Recently I finished teaching one of my favorite classes, Intro to Missions. Each time I teach it, I get to marinate in the powerful stories and compelling themes that first motivated us to move our lives to Ukraine. One of these stories has forever changed the way I understand Christmas. It is so much more than a quaint historical romance, with its associated religious and political intrigue. It’s the central event of history, in which our missionary God finally lives up to His promises and [...]

After years of wrangling with the authorities, jumping through bureaucratic hoops, and spending thousands of dollars, our good friends finally rescued a Ukrainian orphan. They weren’t trying to fill a need in their own lives–they already had several wonderful children. The adoption was purely an act of grace. You can imagine how the child responded when they finally brought her home and showered her with love…but you’d be wrong! Instead of being grateful, she continually demanded more. It took a couple years before she understood [...]