Simply Loved

08/27/2026

Today did not go quite as planned. We had some issues with water at the camp and some rodents invaded one of the cabins. Since I was leaving Friday morning anyway, it made sense for me to leave this afternoon instead and give my cabin to the displaced campers. It was a tough choice to leave early but the right thing to do to keep everyone safe. I'm staying in Lviv tonight at the orphanage. I was able to surprise one of foster girls we assist at her grocery store she works at in Lviv and take her to dinner. It is about a twenty minute walk to the city center. She was very happy to see me again before I left Ukraine. One camper was not very happy I was leaving early and when my driver showed up she went to her cabin because she didn't want everyone to see her crying. I went to her cabin and wiped her tears and let her stain my right shoulder.

You never know what kind of impact you might be having on a child's life when you simply answer God's call to serve. I've been here four times since the war started and once before it began as part of Simply Loved. This has by far been my favorite trip. I saw seeds planted in the heart of one of the kids who does not live at Grace. She is far from God but has Christian music on her playlist and sang along at the campfire just from the short time she has spent with these kids. Please pray for her that in the last days of camp something will click in her heart and the Holy Spirit will lead her to the cross.

To say I'm broken hearted to have left early and had to dry some tears, it gave me time in Lviv with the foster girl we are supporting personally as she goes to University. God works all things for his good. I'm both sad to leave and ready to be home. I love this family here in Ukraine but sometimes it makes you miss your own family too. Here are a few pictures I took before I left. Corn hole might have ended up being the hit of camp. I brought it out this morning and it almost always had someone playing it and someone waiting!

08/26/2026

Well, day four and it rained most of the day. We were able to get a quick game in this morning and then we all went to our cabins. It stopped about 4pm and we started playing again. A few of us walked back down to the store and then ended the day with worship and a great campfire with snacks! I love this picture I captured of the fire and the moon in the clouds tonight!

08/25/2026

It would not let me post the videos and photos together for some strange reason. He is the video!

08/25/2026

This was our third day at camp. They don't load this camp with endless activities. They give the kids time to just be themselves, which is nice. They have a morning game, which involved water and me today, and an afternoon activity. The rest of the day the kids have free time. They can hang in their cabins or the mess hall and play games, which is where you will usually find me, or play outdoor games. Badminton is a favorite of most of the kids. I walked to the store today in town with two workers and some of the older kids. It's all about recharging the kids and getting them ready for the first day of school!

Enjoy some pictures from today. Especially the ones where I get wet. The kids tried to help me guess the balloon color so I wouldn't get wet but I thought they were trying to trick me so I would get wet.

08/23/2026

I arrived in Ukraine for camp on Friday. I spent two days with my friends North of Lviv. It was an incredible time reconnecting over good food and laughs at the language barrier. We took a bus to another town to shop and grab sushi lunch. I wish I had one more day with them. It was too short. I did get to spend personal time with Ira and Sasha, two foster girls we have known for several years. Ira was hosted by our family over Christmas in 2018. She is attending a technical school in Lviv and we are so proud of her. She was not able to go to camp with us because she had to work but Sasha came with us. For privacy reasons with the war I will not post pictures with our friends. However, I will post pictures of some of the incredible food she made for us. And yes, I had tarimisu for breakfast!
This morning we got up, had breakfast and were taken to Lviv to board the bus with the rest of the kids. It was a day of unloading, saying hello to several of the kids I have built friendships with and relaxing a lot. We were met with one of my favorite lunches, potato varenyky. We had praise and worship tonight but my phone was dead so I don't have pictures of that.
I will try to post each day. I'm only here until Friday, but it is about the longest I have managed to stay. They have some new kids. I'm slowly getting two of them to interact. Loving all the hugs and high fives today! Enjoy just a few pics!

07/05/2026

UPDATE!! We are only $250 away from our goal! Will you join many others who are making this year's camp possible by helping us raise the final amount that we need to send them to camp this year! $250 will sponsor an entire cabin for the summer! Thank you again for your assistance!

We are in our final push! We have less than one month to raise another $700! Please join us in helping these kids go back to camp! This is a time of rest, relaxation, and restoring some of their mental health from the long nights of ducking and covering when the air raid sirens go off. This is their chance to detach from their new normal life of worrying about drones and missiles and play tag and roast marshmallows around the campfire. You can make a difference for these kids. Every dollar counts! And if you have a business or the ability and want to donate the remaining $700, these kids would be so grateful! As always, we are a 501(c)3. Your donations are completely tax-deductible! Thank you so much for your willingness to help out the children of Ukraine! These children are from Grace orphanage and foster families. They are always appreciative of your generosity. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from last year!

https://www.continuetogive.com/4907808/donation_prompt

06/13/2026

We are only about $900 away from our goal! Will you help us finish strong? Your donation helps fund summer camp for over twenty children from orphanages and foster families in Ukraine! Click the link below to join us in this worthy cause!

Help us fund our kids and their caregivers going to camp in the mountains! This camp has become a respite for the children and their caregivers each year. This is a chance for them to escape the constant concern of attacks and take in the beauty of their Creator in the majestic Carpathian Mountains!...

05/27/2026

We have raised about $2500 so far! We need about $1500 more to fund camp! Would you join us in finishing strong! You all have been amazing! We are so close!

05/06/2026

It is that time of year again! The kids are looking forward to camp! Would you like to be a part of their story? We are looking for people to help sponsor this year's camp. The children of Grace Orphanage and some foster children from Ukraine are able to spend 10 days in the Carpathian Mountains, safe from the war. They are able to rest and relax and just be kids! Would you consider joining us by donating today? We need to raise $4200 for 22 children to be able to have this respite in the mountains. We appreciate your consideration! Please enjoy the photos below showing how valuable this camp is and the joy it brings these children. Please click here to donate to this year's camp! https://www.continuetogive.com/4907808/donation_prompt

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world" James 1:26