Home Sweet HomeJune 13, 2009|Mark Koehler|Newsletter, UkraineI arrived in Odessa Ukraine on June 8th in the afternoon. My assistant, her husband and son met me at the airport and drove me home. On the way, Platon, Ira’s husband, asked if it had been difficult for me…
A MissionaryMarch 23, 2009|Mark Koehler|Newsletter, The Children, UkraineSo, exactly what is a missionary? Webster defines this word as, “One sent to propagate religion.” In search of a good synonym for propagate, I found what I think is the best synonym. I like the word multiply. I like…
What the Children Need to HearMarch 15, 2009|Mark Koehler|Newsletter, The Children, UkraineRelationships have always been on my mind. Since I was a child, my own need for relationships was a major factor in my life. It was missing much of my childhood. When I interact with our children at the Emmaus…
The Innocence of ChildrenMarch 10, 2009|Mark Koehler|Newsletter, UkraineAs I woke up this morning, the scenes from a film that I had watched last week reappeared in my memory. Not many films are more than a momentary escape from the reality that I live. Not many films that…
Help WantedFebruary 28, 2009|Mark Koehler|Newsletter, UkraineWhen you see these two very common words side by side, what thoughts come to your mind? My first impression is that a job is available, that there is some work to do. Think about the word help. If I…
Children of HopeFebruary 23, 2009|Mark Koehler|Newsletter, UkraineWhat do you see above? Look at them from a distance; look at them close-up. Look at their clothes. Look at the expressions on their faces. Look into their eyes. What do you see? I see children. Each one has…
Children in TransitionFebruary 16, 2009|Mark Koehler|Newsletter, Ukraine(I have not entered pictures of our children to protect their identities at this fragile time in their lives.)For the past year and then some, when I go to Marganets, I visit the children at the transition home. These children…
Country in Crisis, Family in CrisisFebruary 11, 2009|Mark Koehler|Newsletter, UkraineBecause I have no TV, by choice, I don’t follow the news often. When I am hungry to know what is going on in the rest of Ukraine or the world, I go online and read the news. I have…