The Lord is my Strength

 My mom has been doing this fun activity with me and my brothers and sisters that has helped me to know the bible better.  She writes a bible verse on the white board and we say it together and then she erases one word at a time, and we say it again until no words are left. The other day I memorized,

The Lord is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Psalm 46:1

After we finished the lesson, we went to Amanda's house for horse lessons.  We each take turns while mom reads to the others in the van.  This time she is reading from Gideon about how God called Gideon to fight against the Midianites but he was afraid because he was the weakest one in his family.  He asked God to show him several signs because he wanted to be sure to do the right thing.

Right then, Amanda comes over to the van to say that she is selling their ranch and we were surprised.  We love to go there for horse.  My mom was quiet and soon she asked Amanda questions about the ranch.

My mom shared with Amanda about the vision we have for Grace Haven and pretty soon Amanda tells my mom that the land has always been used to minister to children.  Really amazing is that Amanda's mom had the same kind of vision for the land that mom and dad had written down for Grace Haven!  Even more exciting, Amanda would like to join us in ministry!

Soon, I see that we need God's help to know what to do next. He is our help and our strength. I reminded my mom of the verse we just learned in Psalms.  And I think we are like Gideon, we need signs to know what to do. 

I have great people who help me.  They have big hearts.

The next Monday that I went to horse, I wasn't as quiet. I was more excited to work and this time I worked not with the mini horse, but with the big horse.  I held the rope and I called to the horse using a loud voice. That is unusual for me.  I felt strong.

I think this is joy and what God gives and this is what I hope every child feels. I believe he is leading us into new exciting things coming up because I feel it inside of me.

To parents:  It really helped me when I could memorize bible verses.  It is good to hear the bible, but it is even better when I am by myself to be able to use verses I have in my heart.  If reading is hard or paying attention is hard like it is for me sometimes, then listening in song really helps.  

I have had it on my heart for hurting children to know God sees their heartache and that he hurt when he saw them hurt.  I also pray they do not blame God or their adoptive parents for the pain others gave to them.  

Love is in the light,

Lucia

I Am Fully Known

   I want to say hello to everyone because it has been a long time.  Today I found out some sad news that my birth grandma passed away.  It has me thinking about death and life and suffering.

  I want to make everything right.  I want to take away suffering.  I can feel Satan try to take my joy away. I even want to get angry.
I fight him with my prayers and I use my words that I know are true and still sometimes it just hurts.

 I wish I can do more. I wish I could help more.  When kids tell me they feel sorry for me because I am in a wheelchair,  I tell them this is part of God's story.  Sometimes I wish it didn't have to be, because I can picture myself doing so much more.  I really don't want anyone to feel sorry when they are with me, but to feel Jesus when they are with me.

No matter what, it's not my strength, it has to be God's strength.  His power breaks wrong thoughts that want me stuck.  I understand I need to stay close to God no matter what.

I think I should share that today when my mom gave me the hard news about my grandmother,  she talked to me too about the bible verse God showed her this morning in prayer.  It is:

Now we see but a poor reflection, as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  1 Corinthians 13:12

Amazingly, today in the mail arrived a new book she bought for me and she opened it after we discussed this verse.  The book is called, Why Do People Suffer? by James Jones.  As she reads to me the first verse she comes to is once again 1 Corinthians 13:12!  I believe he really wanted me to hear this today.

For parents:  Believe God is doing a good work in your child.  There may be things today you cannot see and understand why, but one day you will.  I know it's especially  hard when your children can't or don't speak to you about their problems, but know that God knows all the details.  He will lead you in the right time, to know what is best to do.

Love is in the light,

Lucia

Hearing God's Voice

    Summer is here and I have been enjoying it.  In June I spent a week at Bible Farm.  I met new friends and I really liked this one activity called Listening Tree.  We would spend time learning how to listen to God's voice and hear him in our lives.   One teaching was about how God has a special plan for each of our lives and I see how important it is to hear Him more than my feelings.

    I have continued to work on writing with my mom on my book about all of the things that happened to me before I was adopted.  I told my mom that I often have feelings of anger and I won't realize where it came from.   I see how important it is to listen to myself and be aware of these feelings so I can deal with it.

   I am spending time doing bible time with my brother Maxim too.  I listen to a bible app on my ipad and talk with Maxim about what we learn.   We have been taking notes on what God is doing in us.  For instance the other day God gave me a picture of
 a pastor and preaching to people about God's love.  I pray for many people.  I want to spend my life helping others who were abused to know that it's not their fault and to help them hear God's voice too.

   Writing my story is important to me.  It's not just my story because many children are still living in mental institutions and suffering.  I know some of these children have been adopted and if they don't know how to talk or are too scared, I hope my story will help them.  I hope it helps their adoptive parents to understand their child better too.

    Healing takes time.  I want to be happy all the time but sometimes memories come and I need to deal with them.  I want to see this for families where they understand the hidden pains.   My brothers do not deal with their memories and feelings the same as me.  For them they try not to think about it or try to keep busy playing to not feel it.  Everyone is different but they still feel.

    For me it is better to let my feelings out.  If I keep them in I will feel crazy.  I think God wants us to share our feelings with Him and with our family.  I learned everyone in my family has a story and we all need Jesus.

   It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.          Galatians 5:1

   So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  Colossians 2:6-7

   I remind myself that I am not in the past.  I am new and its ok to have feelings but they don't control me.  I often think things are my fault and then I stop myself.  It's not my fault and I won't give power to that feeling.

    I hope if you are reading this that you will know God is with you all the time.  You are never alone.  God watched what happened to me and he knows what happened to you.  He heard us and He comes to help us.

Love is in the light,

Lucia

My Spring Update

 
      Hi everybody!  Lots is going on in the house.  I'm praying a lot and talking to mom a lot but we haven't had as much time to write.  There is a lot God is doing in me the last months.

     I went to a Valentine's dance with my brother, Cephas, and we had a good time together.  I met new people.  There was a special lady who helped me there.  She asked me about my family and I told her I was adopted.  She was surprised I was so old when I was adopted.  Not many children are adopted at 16!  Cephas and I were even able to sing karaoke.  We sang Amazing Grace together.    

    The most amazing part of that day was it was a hard day for me.  I wasn't feeling good that day.  I am also quiet a lot and go to bed early.  This night it was very loud and I talked to many people. I saw it was after 9 pm and I was feeling great!  I think this was God who was making me feel better.  The next morning when my Dad came to get me up, my stomach was feeling great, my body wasn't hurting, and I was ready to go to church.  

    Another new thing is I started going to home school classes.  I go to Brain Exercises, Reading, and Science classes.  I really enjoy my classes.  Brain class is my favorite.  It teaches me what to do when I am stressed out with my ipad school.  I learned some good breathing exercises and it helps me.   I am so happy God gave me an opportunity to go to classes.  The people are very nice to me there and I feel welcome.

    The Grace Haven house is being built and there are lots of meetings going on.  There's much to be done and I ask Dad all the time when it will be done.  I can't wait for groups to meet at the house.  It's amazing what God wants to do.  I feel passionate.  Recently a teen girl came over with her dad and I got to talk with her.  I talked to her about how God helps me in my struggles.  We prayed with her and her dad.  She is doing good and I heard she has been baptized.  I pray for her a lot.  I say, 'I know God you can do amazing stuff.  Help her know who you are and understand her family. Let her know her family has the best for her."  I pray that a lot.

    I need to tell you about my dream because it was good.   Remember, I said there was a mean worker at the institution who did things to me.  Well,  I had a dream she came to me and said, "Bring Jesus! I am sorry! I judged you. I was wrong.  I hurt you because I was hurt too. Bring Jesus, bring your family and come.  We need you.  There is war.  Help us!"  I felt so light because I was able to really forgive her.  I don't even feel bad feelings anymore about all that she did to me.  Now God is saying she needs help.

   I can let God take care of Galena.  I can release the other ones who hurt me and let God take over.  God is showing me He will do the things we need if we let Him do it.  If you just let go you will feel so much better.

  To adoptive parents - I believe your kids can release their pain to God.  I believe your kids will someday know who God is and will talk to you about their pain.  And I believe they will know you did nothing to hurt them. I pray for you to be strong while you wait.  Don't let the devil control your thoughts.  He wants you to see only the very worst. He doesn't want you to know who you are.


I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles, my JOY knows no bounds.  2 Corinthians 7:4

   

Love is in the light,

Lucia

Here I am at the Tim Tebow Night to Shine dance with my Buddy!

Here I am with my mom 3 years ago exactly! 

 From Mom -  Lucia and I have been talking about the amazing freedom in prayer there is when there is forgiveness.  When doubt is gone, there is such a fullness!  We praise God for giving her such a beautiful and vivid dream of meeting up with someone who once caused her such pain and now when she hears her name and sees her face she no longer feels trauma but compassion.  Only God can do that!

He Deals With Me

        Yesterday I was in my room praying and doing bible time.  I felt like God wanted me to deal with my heart so I asked him what.  He reminded me of something one of the caregivers said to me about a girl who was blind. I knew this lady believed in Jesus and acted nice.  She even kissed me.    
        One day I asked for medicine and she began hitting me over and over with the heel of her shoe. She turned me over and got my back when she was done with my legs. It was so hard to breathe.  Another caregiver told her to stop but she said, "If I do this to my kids at home I am able to do it here." 
    Later when she came to feed me I said I'm not feeling like eating.  She turned to the blind girl and I saw her shove the food in her mouth so much she was choking.  I said, "If you say you believe in God, stop shoving food in her mouth."
    She looked at me and said, "You don't tell me what to do. Why do you want to save this girl who hurts you?  She talks about you behind your back."
    I told her that I loved this girl.  I loved her because I felt she has never done anything.  At the same time I really believed this woman when she said the blind girl talked bad about me.  And that was what God really wanted to deal with me about.  From that moment on I didn't talk to the blind girl ever again. 
     And so yesterday in my room my heart was hurting so badly because I judged this girl who had done nothing to me.  I even said to myself, "I was dumb. I should have known better."  I cried for her and I had so many tears for her.  When I was done I said, "Thank you God for telling me I wasn't right. Thank you for correcting me."  I just felt so many thank you's to God after that.

   Today it may be hard to read some of this but you really need to know this because you or your kids might be hurting too.  The hurt makes you want to go away and never come back.  God really loves us and we need to think about what's good.  Even though I remembered something bad, I can feel better because now I know who God made me be. 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

From Mom:  It is incredibly humbling to be the writer of her words.  Often times, like today, I am hearing things for the first time. I know when she is about to ask me to sit down though.  Her eyes get big and she can almost hardly wait to share what God places on her heart.  When she speaks her whole body moves and when we are finished she is so very tired but she is fulfilled and at peace.  Today at school everyone was to introduce themselves and say something.  She said she ministers to families who adopt.  I love that. 

Little White House

    Yesterday I was praying like war.  I was praying for more of God, more of God, more of God.  I have been so thankful.  When I went to bed last night I felt like I wanted to hug and kiss Jesus.  When I closed my eyes I could see many people walking towards a small white house.  They were all crying and saying things like, "We didn't understand.  We worshipped ourselves.  We believed in our own strength. Now we believe our God helps."  I didn't understand what it meant. I think to myself that something is coming.  I felt my heart really heavy.
     This morning when I was praying God told my heart to pray for people.  I think the white house I saw was a church and I feel like he wants me to go tell the people about him.  I feel in my heart like a yes!  I should do this.  And as soon as I finished praying, I heard in my mind, "No you can't preach to people.  You think you can bring people to Jesus but you cannot.  It's a waste of your time."  It made me angry and I said out loud, "You devil, you will not steal my joy. I will stay in the presence of God!"
      

        Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.   Philippians 3:13-14

From Mom:  We spent time praying today especially for eyes to be opened to recognize that it was the actions of broken people that gave God a bad name, for revelation of their need of more of God in order to love and trust others. 

   

Wait It's Coming!

    Today is my 19th birthday.  I feel joy and peace in my heart.  I hope for more understanding what God is doing so my eyes will open up more.  I have been praying hard today to get more understanding why God has chosen me to help people.  I know its not because of anything I have done but because of what He has done.  He has put love in my heart.  I love him more than anything in my life. 

     I didn't get like this in one day.  When I was little I even tried crawling.  I could sit up.  I wanted to move more, but my mom told me to get down.  At times my dad would get me to try, but my mom would stop it.  It hurt my heart when I heard her say this to me.
     Then when I went to the institution, they left me in the bed.  They gave me sleep medicine.  Everyday I tried to move some how but many times if they saw me they gave me medicine right away.  Slowly I felt something changing in my body.  I asked for help.  They said there was no help.  I asked how long I would be there and their response was - until I died.
     I just kept thinking I want to do something.  I want to get up.  I could see some children receiving help but they made excuses why I could not go.  My mom and I figured if I went into the institution in 2004 and I was adopted in April of 2013, then I spent 3,285 days becoming twisted inside myself. Not just my body, but my thinking too.  The caregivers had told me no one would love me.  It takes some time to become straight again.
    My mom reads the comments to me that are left here.  It is hard to believe that just saying my story can help but that's what God does.  I have learned that no matter how hard things get I am going to always hope for something good.  I guess I learned how to wait.
     This morning I had a dream that I was back in Ukraine with my new family visting my biological brother.  He said to me, "Thank you for praying for me. Thank you for opening my eyes.  I'm so happy you came to see me."  I thought when I woke, no one asks me to pray for my brother.  God puts him in my heart to pray.  God uses every person. Keep hoping for something good.  It's going to happen if you really believe.

Love is in the Light,

Lucia

From Mom:  We prayed together today for old habits to be broken and new pathways to be forged in your relationships.

Facing My Fears

     Today was a difficult morning.  It was hard for me to wake up because my back was hurting and I hadn't slept well.  The weather changed a lot and became cold.  It makes my body more stiff and achey than other days.  I prayed, "God I know you don't want me to have pain.  Take my pain away."
After I prayed, God had me think about my mom's testimony and it made me amazed how God used her to be so nice to people and I see how my brothers and sisters change.  

    I don't know how to put it but I was so angry with my birth mom.  A little over a year ago I said to my mom, "I want to go back to Ukraine!"  After awhile I thought, "why did I say this?"  I realized how silly that was and that it wasn't right.  I wanted to take it back.

    I said it to my mom because I thought she would stop loving me like my birth mom.  When I came home I listened really close all the time to see if my mom was saying mean things about me.  I asked the kids if they heard too.   When my mom was so kind, it just hurt because I didn't believe her.  I could not take one more person lying to me.  In the institution the people talked about me.  They said I was dumb and that it was my fault that my birth mom drank and my birth dad killed himself. 
I believed that I was not good so I believed them.

    When I first came, I was so scared.  I tried to choke myself at night.  My mom didn't know.  One time I threw up in my bed and I was afraid my mom would see and tell me to clean it up.  But when my mom came in, she gave me a bath and cleaned me.  I used to have to lay in vomit all day. Having bad things happen makes you expect bad things to happen.

    Over many months I saw that nothing bad happened.  When my parents kept talking about God I started to think, I want that too.  I began praying and asking God to change my thoughts.  I see God answer my prayers.  Even after my head knew the truth my feelings still felt scared inside.  It took me a year to not feel that scary feeling.    I also thought my mom was friends with the bad people in Ukraine because she was so nice to them.  I thought that if I told my mom what happened to me that she was going to tell them and then listen to them and hurt me.

There are so many thoughts that go on inside. I had to tell Satan that he had to go away.  When he would tell me I wasn't good, I would tell him it wasn't true.  I am made for something beautiful!

"Get behind me, Satan!  You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."  - Jesus   Matthew 16:23

Love is in the Light,

Lucia


From Tina :   This blog came out of the book we've been working on, which came out of our one on one sessions together we have.  In the beginning we just shared, I prayed with her and whatever God might have us to do.  Then as she became more comfortable she began talking about wanting to write her story down.  This was when we really began to work through some hard things and replace lies with the truth. 

   Over time,  we saw her light shine brighter and now it's really amazing to see her share these things that once held her down.  We prayed today before she shared that for all of the very dark and painful offenses taking place behind closed doors to the helpless, that God would multiple the blessings one hundred fold for each offense to every child including those who are now in adoptive and foster families.  We pray that every family knows their battle is in spirit and not flesh and that they fight FOR each other, not fight each other.

He Speaks to Me

       I woke up this morning with such peace and a feeling of safety.  The thought of money came to me. My birth parents always thought about money.  They thought money was all they needed. God seems to have brought this to my mind.

I asked God, why are you making me think about money?

God told me, "What I put in your heart is important. It's worth more than what money can buy."

When my dad came in my room, I told him and he said, "God will always hear your prayers and he will speak to you."

I felt so happy like I wanted to cry.  Today is a busy day because my uncle and grandma are coming and I know my mom has to clean. I prayed that I would have time to sit with my her to write on my blog and God answered that prayer too!

So I had good dreams last night.  I was even walking!  My mom was cheering and saying "I am so happy for you!" Rainan was hugging me and crying happy tears for me.  

Today I think to ask my mom to look up this bible verse and this is what we found. 

 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations-   Revelation 2:26

I think it is right for how I am feeling.

     Love is in the Light,

                             Lucia 

From Mom :   Lucia was asking me to look up a particular verse, couldn't remember the book but that it was 2:26 and about "keeping to follow God and he will make you to overcome."   I began looking up different books and when I said the book Revelation, she shouted YES quickly.

What We Think On Grows

   

     My days in the institution were slow and painful.  I thought everyday was sure to be the last.  When I asked for help, no one listened.  One day I even asked the caregiver to kill me by overdose because the hopelessness was unbearable.  I was not always hopeful as I am now.  The more I thought about my pain, the more I thought of death.
    When I was transferred before my parents came for me, new caregivers were in charge and they told me I wasn't bad.  I began to think that maybe I was a good person.  I noticed my days were happier and I looked for good things in my days too.  I was still in pain.  My body wasn't getting better, but the people around me helped me to see differently.
    
      Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.                                    Ephesians 6:10-11
   
     Now that I am here in my new home, I am beginning to see what God is doing with all of those things that happened before.  I still have hard days but it is different now.  I know when bad thoughts come at me to pray.  Prayer has been the most important thing I've learned.  My prayers are like giving my bad days away to God to have and he gives back to me His peace.  I learned that I can't always change the things to be the way I want it to be but I can still be enjoying God until He changes the situation.  I have decided I am going to enjoy life no matter what because I spent too many years miserable.  God did not want me to be miserable.  He wanted me happy and I make the devil mad when I am happy.

    Adoptive moms and dads, keep loving your children no matter what your children do to you.  They only behave how they feel about themselves.  Satan tells them many lies.  Keep speaking the truth to them.  I understand this.  I have a brother and sister who also struggle with this.  Keep praying for their hearts to become hungry for God because only God can change people.  

                                              Love is in the Light,

                                                                Lucia

Introduction to Lucia's Blog

Those who look to God for help will be radiant with joy.  Psalm 34:6

     My name is Lucia.  I am 19 years old.  I have been living in the United States almost three years already.  I came here from Ukraine when I was 16.  I have a new life now, like I have never seen before.  I want people to understand that God makes beautiful things beyond what we can imagine.  My life in Ukraine was very difficult and I didn't think life could ever get better for me.  I wondered often about how much longer I would live.  I have cerebral palsy and was being housed in a facility for the mentally ill with many other children with special needs.  We were not cared for the right way and I watched my friends die by my bed.

     With this blog, I want to share with other people what God has been showing to me.  I am just a girl, but I am God's girl and he helps me everyday to see Him in all the little things around me.  I know many people have prayed for me even before I came home.  Let me say, God bless you to all of you who pray for the orphan who waits for a family.  

     I also have a heart to see children like me become strongly bonded to their new families and I believe God has given me a mission to minister to adoptive parents who are trying to understand their children better.   It is very difficult to be neglected and abused and then learn to trust again but it can happen. Nothing is impossible with God.

                                                     Love is in the light,

                                                                                    Lucia 

From Tina (Lucia's Mom) :  When Lucia was still in Ukraine and years before we adopted her, I knew her as Yulia.  Every time I prayed for her, I would hear, "radiant."   When she became ours and wanted a new name we chose Lucia, because it means radiant.  Lucia has truly lived up to that name reflecting the light of Christ's gentleness and kindness.   She has wanted to help others for a long time and she feels this is the time to step out in faith and begin sharing the good works God is doing in her life, in hopes that it blesses and inspires you.  Everything that is written here is from her heart but is edited by me to help for clarity sake.  Blessings