This slideshow requires JavaScript.

I just want to thank everyone who helped out with advice and encouragement while I was planning my trip to Ukraine. It started about 7 months ago when I decided that I wanted to just take time off. As I started to explore where to go, I felt that I might want to go to Eastern Europe. I researched religion, culture, and history. I finally decided on Russia or Ukraine. As I looked for a church to go to, Children’s Orphanages came up in Mariupol, Ukraine. So I said to myself okay, let’s start planning. I did extensive research on culture and history. I talked to a lot of people who had traveled around the world and asked a lot of questions. After a conversation with Ron and mentioning to him where I was going he advised me to talk to John Carbonneau. So I contacted John but after several attempts we just could not catch each other. So, one day I called the number that was in the church directory one more time. The person that answered told me that he had moved and she gave me his new phone number, so I called the next morning and his wife answered and told me to call back after he got off work, so I did. I and John had a nice conversation and that is when John started to give me so much information about Ukraine. At the time I felt like it was a lot of stuff, writing everything down and asking as many questions as I could. I was so thankful for Ron, TJ, and Mr. Cunningham for mentioning me to talk to him. After numerous conversations things started to piece together. As the days got closer it seemed like everything was in place. But one day I had this weird feeling that I shouldn’t go but, I prayed to the Lord and just said if I am not supposed to go then put up some barriers and help me to see them. At the time I was starting to build a strong relationship with John and his wife Kathy.

Then I set to go on my journey. Joel offered if I needed anything so I asked him if he could give me a ride to the airport and he said yes. I was really thankful to Joel for driving me to the airport. So on 9-4-2009 I was on my way. After Joel dropped me off at the airport I decided that I would call Andrew my contact from the Children’s Orphanage in Mariupol, Ukraine. During our previous conversations he made it seemed like everything was in place. But as soon I called him and told him that I was on my way suddenly things started to take a different approach. Andrew tells me that he needs to talk to his administrator. I said to myself you never said anything like this before and tells me that they will call me. So here I am in the airport thinking what should I do? I could have easily just cancelled everything and just went to work or go somewhere else but I said to myself, I always hear to trust in the Lord and he will deliver. So I prayed to the Lord and said well I’m going to trust that you will open new doors and I am going to trust in you. Well, I did not expect for those barriers to come up the day I was leaving. I had to make a decision and had about 4 hours to decide. I started praying and just asked God for direction. I walked around the airport thinking and saying to myself what do I do. Finally, I said to myself I am going and I am going to trust that the Lord will take care of me. Then, I asked the Lord for protection, with the language barrier, and just to see Ukrainians as people, and to help me while I was on my journey. Now no one from family knows what is going on, only me and God know what is going on.

As I boarded my first flight I am fine but when I board my second flight I start to get really nervous and scared because there is no turning back. As I landed in Moscow I felt very nervous and I just looking around the airport and said I am almost there. Then, when I landed in Donetsk, Ukraine as I was going through passport control the doors slammed shut behind the last passenger which was me. They asked a bunch of questions and of course their English was not very good. But I finally got through and headed to my hotel. I waited for Andrew to call, but he never did. To this day I have not heard from them. So here I am far from home and I do not have any service on my cell. So I start to venture out in the city. One day I was walking along the river and just praying to God to get me to a children’s orphanage. Well, my prayers were answered, on 9-7-2009, I walk into a tour guide company and I spoke to a women named Larisa and I told her what had happened and she looked like she wanted to cry and I asked are you okay? She told me it is so great that you came all this way to help our children. Then, she said do not worry I will get into a children’s orphanage today or tomorrow. She called her assistant and ordered lunch for us. Then, in about 10 or 15 minutes she brought out a list of about 4 pages of orphanages in Donetsk. So we went through the list and picked some out. She called the person in charge named Lucine and she was the GM for the orphanages in Ukraine, Poland, and Belarus. We scheduled an appointment with Lucine to take us and we all met later that day. We all decided to go later that day. I was so amazed at how good God is.

After arriving at the Orphanage I was such in amazement that I could not believe that I was finally here. Here I am in a strange a land but yet I feel like I am right at home except when I ordered some food I realized I was in Ukraine. This journey was so tremendous that I will never forget it. The best part of the trip was seeing this little boy reach out and hold me my hand and he was smiling. This moment will always been something very special in my heart. Once I saw this little boy smile I was happy. My main purpose was to put a smile on the kids’ faces. That is all I wanted to do. I was thankful to Larisa and Lucine. But the one who deserves all the credit is God. He made everything happen, keeping me safe and opening up doors for me to see the orphanage. Now I have 2 friends from Ukraine and I plan to go back in May or June of next year but it is what the lord what wants me to do. Thank you to everyone that supported me in every way.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

As I started to prepare for another trip to the Ukraine this time I was headed to the Crimea, for the very first time. I was blessed with a great interpreter, Vyacheslav Zadidiuron (Slava). He made sure that I was very well taken care. Always making sure that I had everything that I needed from going to the local market to just showing all of the sights in Simferopol, along with providing me with a great apartment and pick up at the local airport. He was a great interpreter and always took the time to make a phone call to ask me if I needed anything. On the latest trip he provided me with help to go to orphanage. When I arrived in my apartment we arranged the details to go to the Orphanage, Gagariiski.

As we arrived at the orphanage I met 2 of his friends who were very helpful in getting us to see some of the children. As we were standing waiting I was getting kind of serious but I just did a silent prayer and just asking God to work everything out. As we first walked into the Orphanage there were about 10 kids from the ages of 6 years to about 10 years old. So while standing there the children came up to say hello, of course in Russian. Then, I asked the caretaker if I could give the children some things and she said yes. So we sat down and I introduced myself with the help of my friend Slava. They asked me what I did for living and I said I work at a lawyer’s office as a file clerk. Then, when I pulled the Plasticine or Playdoh they got so excited and they ran over to the table. Then, we started to make objects; well the children did because all I could make is flat objects. But they made stars, little houses, and a bunch of other stuff. Then we played a couple games of dominoes and that was really fun. It was kind of funny because one of the kids was cheating and it took is a little while to figure it out. Well one of the other kids figured out. Of course she denied that she cheating just like any kid would.

After a being there for a couple of hours we left. As I was standing there waiting for my interpreter one of the kids came up to me and pulled on my back pack. So I turned around, not knowing if it would be okay to I pick up Angelina and gave her a hug and said good bye. At that point I felt very blessed that God has given me this great opportunity to serve her in the Ukraine at an orphanage. As we left I shared with my friend Slava, how I was very grateful to him for being very close friend of mine. It was also a very touching experience. One of the most special moments was giving the children some candy and to see how their precious eyes just light up. It was amazing on how happy they got just with some candy. On our second visit we started our day by arriving at the Orphanage mid-morning and we starting playing some games, helping the children build some puzzles. It was such an amazing time. Special thanks to everyone that helped out with prayers. For the people who donated items, Liz thank you for the yarn and knitting needle, the children loved them and Kit thanks for all of your suggestions as well too. Special thanks goes two special friends from work, Susan and Melissa, they always take the time to listen to my trip adventures and for everyone who is always very supported of my trips to Ukraine.