Mission Trip Overview
Our team of four—Lucy, Lily, Libby, and Olena Citrisky —recently completed a short-term mission trip to Ukraine, where we served at Happy Home, a Christian ministry that provides family-style homes for orphaned children with disabilities.
We are also connected to this ministry through our Ukrainian contacts in Poland, which gave us a deeper understanding of their work and the importance of continued partnership. Although our time in Ukraine lasted only seven days, the trip helped us better understand why the staff at Happy Home deeply appreciate every volunteer who comes to serve.
Thank you for keeping us in your prayers. The trip was challenging, especially considering the current situation in the country, but we clearly felt God’s presence throughout our time there. We were also deeply encouraged by the sense of connection with our church family back home, knowing that you were praying for us and standing with us throughout the journey.
During our visit, we spent time with the children, encouraged the caregivers, and learned more about the ministry’s vision and challenges. We were especially inspired by the dedication of Xenia Sydorchuk, the founder of Happy Home. Her passion is to rescue children from government orphanages, introduce them to God’s love, provide rehabilitation and loving care, and help them find permanent families whenever possible.
Ministry Growth and Vision
The first Happy Home was opened in Kyiv in 2019. Three months ago, Xenia opened a second home, and she is already preparing to open a third home within the next one to two months. Each home serves up to eight children with disabilities, providing a family environment where they can receive personal care, rehabilitation, spiritual support, and consistent love.
Since 2019, Happy Home has helped ten children find adoptive families, and two more children are expected to be adopted soon. While not every child will be adopted, the ministry is committed to giving each child the opportunity to thrive and experience the love of God in a safe and nurturing home.
Happy Home is also developing a new project for teenagers who age out of children’s homes. One 14-year-old boy currently living in the Kyiv home is expected to move into this program next year. The vision is to create housing where young adults can continue receiving rehabilitation, learn practical life skills, receive spiritual guidance, and prepare for independent living.
The long-term plan includes multiple apartments for both boys and girls, with adult mentors living alongside them to provide guidance, encouragement, and support.
Financial Report
Happy Home currently receives no direct operational funding from the Ukrainian government. Although government funds are allocated for orphans, current laws do not provide a mechanism to support this type of family-style care ministry. The ministry is working with government officials and advocates to seek future opportunities for support.
At present, government assistance is limited to certain medical treatments and rehabilitation services for the children.
The ministry depends primarily on donations and volunteers to fund its daily operations. Current expenses include:
- Salaries for caregivers and staff serving in the homes
- Transportation and driver expenses
- Food, clothing, and daily care for the children
- Housing and utility costs
- Educational and rehabilitation programs
With two homes currently operating and a third home opening soon, staffing needs continue to grow. Every staff member is supported through donations from individuals, churches, and ministry partners.
Prayer Requests
Please join us in praying for the following needs:
- Pray for the children living in Happy Home to continue growing physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
- Pray for the staff and volunteers as they care for children with significant needs.
- Pray for financial provision as additional homes and programs are opened.
- Pray for changes in government regulations that would allow greater support for family-style orphan care.
- Pray for the war in Ukraine to end.
- Pray for more Ukrainian families to have both the desire and financial stability to adopt children. Because of wartime restrictions, international adoptions are currently not permitted, which means only Ukrainian citizens can adopt these children.
Conclusion
Our team returned home encouraged and grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside the Happy Home ministry. We witnessed firsthand the love, sacrifice, and faith that sustain this work.
While the needs are great, God continues to provide through faithful supporters and volunteers. We ask our church family and friends to continue praying for Happy Home and to consider partnering with this ministry as it expands its reach to help more children experience hope, healing, and the love of Christ.
More photos and videos from our trip are available here: