A ministry for adoptive families in need of short-term housing while in Kiev

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Announcing....

I am very excited to use this post to announce a new development in ministry here in Ukraine-- A ministry to house Adoptive families in Kiev!

In the six years that I've been living in Ukraine, I have been given the amazing privilege to walk alongside countless adoptive families on their journey to bring children home.

Through the relationships developed, I often ended up with a couple spending a night or even a week on my pull out couch in the living room of my last apartment. These couples didn't seem to mind the simple living conditions, but instead were grateful for a free place to stay and some English fellowship.

Hanging out with the Bollingers this past summer
This past summer I developed a dear friendship with Jason and Holly Bollinger, a couple from Texas who had a roller coaster of an adoption ride, and as a result ended up living with me for a week to save on cost.  During this time with the Bollingers, the Lord again reminded me how much I enjoy opening my home to adoptive families and helping them get adapted to their surroundings.  So I started to pray about what this could mean for the future.

I knew I was leaving for England for several months, but I began to put this vision before the Lord and asked that if it was His will, He would open the door for me to find a new place when I returned, one which would allow me to accommodate more people, one that would be in a central location for getting around the city AND that He would provide the financial resources to make it possible.

What followed were a series of amazing open doors and a rallying of support from so many resources!
 
Upon moving back to Kiev in January, I was able to find an adorable, spacious apartment to rent in Podol (a historic part of the downtown) for a great price! Upon finding the apartment I immediately had ministries wanting to partner in what I was doing. 

I had shared the vision for the hospitality home with the ministry I work for, Orphan's Promise while I was at our headquarters in Virginia in January. My leadership was very excited about the opportunity to minister to families in this way and gave me a green light to go forward.  Orphan's Promise is standing behind me in this endeavor and graciously providing a portion of the rent.

my friend Mary helps paint!
When I returned to Kiev I learned that my church, International Christian Assembly also desired to reach out to adoptive families in Kiev and they too stepped forward to offer financial assistance, for the endeavor, a paint team to get me started and prayer support for families that will stay with me.   In addition, Grace Place, a church in Colorado (from which many adoptive family friends have come) donated a sum of money to help me purchase the guest bed and needed linens to get started.   To say I am grateful would be an understatement!

newly renovated living room!





I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the support and the people that have come alongside me to make this happen-- front paint crews, to financial support to remodel help- I am feeling VERY blessed!

It is AMAZING to see God's timing in how this has all come together.  Within the first week of living in my apartment, I already was able to host 3 separate families.  Graciously they were willing to live amidst the vast number of boxes and some remodel projects that were still going on!  But we had fun and it was wonderful to see how God was already bringing forward families that were in need of housing and knowing that this apartment could meet their needs.
2nd night in my new home with the Roges and the Pecks!

Stay tuned for more details!!


11 comments:

  1. You sound like an amazing woman! How I stumbled on this site, I'm still wondering, but I'm so glad I did. God has given you such a wonderful vision and now you are seeing it come to fruition. Praise Him! My name is Diana Riske and I am near Odessa waiting to pick up my new son who is 4 yrs. old from his orphange this Tues. I will then go to Odessa to wait for his passport (am praying for it to be expedited) then will head to Kiev. I would love to meet you! I also hope to come back this fall to adopt a girl. We'll see what the Lord has in store. My e-mail is riske@juno.com and my cell in Ukraine is 050-204(or 9)-69-14. I have been following Lizzie's adoption and am so happy to read that you know her too!

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  2. This is all so exciting, Karen!

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  3. What an amazing ministry opportunity! I can't wait to see how the Lord works through you in this. ;)

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  4. Fantastic vision! It would be nice to do the same sort of thing in the regions.

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  5. We're totally going to have to adopt some more kids so we can came and crash with you for a week. The new places looks amazing. So happy for you and proud of the work you've given your life to.

    Much love- Bollingers

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  6. What a beautiful ministry to adoptive families! It is amazing to see how God brought so many resources together to provide for it. You continue to be a blessing to so many, Karen, and we are thankful for you! We will be sending many more Coloradoans your way!

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  7. That is beyond awesome to see how God turned your vision into reality!! We are actually adopting from your area, but are in the very beginning stages. It is an immense blessing you are providing for families!! I pray God will bless you ten fold the blessing you are giving adoptive patents!

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  8. WOW! I always new that place had potential! That is so great! I always had the same plans for that place (not specifically adoptive couples, though, so this is AWESOME!)....I am so happy for you!

    See you on Thursday!

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  9. Praise the Lord!! We have several families from our area who are adopting and will be in your area this year... including us. I will pass the word along. Thank you for being sensitive to the Lord and for using the gift He's given you (hospitality) for His honor and glory! Truly a Godsend! Thank you! ~Grace faithforhope.blogspot.com

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  10. Thank you for letting us stay and glad I was able to help you put the place together. Blessings upon you and your ministry!

    Felix

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  11. Hi, Karen! We knew of you through the Roges, and we're so excited that your ministry to adoptive families is now "official!" We're headed to Ukraine in early April most likely for our second adoption. Maybe we'll meet then?! Blessings!

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