Ukraine

Welcome to the

Nita Hanson Belaya Tserkov Ministry

Letter from Nita

Dear

“If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain: move from here to here and it will move and nothing will be impossible for you” Matthew 17:20. What a wonderful and exciting privilege it is to see God demonstrating the truth of this verse over and over again in this ministry. As I reflect on all that has happened this last year, I stand in awe of Him and His mighty works.

• Adoptions. Walking, talking, and charming everyone in sight, Dima Matthew McGuckin is already putting his artificial legs on by himself (and he’s not even 3 yet).

The second child, 5 year old Illoussia, will be officially adopted this month! His new family, Len & Karen Pine, will arrive in the Ukraine somewhere around the second week of this month and take him home about 2 weeks later. He will be living about 1 mile from Dima!

• A single Ukrainian father was able to take his son out of the Baby House. This took approximately 9 months to accomplish but was well worth it when we saw this little boy (who had been undersized and sick most of the time) glowing with health and about double in weight after going to live with his father. We helped with legal counsel, food, clothing, medicine and, probably most important, love and encouragement to the single father.

• Wheelchairs. We have now distributed 105 wheelchairs and 94 are “winging their way” to the Ukraine as I write this letter. We will continue to work with Hope Haven International Ministries and United/Luftansa Airlines with shipments of at least 50 wheelchairs twice a year. A new supplier, Sunrise Medical, has provided 44 specialized new wheelchairs for severely handicapped children in Belaya Tserkov and Vinnetsa, Ukraine. All 94 chairs will be distributed this month.

• The Ukrainian Team now numbers 15! Five of them have committed to learning to teach the Bible. This is one of the most gratifying things that has happened this last year as I begin to see the ability to minister in the Ukraine multiplying through these women.

• Orphanages. We continue to teach the Bible, provide emergency food, medicine, clothing and, of course, love to Veloska, the Baby House the Boy’s House, and now team member, Iria’s “home orphanage”. It has been another example of God’s promise to care for the orphans when I see how these children have blossomed under her and her family’s love and care.

• Clothing, food, medicine, Bibles, love and encouragement continue to be personally
distributed by this ministry to the poor and handicapped in Belaya Tserkov. Countless families have been touched by the love of Christ. I can’t number the times I have seen people burst into tears and thank God and you for this help.

• Special Projects. The Rotary Club in Westlake Village and Direct Relief International in Santa Barbara have approved approximately $75,000 of medical equipment for the Plastic Surgical Center and the Orthopedic Surgical Center in Kiev, Ukraine. In turn, these 2 hospitals have agreed to give top priority to the children this ministry brings to Kiev who are in need of surgery.

Additionally, the Rotary Club in Westlake Village has approved funding for the purchase of a $25,000 specialized van for handicapped. This van will be purchased in the Ukraine and utilized by the Rehabilitation Center for CP children and God’s Hidden Treasures to transport children and adults who are wheelchair bound.

• Mission Opportunities. The first IMPACT team arrived in July of last year. In addition Sherry Shaffer, and the McGuckins worked with the ministry while in the Ukraine.

• God’s Hidden Treasures is official. Jack and Susan Coffey, Tim Beal, Sherry Shaffer, Stephanie Ferguson and myself have agreed to serve on the Board of Directors.

This upcoming year looks to be even more exciting than last year! The ministry is growing at an amazing rate and God continues to demonstrate His endless possibilities as we step out in faith. Some of the goals for this year are:

• Adoptions. God has given me a heart to find homes for those children that no one else will adopt, specifically the handicapped (His “hidden treasures”). We are now praying for families for little Maxim, a 1 year old boy who was born with a clef palate (he has already had his first surgery) and Valentine, a 3 year old boy who was born premature (other than being small, he appears to be normal).

• Wheelchairs. Continue to bring in at least 50 wheelchairs twice a year. In addition to the Wheelchair Repair Center we are now dreaming of having the ability to refurbish the chairs ourselves, and someday build our own right in the Ukraine. Hope Haven International is willing to help set up this project as soon as we are logistically able to handle it. Literally they will be providing us with thousands of dollars of equipment, supplies and training.

• Orphanages. In addition to the on-going work already established, we hope to begin the following projects:

• Fund a project to provide repair of the laundry room and equipment at the Boy’s House to alleviate the overwhelming expense of sending out clothing and bedding for 150 boys to be washed.

• Provide a hearing aid for Igor – a 4 year old that lives in Iria’s home orphanage ($650).

• Finalize purchase of a home for the first 4 boys from the Boy’s House (Alyossha, Zhannia, Yura and Ruslan) and hire a live-in caregiver. These young men are now of the age where they will be sent to the “adult facility” for life. We believe they have normal intelligence and can be taught to live a normal life.

• Begin 2 classes at the Boy’s House for boys who have been mislabeled as mentally deficient. The ministry will provide for the salaries of 2 teachers and all necessary supplies (books, cirruculum, etc.). The classes are targeted to begin in September of this year. The boys will be taught at an accelerated rate with the goal being for them to reach “normal” levels of study.

• Special Projects. Direct Relief International has agreed to provide approximately $75,000 of medical supplies to the main hospital in Belaya Tserkov that could be shipped as early as the end of this month.

• Mission Opportunities. Host a team of 11 physical therapists arriving this month to assist in fitting the 44 wheelchairs for severely handicapped children; and the second IMPACT team in July of this year.

• The Village. Please pray for wisdom and discernment for the location of and timing for the Village. The Village of Truskey (located about 10 minutes from Belaya Tserkov) is a good possibility.

The passage of a new law in January of this year made it possible for a foreign organization or individual to lease large plots of land for up to 50 years. Before passage of this law, it would have been “impossible” to build the Village. Because of this and many other reasons, I believe the Village may begin sometime in the near future.

Recently, I visited Hope Haven (our wheelchair supplier) in Iowa and was touched, once again by God’s provision for His plans and purposes. They have been working with the mentally retarded and handicapped for 35 years. They provide schooling, vocational training, group homes, and jobs for the mentally and physically handicapped. They are doing much of what I believe we will do in the Village. God has provided a model which can be adapted to fit the Ukrainian culture – how awesome is that??!! Even better, Hope Haven has indicated their willingness to assist us each step of the way. They were so excited to see this ministry stepping out in faith to do in the Ukraine what God has led them to do in the U.S.

I believe the Village will be a series of individual homes of no more than 10 children with a house parent. Each home will be new. The Village will have a school(s), business(s) and hopefully a church. The Wheelchair Repair Center (and all that it grows to be) will be housed within the Village.

I won’t try to predict what else God will put in our path this year. So far I couldn’t have imagined any of it. What a joy it has all been.

So…..here I am again asking for your help. None of this would have been possible without your help these last few years. None of it will be possible without your help in the future. As the ministry grows, so do the expenses. This year we are forecasting a budget of approximately $60,000 which will include expenses for special projects, travel, shipping, ministry materials, employees, transportation, adoptions, etc.

Please send your contribution as soon as possible. Please make your checks out to God’s Hidden Treasures.

Again, thank you with all my heart and thank you on behalf of the poor, handicapped and orphaned in Belaya Tserkov who are touched by God’s love through your generosity.

In His Name,

Nita Hanson