I grew up in a rural community in Nova Scotia which has since become a part of the Halifax municipality and is now filled with housing developments. As a kid growing up in the Baptist church we learned in Mission Band about people who answered the call to missions and went to live in far away countries. At that time air travel was only for the ultra rich and these places seemed very inaccessible to a kid in a rural community who wasn't rich. I never thought I would be one of those people who would get rid of everything, pick up and go to the other side of the world, let alone to a former soviet country. At that time we never thought there would even be a former soviet union. When I was in my mid forties I finally realized and knew beyond a doubt that I was to go. I don't know why it took so long for me to realize that but when I looked back on my life to that point I saw that every life experience and situation was preparing me.
So, what was I being prepared for? When I was on a short term mission trip in 2007 I saw kids living in orphanages whose only family were the other kids in the orphanage and the orphanage staff who were mostly women. I also saw that these kids did not have a lot of good male role models. That's not to belittle the female role models in their lives, but when there is one worker for 25 children, the kids don't get a lot of quality time and they also need to have both male and female role models. On this trip I noticed that the boys would gather around the men watching and soaking up everything we said and did. (The girls also gathered around the women.) They needed quality time that they don't get a lot of.
I've often heard it said by others in missions that the most important thing we can give to children is our time. Since I never had children of my own I made up my mind many years ago to love the children around me like they were my own. Kids in orphanages and disabled homes need to be loved. There has been studies done finding that kids who get little quality time have developmental delays which leads to a lot of other disadvantages in life. So, in 2011 I finally had everything ready and I got on a plane for Ukraine and for the next 2 years I went between Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan spending quality time with kids in orphanages, folks in disabled and senior's homes and whomever needed to see God's love in action. I still travel to Ukraine whenever I can raise enough resources and I still would like to be there full time.
I am by no means a preacher nor do I want to be one but I often think about the saying by St Francis of Assisi: "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words." It's not what we say but what we do that people remember. This sounds a bit cliché but I strive to be a father to the fatherless, showing them that they are loved, treating them and taking them on outings outside of the institutions for a few hours, giving them some dignity and being the best example that I can be.
I could write pages and pages more but I'll stop here. If you have any question about me or my mission by all means please ask. I would also be happy to come to your church or group to talk about my experiences so far. Just drop me a line through the email form on the right side of the blog.
Blessings,
Blair
