Natalia Novozenko passed away on May 24th. She was Anatoliy’s mother. She was over 90 years old. And before she died, she got to come home. That matters more than I can say. For Ukrainians, the war didn’t begin in February 2022. It began in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea. By the time the full […]
Category: Ukraine
You Belong. You Matter. This Is Your Home.
At Hope and Horizons, we believe the two deepest needs of every human are simple: to belong, and to matter. That’s why we don’t just hand families a set of keys — we remind them they’re not forgotten. They belong. They matter. This week, I’m preparing to leave for Ukraine to place the keys into […]
What Is Family?
During my most recent trip to Ukraine, I found myself asking that question again and again. Over the last week, I had the chance to visit six of the families who have received homes through Hope and Horizons. We talked about their work, how culture has shifted during the war, and how their communities are […]
Bread.
In a country known as the breadbasket of Europe… that’s how they chose to welcome us. Not because they have plenty, but because it’s how you honor someone. How you say, “You matter to us.” We met the Semendyay family at the gate of their new home — standing there with anticipation, holding a loaf […]
He Stayed.
When everyone else left… Anatoli stayed. His mom is 85. And he chose to take care of her. For the last four years, they lived side by side in a space he made for them — doing whatever it took to stay together. “I just couldn’t leave her.” And standing there with them, it hit […]
We Did It. Homes 12 and 13.
We did it. Homes 12 and 13… given right here in Ukraine. Our first home was at the end of April 2024. And now, just 24 months later… 13 families have a place to call home. Even saying that out loud… it doesn’t feel real. But it is. Real families. Real stories. Real loss. And […]
