You know. . . . I really am a bit confused! I honestly never prayed the prayer of Jabez from First Chronicles 4:9. I am sure most of you are familiar with this prayer . . . “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!”. Well this year God is enlarging the territory of Hopeful Hearts.

In May Chris Diehl, Melissa Hough and myself found ourselves on the Hopeful Hearts version of “The Amazing Race.” In 12 days we traveled from Louisville to Ukraine to Sri Lanka to Myanmar and back to Louisville and I am quite sure that my heart will never be the same again.

At the beginning of this adventure called Hopeful Hearts Ukraine seemed like such a stretch out of my comfort zone but the old saying “you ain’t seen nothin yet!” truly applies to where I feel convicted that God is calling us to go. I think too often we decide what we want to do and ignore what God is calling us to do. Maybe instead of making our own plans and then asking God to bless them, we should find out what God’s plan is and seek to obey Him even if its not easy, simple, comfortable or familiar. I am convinced that God is calling Hopeful Hearts to the children of Sri Lanka and Myanmar. These two countries are definitely not easy, simple, comfortable or convenient but they are where God wants us to be.

The trip was hot . . . . the food was difficult . . . . the economic and religious oppression was evident in both countries but as crazy as it sounds I felt God’s love and His presence among those beautiful little children like I rarely feel it here in my own country. Little dirty barefoot children stood and sang of Jesus and His love like you seldom hear it here. In our worship we sing of “joy unspeakable that won’t go away” and on this trip I witnessed first hand that joy alive and well in people who had nothing else to be joyful about.

Hopeful Hearts has a deep compassion for the lost, the last, the littlest and the least. Please join with us as we put feet to the prayer of Jabez and hopefully your heart will be touched and leap with the overwhelming joy that comes from getting involved and knowing that even though it might seem crazy to the world sharing God’s love is exactly what life is all about.

Kathy Drane, President

The three transition homes help prevent children from living on the streets by housing selected children who have “graduated” from a traditional orphanage.  Although “graduation” typically occurs before age 17, orphan children are often released to the streets at much younger ages.

The transition homes are operated by Hopeful Hearts (Ukrainian) employees, and Hopeful Hearts provides all living necessities for the children.  The vision for the transition homes is to teach the children daily living skills and provide educational and spirtual opportunites so they can eventually give back to their own communities.

All through the spring and early summer we pass out, fill, collect, and process shopping bags filled with Christmas for approximately 1,000 children.  Then, a couple of days after Christmas, 14 to 16 volunteers board a plane and make the journey to deliver Christmas to the children.

This year was no exception: 13 of us left on December 27 and found that it truly is more blessed to give than to receive.  Many of us have been on every trip, and it has become the highlight of our Christmas – to watch a little girl open her bag and literally tremble with excitement and hug each and every piece is a joy that you cannot express in words.

The 2009 trip is already in the planning stage. We encourage you to consider participating in what will be the highlight of your Christmas.

If you would like more information about the 2009 trip, about donating a bag or volunteering to process, pack and ship, please contact us at 502.253.9825.