Former South Mississippi resident living in Ukraine

Several years ago, a missionary from South Mississippi followed a calling that took him to Ukraine.

His dedication to ministry, serving others, and eventually parenthood gave him a reason to stay, even in the face of war.

Clinton White is a native Mississippian who spent a large portion of his life living on the Gulf Coast.

Now nearly 6,000 miles and a world away from the magnolia state- the former associate pastor at Bayou View Baptist Church calls Ukraine home.

His journey began with one mission trip while living in South Mississippi in 2004. “It seemed like God captured my heart and it was the place I knew I wanted to go back to. In 2006 my wife passed away from complications with cystic fibrosis. During the time we had together, we talked about what my life would look like without her and we both believed I would end up overseas.”

After the death of his first wife, White retuned to the European country now under Russian attack.

There he met and married Lena- whose passion for children and ministry matched his own. Together they formed Shade for Children, caring for orphaned and vulnerable children.

Now the war has interrupted their own journey to parenthood. “The court date was scheduled for February 25th- the war started on the 24th. They assured us we would have court the next day even if it was by candlelight. We were granted the adoption but we are in a mandatory 30-day waiting period. Will there still be a functioning government 20 days from now? Will the judge that needs to sign off on the decree will be in his office?”

In the meantime, it is visits an hour-and-a-half away with their two-year-old son in the regional orphanage where he lives.

The Whites are working with shelters throughout the region, helping provide shelter, transportation, and basic needs. All around them, people they know are standing up and fighting back, by volunteering for combat or delivering food by bicycle because it is not safe to drive on streets. “The first Sunday following the war was a beautiful sunny kind of warm day and this local park down the street looked like a festival- families and children everywhere- it was a Molotov cocktail mixing party. Families with children and teenagers they had all the parts laid out and they were filling beer bottles by the thousands. People here are going to fight and they are going to die for their freedom.”

White says things they’re most in need of are prayer and monetary donations as their organization continues relief efforts.

If you would like to donate or learn more about their mission visit shadeforchildren.net.