People often ask me, “What’s your favorite place in the world to visit?”

It’s hard to answer.  You see, I love all of my Kenyan friends.  I also have a big heart for Cambodia.  Haiti is an incredible place, and I’m enthralled by the adventures of India and Panama.

But when it comes to experiencing the sheer beauty and simplicity of the kingdom, it’s hard to beat Ukraine.

Where else can you find such joy?

Ever since my first visit to Romaniv Disabled Boys Orphanage, I’ve been left speechless by the work of Mission to Ukraine.  Bitter injustice is daily met head on by sincere compassion.  The men and women that work at MTU are shining examples of the love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control we should expect from followers of Christ.

The best part is, they don’t even realize how incredible they are.  When they read my first article about their work at Romaniv, one of the MTU ladies said through tears, “We never knew we were part of something so big.”

Well guys, you are.  And as I witnessed in my return to Romaniv last summer, your work is bearing much fruit!

Click below to see for yourselves.  Want more?  Check out www.worldnextdoor.org/ukraine.

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What can I say about little Peter?  He has stolen my heart.

Every time I get discouraged by the injustice of this world, whenever I feel like the kingdom of God is just too far away, I think of Peter.  He represents for me some of the most beautiful examples of hope, love and reconciliation that I have ever seen.

The last time I spoke with Peter, he was lying in his bed (sharing a room with his amazing adoptive brother Taras).  I was leaving Ukraine the next morning and wanted to say goodbye.

Peter and three of his new sisters.

Peter’s muscular dystrophy has continued to advance, so he was extremely weak when I saw him.  I came into the room and sat down on the edge of his bed.  When Taras told him that I was there, Peter turned his head, using his hand to push his head in the right direction.

We shared a few words and I prayed for Peter, trying desperately not to burst into tears.

But the tears didn’t come from his condition.  They weren’t tears of sadness.  My tears for Peter were ones of gratitude.

Peter has a father.  Peter has a mother. Peter has siblings.  Peter has a home.

The kingdom of God may not be big and flashy, but for one little orphan in Ukraine, it was very, very real.

———–

If you want to read the whole saga of Peter’s adoption, check out www.worldnextdoor.org/tag/peter.  Otherwise, click below to read “Welcome Home!”

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What a fantastic summer!  

This June and July I took our three summer interns, Lauren, Chris and Krystallin, across the ocean for a two-month cross-cultural experience in Zhytomyr, Ukraine.  They worked with Mission to Ukraine and Last Bell, two incredible organizations bringing hope and light into places that have long been in darkness. 

Because I wasn’t pursuing a specific “assignment” myself, I had the opportunity to float between the ministries and to follow up with a few stories that began when I first visited Ukraine back in 2009. 

Me and the interns early on in the summer. What a great team!

I caught up with little Peter, finally adopted into a loving family, I re-visited Romaniv Orphanage and I participated in MTU’s summer camps… something I had only heard about before. 

I also started two new initiatives.  One is a dream of mine to get another boy adopted from the Romaniv Orphanage by a Ukrainian family.  The other is a fun new project designed to let us see the world from the eyes of children around the world. 

To read these articles and more, take a look below.  Maybe through it all you too will find a way to jump in with what God is doing in Ukraine! 

The Summer Begins!

Can your life really change over a cup of coffee? 

Click here to read this travel journal… 

Return to Romaniv

Do you want proof that the kingdom of God is powerful?  Read on… 

Click here to read this article…

Photo Gallery: The Second Chapter

The time has come for Romaniv to be taken to the next level… 

Click here to see this photo gallery…

The Marika Project

What if we could see the world through Marika’s eyes? 

Click here to read this article…

Welcome Home!

For little Peter, being adopted was only the beginning of the story… 

Click here to read this article… 

The Marika Project Begins!

Now that Marika has her very own camera, the Marika Project has officially begun! 

Click here to read this article…

Dima

For one disabled orphan in Ukraine there is hope.  But he needs YOU to act… 

Click here to read this article… 

Apologies!

Oh, the woes of inadequate internet access! 

Click here to read this article… 

Photo Gallery: Marika’s Work!

Camp from the eyes (and camera) of a six year old… 

Click here to see this photo gallery… 

Behind the Scrim

Now I know what lies behind the curtain… 

Click here to read this article…

This summer I had the opportunity to live in Zhytomyr, Ukraine and work with Mission to Ukraine. I started the summer not knowing anything about the country of Ukraine and I only had minimal knowledge of the ways disabilities affect those living with them. Now I have fallen in love with the culture of Ukraine, and I have learned a lot about what life is like for those with disabilities in Ukraine.  

This summer I saw how MTU is changing the lives of the boys living at Romaniv Orphanage.

I spent my summer tagging along with MTU as they ministered to those living with disabilities. I went to classes at their center, visited homes, spent 20 days at camp, and hung around the office in Zhytomyr.  

I saw the kingdom of God at work in Ukraine in amazing ways as the staff of MTU ministered to those with special needs. As I saw God at work I learned a major lesson. God is good. Even in the midst of pain, tragedy, and oppression God is good to His people.  

I also came to a deeper realization of how important it is for those of us who follow Christ to be involved in the lives of those around us. We can do so much even through seemingly small actions; we simply have to make the choice to do something.  

In a City Called Zhytomyr

My first few days of immersing in the culture of Ukraine…      

Click here to read this article…

More Than Plastic

Round, plastic, and colorful… Is there more to a simple bead?     

Click here to read this article…

Curbs Without Ramps

One girl’s struggle for independence in a world of disadvantages…     

Click here to read this travel journal…

Culture Guide: Living without Language

What happens when you spend your summer in a home where no one speaks English?     

Click here to read this culture guide…

Treasured Possessions

Would you still be able to serve God if you lived with a disability?  

Click here to read this travel journal…

Part of the Family

What does being part of the family of God mean to kids rejected by the world?  

Click here to read this article…

The Dedication of Mothers

These moms dedicate their lives to caring for their children, but who dedicates their lives to caring for these moms?  

Click here to read this article…

Photo Gallery: Let the Games Begin!

How can bocce ball, volleyball, and baseball transform someone’s life?  

Click here to see this photo gallery…

Photo Gallery: 8 Reasons to Hope

There is hope for those with disabilities in Ukraine.  I’ve seen it with my own eyes…  

Click here to see this photo gallery…

When I look back at the past two months of my life, there is one word that I think particularly suits how I feel: adventure. I got to live in a country I’d never been to, be with people I didn’t know, use my love for writing as I had never done before and see God in ways I could have never imagined.       

Mission to Ukraine overflows with stories of redemption and life, everyday visual reminders of God’s active hand in their work.

I worked with Mission to Ukraine, focusing on their crisis pregnancy center. Between counseling sessions, small Bible studies, home visits and abstinence talks, these women are busy. But in spite of all the work they had to do, they always invited me to come along with them! I got to truly experience this mission and see with my own eyes how they are impacting their society in Zhytomyr.       

It was incredible to see the ways God is currently working through the lives of these brothers and sisters. He transforms lives in the midst of poverty, sadness, death and crisis. He opens hearts to His love through the Mission to Ukraine staff. He provides for people in unimaginable ways. Nothing was more encouraging for me as an American college student than to see God working right in front of me.       

My adventure took me many places and opened my eyes to new things, but the best part of it all was the way I saw God in different ways throughout it all.       

Learning Life

What do babies, beets and coffee have in common?

Click here to read this article…

No Choice

What happens when you don’t take the easy way out?

Click here to read this article…     

Time Away

April brings showers, May brings flowers, but what does June bring?     

Click here to read this travel journal…      

Culture Guide: Surviving Dinner

Like I always say, deliciousness is next to Godliness.      

Click here to read this culture guide…      

Taboo

It’s time for “the talk.”    

Click here to read this travel journal…      

Culture Guide: Expert Navigating Tips

A guide to navigation that even Sacagawea would be proud of…   

Click here to read this culture guide…

Hard to Forget

Who better to talk to than the woman who was there at the very beginning?

Click here to read this article… 

Substitute Husband

What happens when your husband decides he doesn’t want your baby?      

Click here to read this travel journal…

Photo Gallery: The Village

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this…       

Click here to see this photo gallery…

In the middle of the summer, we took a day off at MTU and followed our fearless leader, Pastor Peter, out of the city and into another side of Ukrainian life.  What I thought would be an interesting bit of sightseeing turned into an eye-opening and unforgettable experience…

Of the countless stories that circulate around Mission to Ukraine, there is one that is especially close to the hearts of the women that work here.

Larisa’s story is one of heartbreaking beauty. She has lived through numerous trials and hardships. And although they are not over, she will tell you that the Lord has brought her through it.

This is Larisa’s son, Alyosha. He’s bright and happy and full of energy.

I met Larisa right before camp. In a group meeting, we discovered we were to be in the same small group. As I got to know her and her son at both camps, I saw a bright and unique light inside of her. There was something about her that made me want to be around her. And the more time I spent with her, the more I grew to love her and her precious little son.

Larisa is a strong woman, an inspiring teacher and a faithful member of her church.

I had heard snippets of her life’s story on different occasions, but I got the full story after dinner one evening at my host home. As she told her story, I saw an incredible picture of one woman depending and relying on God in a way I have never seen.

Larisa was a believer and her husband was not. This, along with several other things, caused marital problems and a difficult time with their first child. After a few years, and a visit to MTU, Larisa found out she was pregnant again. She knew her husband didn’t want any more children and she was terrified to tell him the news.

Larisa waited for two weeks, all the while attempting to decide herself whether she was going to keep the child or not. She finally went back to Mission to Ukraine and through the help of many of her close friends and sisters in Christ, made the decision to keep the child, no matter what her husband thought.

When she told her husband that she was pregnant again, his first response was that he was making an appointment for a doctor who would do an abortion. She simply refused. As time went on, she stayed strong in her decision through countless threats and emotional and physical abuse.

This is a place of healing and hope for many women in Zhytomyr.

Six months into her pregnancy, Larisa had an accident in which a metal object fell and struck her on the head.  This caused her to have an endless throbbing pain that invaded every aspect of her life. Of all the doctor’s visits and unanswered questions, there was only one neurologist who said that she could continue in her pregnancy. But she did anyway. She was determined to carry her child as long as possible.

She continued visiting MTU for counseling and Bible studies and attended church at every opportunity. Her husband began ignoring her, claiming no responsibility for her well-being or for the child that she was carrying.

During a time when it looked like she had no one, when she could have been completely alone, she wasn’t. She relied on her sisters and brothers in her community.  Over time, her church replaced her husband: they helped pick out names, they gave her advice, and Mission to Ukraine provided her with the baby supplies she couldn’t afford. The Lord tangibly provided for her in her greatest time of need.

But it didn’t stop at the birth of her precious son, Alyosha. For a year after he was born, his father continued to completely disregard his existence. He didn’t help Larisa with anything she needed. Instead he left her on her own through her persisting medical issues.

The community that is provided at MTU is a haven for those who are left alone when life gets hard.

I wish I could say that the story has a happy ending for all, but that’s not how life is. Things are better, but they are not perfect. As soon as Alyosha started walking and calling out for his daddy, his father’s heart was melted. And though he does not live with them, he is somewhat involved in his children’s lives.

But there is something good we can see in the life of Larisa and her son: a testimony of the Lord’s providence. Her faith has grown through these trials and you can see her heart in the way she talks. Her heart belongs fully to God. Her strength is totally from the Lord. Her love is completely founded in her Maker.

She ended her story to me in these words, “No one will ever be able to tell me that there is not a God.” Though she questions why she was given these trials and these stories, she knows that in the end, her life can be used to glorify God. God used the people in her life, from MTU and from her church body, to cover her in His love.

And this is where I see the one image that I keep coming back to as I’ve been here in Ukraine: a glimpse into the perfect design of the Body of Christ.

People surrounding a scared mother in the midst of her hardships. The beauty of life born despite a multitude of obstacles. Love that shines through the darkness.

This is how it’s supposed to be.

Being a mom is a hard task. It requires love, dedication and bravery. Being a mom of a child with a disability requires even more of these things.

It takes love to say yes to keeping a child with a disability. It takes dedication to give up your own freedom to care for your child. And it takes bravery to face it all alone. Many moms of children with disabilities here in Ukraine are abandoned by their husbands and extended families due to the shame attached to disabilities.

Camp is a place where moms get to spend time away from their children and get some much needed rest.

MTU’s summer camp is a place for these moms to find the love and care they need. Cindy, an American volunteer who leads a small group for moms at camp, shared with me her simple goal: to help moms understand God as a God of love. With a look of sadness on her face, Cindy explained that every single mom at camp has been told numerous times that their child’s disability is a punishment from God for their sin. Because they hear this so often, they struggle to see God as a loving Father.

Moms are cared for at camp by people who take the time to hear their stories and pray for them.

Hearing this astounded me. Mothers who had been abandoned by their families were also blamed for something they had no control over. Knowing they had been told this for so many years, I wondered if there was any hope for these moms to understand the love of God. I found my answer in small group time.

Small Group

Small group took place outside under the shade of a tree. Cindy asked the women to share something about how camp had changed their lives. The stories I heard blew me away and made me realize what a beacon of hope MTU is in the lives of these moms.

First, I heard the story of a mom who has been to camp many times. Although she loves every year at camp, she remembers the first one the most. A volunteer offered to help her by taking her daughter to the bathroom. To this day, that small act brings tears to her eyes. She shook her head almost too choked up to speak, “No one had ever offered to help me with my daughter before, ever…”

The kids aren't the only ones who enjoy craft time at camp. Beading is a favorite past time of many of these women.

As she finished her story Cindy told the group, “When you see someone loving your kid like that, remember it is the love of God. We are just humans; we aren’t somehow superior to other people or more loving. That is God at work.”

Next, a grandmother spoke. She laughed as she told Cindy, “You told us to journal about camp. But what would I write? What words could I put down to express what camp means to me? There are no words.” She told the group her family rejected her grandson, so she raises him alone.

She pulled the journal out of her bag, clutching it tightly in her hands, “I didn’t decorate the journal either like you said to. It’s too pretty, too nice. I want to show my coworkers, so they will know about my time here.” She had come to understand God’s love through something as simple as the gift of a journal.

As she finished, another grandmother began to speak. Tears streamed down her face. “At home I always sleep with my hands clasped together on my chest. I don’t sleep well. I am alone, no one cares about me and my grandchild. But then I came here. Now I am surrounded by people who love me and people who love my grandchild. Last night I slept with my arms above my head… like a little baby. I have found rest here. I don’t know how I’ll leave you all.”

The stories continued. Moms, sisters, and grandmothers alike shared about struggling through life alone. One woman cried as she said, “I just want to understand my son, but no one will help me learn how.” Another mom, tears spilling from her eyes, said, “I want to find a church where my son will feel comfortable, where people won’t stare at him because he’s different.”

A grandmother who found rest for the first time at camp, “Last night I slept with my arms above my head... like a little baby.”

The isolation and rejection these women face is overwhelming and tragic. But watching the moms’ faces at camp light up as they recalled the way MTU had shown love to their children gave me a glimmer of hope.

It’s not a lot – camp is only ten days out of a very long year – but it’s a start. And along with MTU’s year long classes for these moms, I can see the kingdom of God moving. MTU works hard to build a network for these women. They try to provide a safe place where moms can learn and take time to relax.

Whether I’m watching a mom pick up her twelve year old son to rock him in her arms, or looking on as a mom struggles to carry her adult son up the stairs, I know one thing—the mothers I have met here are my heroes; they are women of strength and dignity. I pray that they will also be women embraced by the love of God.