Tag: Mission To Ukraine

How Can You Support Women With Unplanned Pregnancies in Ukraine | Mission to Ukraine

Written by Katie Gheen on April 17, 2025. Posted in Pregnancy Care.

If you’re searching for ways to support women with unplanned pregnancies in Ukraine, you’re not alone—and neither are the women who face these crises every day. Across Ukraine, countless women discover they are pregnant and feel completely overwhelmed. With no support system, no income, and no plan for the future, many feel pressured to end the pregnancy. Some are abandoned by partners or families. Others carry the weight of their decision in silence. But at Mission to Ukraine (MTU), we meet women in that moment of crisis with something radically different: compassion, practical...

svitlana story of unwanted pregnancy and redemption through Jesus Christ. Mission to Ukraine

From Hopeless Mother to Bold Disciple of Christ: Svitlana’s Story

Written by Katie Gheen on September 20, 2024. Posted in Pregnancy Care.

Svitlana Tells Her Story: “Living in the quiet village of Hlynivets, I faced a surprising third pregnancy. My husband was unwilling to support me and pushed me into having an abortion. I was left feeling isolated and overwhelmed, with no one to confide in or lean on. I remember the day I stumbled upon an ad for Mission to Ukraine. It caught my eye with its promise of “Free help for unwanted pregnancies.” When I called, Olena answered and, though I was hurting and closed off, she spoke with compassion and understanding. In that moment, MTU became my lifeline. They provided more...

What is it Like to Be a Woman in Ukraine?

Written by Katie Gheen on July 2, 2024. Posted in Humanitarian Aid, Pregnancy Care.

In a war-torn landscape and the various current events, many of us have questions about what is happening in Ukraine. You may wonder, what is it like to be a woman there? The daily reality for many women is one of unyielding resilience and hope, but that does not negate the difficulty and terror that comes with war. The ongoing conflict has brought unimaginable hardship, yet amidst the chaos, the strength and determination of Ukrainian women is evident. Through their stories, we gain a glimpse into what it means to be a woman in Ukraine today—facing adversity with courage, and embracing...

“She Chose Life!”

Written by Katie Gheen on November 28, 2023. Posted in Pregnancy Care.

Abortion is still legal in Ukraine up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. And Olga was convinced that was her only option. After all, she already had 4 children. Along with her husband, that would be 7 people living in a little one-room house. (Olga, her husband, 4 children, and a new baby). Rather than make the decision without considering all her options, Olga went in for a visit with one of the volunteers at Mission to Ukraine. It was there that she learned she could have the emotional, spiritual, and “practical” support she would need to carry the child to term – as well as have whatever...

Child with disabilities wearing a bandana and raising his hand at the Mission to Ukraine Summer camp.

Camp in Ukraine – Unexpected Experiences

Written by Katie Gheen on October 13, 2023. Posted in Disability Services.

What do you do when it comes time to teach the Bible lesson and you get interrupted by an air raid siren? When spiritual truths of God’s presence and protection are being presented, yet there’s also a definite need to “get to safety immediately?” When being brave because we have Jesus in our hearts means remaining calm and walking to the bomb shelter in an orderly fashion? Not something we have to deal with here in the United States, is it? But for our friends in Zhytomyr, Ukraine – it’s often a daily occurrence. We believe there is a VITAL need for those we serve to hear...

Vera and her baby in front of their house in Ukraine during the war after being helped with Mission to Ukraine.

What would you say to Vera?

Written by Katie Gheen on October 13, 2023. Posted in Pregnancy Care.

No young woman grows up hoping to be an unwed mother, let alone be abandoned by the father of her unborn child the moment she finds out she’s pregnant. Nobody. Certainly not Vera, who came to us at Mission to Ukraine seeking help. Our first response is always the same when someone comes into our center. We listen. No judgment. No pointing fingers. No lectures. We simply listen. And silently, we pray. And as we listened to Vera, this is what we heard … Pain. Abandonment. Fear. Shame. And very little “hope” for the future. Let me stop right here and ask you how you...

Halyna is going through pregancy and standing with her husband and four kids during the war in Ukraine.

Joy in the Storm: Halyna’s Story

Written by Katie Gheen on October 13, 2023. Posted in Pregnancy Care.

Mission to Ukraine provided hope to Halyna and her husband when found themselves in a very challenging situation due to the war when she became pregnant with their fourth child. With Ukraine at war – and her husband now facing unstable employment – life was exceedingly tough. It was then that her gynecologist recommended reaching out to Mission to Ukraine, where she was assured of comprehensive support; both practically and spiritually. Though not accustomed to asking for help, they had no other choice. Their financial struggles were compounded by the high...