And... I'm presented with another opportunity!

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BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! I can't believe it! The same organization that has brought me N and Y has asked me to lead a group to Poland! I will be working with a wonderful group of people, and we will be taking Humanitarian Aid to Poland. While there we will be helping Ukrainian refugees as well as packing boxes of supplies. The boxes of medical supplies will then be transported by another group to Ukraine. There is no guarantee that I will be able to see N, Y or their sister. They are currently still in Ukraine, and I will NOT be going into Ukraine. I am hopeful that they will leave Ukraine and head to safety in another country. 

My organization, Force For Christ/Force For Hope (FFC/FFH) has organized a variety of these trips since the invasion has started. We have sent groups to Poland, Romania and Italy and we continue sending more groups in May. We are extremely fortunate to be in a position where we can help. 

I am so thankful to a number of people that are helping me make this possible:

• Liz - Director of FFC/FFH for having the faith and confidence in me to lead a trip
• My mom's boss - to support our cause and give my mom the ability to come and take care of my kids
• My mom - to support ME 100% and is coming to watch the kids while I travel
• YOU - so many of you have supported me financially, emotionally, physically throughout all of this

I will be posting updates really soon giving any additional ideas to support us on our trip! Thank you again! Here are some ways to support us now:

Order support Ukraine shirts/sweatshirts: https://www.customink.com/fundraising/force-4-hope-missions?utm_campaign=desktop-campaign-page-share-v3&utm_content=force-4-hope-missions&utm_medium=social&utm_source=copy-link&fbclid=IwAR071Z0vy6Ai2WJjelTPhMvhi45Ki-A4PKpQ_dQtbrbJcn-nbS2QZRzoaik

Handmade bracelets by refugees in Poland:

FFC Fundraiser to help purchase needed supplies for refugees and soldiers!

$12 for smaller, $30 for 3

$15 for large, $35 for 3

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/forceforchristoo?fbclid=IwAR3XJf2PsTSpaiwn8Drcfa_M1sZgW6glWnfaBeWYFDWphWX4sLTa7uXDurY

It's been quiet lately...

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I have not posted in awhile. Unfortunately there has not been a lot of change going on. My kiddos are still in Lviv (which was just recently bombed two days ago and prior to the bombing, there was a sense of safety). Hosting is still hopeful for part of the summer. But we are in a state of limbo. And, as much as the Ukrainian ministry (those responsible for the orphans) want to be hopeful, some decisions will need to be made. My kiddos and countless others have missed almost half of the school year this year. They can't start out the next school year in limbo. But what does this mean? I really don't know. Russia seems to be hell bent on taking control over at least the Eastern parts of Ukraine while making sure that all Ukrainians are on age, no matter the location. 

In the meantime, I have received some updates from my kiddos' director of the orphanage. I am happy that they are safe. I am happy to know that they are receiving the essentials to survive. But as I write that, a pain shoots through me. How horrible is that? Enough to survive? These are kids. My son Hudson just asked if he could have chocolate for breakfast and my kiddos in Ukraine just need to worry about getting enough food to get by, to survive. It is so hard to love someone so much and to do so little to help. 

                    

But now... here is some news! As I said, I have been quiet lately. But this does not mean that there is not a lot going on behind the scenes. While we are still in the early stages, there is a plan in the works where I will lead a group to take Humanitarian Aid to Poland which will then be transported to Ukraine. I will not be taking the aid into Ukraine, only to Poland. While in Poland, I will be spending time with some of the Ukrainian orphans that have made their way to Poland. I am very excited to be a part of this amazing journey. Be on the look out for more updates! And, please, keep all of us in your prayers as we navigate the next few weeks. 💗

For ever let this place be a cry of despair and a warning to humanity, where the Nazis murdered about one and a half million men, women, and children, mainly Jews, from various countries of Europe. Auschwitz-Birkenau 1940-1945

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In 1999 I was fortunate to travel abroad for the first time in my life. With approximately 15 other students, we travelled with two professors from UNI (University of Northern Iowa) to Poland for 8 weeks in the summer. During that time we studied the humanities as well as the Holocaust. We visited various cities throughout Poland, Austria and Germany as well as 3 concentration camps. I was 20 years old visiting some of the most traumatizing areas in the world. I could not fully comprehend the magnitude of these concentration camps and the atrocities that many Germans committed. 

These pictures show me at the entrance to Auschwitz as well as within one of the gas chambers. 

23 years later I am seeing a similar event, repeating itself. Many compare Russia's and Putin's actions in Ukraine to that of Hitler and Nazi Germany. Reports are showing the senseless killings of men, women and children by the Russian army, calling for Putin to be charged with war crimes. 

My kids are still in Ukraine. They are still in harm's way. You ask Why are they still there? Believe me, I wish I knew the answer. I ask myself this daily, to the point that I get angry. Why haven't they left? Again, I do not know. The Ministry in Ukraine has advised all orphanages that they are able to leave Ukraine (they must stay within a certain area within Europe). I wish I could ask the director. I wish I understood why she is staying. But, I must also remember that I am not in her shoes. She has multiple children that she is responsible for. Human trafficking has increased. Thousands of Ukrainian children are unaccounted for (https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/human-trafficking-experts-states-must-urgently-protect-refugees-fleeing-ukraine). She is scared, overwhelmed, tired, and so many other emotions that I can't even imagine. 

I am still hopeful for hosting, whether for the summer, shorter term or longer term. Whatever my kiddos need. I was recently asked to travel to Poland to help with the humanitarian efforts. While I was not able to go this month, I am still working to try to go next month. 

I have not had a lot of contact with N and Y. However, by the grace of God, I have met another family who have hosted kids in the same orphanage as mine. I am able to communicate with my kids through them. The host mom sent this to me - joy filled me and I cried tears of happiness, sadness, fear and love. Please continue to pray for these kids. Your thoughts, prayers, love, support have gotten us this far and will continue to give me the strength to keep going, for them. 

It´s been so long...

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 It has been almost 2 weeks since I last post. I can´t believe how much time has passed. I can´t believe how long this has been going on. Russia invaded Ukraine February 24 I believe. This means that my kiddos, along with countless other orphans, have been living basically on the run. They have been surviving on funds we send to them. The Ukrainian government stopped sending monetary funds to the orphanages a few weeks ago. This may be normal (as all available funds are going to the war); however, this makes it even more difficult. These orphans are children. They are not attending school. They are living in make shift shelters. They are running to the basements almost daily due to being bombed. Here are a few of the texts that I have received from our director over the last two weeks (from contacts in Ukraine):

• We were bombed. The missile just flew over our house and hit across the road.
• 10,000 Ukrainian orphans unaccounted for.

The longer it goes on, the more people are likely to forget. We have started sending people over to help with the relief efforts. I have been asked and I want to help. However, I recently tested positive for COVID and Strep (yep, at the same time). I need to make sure my health is at its best before making any final decisions.

On a good note, I did hear back from my kid's orphanage director. She sent me some pictures of N, Y and S. These kids are so amazing. They have been dealt such a horrible hand in life. None of the choices that they have made have caused them to be where they are at right now. With each passing day, I wonder Will I see them again? Will I hug them again? Do they know how much they are loved and missed?