I returned from Zhytomyr, Ukraine in August and I believe we have a new partner in our goal to work with the kids.   Viktor Karpyluk is the pastor of a small church and has a heart to work with street kids and orphans.

Though there are fewer kids living on the streets currently, it is still a problem.   Viktor would like to branch out in this area of ministry more, but funds just are not there.

Currently, he and about six volunteers, are working with several orphanages..  Most orphanages get little help to take care of the kids.  Viktor has won the confidence of these directors and is allowed to bring his team in for Bible studies, crafts and just to show the kids love.  They also take gifts or supplies when there are funds.

Viktor, his wife Alla, and their baby boy get little to no income yet they give of themselves generously.   Whenever their team travels they must rent a van and driver which is costly.  They would love to have their own van and be able to expand their ministry and use it for our teams when we travel.

Viktor also has a long term goal to buy a house and open it up for graduating orphans.  These orphans are sent out at age 16 with a pat on the back, a little money and no job training.   Shepherd's Purse would like to buy a house and a van so that this ministry can expand.  

Current prayer needs:

• A good used van for $15,000
• A house for orphan and street kid ministry for $50-60,000

Right now the economy is in decline.  This means more orphans and kids on the streets.   It also means a temporary decline in the cost of buying a house.  We are praying for donors who are able to open these doors as soon as possible.  Contact us with your questions.

My tenth trip is completed.  Four of us traveled to a new area called Krivoy Rog.  We visited two Canadian brothers who are working with at least three orphanages.  A couple of them are very poor.  One was nicer.  It is sad to see young children so hungry for a mom and dad, who will most likely never get one. 

We also met a street boy in the train station at Kiev and bought him some food.

Overall the trip was challenging.  Tried to sleep on the plane from 9:30-6:30 a.m.  Near impossible.  Then we took an overnight train and it was dark and dirty.  Hot. Closed in.  Another 9-6 experience with the train jerking around.  Stopping and starting.  Then we stayed all week at Curtis' apartment.  I ended up sleeping on two pads on the floor of a store room.  For an older guy this was not good. 

However, overall it was a good trip.  No major problems.  We took a few supplies, bought Curtis a new printer and saw their ministry.  David Hendrix church is already busy trying to raise support to help several orphans over there.  Jane and Ashley are putting together a box for Curtis.  

Right now we are looking for speaking engagements, settling into our new nice office and seeking Gods direction for Shepherd's Purse.

So much has been happening.  We are raising funds and timbers for a new home office for Shepherd's Purse.  It isn't huge but it will give us much needed storage and work space.  It will also free up another bedroom in our home for guests.  We seem to have a lot of those from Ukraine and all over the U.S.

We still need a little financial help for that project and have decided not to fund the project out of the general fund.  So, if you would like to help...

So many doors have continued to open.  However, I keep going back to the source - Nastya.  She has always been the heart of this ministry for me.  We have not heard from her for almost 2 years now.  The other day our good friend Sergey from Kherson told me he saw Nastya's mother walking down the street with her latest boyfriend.  Her face was dirty like she had sat around the fire all night. They didn't talk but just smiled and nodded. 

I sure wish he would have checked on Nastya.  She turns 17 in a few weeks.  it is hard to comprehend that she has lived mostly on the streets since she was four years old. I still pray for her and hope she will be okay.  Last I heard she was living with a 21 year old guy.  At least she was off the streets.  If she follows the generational pattern of her mom...she will soon be pregnant and moving from boyfriend to boyfriend.  i suspect she may have syphilis or AIDS. 

She is just one of many.  A few weeks ago I was checking fares and almost decided to go over and find her...and check our other ministry partners.  I may do that in March or May.  I need to know how she is.  I want to visit my old friend Auntie Alla too.  She ran the day center where Nastya came all the time.  Alla got burned out working with the kids and is back as a nurse at the children's hospital.  We may get them some more supplies.

So many needs and so little resource.  At least I have prayer.

Wow!   Our two teams returned from smooth sailing and tearful departures.  Hearts were knit with the children and almost $10,000 extra was left with the ministry of the "ARK".    There were no travel problems (major) and just a few sicky distractions from the enemy.

Our team was on a rope tugging a tree as I cut it.  It was like a good comedy flick.  When I saw the tree giving I ran like crazy, realized I would be in the path of the falling tree, made a hard left and sprained my ankle...rolled across the grass and laid there sweating and dying.  Well...not that bad.  It was funny, Egger on of the 18 year olds, was massaging it desperately to find the spot, Sara Lantzer ran for a baggy of ice and Jane Gordon our "compassionate leader" was taking pictures of me sprawled out on the ground.

Despite that, I was able to walk and pray (alone) the Lavra.   Several days I spent hours praying in Independence Square. I actually ran into a Russian demonstration against NATO and such.  I didn't actually run into it...I just sorta walked in and took pictures.  It was fairly peaceful.

Ivanna celebrated her eleventh birthday while we were at the Ark.  She is one of my favorites and is growing up.  See her sitting on my shoulders in the gazebo. They all break my heart.

I was also able to spend a couple of days with my good friend Peter Billingham.  He was the-now famous-pastor who hiked the Himalyans and raised $25,000 for the street kids.   He has resigned as pastor in his home town of Bromsgrove, England and is now in charge of expanding radio (shortwave & Internet) into Russia and Ukraine.  He works for Christian Vision out of England and they have recently purchased a brand new three story house for the center in Kiev.  It was good catching up with him and sharing his vision to buy a farm for older kids to learn a trade.

Overall, a very productive and heart-rending trip. 

And now....a youth group is exploring going back at Christmas...God just keeps opening doors.

Everywhere I look I am seeing Shepherd's Purse sprouting up through the cracks in our sidewalk and driveway.  Read FAQ how we got our name.

Our first team just arrived back from the Ark in Kiev.  We have details coming soon.

Our next team is leaving June 12 for the Ark in Kiev. 

A small ministry has asked about us adopting them into Shepherd's Purse.  We are praying about this.

We may be branching out into Latvia.

Lots happening!

More details coming this week.

Wow!  We had great engagements with Jane Hyatt speaking in Killbuck, OH, Lansing, MI, and Jackson, MI.  The May team (led by Steve & Becki Wilmot) is ready to roll.  This team from Killbuck is traveling over for their first trip.  Jane visited us in Lansing where she spoke to a missions class at Great Lakes Christian College.  Then we raced over to the "Good News Station" for an hour of live television where I interviewed her and our friend Becki Wilmot.  That evening we met with about 30 former and new team members, along with some new crowd.  On Sunday we traveled to Jackson, MI and Jane spoke in both services.  She also met with the children's church.  One boy asked her, "Do your kids ever go off alone and cry?"  Jane said they do and she tells them, "The tears that come out of your heart are the pain.  When the pain comes out there is more room for God to come in." Later she ministered to that little boy and others.  Wow! It was powerful stuff. 

My friend, David Hendrix (one of our directors), is prodding us to think about expanding into Riga, Latvia.  He has a Ukrainian friend living in his area that just adopted a boy from that city.  She says the orphanages are bad and the street kid problem needs help desperately.  I hear this and think, "God, we don't have the staff or resources to expand there."  Yet, is He actually saying that He already has a plan? 

I was thinking it would be great if we could find some American couple who would move there to start a church and focus on rebuilding families along with ministering to the kids.  Any takers?  We will help you.

I am looking forward to my trip in June to Kiev.  I will spend time with the team led by Jane Gordon at the Ark.  I will also be meeting with my friend Peter Billingham who is heading up a new radio ministry in based in that area.  I will also be visiting Pat and Len Joy of Children's Joy.

We could still use funds to bless these ministries with while there.

A woman from Iowa just contacted me about going over to work in an orphanage in Odessa, Ukraine.  We are in the process of praying about this.

I have also had several students ask me if we would send them over for a few months to work on an extended basis.  

So, much happening...so few workers. 

And in the shadows are the kids who still wander the streets or hope for a family to take them out of the orphanages.  Last we heard, Nastya is living with a 21 year old guy.  She turns 17 this year and we still pray for her.

Auntie Alla, our good friend, who ran the street kids center in Kherson is now back at work in her old children's hospital.  Her center is closed.  Yet, since we helped her hospital in the past they hired her back to her old nursing position in hematology.  She just sent us a list of needs that the hospital requested.  They have come to trust us and are actually approaching us for desperate needs.  We pray God will open the doors. 

Please continue to pray for the kids...the problem is still strong and consider supporting us on a monthly basis...we could do so much more.  

Jane Hyat, one of the directors of "The Ark", is now in the U.S.   She is traveling and speaking.  We are bringing her to the Ohio and Michigan area in April.   See schedule. Jane Hyatt and Barb Klaiber have dedicated their lives to the children of the ark.  

Are you interested in becoming our travel organizer?   We are looking for someone who would  be in charge of setting up our teams for travel.   If you feel led in this direction, contact Michael Wetzel @:  info@shepherdspurse.org

Are you interested in becoming our Russia director?  We are mulling over the idea of a director to expand our efforts with our Russian partners.   Again, contact Michael Wetzel @: info@shepherdspurse.org

We have just locked in our May team with tickets to the ark.  In a few weeks we lock in the June team.  This week I travel to Atlanta for a board meeting and various other contacts.   This summer we will be traveling to: Ukraine, Va.. beach and Long Island.  Along with many other speaking engagements.

While in Atlanta I hope to spend some time on our book and seek the heart of the Father as to next steps.  When I was originally seeking a ministry I would go out to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit and just walk and pray.   I am thinking I will do this again on this trip.  Sitting in church Sunday I thought, "It is all about the heart of the Father and the heart of a young girl...Nastya."  That has been my passion.   Everything in between seems to be clamoring for attention at times.  I want to seek out the heart on this trip. More on this after my trip.

Our St. Petersburg, Russia trip has been put on hold for the time being.  We are now busy locking in details for two teams traveling to Kiev, one in May and one in June.  We officially have team leaders now...praise God!  Shirley and I will be traveling with the June team and be freed up to check in with some of our partners in Kiev and possibly Odessa.  Lots coming up!

If you could help us with any donations for this trip...thank you.

We should have a newsletter coming out this week and we have speaking engagements beginning to fill in: Atlanta, New Jersey, Michigan, etc.   We need more.  I have also been progressing well on our book and hope to have it polished up by this summer.