Dear Friends,                                                                                                             January 2010

Would you like to go on an adventure?  Well, tag along with me back to my trip to Ukraine.  I arrived at the airport in Kiev with four large pieces of luggage, two of which were full of toys and things for the orphanage.  The security people thought I was bringing in things to sell.  The language barrier can be a blessing at times.  They got frustrated and just waved me on through.  The next challenge was getting the luggage into the car.  Comical I assure you!
           After settling in at the wonderful church where I stayed in Nezhyn, it was off to the orphanage for me.  It was the first day of fall break for them so many of the kids had left for the week.  It was a sweet time of reunion.  How very wonderful it was to tell them I would be there for two months!  The next three days were filled with hugs, laughter, playing, and just being together. 
           On the fourth day, when it was time to leave, I started to cry.  At the time, I couldn’t understand why.   I was going to see them again soon - or so I thought.  That very week, there was an outbreak of swine flu.  All schools and orphanages were closed for three weeks.   If that wasn’t bad enough the director of the orphanage refused to let us come back for several weeks.  We still don’t know the reason.  This went on for a few weeks even after the quarantine was over.  Finally, my last day there, the director allowed us to return if we agreed to bring eighteen new school uniforms for his favorite class.  I desperately wanted to see my kids so I bought the uniforms.
            I was able to spend four hours with my kids.  Many of them I had not seen in over a year.  It was such a short time, but very blessed.  I was able to share the gospel with the seventh grade class that had received the uniforms.  I told them that I had a gift for them, but God had a greater gift for them.  My prayer is that they will accept Him as Savior.  It was very difficult to leave them, and I am anxious to return.
            During the weeks that I was not able to be at my orphanage in Komarivka, God opened the doors to another orphanage in Nezhyn.  They welcomed us with open arms.  We were able to spend more time with the elderly people in the hospital in Komarivka.  We also ministered to several families in the village.  Please continue to pray for Pasha.
            I have exciting news….. I am at fifty percent of my support!!!  Every month last year a church took me on for support.  Oh to have a repeat of that this year!  Thank you all for your faithful support.  I am hoping to return to Ukraine by the end of this year, at the very latest next spring.  Please be in prayer for this.  Your faithful prayers have been answered time and again.  Please continue to be in prayer for Smile House, our transition home, to be completed.  If you would like to go to Ukraine to work on Smile House or are interested in sending support for Smile House, please contact me for information.  

With a heart for Ukraine,

Meisha Deane