Bringing hope and love to Odessa

The good deed was one of many that a team of eight, organized by the Woods Harbour Wesleyan church in association with World Hope Ukraine, accomplished during their visit from Oct. 15 to Oct. 25.

“It was such a great feeling to see the looks on their faces when we walked into that building, and to experience the music and dance,” said team member Maggie Bean.

“These ladies have worked so hard to go to school, become part of a family, and make a positive change.”

Rescued from the streets of Odessa, the women are residents of Hope House where they live as a family with a mother figure, go to college and are part of their church.

“They all have dreams of employment, travel, arts, family, etc. something that never would have been possible living on the street,” said Bean.

The team from Shelburne County visited the area in 2006 and was able to see how projects they’d worked on then had a long-lasting effect.

A large shelving unit they’d constructed was still proving its worth at the First Step Centre where street kids visit for a hot shower, change of clothes, hot meal, Bible study, and love from the staff.

“The shelves are a big help for Luba who distributes the clothes. Before, everything was in bags and boxes, now she has everything organized and labelled. When we arrived on this trip the shelves were getting bare and in need of some warmer clothes. With the help of our community we were able to bring in a lot of sweaters, jeans, coats, socks, etc. Luba was very grateful for the new supplies to be able to outfit the children,” said Bean.

The team assisted with Bible study, games and crafts (including cooking and jewelry making), played with the children, painted walls, laid a new floor and scrubbed all the appliances.

On other days they weeded, removed stumps, and ploughed two huge fields for next spring's planting of a vegetable garden. The men on the team worked on an apartment to house future teams.

Fatigue was one of the greater challenges that the team coped with, in addition to the emotional aspect of forming friendships with those who lived in difficult conditions.

“It is tough to see some of those kids and know even just a little of what they have been through, and go through, every day. I think while we're there we just focus on being there and loving those kids, encouraging them, telling them they're beautiful, and that God loves them.

“It hits hard when we come home and have a feeling of being spoiled. When we think about those children and we know their names, and wonder ‘where are they sleeping tonight?’ It really makes us think about our responsibility for people less fortunate than ourselves,” said Bean.