reede, november 26, 2004
Karl Gustov
We had a really incredible experience the other day when we went to visit a boy named Karl Gustov. We had been told about him by several Salvationists who had visited him in the past and now that we are in Tartu, wanted us to know he was there and encourage us to see him too.
Karl Gustov's great aunt was an officer in Estonia prior to Soviet rule, and the family had reconnected with the Army during the 100th anniversary of The Salvation Army in Finland a few years ago. Since then, officers have kept in touch with Karl Gustov's mother and grandmother and assisted them when they have had need. About a year ago, his mother had to go to a hospital outside of Tartu, and his grandmother is not able to care for him alone, so he was sent to the Tartu Christian Childrens' Home, which is a home for orphans and other children in need. That is where we met him the other day.
When we first arrived, we spoke with the manager of the home for a few minutes, and then she brought in Karl Gustov. He is 12 years old, and is the cutest little guy you would ever want to meet. He was very nervous, probably because he didn't know who we were or why we were there. We had a translator with us, but he kept trying his best to speak to us in English, as if this was the polite thing to do. After Evelyn and I spoke with him a bit, Kerli, our translator, chatted with him a bit in Estonian, joking and making small talk, and she did a great job of putting him at ease. After that, we spoke about his life at the home (which seems to be a very good place), school, and his interests (he loves horses!). When we told him that we lived in Tartu and wanted to be available to him if he ever needed anything, he didn't seem sure what to make of it. But then we said that we would like to take him to visit his mother at the hospital sometime, and meet her ourselves, and he lit up. He said that he would very much like to see his mother. Although he showed incredible politeness and poise overall for a boy his age, at that moment you could see he was a child who misses his mom.
We'll be seeing Karl Gustov again, to be sure. He won our hearts from the moment we met him. We hope to meet his mother and grandmother too, and build on the relationship that was begun by others.
We are so excited by this. It is another opportunity to do what we came her for, and it is so clear that it will take so little to make a difference in this boy's life, but we want to do whatever it takes! The process of finding those we can help has seemed slow, and at times we feel like we are doing nothing, but doors are opening. Last year in Chester we helped 524 families at Christmas; we know now that this year we will help at least one. That's enough.
--Tim
We prayed for Adam Keith Clark!
"Adam, the son of God" Luke 3:38; "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" Matthew 5:9.
Karl Gustov's great aunt was an officer in Estonia prior to Soviet rule, and the family had reconnected with the Army during the 100th anniversary of The Salvation Army in Finland a few years ago. Since then, officers have kept in touch with Karl Gustov's mother and grandmother and assisted them when they have had need. About a year ago, his mother had to go to a hospital outside of Tartu, and his grandmother is not able to care for him alone, so he was sent to the Tartu Christian Childrens' Home, which is a home for orphans and other children in need. That is where we met him the other day.
When we first arrived, we spoke with the manager of the home for a few minutes, and then she brought in Karl Gustov. He is 12 years old, and is the cutest little guy you would ever want to meet. He was very nervous, probably because he didn't know who we were or why we were there. We had a translator with us, but he kept trying his best to speak to us in English, as if this was the polite thing to do. After Evelyn and I spoke with him a bit, Kerli, our translator, chatted with him a bit in Estonian, joking and making small talk, and she did a great job of putting him at ease. After that, we spoke about his life at the home (which seems to be a very good place), school, and his interests (he loves horses!). When we told him that we lived in Tartu and wanted to be available to him if he ever needed anything, he didn't seem sure what to make of it. But then we said that we would like to take him to visit his mother at the hospital sometime, and meet her ourselves, and he lit up. He said that he would very much like to see his mother. Although he showed incredible politeness and poise overall for a boy his age, at that moment you could see he was a child who misses his mom.
We'll be seeing Karl Gustov again, to be sure. He won our hearts from the moment we met him. We hope to meet his mother and grandmother too, and build on the relationship that was begun by others.
We are so excited by this. It is another opportunity to do what we came her for, and it is so clear that it will take so little to make a difference in this boy's life, but we want to do whatever it takes! The process of finding those we can help has seemed slow, and at times we feel like we are doing nothing, but doors are opening. Last year in Chester we helped 524 families at Christmas; we know now that this year we will help at least one. That's enough.
--Tim
We prayed for Adam Keith Clark!
"Adam, the son of God" Luke 3:38; "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" Matthew 5:9.
