New friends

Dessert time with John & Diana---he loved the whipped cream!

I had my first guests stay with me who found out about the hospitality house via the blog.  I had already hosted a few friends passing through who I had known prior to their arrival in Ukraine- but my newest friend, Diana, just 'happened' to stumble across my site and emailed me--literally just a couple hours after I had published the site! It was a good confirmation that I was onto something!


It worked out wonderfully for Diana and her sweet little guy, John, to stay a few nights with me while they finished up at the Embassy in Kiev and then flew home to the US this past Saturday.

It is such a delight to get to meet amazing people like Diana and take part in their adoption story! I am always so blessed how the body of Christ can connect all over the world and find unity and truly be one in spirit-- and to have a heart for the orphan and adoption is an added bonus and point of connection.  Diana and I got in some great conversation time and I am so excited for their family as they welcome home this sweet boy and offer him a place of healing and belonging.

How it works

I have been amazed at all the emails and encouraging words that have come in since I created this new blog!  I am very excited for how God will use this ministry to bless many adoptive families in the months to come-- I have already connected with some great people and believe it or not, just about have a full schedule for March!

I had several emails asking questions about how I will receive families, so here are a few notes below in response to many of the questions I've had...

~What is the cost?  Staying at the hospitality house is free.  This is a ministry and a way to help families that are already taking on a huge financial burden by traveling to Ukraine and it is a privilege to be able to offer this assistance.

~How can I reserve dates?  I will only be able confirm that the apartment will be available when a family sends me their actual SDA appointment.  Families can email me when they think they hope to be coming, but I won't be able to guarantee a place to stay until a family has received their SDA appointment date and emails me those details.  Staying at the apartment on the way out of the country will also be difficult to pre-arrange as the date of out-bound travel is never certain.  Families wanting to stay on the way out will also just have to email a couple days in advance to see if there is availability.

~What else do we need to do?  I am asking that families email me a copy of their SDA referral letter, just to confirm the authenticity of the appointment and that I know the family is really coming to adopt children! :)  I want to be hospitable.....but only for adoptive families at this point! :)

~How long can we stay?  Typically most families arrive 1-2 days prior to their SDA appointment and then travel the day after their SDA appointment-- so I am anticipating most families needing housing for 3-4 nights.  This can be extended as needed, and if there is availability.

Hope this helps!  Now....back to that laundry!