At the time, the then-family of six lived in a three-room apartment. Only when the government provided a bigger apartment and started supporting the foster children financially, was the family able to take in four more children. Before that, their salaries were not enough to support the family and they were receiving food from private sponsors to survive.

“At first, I was a little afraid of the responsibility. But then I understood that I can love children who are not my own,” Lubov said. Every time they had the opportunity to select which children to foster, they chose those whose circumstances were most difficult.

It was hard to get all the necessary documents to officially register their foster family, but that wasn’t something they allowed to stop them. Lubov formerly worked as a cook, but had to quit in order to care for the eight children. Viktor still works as a miner. At 44, he just graduated from an institute with excellent grades which, he said is a good example for the children to follow.

Now, they have their own orchard by a river where they all go for both work and rest. There, the boys learn to work on the land and take care of it. The Khutornys are considering taking in two more children family in the near future.

Please pray for God to reach the lives of the lost.