“Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord, and the Lord will fully repay them”
Proverbs 19:17
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! With a new year just around the corner, I just wanted to look back and briefly share the events of 2021, and express my gratitude to all of you who were so faithful in supporting Heart to Heart Ministry through another difficult year. 2021 was another year that made it impossible to bring American team to Ukraine to visit orphanages. I travelled to Ukraine in June by my-self, and was happy to meet with Vasilyi and his wife Yana. Three of us made trips to deliver food, clothes and toys to orphanages, nursing homes, a few large families and churches. Most of the places were closed to visitors because of Covid, and the best we could do was only hand the items at the doors. At the orphanages, children were told to stay inside by the teachers, but sometimes they would run out-side and hug us, despite the warning. Children kept telling how they couldn’t wait to have the team from US back. It is always the most memorable and joyful time for them to have our team over. It is not as much as the gifts, but the love, the hugs and the smiles they remember for a lifetime.
This year so far we shipped 32 large boxed of donated items to Ukraine. A lot of items will be distributed as Christmas gifts to children at the orphanages. I am hoping 2022 will be more open for travel with a team from US. Lets pray 2022 will keep all of us healthy, strong, and eager to continue our good deeds.
During my visit in Ukraine, I met with Pastor Alexander. He travelled to Kiev to meet with me and tell me about the ongoing project at the refugee camp . Multiple families who lost their residence in East Ukraine, made the refugee camp their permanent residence. With very limited funds and resources, they keep working on making the houses more suitable to live year round.
Previously the place was used as Christian summer camp and most of structures at the camp were good to stay at only during summer time. The residents of the camp are making a slow progress. So many of you sent financial support to help this project, and pastor Alexander was very grateful for outpouring love and support. He sends his greetings and hopes that one day some of you can visit the place in person. Since Heart to Heart team was not able to travel to Ukraine, at the end of last year we decided to pick up a local pro-ject and bless our Bloomington homeless community with warm blankets, hats and gloves on Christmas Day. Some-times it seems that our donations are just a drop in the ocean of unending needs, but love and kindness goes a long way to warm someone’s heart, especially around holiday season, when the less fortunate of us feel so lonely. We are planning to do the same project during this Christmas.
We would like to thank pastors Steve & Diane Sumrall and Feeding the Nations, pastors Mark & Margaret Strickland with Cleveland Christian Fellowship, pastors David & Maureen Woodcock, Eb & Debbie Hoehl, Linda James, Steven Schmidt, Vera Edgeworth, Anna Beach, Deb Copeland, Jeff & Tonya Stogdill, Sharon Campbell, Mike & Crystal Palm-er, Irina Kosyachenko, Judy Smith, Harold Bryant Sr and Harold Bryant Jr, Ross Thackery and so many others for being so generous in 2021 and continuing to support Heart to Heart ministry. – Blessings, Svetlana Pokhodina & the board
If you would like to make a monetary contribution, make your check payable to “Heart to Heart International” and mail to the following address: Heart to Heart, c/o Svetlana Pokhodina, 4785 W Briar Gate Ct, Bloomington, IN 47404
You can also send the donations through PayPal account using email address HeartToHeartUkraine@gmail.com or by clicking the donate link below.
Email Svetlana Pokhodina at Vmktata3@gmail.com with any questions.
Heart to Heart International Inc. is 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. Your contribution is tax deductible, if applicable.
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