Melissa’s Story

I am from the Bay Area and the youngest of 6 kids. I have an amazing family that is so supportive. I am a die hard A’s and 49er fan. I graduated from Biola University with a degree in Communication. It was there that I first learned about Ukraine through a missions trip. We spent a month in the orphanage teaching the kids about Jesus and completely showering them with love. 

While in Ukraine I saw a huge need for the kids when they graduated the orphanage in 9th grade and were all but left on their own. Little did I know that my life was about to be forever changed and what started out as a “short” term trip turned into living there for almost 7 years.

The statistics and success rate may not be pretty, but if my life could be used to help just one kid, then it would not be in vain. They have been abandoned and deemed “hopeless”, but God has such a different path available to them.