A REAL FAMILY FOR UKRAINIAN SISTERS
Nina and Katya, ages 15 and 13, are two sweet sisters who have spent the last 9 years living in an orphanage in Ukraine. They finally have a chance at a forever family in the United States!
Rich and Terri Gardner and their 16 year old daughter, Erynne have opened their hearts to Nina and Katya and now, want to open their home too. They want to adopt Nina and Katya!!
I hosted Nina and Katya during the summer of 2017 in my home through a hosting program called Guglielmo's Hope. They came to the U.S. with only the clothes on their backs and a desire in their hearts for a permanent American family. I knew that I would be unable to adopt them, but it was my hope and prayer that someone in the U.S. would choose to adopt them. I loved these girls so much and knew that they would be a blessing to another family who was willing to take a step of faith. At age 15, Nina was so close to aging out of adoption in the Ukraine and I knew this could be her last chance at a forever family.
It was through their time in the U.S. that they met the Gardner family at a church in Bolingbrook, IL that we all attended. So many people in that church and others were praying that Nina and Katya would find a family that would want to adopt them. Nina, Katya and I also prayed together regularly that they would be adopted in the U.S.
The girls met Erynne Gardner first at the church's youth group and they hit it off. Erynne was the first one to suggest to her parents that maybe they could bring Nina and Katya into their family. After spending time together and much prayer, the Gardners decided to add the girls to their family! Only 1 week before it was time for Nina and Katya to return to Ukraine, the Gardners, with cooperation and assistance from the girls' Ukrainian orphanage, asked Nina and Katya if they wanted to be a permanent part of the Gardner family. And the girls said "YES!" Although the girls will still have to go back to Ukraine while the adoption process proceeds, they now can return to their birth country with a real hope for a forever family in the U.S!
But international adoption is expensive! More than $30K! It will take a lot of money, including costs for travel and living expenses in Ukraine during the proceedings. And the enourmous adoption costs are just the beginning! There will be medical costs, school, English lessons, food, clothes. The list goes on! But the Gardners are trusting God to provide. The Bible has much to say about caring fororphans. The Gardners are taking the verses to heart and are willing to give fully of themselves to these girls.
But it will take help from others. Will you be a part of this amazing story and amazing family-to-be that only God could put together? Will you be part of making a once in a lifetime family for two girls who have lived almost their whole lives without family? If so, please give generously to make this happen for the Gardners and for Nina and Katya. And please share this story so that others might give too! Thank you!
Let's make this happen!
