Thursday, March 28, 2013

Most Exciting News!

We have some amazing news to share!!

After many months of prayer and discussion, emails and letters, we have been invited to come volunteer at Mission to Ukraine in Zhitomir, Ukraine!!!

Zhitomir, (Zhytomyr) is just west of Kiev, the capital

This is our dream come true.  Mission to Ukraine (MTU) is an amazing place where healing happens. Hope is given.  Jesus is glorified.  What better place for us to learn how to serve the disabled in Ukraine, than from the ones who are already doing it, and doing it with excellence?  We are excited to serve the vision of MTU and help them in whatever area they need it most.

From MTU's website: 

"Mission to Ukraine is an indigenously run ministry that serve the Zhitomir region ofUkraine. It ministers to the most marginalized of Ukraine - the unborn and the disabled.  

Children with special needs and their families live in a culture that is just beginning to emerge from the Soviet legacy ofdenying their existence. With limited access to state schooling, poor medical care and inaccessible buildings and transportation, the child with special needs is neglected and isolated by society.Mission to Ukraine offers much needed educational and medical therapies, practical assistance, and community."

After we visited MTU last April we said to each other "We have to be a part of this."  Now God has made a way and we are standing in awe.  

We are starting with a commitment to volunteer for at least one year, while learning and observing what the Father has in store.  MTU may be a launching place for other things, or a partner for the long-term.  We don't know, and we won't try to figure it out (remind us of that in a year from now...okay?).  We are going to serve and give out of our overflowGod is the one doing this work and we say yes, one step at a time, trusting Him to show us what we need to know when we need to know it.  Scary?  Yes.  Peaceful?  Yes.  Exciting?  YES!!!!  Thank you all for praying for us and for God to reveal His next steps.  He is so good.

Praise God for His amazing way-making.  
Praise God for His plans unfolding for the fatherless in Ukraine.  Praise God for His love that never, ever fails.

Zhitomir Ukraine, here we come!


To read more about MTU you can visit their website here.
Read about our visit to MTU last April here and here.
Other awesome accounts of MTU's work can be found here.  

9 comments:

  1. What comes to mind is: John 15:115 "Philos". I am so blessed through your blessings and friendship with Jesus. Thank you.

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  2. So very excited for you!! Amen!

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  3. How exciting! I looked briefly at some of the links and will have to spend more time reading about them. Do you know if any of the RR boys are in the orphanage they visit regularly? When I looked at some of the pictures and saw so many boys wearing identical shirts it made me sad (I understand they are donations and there might be surplus of a certain shirt to donate, but it takes away from them as individuals and just made me a little teary). Please keep us posted on how we can help, if you'll be able to take any donations with you (they have a long list on their web site), etc.

    Happy Easter!

    P.S. We still have snow in Wisconsin. When is Spring coming?!!!

    Sue H.



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    1. Hi Sue! I don't believe any boys there are listed on RR. There have only been a couple adoptions from there so far, one boy was adopted by a Ukrainian family, and then one boy was adopted by the Malone family. Are you familiar with them? They are the ones who run "The Eli Project". They live in Ukraine now as missionaries.

      I will totally let you know if we take donations with us! Thanks for offering. :)

      PS: We had spring today!! I was afraid if I blinked it might go away!

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  4. Jed and Kimber,

    I have an adoption fundraising idea I'd like to share with you. Could you email me at mlee@coupaide.com?

    Thanks!

    Matthew Lee

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  5. Hey, I'm a friend of Mary Jill and LIVE in Zhitomir (well, I work there!) I know where the MTU building is - but have never been there. I have Ukrainian friend who knows lots of people from there, tho! Oh - and I have another friend who knows people there (I apparently don't get out much!) :)
    Would love to stay in contact with you and meet YOU (Although by your FB name, I thought your NAME was Kimandjed... Wondering what nationality you were! :)
    Maybe "friend" me on FB?
    Stay in touch! Really! Want to meet! So glad you're coming! Tammy

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