I helped design a new window decal for a terrific family adopting a sweet boy, Vanya, from Ukraine.
It’s actually a very cool God-driven story that just illustrates how the passion for orphans can spread. We have really good friends Dan & Alisha that we’ve known for years and attended church with for a time. Dan is a professional basketball player that plays overseas, currently in Ukraine. So they’re really only in Phoenix for a few months out of each year.
Well this summer they were here when Mark and I were doing a study on the book “Fields of the Fatherless” and they decided to join us. Dan & Alisha have the hugest hearts but they will be the first to tell you that they really never planned on having kids. Well, by the end of the 8 week study, guess who was adopting? Not just one, but two!
In the midst of that, Dan & Alisha went with Mark on a World Orphans trip to visit our project in Kenya. (See the video at the end.) They played basketball with the boys, colored with the girls and absolutely fell in love with the kids. Since that trip they have gathered several of their friends and together they support one of the girl’s homes at that project. How cool is that?
Shortly after the study ended, Dan got a contract to play basketball in Ukraine, so off they went for their next adventure. Whenever they are overseas they’re always trying to connect with other players for Bible study, etc. and just use that time to glorify God. This time Alisha set out to find an orphanage that would let her come and volunteer (she’s also a nurse). It took her awhile but she stuck with it and eventually found an orphanage where she could minister. It was there that she met sweet Vanya, an almost two-year-old, who is blind. Alisha started a blog and it became her personal mission to find Vanya a home.
Then came the Oberhauser family who are stepping out in faith to bring this sweet boy home. As part of their fundraising efforts we’ve created a Ukraine window decal that can be purchased HERE.
If you know of any adoptive families from Ukraine, please pass it along.
And for fun, here’s the video from Dan & Alisha’s Kenya trip.