We all need family to thrive. But often families are broken apart by life's challenges.
Hope Now meets and cares for the families of orphans who struggle to live a full life.
The Lord guides us to mothers who want to raise their children but need the loving support of Christ.
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families ...”
(Psalms 68:5-6 NIV) .
Pikuyev Family
On my very first visit to Shpola orphanage, in November 2014, I fell in love with the Pikuyev kids.
My first visit was a blur of meeting 170 excited children plus Directors, teachers and caregivers. I didn’t have much time to spend with the children, as I was there to finalize plans for our first summer camp scheduled for the following week. But as I was touring the grounds, I felt hot, sweaty hands gently clutching mine. That’s when I met Dima & Bogdan – two of the Pikuyev brothers – and from then on, they were always at my side.
Over the next two years, our teams of Ukrainian and USA volunteers made numerous trips to Shpola, where we got to know all 7 of the Pikuyev children. Everyone who meets these kids, simply falls in love with them. They are all so open, loving and sweet spirited. This summer, we got to know their mother too... Read More
Widow Valeria from Moldova
Valeria and Cyndee at her home in Lebedyn
About 18 months ago when I was at the orphanage, I was shocked to have a lady greet me and start speaking to me in English… and not just a greeting, either. Valeria was obviously a well-educated lady, who could carry on an intelligent conversation in English! She told me all about her two children, Hima and Ananda whom she had just enrolled at Shpola. She qualified to have her children stay at the orphanage, because she was recently widowed and had moved back to Ukraine from Moldova where her family had been living prior to her husband’s death.
At that first meeting, Valeria told me that she has been teaching the girls English, and any Christian literature I could give her, she would be grateful for. She also asked me for something she has always wanted, an English Bible. I said I would be glad to provide these, and on my next visit I left a big bag of Children’s books and a beautiful Bible for her... Read More