The Hatches Kids - Trip History

Kiev Time

New Board Members

We Welcome
New Board Members:

John & Janice Anderson
David & Carol Carlson
Jane Gordon
Lauri Smith

Our Brochure

Latest Newsletter

		Trip History

August, 2009

Michael Wetzel traveled to Zhytomyr, and Kiev, Ukraine. He visited a new partner, Viktor, a pastor who is working with a group of volunteers in several orphanages. Michael also visited Peter Billingham in Kiev and talked about "One Hope" a new orphan ministry to Ukraine. He also visited Lisa Gootee, our staff in Kiev.

March, 2009

Michael Wetzel (Executive Director), David Hendrix (Board Member), Jane Gordon (Team Leader), Ashley Saltsman all traveled to Krivoy Rog to check out the ministry of two Canadian brothers, Adam and Curtis Nikell. They work with several orphanage in this second world area. A great trip and a great ministry.

June, 2008

I traveled with a team to Kiev, Ukraine (led by our new team leader - Jane Gordon)

May, 2008

We sent a team to Kiev, Ukraine (led by our new team leaders - Steve & Becki Wilmot)

May, 2007

A team traveled to Kiev, Ukriane and worked with the Ark. We also visited Children's Joy, an orphanage, and several other ministries.

December, 2007

Shepherd's Purse Director David Hendrix traveled to Haiti in December. David, a professor at Trinity Seminary and pastor of a Vineyard church, checked out a ministry and a program to feed the needy children of this country.

May, 2007

We traveled with a team of ten to Kiev, Ukraine. For one week we stayed at a center called, "The Ark" which was begun by two American ladies who now run it. There are 20 kids rescued from poor/abusive parents, abandoned, or from the streets themselves. They broke our hearts. Kids cried when we left. We cried. We also visited a children's hospital but this time only found a couple of abandoned babies there. We also visited an orphanage for 3 years and under. What sweet hearts. Since it was government run they would not let us take pictures. The conditions inside were like the 40's. Outside was very poor. Overall we had another great trip.

January, 2007

I traveled with my son-in-law, John Nugent to Ukraine for our annual Christmas in Kherson. This year we expanded to Odessa also. John is a professor of Old Testament Theology at Great Lakes Christian College and a pastor of several home churches in Lansing, Michigan. It was a great trip!

August, 2006

From August 12-24, Dr. David Hendrix and I traveled to Ukraine to research a book. Together we will write about the plight of the forgotten ones in Ukraine and Russia. Our goal was to observe, interview and to meet with ministries and the kids. It was a very productive trip. Our hope is to complete a book by the summer of 2007.

May, 2006

This last May a team of fourteen traveled to Kiev and worked with the Ark ministry. My wife Shirley and I led this trip and it was one of the best ever. Our team spent time with kids in a soup kitchen. These kids live on the streets right now. We visited a children's hospital. This hospital has just opened a wing to help the street kids. We visited the Chernobyl Children's Hospital. The did not let us inside but did bring kids out to a courtyard for us to visit. We have heard conditions inside are very sad. We spent a week with the Ark and had a great time getting to know 21 kids rescued from the streets who live on the center's 12 acres full time. It was sad to leave. Everyone was in tears. However, our team from Ohio is planning to return in October and again next June. Shepherd's Purse served as a catalyst to connect hearts.

May, 2005

Eight of us traveled to Kherson, Ukraine. Our daughter Megin and son-in-law Josh, my wife Shirley and I, and the Savonnen's and their kids from Monroe, MI.

December, 2005

I traveled to Kherson, Ukraine for our first "Christmas in Kherson". It was a great success and a blessing to all of us. I was working with "House of Hope", Andrey Revtov. It was on this trip that I met Nastya for the first time.

December, 2004

I made my first trip to Russia. One week was spent in Ufa with my good friends John & Carrie Clemence. We prayer walked around the city, led an English club and worked with their church which John & Carrie were pioneering. The second week was spent in Perm where I: preached for two Christmas services, taught for a week in a pastoral training school and most importantly - met the street kids at Love's Bridge for the very first time.