A Family’s Transformation Story

A FAMILY IN NEED

In a small town in Western Ukraine, the Holub family faced serious hardships.

Struggling with extreme poverty, the parents were raising six children while battling persistent alcoholism. Tragically their two youngest children were born with developmental issues, likely fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

TRANSFORMATION BEGINS

This is the remarkable story of how the four older Holub children managed to break free from the cycle of poverty and addiction that plagued their parents. It all started with God sending His people (through a local church) into their lives, who introduced them to HART’s programs.

SERHIY

The oldest child, Serhiy Holub, now 25, found his path through Christian camps supported by HART. It was in those camps that Serhiy first heard the Gospel message. And it was there that he accepted Jesus into his heart, and was eventually baptized.

He has since built a stable life, with a good education, a job that supports his family, and an active role in his faith community, where he preaches and is a youth leader in his local church.

VOLODYMYR

The second child, Volodymyr, benefited from HART’s Education Scholarship Program, which enabled him to graduate from a Construction college.

Now self-sufficient, he works alongside his brother and actively participates in the life of his church. Volodymyr is very creative and has a gift for making interesting Christian videos.

A sponsor’s generosity even allowed him to receive dental treatment, giving him a beautiful smile.

IVANKA

The third child and eldest daughter, Ivanka, now leads the Sunday school program at a small church, where she also mentors teenage girls. Her involvement in HART’s camps led to her spiritual growth and baptism.

She also benefited from the Education Scholarship program.

She lives modestly in a small apartment, and is so grateful to God and has a clear understanding of what He has called her to do. Ivanka finds fulfillment in her ministry and takes great care of her parents and younger siblings, particularly her youngest brother, for whom she is more like a mother.

SNIZHANA

The fourth child, Snizhana, credits HART’s Child Sponsorship program for introducing her to church and Christian summer camps as a teenager. Now married and living independently, she serves by cleaning at the church and by teaching children in Sunday school.

Snizhana’s testimony highlights the profound effect of HART’s support: “HART’s support has been of great importance to our family. As children, we couldn’t change anything in the life of our parents because we didn’t have a full understanding of the situation we were in.

However, because of the sponsorship program we always knew every month that we would receive groceries and have something to eat.

We lived in a small house without running water, but because of my sponsor’s financial support, we bought a water heater and for the first time we had hot water and were able have a normal shower and wash the dishes in hot water. Besides that, we bought a washing machine, so we no longer had to wash clothes by hand any more.

Thanks to HART, I received school supplies which I could choose by myself before each school year. On my birthdays, I could buy myself new shoes.

Through my sponsor’s support, I could see God’s care for my family and me. I am so grateful to the Lord for sending us wonderful Christian people who took such good care of us. Along with that, I was able to go to summer camps, which my parents would never have been able to afford.

Most importantly, through the camp counsellors and leaders I was able to observe what a Christian lifestyle was like.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to HART and its donors for your hard work and love. You have helped us a lot. Thank you so much.

Now, I go to church and have a loving husband. We have a totally different life. We rent a small apartment, and I really love to do the cleaning and simply enjoy a peaceful life. May God bless you and keep you!”