July 2025 – Update from Jeff: Recently, an MP sponsor asked why we didn’t evacuate the children from the Hearts of Love Center to a safer region of Ukraine. Good question. I explained that Hearts of Love operates like a school for children with special needs. They receive therapy, training, classes, and constant supervision.
Moms can volunteer, but they can also drop their kids off for free and attend to other responsibilities. Lena, the director, and her staff are a literal lifeline for these families and children. The families consult with Lena, and we closely monitor the situation. We also have contingency plans to evacuate if necessary.
For one week in June, the children from Hearts of Love attended a camp sponsored by Mercy Projects near Budapest, Hungary. Our sister organization, Kelet-Europa Mission, hosted the camp, and our friends at the Masters Foundation in Canada paid the transportation expenses. Peter Wooding, the MP director in the UK,attended the camp and shared this story.
The flight from Manchester to Budapest is about three hours. The kids, however, traveled a grueling 30 hours by train and van to get there. They were exhausted. The next evening, we held a chapel time. It was an incredibly humbling moment.
Send A Teen To Camp
As the sun set, we sat on benches outside, and one by one, family members and staff shared
what they were thankful for.
As they face countless challenges back home in the Sumy region of Ukraine, where the conflict has intensified, it was inspiring to hear their thankfulness for things we take for granted.
“I’m thankful for a peaceful night of sleep without the sounds of explosions and air raid sirens,” one mother said.
Download Newsletter“I’m thankful we made this long journey, and the children were so peaceful and well-behaved. It was a miracle as well that we crossed the border so quickly,” a team member shared.
It was quiet for a moment, and then Inna Zagynaylov’s soft voice pierced the air. “I’m thankful that my son Vlad and my husband, who are on the frontlines, are still alive.”
It remained quiet, and Inna continued. “The war makes life even harder as my husband and my older son are both in the army. We cannot leave the city because we never know what will happen. Just yesterday, missiles hit the place where they both serve. Fortunately, my son had left the day before. The rocket killed the man who replaced him.”
“It’s hard enough to worry about my husband, but when your son is also on the frontlines, it’s much worse.”
Inna first came to the Hearts of Love Center 12 years ago with her son, Vlad, who is now in the Ukrainian army. She served at the center as a masseuse. “My heart breaks for these children. I wanted to use my skills to help,” she said.
Inna became a member of the team providing therapeutic massage and physical therapy. Parents usually could not afford this type of treatment. Autistic children improved in their development.
At that time, she was also pregnant with her second son, Kyryl, who she brought to this camp. Kyryl, now 12 years old, has many physical challenges due to a connective tissue disorder. Inna explains: “It’s hard for him to walk, and all his joints suffer. His internal organs are damaged because the connected tissues are not working properly. He also has stomach problems and has a hole in his heart, which may eventually need surgery.”
Kyryl later told me, “I like this camp. I like meeting new people, and I love the swimming pool.”
Pray For My Dad and Brother
I also discovered that Kyryl is very active in his church and has a strong faith in God. He said he dreams of becoming a music teacher and a pastor. During the camp, he played the piano for me proudly.
Kyryl was just one of 17 children plus staff and parents attending the camp. MP in Ukraine is running camps throughout July. Your prayers and support make a tremendous difference in the lives of these children. I bonded with Kyryl, and on the last night of camp, 
he found me, hugged me, and, with tears in his eyes, asked me to pray for his dad and brother to survive the war.
Lena, the director, said, “We needed to just rest in His presence, away from the war. We are so thankful that Mercy Projects sponsored this wonderful time for us.”