A recent photo of Anastasia
Anastasia is a beautiful little orphan girl that any family would be blessed to have in their home…that is all but the one Anastasia was born into three years ago. Not wanting Anastasia any longer, her mother abandoned her in the Kharkov train station, with nothing but a pacifier to hide the deformity of her cleft lip, and the eternal memory of personal rejection of a mother’s love and care.
With no food or extra clothing, Anastasia was found abandoned in the train station, most likely crying and wondering why her mother had just walked away from hear. I can only imagine what was going on in her little mind as fear began welling up inside of her. Perhaps she was saying to herself “Why is my mommy leaving me here alone?” and “Why is this happening to me?” We don’t know if Anastasia’s mother said goodbye to her before she left. All we know is that she was left alone crying until a passerby reported her to the authorities.
Despite her being a delightful child, she unfortunately doesn’t or cannot speak. It is unknown if this is from emotional neglect or the shyness surrounding the deformity of her lip. Whatever the reason she is unable to tell us her personal story. She communicates to everyone through grunting sounds, and through the pointing of her fingers.
Little Anastasia came to our attention this summer shortly after she was transported to Saltavka Children’s Shelter. I met her when a team from Colorado ministered in this location. We had a pizza party for the orphans, but from my quick observation, it looked like Anastasia was not bonding with many children because of her young age and deformity.
To make matters worse, in Anastasia’s recent past, someone cut her lip in two places hoping to improve her appearance, but sadly making her condition worse. The first moment I saw Anastasia, it was difficult for me to look at her because she needed so much help.
When another missionary came to visit shortly after the first team, Anastasia came to the forefront of my mind once again. As SCM’s representative, I decided to do something to improve this little girl’s life. Despite no money in the budget, I chose to have SCM pay for this child’s surgery, no matter what the cost. It was the easiest decision I ever made in ministry!
Over the past couple of months God has miraculously placed a Ukrainian pastor in our path whose wife and child were born with a cleft lip. This family has helped us tremendously since they know the best doctors in Ukraine to repair this type of deformity. We have done our research, and gone through the necessary government channels to receive approval to help this child, and we have set aside money for the initial costs. In October, Anastasia’s first of four surgeries will commence, repairing her physical features, and helping her towards a new life.
In total, Anastasia will need to travel from Kharkov to Kiev for four surgeries over the next year (six hours by train or car). During each surgery, a representative from the orphanage will be by her side around the clock to comfort her. The doctor has assured us that he will be able to dramatically improve Anastasia’s life for the better physically - praise God!
But it doesn’t stop with the surgery. We still need to help Anastasia emotionally and with voice therapy. The physical healing is only the first step.
Not only is SCM helping Anastasia, but also beginning this October, SCM will be building into the lives of orphans in at least six different locations through financial support, weekly meetings inside the orphanages, and with short-term missionaries. However, we cannot do this without your help. It is best if we raise no less than $6,000 for the surgery, and we need at least $13,500 for orphans care through May 2007.
I am reminded of Scripture when God says, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15)
If you feel called in helping being God’s ambassador for little Anastasia with her medical costs, or for any of the orphans we will minister to weekly, please respond by praying for all of us, and sending a check to help SCM reach orphan children for our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Thank you for all of your help!
Ron Putnam