Dear Friends, Family, and His Kids Too! Supporters:

We have arrived home safely from another wonderful trip to Ukraine! We serve a great and powerful God that blesses us with our every need, and protects us from harm. We were able to serve the orphans, widows, school children, internot children (boarding school), mental patients, Aids children and other hospitalized children, and begin work with 2 additional facilities.

Our travel goals were to:

1. spend a week as part of a team teaching local school children, orphans and internot children, Bible stories, and how to use these stories in their everyday lives
   
2. do follow up Bible studies, and have nightly Bible studies with the local church members
   
3. distribution of over 2500 lbs. of humanitarian aide: sharing the love of God to orphans, widows, etc., via providing food, medicine, clothing, blankets, toiletries, etc.
   
4. visit our daughter’s orphanage in Donetsk, along with several other facilities
   
5. meet with 2 new facilities that were requesting aid assistance
   
6. meet with the new NAC (National Adoption Center) director to establish a working relationship with her

Goals Met: All goals were met, and even more!!!! Thanks be to God! We were even part of a miracle, which I’ll briefly explain below.

Because we want to be the best stewards of the gifts so many of you have provided and funds you have sacrificially donated, below I will give some highlights of the trip followed by a more inclusive list of what was provided to each facility. Click on areas highlighted to view photos, * indicates more photos can be found in the Photo Gallery, Summer 2003.

Our family arrived in Kiev June 19, and were off to the train, to the Oblast. I stayed back in Kyiv as our humanitarian shipment was mysteriously being ‘held’ in Simpheropol, and I stayed back in Kyiv to work out the delay. After working through some issues, we were told to ‘come on Monday for pick up’. The shipment contained about 99 % of our Day Camp supplies, and the other 14 boxes were humanitarian aide, along with a wheelchair. The supplies were essential for the success of the Day Camp.

The Miracle: Lena and I arrived early Monday morning in Simpheropol to pick up the shipment. After going to 2 offices and meeting with Custom officials, they withdrew their permission to receive the shipment. It was all very odd, but the customs official said that he did not realize that the release date was July 1, and he could not, nor ‘would not’ release it early. We then proceeded to visit 9 more offices, knowing that it was imperative that we get the shipment released, and that God would not have sent us here knowing that the ‘door would be closed’. A huge thanks goes to Oksana from International Relief and Development, but even she did not comprehend the later decision of the Custom officials. At 1:30, on our 11th office visit, the door appeared
to ‘shut’ and all hope seemed to be gone. We had one more possibility, and it was a ‘long shot’. All the way to the office I prayed for this officials heart to be softened to the children of Ukraine and our mission to share Jesus with them. For all the aid that they so desperate needed. I called the team back in Dzerzhinsk, requesting that they pray for this situation. We arrived at the office, and we waited. At 2:20 p.m. Oksana came and gave us the news, in disbelief, ‘the shipment had been released’! I shouted ‘Slova Boga (Praise the Lord in Russian)’, and thanked the Lord for His kindness, mercy and faithfulness. We drove back to the customs officials office with all the release paperwork, and on the way to the shipment, he commented several times that in his history with the customs office (since 1994), they had NEVER released a shipment early, even to a Ukrainian that had shipped something. He was astonished we received the permission. I gladly explained to him, and the others in the car (as we had 2 other officials with us), that it truly was an act by God, a miracle, and that we thank God for this. He commented, ‘well, this doesn’t happen in Ukraine, so it must have been ‘something’. We thanked God for this opportunity to share about the faithfulness of Him to these officials and Oksana, and they all agreed that it was ‘some other power’ that got that official to change his mind about the release date. We loaded the shipment, returned to Dzerzhinsk with the shipment, arriving at 5:15 a.m., unloading and ready for Tuesday’s day camp, and all the teachers were thrilled (as were the children) to have their supplies.

The rest of the week of June 23 was just great, and the 2 Bible camps went very well. Children and facility directors were thrilled with the curriculum, Bibles, crafts, songs, and the enthusiasm of the team members. All was well received, and they are eagerly awaiting next years program.

After the Bible camp, the team moved on to Kiev for a singing school, but we remained in the Oblast for 9 more days. During this time we were able to accomplish many of the goals and objectives of His Kids, Too!. Life in Ukraine is difficult, and this trip was no exception. We had alot of rain, which allowed the water to run for a total of 6 hours a day, but the mud and dirt were a constant problem. Many days were spent visiting facilities and assess the needs, purchasing items and returning for delivery. Some days were spent delivering the items that were in the shipment that so miraculously was released. Medical equipment unavailable in Ukraine, but life changing to many precious children.

Monday, June 30th was a holiday, and we spent the day sorting 2500 lbs. of aide to be distributed to 8 different facilities. Tuesday we were off to Donetsk to visit Alla’s orphanage, Teremok Orthopedic Hospital, and the Specialized Baby’s Home. The workers, children and director were thrilled to see Alla and her progress. They whisked her away when we arrived, and we didn’t see her again for about an hour. She was very glad to see ‘her friends’, and spoke with many children, and all the workers. We had a special time with the director, and her special care giver, Oksana. We left clothing, shoes, toys, and medicine, for all the children, and some blankets. Thanks to your continued support, this facilities also receives on a monthly basis, diapers and high vitamin juice from His Kids, Too!. At the Teremok Orthopedic Hospital, children received toys, clothing, medicine, and they were the recipient of the wheelchair. Thanks to Whitmyer Biomechanxis, this facility has received 7 chairs and 4 walkers, they were VERY grateful, and it was great to see them using all the items provided. We were then off to the Specialized Baby Home, (Aids Hospital), where the children were asleep. But we met with the director, and provided the facility with homemade quilts, medicine, clothing, and stuffed animals for all the children. Our trip to Donetsk was very special, and a delight to see the facilities using the items His Kids, Too! provides, and also overseeing this usage with good stewardship.

Wednesday was off to a new facility, a Internot (Boarding School). This facility, extremely poor, relayed to me, that they had NEVER had an adoption by a foreigner, and only 2, by Ukrainians. The children, though older, are quite nice, and I would encourage those interested in adoption to possibly consider theseand these children. Children were provided with 2 sets of clothing, toothbrushes, soap, shoes, socks, and every child received a stuffed animal; the facility was provided with sport games, toys, soap, and additional supplies for children that will be transferred to the facility in the future. If support is received, we will continue this work, as this facility is in dire need of much help. The director was extremely grateful and amazed at our generosity. We of course, relayed, that we are only the messengers of this aid, and that many, many people in America have provided the funds. Our plans, if funding is provided, is to purchase much needed sheets, pillow cases, towels and shoes to this facility during my October visit.

Thursday and Friday were spent visiting the facilities that we assist in our ‘home town’, Dzerzhinsk. The local internot had allowed us to ‘set up shop’ in one of their empty rooms, and this room ‘housed’ all the clothes for the children of their facility and the others in Dzerzhinsk. This made the task of clothing the children less difficult, since we were able to sort and size. We clothed over 300 children at the Boarding School, local orphanage, and a new facility, a Children’s Hospital. Each child received, at least one outfit, if not more, socks, shoes, a toothbrush, soap, a toy, a stuffed animal and a personal gift (for a boy or a girl), all of which YOU provided through your generous giving. The Internot and Orphanage received sport equipment and medicine for all the children. At the hospital we were able to provide a large amount of specialized medical equipment (trachea. equipment, syringes, oxygen tubing, gloves, suture kits, blood pressure kits), OTC medicine, blankets, clothing for all the children, toys, and a stuffed animal for each child. With your support we will continue to help this children’s hospital, as they are in dire need, and the director is very open to receiving assistance. Additionally, we sent clothing to the local mental hospital for their adult patients.

Saturday, I went shopping for food, and that afternoon we were able to supply 30 widows with food and toiletries in wonderful canvas bags provided by Florida Children’s Forum.

Monday, July 7 was spent clothing some very poor local families. Even after all the donations throughout the weeks, we still had plenty to help others, a reflection of the great ‘fishes and loaves’ story!

During the week of July 1st, we had evening Bible studies for the ladies, looking at the lives of Mary and Martha, and then looking at love and forgiveness. Saturday one of our frequent visitors, Angela was baptized into Christ, it was so exciting to see this life changing decision. Additionally, Rich was able to baptize her in our bathtub, because there was no water, in the morning when the water was ‘on’ we had collected it in our bathtub.

When our time in Ukraine was over, and we believe that it was time well spent. God had blessed the trip, and were able to meet our goals. Please remember, that each ‘gift’ is given with a laminated card stating that the gift is from the local Church, it’s meeting place and time, and a local contact person, we want to always ‘point people’ in the direction of hearing more about Jesus, and not just receive aide. Below is the list of items purchased and the aid that was distributed to orphans, hospitals, boarding schools, the mental hospital and specialized baby home. Additionally, ‘thank you letters’ from directors, etc. are available for review.

Boarding School (local Internot ages 6 and up)
clothing for all children, some shoes, and caps
new socks for all the children (245)toothbrushes/toothpaste/floss and soap for are children
medicine for the facility, blood pressure kit
board games/art supplies and sport equipment for children
toys and stuffed animals for all children
a personal gift for each child

Local Orphanage (presently only 38 orphans ages 5 and up)
new clothing, socks, shoes, and underclothing, caps
toothbrushes
sport equipment
toys and stuffed animals for orphans

Local Mental Hospital (60 adult patients)
clothing

Children’s Orthopedic Hospital (60 + children ages 4 – 8)
clothing and socks for all the children
medicine for facility
1 wheelchair
Continue high vitamin juice program at facility

Specialized Baby Home (60+ children ages 0-5yrs. old)
clothing and socks for all children
toys and stuffed animals for all children
medicine for facility

Orphanage (presently 102 children ages 0-4)
clothing
socks for all children
medicine for facility
juice and diaper program in progress

New Internot (Boarding School 25 children 6 – 17)
clothing, socks, shoes, caps
toothbrushes/toothpaste, soap
medicine for the facility
board games/art supplies and sport equipment for children
toys and stuffed animals for all children
a personal gift for each child

Children’s Hospital (New Facility)
clothing for all the children
trachea. equipment, syringes, oxygen tubing, gloves, suchere kits., blood
pressure kits
OTC medicine
blankets
clothing for all the children
toys, and a stuffed animal for each child.

Widows (30 widow bags were prepared and distributed to local widows and needy
church families)
2k. of flour, 2k. sugar, 1.5k rice, 2k. macaroni, salt, cheese
soap, toothbrushes, toilet paper, shampoo and Tylenol/Advil
new socks for all family members

Needs for October Trip:
Infant and children clothing/shoes/boots – we distributed ALL our infant clothing on this trip
Medical Supplies for children’s hospital – please drop me a note for a list
Funds to continue programs in progress and to purchased items in country approx. $1000.00 for 4 months
Funds to purchase sheets, pillow cases, towels for ‘new’ internot facility,
mental hospital, ‘new’ children’s hospital in Dzerzhinsk, ($600.00 total)
A FF ticket for my travel there (Please remember all His Kids, Too! staff pays for all their own expenses, not one penny from YOUR donations goes to help our travel expenses)

The trip was wonderful, productive and successful in meeting our goals. I will return to Ukraine in October for 10 days for humanitarian purposes as well as to continue to serve at the local church. We want to thank you for your continued support through prayers, encouragement and financial gifts to this ministry. Without your help, His Kids, Too! could not be the messengers of your love, care and concern for these people and seeds of Gods love for them could not have been sown.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments and may God Bless you as serve Him.

Peace,
Teresa and the rest of the Fillmons!

Hello Friends and Family,

Dallas and I arrived home safely Sunday evening after a wonderful trip to Ukraine. We had a great visit and very productive 2 weeks. Thank you to the many prayer warriors for your constant efforts on our behalf. Praise God! Your prayers were answered. Below is our trip summary.

Our trip goals were: (1) provide food for 30 widows until summer, (2) visit the facilities in which we are presently working to assess and fill their needs, (3) visit two new facilities to assess needs, and (4) visit two other orphanages to check on the health status of two children to whom we have been providing assistance.

We arrived in Kiev without a problem and were met by a friend who is a fellow Christian and an independent adoption facilitator. Since Ukrainian school children were out of school for their spring break, tickets for the train to the Oblast were unavailable, so we stayed the night in Kiev and left the following evening. On Sunday we arrived at our first Oblast stop where we had a wonderful reunion with friends and enjoyed a great worship service.

Monday a.m. we were off to the first of many stops to visit city officials, the orphanage, and the local boarding school. After warm greetings and a brief visit, we left with the list of items needed by the orphanage and boarding school. Both facilities were friendly and clean. The children quickly remembered us and came running to meet us. The older orphans enjoyed talking with Dallas about the U.S., customs, sports, and school. The little ones just wanted us to hold and hug them. It is such a joy to see that the items that have been previously purchased are being used and appreciated by the staff and children. That afternoon we attended a wonderful workshop on cerebral palsy that a U.S. doctor, his wife and daughter (who has CP), along with Dr. Bill Wharton (friend, missionary, and fellow worker in the Lord) presented to about 60 local people. The workshop was an effort to inform and educate locals as to how to work cooperatively for change in their community for their children with CP, as well as demonstarating that children with CP can have a productive future.

Each evening, I taught a ladies Bible study on topics of their choice. I find that it is important that we discuss issues important to them, and not what I think they need to hear.

Tuesday we woke to SNOW!, We needed to make a trip to the ìbig cityî to order some of the items that were requested by Mondayís visits. We made a new contact with a shoe factory, visited our contact for sheets/pillowcases, and ordered walkers, too. Everything went very smoothly.

Wednesday, (still snowing) we were back in the first city, sorting boxes of humanitarian aid which had been sent previously. This aid would be distributed to several different facilities.

Friday we finished up some personal business and, after the evening Bible study, we made food baskets for the many widows. Each bag was filled with soap, toothbrush, Tylenol, aspirin or Advil, toilet paper, 2+ kilos of sugar, 1/2 kilo of salt, 2+ kilos of flour, 2+ kilos of rice, 2+ kilos of macaroni, and cheese. Each widow received these bags along with money for meat, if necessary.

On Saturday, we picked up all the ordered items (see the car loaded with purchases in the photo gallery) for Monday distribution. The weather had cleared and it seemed that spring was in the air.

Sunday was a wonderful time of worship and fellowship. Food bags, clothing and medicine were distributed. That evening Dallas and I had 15 guests for dinner and visiting.

Monday, we went to the orphanage and boarding school to deliver the requested items and some additional things for the children, workers and directors. Dallas helped the little ones try on their new shoes and clothing, and they responded with hugs! Everything was very well received — please see the photo gallery for photos of children in their new shoes and clothing. We also had opportunity to visit the local mental hospital where we dropped off some much needed sheets.

Monday afternoon we said good-bye to our dear friends and fellow workers for the Lord, and returned to the ìbigî city, where we would stay and work until we left for Kiev to go back to the States.

Tuesday, accompanied by a local board member/translator, we were off to several of the facilities with whom His Kids, Too! is involved. It was a true blessing to sit and visit with the directors of the orphanage and hospital and hear how the children are doing. Many have been adopted, but others are overlooked due to physical impairments — an heartbreaking situation!

The directors modestly made their requests to us, and we assured them we would find what they needed and bring a few extra things as well.

Wednesday was spent purchasing the needed/requested items. Then on Thursday we were off to a new facility that is home to 50 infants and children with ìspecialized needsî. Our hearts were touched by the children, many of whom have HIV. The facility, which is sparse but clean, is quite a distance from town. The workers and director were open to any assistance and graciously thanked us for taking the time to visit their facility. We ordered much needed walkers (there were none at all), and crib mobiles for the tiny infants (see photo gallery). We completed our work on Thursday by returning to the other facilities to distribute the purchased aid and to visit with the children.

We spent Friday discussing and preparing our humanitarian efforts for the next three months with one of the local His Kids, Too! board members. We left on the evening train to Kiev, and had a pleasant train trip. Upon arrival we did a little shopping at St. Andrews until it starting snowing.

Our time in Ukraine was over, and we feel that it was time well spent. Below is the list of items purchased and the aid that was distributed to orphans, hospitals, boarding schools, the mental hospital and specialized baby home.

• 110 new shoes for boarding school orphan children
• 330 pair of new socks for boarding school orphan children
• 110 toothbrushes and soap for boarding school orphan children
• 110 sheets and 110 pillowcases for boarding school orphan children
• 110 towels for boarding school orphan children
• 4 soccer balls, and 3 basketballs for boarding school orphan children
• miscellaneous clothing for boarding school children
• 46 pr. of new shoes for orphans, slippers for older children
• 30 pr. stockings for orphans
• 46 new toothbrushes for orphans
• 2 soccer balls, and 1 basketball for orphan older boys
• board games for older orphan children
• clothing for 46 orphan children (socks, underwear, shirts, pants)
• 500 syringes for orthopedic hospital
• food mixer for orthopedic hospital
• requested medicine for orthopedic hospital
• printer and ink cartridge for printer (purchased computer previously) for the orthopedic hospital
• 5 walkers for orphanage
• clothing, underwear, caps and baby blankets for orphanage
• 2 huge strollers for orphanage
• 60 lbs of new infant/childrens clothing for specialized baby home
• 400 pr. of surgical gloves for specialized baby home
• food and miscellaneous items for 30 widows

Overall, the trip was wonderul, and productive. We were unable to go to two facilities due to bad weather or the directors being absent but we sent photos and funds for aid in humanitarian efforts to one of those facilities via a local American missionary. We will return to Ukraine in June for several weeks for humanitarian purposes as well as to help host a Vacation Bible School. We want to thank you for your continued support through prayers, encouragement and financial gifts to this minstry. Without your help, His Kids, Too! could not help these deserving people.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments and may God Bless you as you serve Him.

Peace,
Teresa and Dallas Fillmon
Director/His Kids, Too!

Hello Friends,

We hope that you and yours had a wonderful holiday season. This Christmas was quite different for our family, as we were all apart. I’ll explain, but we are all now home after 22 days in Ukraine. Rich, Teresa, Artur and Haley all went to Ukraine, while Dallas and Lydia stayed back in the states. The purpose of our trip was 3 fold: first to adopt our daughter (preselected), secondly, distribute humanitarian aide (His Kids, Too!) to hundreds of children, and thirdly, to visit with our dying friend, a wonderful artist of 37, single mother of 1 daughter.

Two years ago while visiting Ukraine on a His Kids, Too! humanitarian aide distribution trip, we spotted a little girl, that we decided that we would make a concerted effort to find her a home. We prayed and prayed that someone would come for her, and on each trip I would visit with her. Visit after visit she was still there. We took prothesis to her in summer 2002, and played and visited with her. In September of 2002 our local newspaper even did a story on her, 3 people called about her, but no serious results. At that point, Rich and I (after much prayer), decided, this was ‘our’ calling, and we started the paperwork.

We started our paperwork for our daughter in October, sending everything to Ukraine early Dec., and received a travel date for December 23rd. Yes, I stated that our daughter was preselected, and she was. We did not break any rules/laws, etc. in Ukraine, but what we did do is speak directly with the new Adoption Center director and get her approval to adopt this beautiful child. Our daughter is not medically perfect, and that is why we could do this. During my trip to Ukraine in October, I had the pleasure to speak with Mrs. Parienko, Director of the National Adoption Center of Ukraine and the psychologist. I expressed the interest to adopt Alla, from the Donetsk Baby House orphanage in Donetsk. They were very agreeable, and said, ‘no problem.’ Let me say, and stress, we were able to get this approved preselection, due to our daughters medical situation; she has no feet, and only 3 fingers (total). Mentally, she is sharp, and developmentally delayed just slightly!

We traveled right in the middle of the Christmas holidays, and only had a total of 2 days of delays. This is due to our facilitator and he did a beautiful job of rushing paperwork through the system.

All was fairly smooth concerning the adoption, and we are home, and Alla is thriving, doing beautifully, and I do attribute this to our knowledge of Russian, (additionally, we have a Ukrainian friend living with us, which is a huge benefit) and continue to encourage people that are adopting children 3 and older, to learn some Russian. Pictures of our daughter can be found on the ‘Summer Photo Gallery‘ in the section, ‘Alla,’ and our adoption journey photos are on the December 2002, ‘Alla’ section.

Our second mission was Christmas gift distribution, which went quite well. Pictures of this can also be found on the Photo Gallery Dec. 2002 section. With a huge thanks to all the many donors to His Kids, Too! we were able to provide a wonderful assortment of gifts of clothing, toys, shoes, and essential life items (toothbrushes, sheets, medicine, etc.) for over 600 children. In part, our big donors for this trip were the 6th grade Geography students at Raa Middle School (Tallahassee, FL), and Elementary students from Florida High (Tallahassee, FL). They rallied at for the cause, and in addition to their material donations, they collected over $650.00. Truly, their donations made an impact on the lives of hundreds of children/orphans. Additionally, we were able to provide a wheelchair for little Natalia (see Fall 2002 trip photos), and much needed medical supplies for Bogdon (see same photo area). We had the wonderful opportunity to see 2 Christmas Programs at orphanages, which brought tears to our eyes to see these children perform. Our daughter, Alyssa (Alla) was a Snowflake in her program, and it was just wonderful! The staff warmly welcomed us, and we were treated as special guests. We were thrilled to leave your gifts with them for the Alla’s roommates and the other children.

Alla was able to play ‘Miss Frost,’ and Artur ‘Father Frost,’ when we visited the local Orthopedic Hospital. Each of the 60 children in the hospital received a toy, and additional toys, clothing, shoes, orthopedic equipment, and medicine were left for children as needed. It was quite interesting for Alla to be the one to ‘give’, and she was delighted to able to help these children. Please review the photos on the Photo Gallery (December 2002) for this distribution.

Our son, adopted 3/99, from Mariupol, was able to return to Mariupol and be ‘Father Frost,’ passing out gifts to all the children in the orphanage (about 75). The photos of this and other children at the Mariupol orphanage can be seen on the December 2002 Photo Gallery. We were also able to take packages that other adopted families sent with us. Getting from place to place was a challenge, as weather was not the best, snow, ice, rain, mud, sleet, but the Lord was with us, and our goals were accomplished.

Our time was limited to visit each facility that His Kids, Too! is assisting, but we are blessed to have willing servants in Ukraine that are able to take your donations to the orphanages, hospitals and widows. We were able to leave items for later distribution, of:

1. Aids (Baby Home) Hospital of toys, clothing, medicine, and blankets
   
2. 3 large boxes of adult clothing for the local mental hospital, along with some additional sheets and pillow cases
   
3. Provide sheets, pillowcases and crib sheets, infant clothing, medicine, toys and misc. baby items for a local ‘maternity hospital.’
   
4. Funds were left with our staff members there to continue the diaper, juice and other ongoing programs.

Lastly, our dear friend, Valentina. Well, unfortunately, when we arrived in Ukraine, we received the news that she had passed away during our flight over there. It was a very sad way to start the trip. She was a talented local artist,

Valentina with her Daughter

and, a mother of one 15 year old daughter. We solicit your prayers on Sveta’s behalf, as she now make some decisions concerning her future without the guidance of her mother.

Our work is on going in Ukraine, and, Lord willing, I plan to travel again in early April for aide distribution. We still have many needs to fill, and programs to monitor, and have just taken on another orphanage of over 200 children that are in desperate need. We can not begin to thank you enough for the outpouring of love you have shown for the widows and orphans of Ukraine. Each time we go, we wish each of you could be present for the joy and gratefulness expressed by these folks for your kindness. They tell us over and over, ‘please tell your friends, thank you!’ And I tell them, I will… and I do, though many of you, I do not know, but what I do know is that the Lord has impressed upon your heart a tenderness for these wonderful deserving children. We, at His Kids, Too! hope that each of you had a blessed holiday season. Please feel free to forward any comments or questions.

Sincerely,
Teresa Fillmon
Director/His Kids, Too!

Dear Friends,

God continues to do great things in Ukraine, and your help is so appreciated! I arrived home safe and sound from a ‘whirlwind’ 9 day trip to Ukraine. The main purpose of this trip was to help a friend with her visa to the U.S., but I was able to combine the trip for the benefit of His Kids, Too!

Upon arrival in Kyiv, I stayed there until our friends’ visa appointment. During the wait, I was able to meet and visit with the director of a local Cerebral Palsy group. We visited several clients of this facility. I was told of their plight, and how they try to earn a living. Many are VERY talented, and made several types of handmade items for me to try to sell for their group. These items can be found on our new Gift Shop soon to be posted and all proceeds will benefit their group. We were able to provide a wheelchair for clients of the group, and it is presently on loan to Masha, a paralyzed 5 year old. Our goal is to provide several more wheelchairs, and other medical equipment, along with other personal essential needs. The director was very open to working with His Kids, Too! and invited us back again and again.

After the Embassy appointment, I had a scheduled meeting with the new director of Adoptions for Ukraine. She is a wonderful and gracious lady, who was very helpful, and open to our questions concerning future adoptions in Ukraine. She speaks some English, so it was quite a pleasure to visit with her.

Then off to the train, to the oblast. Arriving the next morning, dropped my luggage at the house, and then off to the Internot. The director was so happy to see us. We provided the children with the stocking caps, socks and coats. The children were thrilled, and loved the colorful caps.

Thursday I was off to another city, leaving VERY early in the morning. I spent the day with 2 board members, Nikka and Lynn, at an orphanage, Orthopedic Hospital and then back to the small village. Had a great time at the orphanage, and the director loved the hats, and sweaters. We even had the opportunity to sit and play with some kids.

Friday was spent purchasing food for the widow bags, and attending a teachers program that the Internot personnel insisted that I attend. Friday night I had the sisters over to the house, and provided food, fun and fellowship. It was a very pleasant time for us all.

Saturday was spent delivering food baskets and visiting my dear friend Nadia, who is very ill. Time was so short, and it was time to catch the train back to Kyiv to start the journey home. Sunday and Monday was spent traveling.

Overall, though the trip was short, it was time well spent. We accomplished all our goals, though our friends’ visa was denied, we know that God’s timing for everything is best. We shall try again soon. I was able to make new contacts and the Lord provided avenues to meet some needs of the people, children, orphans, and others.

Thank you for your continued prayers, support and encouraging words. It is always hard to be away from the family, but when you have a wonderful support system of praying people it is enormous comfort. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to forward them.

Sincerely,
Teresa Fillmon
Director/His Kids, Too!
www.hiskidstoo.org

We have arrived home safely from another wonderful trip to Ukraine! We serve a great and powerful God that blesses us with our every need, and protects us from harm. We were able to serve the orphans, widows, school children, internot children, mental patients, Aids children and other hospitalized children. Our travel goals were to:

1) spend a week as part of a team teaching local school children, orphans and internot children, Bible stories, and how to use these stories in their everyday lives

2) do follow up Bible studies, and have nightly Bible studies with the local church members

3) sharing the love of God to orphans, widows, etc., via providing food, medicine, clothing, toiletries, etc.

4) providing orthopedic equipment to several children

5) delivering 2 wheelchairs to the local orthopedic children’s hospital

Goals Met: All goals were met, and even more!!!! Thanks be to God!

Because we want to be the best stewards the gifts so many of you have provided and funds you have sacrificially donated, below I will give some highlights of the trip followed by a more inclusive list of what was provided to each facility.

Our family arrived in Kiev June 20, and were off to the train, to the Oblast. The week of June 24 was just great, and the 2 Bible camps went very well. Children and facility directors were thrilled with the curriculum, Bibles, crafts, songs, and the enthusiasm of the team members. All was well received, and they are eagerly awaiting next years program.

His Kids, Too! has been working at the local internot for a while. This facility is not only a school for over 475 children, but home for up to 100 orphans. For the Bible camp, we were able to provide each child with new socks, sandals, bars of soap, toothbrushes, a large amount of play equipment, a Bible for each child, and school supplies. Medical supplies were left with the director for the entire facility.

After the Bible camp, the team moved on to Kiev for a singing school, but we remained in the Oblast for 3 weeks. During this time we were able to accomplish many of the goals and objectives of His Kids, Too!. Life in Ukraine is difficult, and this trip was no exception. But God blessed us with great lodging, food and all our needs… remember I said, ‘needs’, not wants :-). Of course seeing and visiting with our dear friends was a complete joy!

Many days were spent visiting facilities and assess the needs, purchasing items and returning for delivery. Some days were spent delivering the items we hand carried from the states. Medical equipment unavailable in Ukraine, but life changing to many precious children.

One day we were off to the Children’s Orthopedic Hospital. The director there is wonderful, and very gracious and welcoming. The children are in great need of so many things, that unfortunately Ukraine just cannot provide.

We had the tearful experience of seeing children walk who had never walked before, with the aide of the walkers provided by Whitmyer Biomechanix, Inc. (www.whitbio.com), and Joe and Annette Northrup. Video footage of this will soon be on the sight. His Kids, Too!, with the donation, from Whitmyer Biomechanix of 7 (but only 2 went on this trip) wheelchairs, saw children, once tied to chairs, placed in a wheelchair for new found freedom. The children were so excited to receive these life changing gifts. Truly words cannot express the joy we felt by watching their faces ‘light up’! The orthopedic equipment for this facility was very appreciated and in the coming trips, I will deliver at least one more wheelchair per trip. These chairs are the property of the facility, for use (borrow) by the parents.

One day was spent driving to another city, to distribute aide to an orphanage. The orphanage welcomed us with open arms, though the director was gone on vacation. The head Doctor, and friend to His Kids, Too! warmly received our gifts of clothing, medicine, walkers, and orthopedic equipment. We already provide diapers and high vitamin juice for this facility so they know we are accountable to our word, when they have a need to will do our best to provide for the children. A need was expressed for help with a child with orthopedic problems, and we delivered, thanks to the Northrups. We had the opportunity to witness a child without feet receive prosthetics (thanks to Medishare, Gainesville, FL), and this same child draw pictures with the aide of orthopedic equipment, thanks to the Northrup’s. Video footage will soon be on the sight with her walking and writing! Needless to say, many tears were shed and the facility staff were thrilled at these gifts.

Each visit to each facility brought new and different experiences, since each facility has differing needs. The Specialized Baby Home was happy to receive crib mobiles, walkers, clothing, medicine, and wonderful crib liners (thank you, Zula McLeod). The babies were entranced by the musical mobiles and laughed and smiled as they played their tunes. All the His Kids, Too! staff members and volunteers thoroughly enjoyed playing and holding the babies, giving each special attention.

Another local orphanage we were able to visit several times. Bringing gifts of clothing, new sandals for all the children, ball caps (thank you Embroidered Apparel), medicine, sport equipment, a toy for each child, toothbrushes, and some Bibles; the children were very happy with their ‘presents’, and the director was equally happy for them.

For the local mental hospital we continue to provide sheets and pillowcases, clothing, soap and food, as this is a great need for them. This facility continues to house 30 male and 30 female, and the head Doctor appreciates any assistance. They still have a need of a consistent food supply, which we are working on.

Additionally we were able to supply 30 widows with food and toiletries in wonderful canvas bags provided by Florida Children’s Forum.

During our stay, 5 or 7 nights weekly, we had evening Bible study. Topics ranged from, Child Rearing, Sowing Seeds, Marriage Problems, Love, and Servanthood. There were both men and woman classes, with Rich teaching the men, and myself teaching the ladies. Average attendance for ladies classes was 20 per evening. During the first week in Ukraine, we had the joy of seeing 2 young people become Christians, Ola and Alexy. It was truly a blessing to see these young people make a decision to follow Christ.

When our time in Ukraine was over, and we believe that it was time well spent. God had blessed the trip, and were able to meet our goals. Please remember, that each ‘gift’ is given with a laminated card stating that the gift is from the local Church, it’s meeting place and time, and a local contact person. Below is the list of items purchased and the aid that was distributed to orphans, hospitals, boarding schools, the mental hospital and specialized baby home.

• Boarding School (local Internot ages 6 and up)
  
• New sandals for 65 orphans
  
• clothing for orphans
  
• new socks for all the children (475)
  
• toothbrushes and soap for orphans
  
• medicine for the facility
  
• school supplies for 100 children
  
• sport equipment for children

Local Orphanage (presently only 28 orphans ages 5 and up)

• new sandals
  
• new socks
  
• new clothing
  
• school supplies
  
• toothbrushes
  
• sport equipment
  
• toys for orphans

Local Mental Hospital (60 adult patients)

• sheets and pillowcases
  
• clothing
  
• food
  
• soap

Children’s Orthopedic Hospital (60 + children ages 4 – 8)

• 2 wheelchairs
  
• 3 walkers for children with CP or other disability
  
• socks for all the children and staff
  
• medicine for facility
  
• underwear for all the children
  
• Started – high vitamin juice program at facility

Specialized Baby Home (60+ children ages 0-5yrs. old)

• 12 crib mobiles
  
• 6 baby walkers
  
• crib liners for 17 cribs
  
• clothing for children
  
• socks for all children
  
• toys for older children
  
• medicine for facility

Orphanage (presently 75 children ages 0-5)

• walkers
  
• clothing
  
• socks for all children
  
• medicine for facility
  
• orthopedic equipment for child with special needs
  
• juice and diaper program in progress

Hospital in Kiev (200 beds)

• 200 sheet and pillowcases – these were provided as a thank you gift for the care they gave our friend, Oleg, and fellow servant for the Lord during his illness this past winter, and subsequent death.

Widows (30 widow bags were prepared and distributed to local widows and needy church families)

• 2k. of flour
  
• 2k. sugar
  
• 1.5k rice
  
• 2k. macaroni
  
• salt
  
• eggs
  
• cheese
  
• soap, toothbrushes, toilet paper, and tylenol/Advil
  
• new socks for all family members

The trip was wonderful, productive and successful in meeting our goals. An added plus was that 5 of our 6 board members were all together distributing the humanitarian aide. I will return to Ukraine in October for a few weeks for humanitarian purposes as well as to continue to serve at the local church. We want to thank you for your continued support through prayers, encouragement and financial gifts to this ministry. Without your help, His Kids, Too! could not help these deserving people, and the seeds of Gods love for them could not have been sown.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments and may God Bless you as you serve Him.

Peace,
Teresa and the rest of the Fillmons!

Dear Friends,

It is a joy to bring you good news about my recent trip to Ukraine. My visit there was good, and I was able to get a lot accomplished.

When I reached Kiev successfully, and we were off to the region on the eveing train. Sunday morning we were off to the market, and among other things we purchased food for the 20 food baskets for the widows of the neighborhood. Returning home, 2 sisters, a visitor and myself made up the baskets so that the members could distribute them after Sunday services.

Monday morning I was off to the city to see how the work was going there. I was able to meet briefly with Lynn (our American missionary friend, from Memphis, and His Kids, Too! board member), and pick up the 4 boxes that I had shipped in December. (Four others still had not arrived, and we were very prayerful that they would, so I could distribute the items.) These boxes had items in them for the Boarding School, which we had collected clothing and socks for. On Tuesday I went to the Boarding School, after meeting with a city official about the items, and she accompanied us to the Boarding School. It was a wonderful joint effort, that the director and the city officials could see that the items were sent by His Kids, Too! for distribution by the local church. They were very warm and receptive to the items, and asked that we return to see the children wearing the items. Which we did later in the week. But at the inital visit we toured the facility, and accessed their needs, preparing for the ‘big shopping spree’. The church in Tallahassee had sent money for items to be purchased, and that money went towards, sheets, towels and pillowcases.

Throughout the week I went back and forth between two cities visiting directors of: orphanages, a shelter, orphan hospitals, the deaf school, a mental hospital, and the Boarding school. All were warm and receptive to receiving help, and our meetings went very well. The goals that we set prior to the trip were met and the relationships between director and myself and the church members seemed to be encouraging.

Our second set of boxes came on the following Sunday, thus we returned to many of the facilities bearing more ‘gifts’. The boarding school was thrilled with the shoes/boots, and the children proudly displayed their ‘wares’. Again the directors were happy to see us, and received our unexpected visit without a problem, which was a pleasant experience.
I had the opportunity to visit a mental hospital, where the director was warm and friendly. He allowed me to see the patients and photograph many, which gladly posed in groups, encouraging me to photograph them. After several requests for how we could ‘help’ him in the job of caring for these folks, he finally made a few suggestions, which we were able to accommodate him with.

Below is a list of the needs that I was able to fill (with your help):

1) shoes to 175 children – Boarding school, orphanages, and orphan shelter
2) 1000 syringes – orphan hospital
3) medicine – orphan hospital
4) juice – on going program – orphanage
5) diapers – on going program – orphanage
6) clothing – Boarding School, mental hospital, orphanage and shelter
7) socks – Boarding School and mental hospital
8) cutting boards and knives (theirs were stolen) – orphan hospital
9) cooking pots (theirs were stolen) – deaf school
10) VCR – orphan hospital
11) towels – Boarding School
12) sheets and pillow cases – Boarding school and mental hospital
13) providing food for 20 widows
14) 8 balls (basketballs and soccer balls) – Boarding school
15) 2 strollers – orphanage (will get more, store was out)

We are presently working in the following facilities:

2 – orphan hospitals
2 – orphanages
1 – Boarding School (120 of the 475 students are orphans, but we are trying to serving all the children, as many are in great need)
1 – school for the deaf
1- mental hospital (this is for adults)
1 – orphan shelter (holding facility between ‘street’ and transition to orphanage)

In addition to visiting several facilities, I was able to visit with several church members. Each evening (except Sat. and Sun.) that I was in the village we had Bible study for the ladies. We studied from the book, ‘Women of the Bible”, and they seemed to enjoy this, and asked that I continue these lessons during our upcoming summer visit.

As my trip concluded, I returned to Kiev with Lynn and a friend (so she would not return alone), and when we arrived it had just started raining. Within 4 hours, Kiev had become a winter wonderland, with probably 7 additional inches of snow. It was beautiful, though the roads were ‘bad’, our driver did very well.

In closing, I would like to thank you for your prayers and financial support for this organization and ministry. This continues to be a great avenue to show the people of Ukraine the love of God in addition to helping orphans and widows. Our prayer is that the Lord is pleased with the work ‘we’ are doing.

Peace and Blessings,
Teresa Fillmon

Dear Friends and Family,

We are home from Ukraine, safe and sound, and another 2 beautiful children now have a home. With the complete help of the Lord, Anita’s adoption was smooth and successful. She now has 2 children, a boy 2.5 and a girl 4 yrs. old. Both are adjusting to their new surroundings. The Lord heard and answered our prayer, and she adopted from an orphanage that we have been providing aid to for over a year. We would like to give special thanks to her wonderful adoption facilitator, who was proficient in all areas of the adoption process in addition to communicating well (in English) to us. We will be highly recommending their services, and please contact me, if you or anyone you know may have a desire to adopt, I will gladly help, and refer you on to them.

The work of the Lord continued via His Kids, Too!, and with your help alot was accomplished. Amidst all the running around with adoption paperwork I was able to visit and meet with the directors of: 2 orphanages, 1 baby hospital, the children’s orthopedic hospital, 1 children’s shelter, the boarding school, and the adult mental hospital. They were gracious and appreciative of the aide. Each also expressed their deep condolences for the terrible events of Sept. 11.
With your help we were able to provide the following:

1. clothing and shoes for many orphan children/toddlers
2. cooking pots for the deaf school
3. sports equipment for the boarding school (a constant need)
4. clothing for the boarding school
5. towels for the boarding school (a constant need)
6. sheets for the mental hospital (a constant need)
7. clothing for the adult mental hospital
8. a therapeutic lamp (which was requested by the director) for an orphanage
9. blankets and shoes for many children
10. diapers for orphans
11. clothing for almost all the church members in Dzershinsk
12. provide food for 30 widows for one week at ($1.67 per person)
13. upgrade computer software for orphanage computer (this improves the accuracy and speed at which referrals can get to the AC in Kiev)
14. provide laundry soap and bathing soaps for the hospital
15. socks for over 100 children (this is a big need, and we are still in search of a sock distributor in Ukraine, that will sell at wholesale)
16. toys for orphanage/toddlers
17. While there 400lbs. of dry milk arrived, and we were able to start distribution to the orphan shelter, and the mental hospital. (distribution will be on going)

Our present ‘wish list’ is as follows:

1. One of our biggest needs at this time is coats, shoes and socks for winter. Shoes in Ukraine, though inexpensive, are not high quality. If anyone has a good source of either of these items, please forward the information to me.
2. canvas bags for food bags for widows, this is what we deliver the food in, we prefer black, but any thing is fine
3. a Frequent Flyer ticket for my winter travel, a special thank you to the dear friend who donated the 2 tickets for this trip
4. Funds to continue the programs we have on going, and to meet some of the requests that we constantly receive.
5. Funds for the adoption grant program, which financially assists people adopting internationally. It is one of the goals of His Kids, Too! to help put children in homes. Through the aide we provide, this increases their chances of adoption, because they receive proper nutrition and developmental assistance; but without financial assistance many people who would like to adopt simply can not afford the adoption expenses. Through the His Kids, Too! International Adoption Grant program we try to offer this assistance. There are several ways to help, but earmark any donation, "Adoption Fund", otherwise all donations go into the humanitarian relief fund.

The needs are so great, and people are very thankful to you for the assistance. Many hearts were touched because of your generosity. Through your giving, we were able to purchase many much needed things from our ‘needs list’, and have ordered other things that will be picked up by our missionary friends and delivered to the orphanage and hospital. Presently, the supplemental juice program and diaper program are still intact.

Overall, the trip was very good, and I believe we met most of our organization goals. I cannot thank you enough for your prayers and financial help. I do plan to return to Ukraine in late Feb. or early March for 2 weeks to continue this work.

Please feel free to drop me a note with any questions or comments. Travel photos of the distribution of aide and photos of Anita’s children (under Adoption Help then Adoption Bank) will soon be on the website, www.hiskidstoo.org.

Sincerely Yours,
Peace,
Teresa Fillmon
Director/His Kids, Too!