics of the home and the teens/young adults that live there.
facebook.com/urengraved

A Gift to Lay Before the King

engraved — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:02:00 +0000

As Christmas approaches, Christians can struggle to balance all the shopping, gift giving, baking, decorating, parties, and busyness of the holidays with the need to focus on Christ and honoring Him above all else. I know this has been a struggle for us over the years. One year we felt very impressed upon by the Spirit to reevaluate our focus and giving. We wanted to reinforce with our children the importance that it was a celebration of Christ’s birth. For us, the decision was to match the money we spent on Christmas and buy Jesus a gift. We have chosen different ways to do this. Many years we hosted orphans for Christmas, one year we bought a cow for a village in Africa through World Vision, and some years we gave a larger donation to Lottie Moon to advance the Gospel through missions. We would wrap the gift and place it under the tree (except the orphan of course) to remind us that He is our reason to celebrate.

The average adult in American spends $750 preparing for and celebrating Christmas. In a two adult family that would be $1,500. If you find yourself or your extended family desiring to make an eternal investment this Christmas, Engraved would like to offer you the opportunity to give Jesus a gift this year – a gift that would incorporate three things close to Christ’s heart:

1. The Gospel which is the power unto Salvation (Romans 1:16)
2. Discipleship (Jesus said go and make disciples – (Matthew 28:19)
3. Making an eternal investment in the life of an orphan (Job 31:17 “…If I ate my morsel and did not share it with an orphan…) Over 22 verses about caring for orphans

Eternal Investment Opportunities through Engraved for your immediate or extended family to give Christ on His Birthday.

$200-300 Gift provides a trained Bible teacher for a month to an orphanage
(**Your family would be responsible for leading orphans to Christ’s loving Word and discipling them)

$300 Gift provides rent for a transition home for orphans who have aged out and need a safe, Christian environment to learn to live for Christ
(**Your family could know that you helped a boy or girl transition into a life without drugs, sex trafficking, prostitution, crime, or homelessness)

$300 Gift provides a “Friends Club” experience for a month. This is a weekly Bible study for local church teens, street kids, and orphans. They have a “youth group” fun experience, Bible study, and a small meal. In our new region over 15 teens have found Christ in the last 6 months and now know they are “Engraved in the palms of His hands” forever and have a place to go each week to be loved on and discipled.

We also some local children living in a Christian group home that need sponsors for activities like swimming, dance, and other sports.

If you would like to donate towards one of the above or would like to provide for an entire month, go to our Give Page. After selecting an amount, click on Add special instructions to the seller and tell us exactly where you want your Christmas donation to go. We will email you a “certificate” to wrap in honor of our King!