Hi everyone - at last, steps forward to report! Our daughter, Sarah, and her family were just with Father's House in Freiburg for a few days and spent a lot of time with children and also with Roma and family so I have first-hand news too. Below is a link with photos.

Last night was very exciting going to the airport in San Diego to meet two FH girls who will be attending English language school here and be a part of a lovely family from our church. Sarah sponsored them and was at the US embassy interview in Frankfurt. Months of paperwork and a 'long shot' so it was amazing to get not only a 'yes' but be issued three year visas. The photo of Yulia and Victoria, aged 17 and 16, was taken at a California style cafe when their visas were approved!

Wonderful news is 40 of the younger children plus caregivers are now in new accommodation with bright bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens, and comfortable beds (2 photos in the link). The children are so happy in their new home and finally out of the refugee camp metal containers. Their first dinner in their new home of course had to be borscht to celebrate!

One of the two non profits in Freiburg helping FH, City Mission, owns a spacious building they have been using as a guest house. They are giving this building for FH accommodation. Renovations are underway to divide it into 4 separate living areas each with own kitchen, etc so that 4 FH family groups can live there. It is hoped the move to this new accommodation will be made later this month. And there is a plan for another place too, hopefully for moving into in October. City Mission, and the other non profit, Seinlaedele, are incredibly dedicated to doing all they can to help FH.

A private organization called Weise is contracted by the German government for projects to do with children and youth and they are working with City Mission to get caregivers for FH so that there will be a ratio of two caregivers to every ten children. Roma is part of the interview process for new workers. Lack of staff has been a huge issue and exhausted workers.

Another area of stress has been alleviated - there had been pressure on Roma to sign German documents that would have really restricted FH long term options. Finally, it has been agreed that Roma has a grace period of two years. And if at the end of this time FH has not been able to return to Ukraine, then Roma will sign the documents.

Education is a complicated situation. School starts tomorrow. The German government say the children must go to German schools. The children have been attending German classes but for so many kids this is going to be a huge challenge trying to learn subjects in German. And then there is the Ukrainian government saying the children must follow the Ukrainian education system, which is very rigid about what children need to cover in each subject in each week. Some of the teachers who taught the FH children are still in Kiev and they will teach the children online. The man who was the Principal of the FH school in Kiev has just been to see them in Freiburg to work on how to best do this. At the moment, the plan is German school during the day followed by Ukrainian school after they get home, which is going to be extremely difficult for children to try to handle. It is hoped that as the German school teachers see children having difficulties learning in German, let alone many with learning issues in the first place, that decisions will be made that will make it easier for the children.

A 9 seater van was purchased for FH - transportation has been a big issue with old, unreliable vehicles. The photo shows Roma and Hans Peter from Seinlaedele with the new vehicle. It was a complete surprise for Roma. There is a funny story around the purchase of the van - it had only done 30,000 kms but was purchased for an extremely good price because the previous owner on entering a parking building misjudged how high the van was and did extensive damage to its roof. After purchasing, the roof was repaired, but it still was a great deal!

There is a purchase for an 18 seater van in the works too. With FH being spread further apart with new housing, there will be a big need for transportation. These purchased vehicles will go with FH when eventually they are able to return to Ukraine.

You will see a photo of a large group outside a circus tent. This is of the 162 FH 'family' still in Freiburg who got free tickets to a circus. And there is a photo of a FH group at one of the refugee camps.

'Kids Camp of America' has an organization they set up in Germany and they put on a day camp for a week to give the children end of summer fun before school starts (see photo).

The photo of the smaller group is of our daughter, Sarah, and her family on an outing to the Monkey Park for children who were particularly well behaved and helpful the last few weeks.

Sarah wrote, ‘I could see in my time with Father's House in Freiburg that meeting a child's emotional, physical, and spiritual needs remains at the heart of all that FH does. It isn't easy as each worker navigates through their own experience as refugees. In my time in Germany, I was so moved and humbled seeing in person the level of self-sacrifice each worker who stayed with them has made to remain with the children and live with them. They are pouring out their lives and need a lot of pray and encouragement in their own personal journey.'

FATHER'S HOUSE, KIEV

The Ukrainian government asked if FH would take 36 war orphans who have been in hospital and nowhere to go, or are homeless and no parent found to care for them. The first of these children have arrived. Before the war started, FH was doing a major renovation to the front original building because of new fire safety standards they were forced to implement. The work didn't get finished after war broke out and they are just starting working again to complete so that the orphaned children can live there. It is wonderful that FH in Kiev is continuing to be a refuge for children. Also, there are some families living in the FH back building whose homes were destroyed.

The 'Dad' of one of the FH family groups in Freiburg has a nephew who serves in the Ukrainian army. Their troop had 4 vehicles assigned to them, 3 of which got destroyed and the one remaining one in poor shape and full of bullet holes. Ezra and Ambassadors of FH went 50/50 to purchase a vehicle for them, which will be used to transport food and medical supplies to the frontline. Also to transport nurses, and to bring soldiers back from the frontline.

Roma and Father's House are so very grateful for the love, prayers, and financial support that have been helping them transition into a whole new life in Germany for whatever length of time they will be there.

Anne

Hi everyone this video was put together by a young man who is a graduate of Father's House and currently living there helping refugees 

I'm sorry it is in Ukrainian but the pictures alone tell the story. At the end of the first part with all the explosions is the destruction of the orphanage Oleg ran - they came with Roma to Germany so there weren't any children there when it was destroyed. 

In the second part, I'm sure you will love the photos shown of all the children. 

At last steps forward in finding smaller places for accommodating Father's House!  Some renovating needed. 

Please continue to pray - being a refugee is very wearying! 

Enjoy the video

Anne 

Here is an update on the van that was so needed and being put to very good use to bless around 200 families (plus extra emergency calls).  I have included photos of the van and just a few of the many recipients of the aid it brought to them in Kiev. 

Norbert, a man in the large Freiburg non profit called City Mission that helps Father's House,  spent a long time on our behalf looking at options. We sent the funds through this non profit to purchase his best find - a used van in very good condition. Vera's brother who drives it, Denis, and the team call it 'the Man Van' - which I just discovered by looking at the photo  is because Man is a brand of trucks and vans made in Munich!Vera's brother Philip then drove the van loaded with humanitarian aid from Germany to the Polish border, where it was collected by a Ukrainian lady who drove it over the border into Ukraine to Denis (because men under 60 can't cross out of Ukraine during the war).  In Kiev, the van was unloaded and separated into packages for families in urgent need (see the photo of two of our social workers helping Denis). We have three social workers who never stopping going to crisis families in their care even when the attacks on Kiev was at their worst. At the moment the van is in Switzerland being loaded with humanitarian aid from there and will be driven to the Polish border to be taken over this week. It is amazing how so many people are working together in what has become a streamlined operation to help those in desperate need. The new, reliable van is making such a difference and we are all very grateful that its purchase was made possible by funds generously given! 

Another group housing alternative was being pursued but that too reached a dead end. So now it appears the most viable option is to get a series of houses or apartments and break into small groups. Father's House already has within it 'family groups' with a mom and dad and 8 to 10 children. They would just move separately in those units. Oleg's orphanage has a plan now worked out with Roma on how they could break into units. The two non profits in Freiburg are very actively pursuing this concept and looking for suitable places. Father's House has been very blessed by funds to be ready to move at virtually a moment's notice.

We are using some donation funding to cover many expenses - such as gas for things like transporting children and caregivers between the refugee camps and for outings, and distributing the weekly donated bread and dairy products, etc. While basic food is provided by local government in Freiburg, many of the children have special dietary needs, plus we need to add in fresh fruit and vegetables. Father's House wants the children to have as rich and full a life as possible despite being refugees. Examples of things they are doing are celebrating birthdays and recognizing successes, and motivational gatherings of children and caregivers where everyone sits over pizza to talk and to share about both struggles and victories. Also, for Father's House to have funds in hand for emergency trips to the doctor, and for immediate medications. Understandably, because Father's House is such a large and diverse group of children, many needs unexpectedly come up and they need funds on hand to cover those. They are short of caregivers so they don't have much time off. Rest and recovery time for caregivers is essential for them to recharge.

Meanwhile, in the refugee camps the weather is warmer and the children are able to be outside playing with the new equipment purchased for them from donations. It will soon be summer vacation from school work (two photos of children in classrooms at refugee camps). Summer programs are being planned.

Father's House has had to work at preparing schooling options for the fall. Children and adults have had German teachers come in to teach them the language and it looks like a portion of the children will be attending German school. The remainder will do virtual Ukrainian school.

A group called Polish Women's Solidarity had a campaign to provide children's books to displaced Ukrainian children. There was great excitement the day a large number of books arrived for Father's House children - these books traveled around 1500 km to reach them (see photo of the children and Roma holding books). This group also prepared a digital media library for Ukrainian children and young people.

Local volunteers continue to come and bless Father's House with their time and skills, and to entertain the children. A group of hairdressers have been cutting the hair of both adults and children. And some lady clowns come very regularly to make the children laugh at their antics.

Father's House has music and drama teachers who came with them and they have a singing group called 'Singing Hearts'. In one of the photos they are performing at a concert held in Freiburg for peace and support of Ukraine. Wherever they get a chance to perform, they share God's love.

Roma has instilled in the children they all need to be a blessing to Freiburg, which has welcomed and helped them so much. Wherever they go, they are to keep an eye out for trash to pick up, and to freely give out smiles. Recently there was a clean up day held by the city of Freiburg and Father's House children and caregivers were out in full force to take part.

Another photo is a group of 4 girls - the Tsarenko sisters. They are all graduates of Father's House. Lena on the far left works in a seniors home one of the helping non profits has. The other three, Valentina, Vika and Natasha, are caregivers for Father's House children, working long hours.

There have been such wonderful stories of children in Canada and the US being very moved by the Father's House children having to be refugees - money boxes being emptied, chores done to make money and bake stands. Included is a photo of a group of girls from a school in Colorado who baked and sold their wares - enough to buy a keyboard and speakers, which are now being used for outdoor morning exercise sessions, theater, and worship at church. Thank you to Abby and her friends, and all the other children who have given out of generous and tender hearts.

Father's House has a lot of talented children who really like to sing and are eager to have music lessons. They love to perform in the weekly Sunday services (the precious time where they gather and are together from all the camps).

FATHER'S HOUSE IN PETRIVSKE VILLAGE, UKRAINE

As you know from previous updates, the buildings have miraculously not sustained damage. There is a team of men who worked at Father's House who have remained there and they are providing meals and accommodation to refugees passing through and to people whose homes were destroyed.

A team of men came to stay at Father's House while they distributed humanitarian aid to isolated villages and to help fix up homes that have been damaged.

One of the non profits helping Father's House in Freiburg, City Mission, purchased an ambulance and medical equipment and donated them to Petrivske Village - photo is included.

Thank you for your support and prayers. Roma and family and all of Father's House, adults and children and those under their care, really need them. The continued top needs continue to be accommodation, more caregivers and strength to get through this. Enjoy the photos!

God bless you!

Anne Elliott