Autumn School Holidays in the Crimea

This autumn within the “Pilgrim’s Hope” rest and recreation department program Father’s House children had a wonderful chance to have an active rest during autumn holidays. By solid vote all of us decided to go to the Crimea, as that is really wonderful place where the natural beauty of mountains is combined with the sea.

This time there were both experienced as well as new children who have never been to hike trips like that before, but all of them were joined by common desire for new adventures. We have started our sightseeing tour from the very east of the Crimea – the city of Kerch, and driving through the seaside we’ve decided to stop by the place called Novy Svit, and there we’ve started our first mount hike, the mount we went to was called Sokil (the Falcon), and as we came back we have started to set up our camp by the seaside, the next day we went to the mountains called Orel (the Eagle) and Dragon. After few days spent in such a beautiful place our path lead us to the Balaklava, where motor-boat took us to the place where we planned to stay for the next couple of days. The very next morning we have arrived by a new route. Unfortunately we couldn’t reach the Aya cape this time, but everyone has got a desire to come back here again and reach the goal.

The next day we had a long and exhausting way back to the Balaklava, where we have got to know the news about the flu epidemics in Kyiv and school quarantine for the next 3 weeks, so we all have decided to stay in the Crimea for the next week. The next week we have spent in the village of Shtormove at Father’s House summer recreation center, which is not far from the city of Eupatoria. We had a great chance to walk around this nice city, and also in one of the days we have visited the East coast of the Crimea – Tarchankut cape.

During this mount hike trip kids have been learning to put up tents, to make a camp fire, to cook, to cooperate in a team and help each other in overcoming the difficulties we met on our way. We do believe that kids can use those skills at their following trips and in their everyday life, and they will be remembering of these great times by the camp fire and swimming in autumn sea with happy smiles on their faces.

Happy First School Day!

The summer came to end and it’s time to come back from rest and start the school. September 1st is important holiday for all children, but the most for those who will go to school for the first time in their lives, there are 3 such children at Father’s House this year!

From the depth of our hearts we congratulate all children and wish inspiration, hard-working and persistence in this new up coming school year! Also we thank the staff of local school in Petrivske village for care and hospitality and wish a good study year to all children and teachers!

A lot of children of those who came to Father’s House this year have a great need in individual education because of neglect, which demands finances. If you have a desire to help children in gaining the proper level of education to start full-value studying at school, you can make a donation on our bank account. God bless you.

Recreation Christian camp in Sweden

It’s the second year already as the children of Father’s House have the unique opportunity for spiritual and physical rest and recreation at Christian camp in Sweden. This year the camp was intended for teenagers, so the program was fitting – a lot of active games outside, a trip to Amusement park, Aqua park, zoo and other places of interest. Also the trip to the forest was organized for us where kids had a chance to gather berries – blackberry, strawberry and raspberry. Our boys made a football team so they could take part in game with local Swedish football club, and their victory helped them strengthen their self-confidence, and after a tense game they were so glad to have a good meal with delicious hamburgers.

But, nevertheless the brightest emotions were caused by fellowship with Swedish friends, as the for real friendship the language doesn’t matter, as emotions and mimicry usually says much more then the words do. The very important for our teenagers was to watch as people are offering and sacrificing their time and finances to make their rest possible.

Altogether 11 children from Father’s House had a chance to visit the camp in Sweden. All of them came back renewed spiritually and physically, filled with unforgettable emotions and desires to come back to this beautiful country, and with new strengths started their new school year.

From the depth of our hearts we thank our friends and partners in Sweden for a wonderfully organized camp and unforgettable rest in this beautiful country. God bless you abundantly!

"The Treasure Island" Summer camp 2009

This year "The Treasure Island" summer camp took place in the Crimea, Kerch town. This camp is destined for adaptation and initial rehabilitation of children at risk. Varieties of methods are used during the camp program, and this year it was filled with interesting and with bright events and experiences.

Every evening the children had a chance to attend an Art class where they reveal their hidden gifts and talents, learning to think more creative and developing own taste. Also kids have been playing a lot outside, participating in competitions races and active games which helped children to join together for team-work, to make friends and help each other. Also children's dancing parties made them handle with some inferiority feelings and are an important part of esthetic education.

The children were given a chance to go for a local sightseeing – Adzhemushkai quarry, visited the museum of archeology and old fortes.

Also kids took part in camping contests, where everyone could learn how to put up tents, make a campfire, cook on fire, and make a tent city. The winners were awarded with real mount hike trip. And there on practice they could use their new skills and enjoy beautiful landscapes. Though, in the middle of the night a storm started, and our tourists had to come back home under safe roof.

Another very important part of rehabilitation process is spiritual rehabilitation. Every day Bible studies makes them form a correct system of values, and helps them to have a fellowship together. Every day in the camp had a name, like – "Let's make friends!", "God protects me", "As you saw you shall mow", "Don't judge others", "Forgive your offenders" and so on.

And of cause this all was happening on the background of the Black sea!

We would like to share with you a story of how child was changed during the period of camp. And there are a lot of stories like that.

Valya, 4 years old. She came here very sad, scared, often was crying, didn't wanted anything at all, and was scared of everything. And now Valya is dancing, laughing, takes part in different games and activities, swims in the sea and likes to communicate with everyone.

Anastasia is adopted!

In the middle of July the process of adoption of Anastasia from Father's House was finally complete. For about three months Ana together with her new mother were waiting for all the paperwork to be done. On Monday July 20th they arrived home. Anastasia was adopted by family from the USA.

For so many years Ana have been waiting and dreaming of own family and here finally she's got it! Now she is at home meeting her new older brother, relatives, neighbors and making new friends, in a month she is getting ready to enter a private school.