Location: Ukraine
Hometown: Pyatigorsk, Russia (Gennady);
Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico (Mina)
Commissioned: 2002
In
Kiev, Ukraine, Gennady and Mina Podgaisky have learned how to recognize the street children and how to help transform the lives of
orphans, runaways and children at risk.
The Podgaiskys form relationships with street children, assist in providing them with basic necessities, and help those who want to move off the streets. The Podgaiskys helped start the
Village of
Hope, a foster care facility operated by the
Ukrainian Center for Christian Cooperation. The Podgaiskys hope the village will eventually hold up to 10 foster families and up to 100 children, as well as run Christian camps for at-risk children, retreats and conferences.
When I feed the hungry, when I feed the children in the street, when I give clothes to the
children, and give them medicine – it’s all in the
name of Christ," Mina
Podgaiskaya said.
Related stories:
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Field personnel reach out to Ukrainian street children
Photo gallery:
•
Being the presence of Christ in the Ukraine