Restoring Childhood Dreams in Kiev

But some are fortunate. They're brought here to a Ukrainian orphanage where they are given care, education, and a chance. But history teacher, Sergey, told The 700 Club's Terry Meeuwsen that it's still not easy.

"Terry, the hardest is when the child comes for the first time, because they come from the streets. And it takes some time because we have to be patient with them."

Most orphanages only allow children to stay until the age of 16, because they're just not enough room.

"I couldn't help but wonder," Terry says aloud, "what it would be like to leave everything you've known and be sent out into the world at 16. 16!"

Steven is 13. His anguish lies not in his own plight, three years from now, but in the fate of his 9 year old sister, Elizabeth, and his 8 year old brother, Peter. They were all abandoned. He has shouldered the load of keeping them together, since he was 7.

"I can see in the eyes of the kids an anger, and loneliness, and a disappointment in life," Terry observes. "What a young age to be disappointed in life, before you've even had a change to live."

But someone is bringing a ray of hope into the lives of these children - someone is making a difference! That someone, is you!

Thanks to our CBN partners, CBN WorldReach and Operation Blessing are coming along side these Ukrainian orphanages to bring a message of truth to children who might otherwise be forgotten.

CBN provided a gift for each child. They love having something to love. And they love having visitors!

"We tell them that Jesus loves them and will not forsake them," Terry explains.

It's a message that's preparing their hearts for God's plan for their lives. In the case of Steven, our CBN cameras just happened to be in the country when a Knoxville, Tennessee couple, Susan and Jim Wood, adopted he, and his younger sister and brother. He'd been the keeper of the family for 6 of his 13 years.

"We have to pray for these kids and say, 'God make the truth of who You are, and Your word real to them" Terry declares. "When we pack up our cameras and the show is over, make that sink into their hearts."

So when you wonder if caring makes a difference -- when you question if giving makes sense -- just remember those who stand a chance if you stand in the gap.

"I think that we need to understand that even though we are half a globe away," Terry says with tears in her eyes, "there is something we can do to make a difference. If we have the truth then it's our responsibility to send it to bring it, to declare it. The Scripture says, 'how will they hear if no one goes to tell them?' We can make a difference in that way."

For $20 a month -- only 65 cents a day -- you enable us to broadcast a message of hope, love and reconciliation to a hurting world. And it's all made possible because of CBN partners.

We need your help. Won't you join us today? Be a part of a ministry making a huge difference in people's lives, everyday.

Click here to become a CBN partner.