Dear family and friends,

Can it really be true that we've been in Kherson for a year? As is usually the case with big moves, it feels like it's been both a lot longer than that and a lot shorter. The year has been very good, and also sometimes a scary and stressful year.

Just this summer we've been busy with work in the Agape office and with ministry to the children in the special needs orphanage across the river in Tsyurupinsk. Back in June we all got to be part of the yearly picnic for them (photos below). They loved it, and so did we, of course. I have continued visiting the orphanage weekly, playing with the kids outside, bringing supplies for a tiny girl with a broken leg, and helping with little things. That's all on days when Will can stay home from the office and run our home. In between visits and the rest of life, I've been helping the missionary who has worked with these kids for years to do paperwork to found a new charity--imagine pages and pages of legalese in Ukrainian--and to get one of the girls to the USA for medical treatment. The new charity is especially exciting, because it's the first step in building homes for graduates of "our" orphanage. Two of the boys we worked with were transferred on to a mental institution just recently. I got to visit them there, and later also to visit others who have been transferred to other locations. Life for disabled children after they leave the orphanage is rather grim; I can't wait until they can live in the new homes! And I'm also trying to learn how I can help the people in the institutions where they are now.

In the Agape office, Will has continued with what he was working on before: translating reports, other correspondence, and keeping the English web site up to date. He has also been learning about social media and putting what he learns into practice. If you've noticed the new graphics on the Agape Facebook page (like this), those are usually his work.

Also, at the beginning of this summer Will graduated from the Agape ministry school (group photo of the graduates above). The last session was in the western part of Ukraine again, and it was followed by an Agape anniversary celebration. We all joined Will there for the graduation and celebration. It was really good to meet so many people, those who had been in Will's class all year long and many others who are associated with Agape throughout Ukraine. Afterwards we stayed longer in that beautiful area for our first ever family vacation, and that was a real treat (top photo)!

This summer has been a good one for our family. We've had a much-needed break from homeschooling and music school, lots of fun with friends, first time camping in tents for Jaan and Raia, and much more. Even after a full year here, I still tend to go around grinning about the fact that we live in a house. Most days there are anywhere from five to ten children--or more!--from our street running around here. We enjoy the neighborhood community, and now we have nice, new neighbors in the other side of our house, too.

We beg you to keep praying for Ukraine, and we would love to hear from you, too. How are you doing, and what is happening in your lives these days? Please write!
Love and prayers,
Will and Phyllis Hunsucker
and Jaan, Raia, Asya, and Bogdan

Praises:

The orphanage picnic was wonderful, and other related ministry is going well.
We've had a good, safe, healthy summer.
New neighbors! Nice ones.

Prayer requests:

FOR UKRAINE!
The school year is starting. Pray for our homeschool and for Raia starting at music school. Jaan will be continuing there; pray for him and his teachers, too.
For the next few months I will be doing orphanage visits by myself. Please pray for me as I plan and present the lessons and special activities.
As usual, pray for Will's work in the Agape office, translating reports, keeping the web site up to date, and more.