August 2022 Update

 

Friends, family, kind strangers – it has now been 178 days since Russia’s invasion and the start of full-scale war in Ukraine. Almost six months. Time is strange. ** please do not share anything from this letter publicly without my permission.

When I made my journey here on Feb. 1, 2022, I was deeply expectant. I knew in my bones, perhaps more clearly than any other time in my life, that I was exactly where I was meant to be. And 23 days later, when the invasion started, my confidence only grew. The need in my heart to be in Ukraine made all the more sense.  I say all this to remind myself. God was faithful in his promises then, and he remains faithful now.  Last month I made an unexpected trip to Georgia to see and ultimately say goodbye to a dear friend who gave cancer one hell of a fight. Schuylar was a good friend to me, and it was an honor to be there with her family and friends as we celebrated her impactful existence in our lives.

The trip back to the states was good for my soul, but the homesickness I felt for Ukraine was yet another sweet confirmation that the promises from the beginning are still true. I’m still where I belong.

This month I got to continue building relationships at the orphanage and am beginning to feel comfortable in my role there! There is much to learn about the orphan care system and all the culture, bureaucracy, traditions, and stigmas that make it such a tricky space to try and make an impact. My goals right now are to press in and show up to the best of my ability – while also trying to hold a ton of grace for myself as I navigate the learning curve. It is easy for me to feel overwhelmed by all the books to read, conversations to have, podcasts to listen to, prayers to speak, and, well, I could go on and on. Grace is just as important as faith in this line of work, I’m learning.

New children continue to arrive at the orphanage. While international adoptions will likely not restart this year, some domestic adoptions are happening, and it’s encouraging! One of the little ones I’ve worked with and loved over the past seven months is getting adopted! He will go to his forever home in just a couple of weeks. Every time one of these children goes home, it feels like a life saved. He has a chance to thrive, a chance to be seen and known as a son, not an orphan. Thank you, Jesus! Please be praying for P and his new family. He is a beautiful handful, and I pray that he is protected and cared for the way every child deserves.

This upcoming week I have the exciting opportunity to attend a missions conference hosted by A Jesus Mission in Germany! I got the invite to attend just a couple of weeks ago and knew quickly that God had something for me there! A Jesus Mission works in Ukraine and several other countries, and I am eager to meet others who are bringing hope and love around Europe. Please pray over our time in Germany, safety during travel, and open hearts for God’s movement. I recently was asked if I ever feel scared about living in a country at war, and my simple answer is yes. But through answering truthfully, I realized that while fear is real and present – the hope always outweighs it. Good things are happening. There is beauty amidst the ashes. And I remain hopeful in Ukraine’s victory, in God’s promises, and in my calling here. There is much uncertainty in my life and ministry – but I’ll continue to simply take the next step; I’m confident one day I’ll look up and it’ll all make so much sense again.

Your generous donations have primarily gone to the following over the past two months… diapers and snacks for the orphanage. a place of rest for refugees traveling through Lviv. life-saving gear for men and women serving on the front lines. food money for families living in eastern Ukraine, many unable to leave their homes. two weeks' worth of fuel costs for aid delivery and evacuations. fuel to travel back and forth to the orphanage. my availability – your donations also support me as an independent missionary and my life here in Ukraine. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am doing frequent updates on my Instagram, so please follow along there.  with love, Lina