When I was a kid, I had the idea in my head that I didn’t like Butterfinger candy bars. I think I misunderstood the wrapper’s meaning. Between the name and the yellow packaging, I equated the product to a chocolate covered stick of butter. Mmm yum. At some point, of course, I ate one and realized the truth. While I don’t go out of my way shopping for them, I like Butterfingers just fine. In fact, if I came across one here in Kyiv, I’d buy it if only to show off to my American friends.

I work with kids who have been given a sort of misleading label. We’ve recently been working with a new orphanage. In a village just outside of Kyiv, there’s a boarding school meant for orphans with special needs. In the old days, it was a Pioneer camp, a center for training the next generation of communists. Weird to think about that, especially when I’m using their stage.
Clearly, there are children here with severe learning disabilities. But many more seem as normal as any kids you’d see in public school or a neighborhood playground. In some ways, these kids are exceptional; extremely open and loving. It’s my favorite ministry location in Kyiv so far.
I’ve noticed the kids to be unusually kind to each other. There is one girl who is mentally retarded and didn’t understand that she needed to wait in line for her snack. One of the big boys close to the front of the line pulled her gently in place in front of him. Nobody pushed her away or yelled at her. They understood she needed help and they gave her first class treatment.
A few weeks ago we were teaching the kids that God had plans for them. I encouraged them to “dream big dreams,” because God has great things for them. One of the workers told Vicki, from our team, “This is a good teaching, but not for these kids. They shouldn’t dream. They’re invalids.”

Vicki said, “Not all of them. They act like “normal” kids.”
“No,” the worker said, “all of them are invalids.”

Now I’m not saying that every kid who dreams of becoming an astronaut or football star will become that if they only follow Jesus. I wanted to be a marine biologist when I was a kid, and my work is… um… significantly different. But the ability and desire to dream is even more important than having them come true. With my dream, I had the motivation to explore that dream and the next one, and the next one. Somewhere I learned that I liked orphans more than killer whales, and here I am. And I’m convinced God’s direction was moving me through different dreams.

Orphans need to know that they have a hope and a future. They may target the moon, and only get to parliament (still not finding intelligent life) but it’s better than aiming for street sweeper because that’s all you think you can do. Most people live far below their created purpose because of what they believe about themselves and ultimately what they think about God.

My big emphasis with these children is, “Don’t believe what people say about you. What does God say about you? He’s your Designer.” Here’s what the Bible says. You’re not a tail-less monkey, but you’re made in His image. You’re valuable not because of your grade point average, or adopt-ability, or computer hacking skills. You’re valuable because you’re designed by the King of the Universe, in His likeness and adored and understood by Him.

I just needed one person to show me that a Butterfinger wasn’t Oleo coated in chocolate. One person to break one open it and convince me to “taste and see that” the candy bar was good. That’s why I believe that over time, we’ll change the course of many lives just by taking off the label.

¶ 8:40 AM //