Mennonite
Central
Committee

Ukraine: House of Hope Orphanage

July 2005

Story 1: "Where did I come from?" Eventually most children get around to asking that. From there it's only a step to the more profound, "Who am I?" We might tell a child that she is her parents' daughter, or explain to another that God planned that he would be adopted by a certain family. Perhaps the question, "Who am I?" is one that all of us go on asking and answering in various ways over a lifetime. All of us want to know whether we are wanted, loved, and useful. Affirmative answers make us feel happy and secure; and certainly it's easier to love others when we are confident that someone loves us.

But what happens when the question, "Where did I come from?" is harder to answer? For example, what would you tell 'Alex', whose mother dropped him off in front of the internat—and then drove away? Would parents abandon a good, lovable boy? Or worse—would good, lovable parents abandon him? It's not surprising that children at House of Hope sometimes doubt their worth or feel confusing emotions about their natural families. Helping the children work through their feelings and questions and develop a healthy sense of identity is one of the ongoing tasks of the staff.

Story 2: "Do you remember 'Alex'?" asked Ivan. Of course I did—the little boy who was dropped off in front of House of Hope. "You know, his mother came to see him recently. It's been three years since she left him."

"Did he recognize her?" I asked.

"Oh, yes! He was very glad. And then a few days after that his father came, too."

"Aren't they together?" I wanted to know.

"No. They are not in touch and live far apart. I think they each came just then because they remembered it was Alex's birthday. His mother wept. She wanted to know what she needs to do to get her son back. She wants to put her life back together. We pray to know what God would have us do to restore these families."

Story 3: When 'Alex' was abandoned he was technically too young to be taken in by the internat because he was not yet three years old. Instead, he made his first home in Priazovske with Igor, one of the staff. Although Alex now lives at the internat, he prays faithfully for his foster father along the following lines: "Lord, bless Papa Igor so that he would drive the car so fast that nobody else would be able to pass him!"

 

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