After the winter camp in Ukraine, I traveled to Ossa, Poland. Ukrainian orphans have been housed at a conference center there since the war began.
The girl in the picture above is Yeva. Every day, when I walked into the conference center, she would greet me with a wry smile and hug me. My heart would fall to pieces, and I would hug her back so hard I could almost crush her. Yeva’s joy is palatable. Yet, as real as Yeva’s joy is, the desperate loneliness of the children is all over that building. They are so happy to see us and so disappointed to see us leave. “When are you coming tomorrow?” is the familiar refrain. And then comes the day when we say, “We’re going home to the US tomorrow.” I want to take all of them with me, give them loving homes, and watch them live happily ever after. But that’s not happening yet.
There is such irony in the fact that the kids in Ukraine and Poland have no idea how much they depend specifically on donors like you. But I know, and I’m thankful for it. There is even more irony in that I benefit from the first-hand contact with them. I have videos below of them saying thank you, but it’s vague and abstract for them. I represent all donors because I am there with them at the moment. Remember, there is always the opportunity to develop a relationship with one or two children through letters, phone calls, video chats, or travel on a trip to meet them in person. The personal contact will allow you to experience what I do when I go.
Vinny
Thank you’s and videos from Christmas Wish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khCUCxiCVqw
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gICa59n3SVE
