Living Out Faith Through Hosting
When news of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine broke in 2022, my wife and I felt we couldn’t just stand by.
We wanted to live out our Christian faith in a practical way and use what we had to help. With a spare bedroom sitting empty, we redecorated, passed all the required checks, and opened our home to someone in need.
In Pete’s own words:
When news of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine broke in 2022, my wife and I felt we couldn’t just stand by. We wanted to live out our Christian faith in a practical way and use what we had to help. With a spare bedroom sitting empty, we redecorated, passed all the required checks, and opened our home to someone in need.
Our first guest was Kateryna, a 34-year-old from Odesa with excellent English. She quickly became a friend and part of our family, sharing life with us for six months. When the English winter proved too grey and wet compared to her warm hometown, she moved on to Italy, where she continues to work online. We still speak regularly on WhatsApp, and she will always be special to us.
Encouraged by such a positive start, we welcomed Oksana from Western Ukraine next. At 23, she brought energy, joy, and incredible cooking skills into our home. She became the “daughter we never had,” and we shared many happy memories—watching films together, cooking, and shopping. After three months she returned briefly to Ukraine before taking a seasonal job in Germany, but we remain in close touch. She calls me her “UK Dad,” and I call her our Ukrainian daughter.
Not every experience was easy. Our third guest, Tetyana from Kyiv, wasn’t the best fit for our household, and she moved on to take work in the south of England. After this, we hesitated about hosting again, but eventually decided to try once more.
That’s when Nadiia at USPUK introduced us to Olga, a 42-year-old marketing manager from Kyiv. Olga was a real blessing and helped us in countless ways. After six months she relocated to London to be closer to her colleagues and for better job opportunities. Like Kateryna and Oksana, she remains a dear friend and keeps in regular contact.
Looking back, what have we gained from hosting? For me, three wonderful friendships, the beginnings of learning a new language, the chance to share life with people I would never otherwise have met, and the reminder to thank God daily for the peace and freedom we enjoy in the UK. For my wife Jenny, the privilege of sharing conversations with three strong women who, in turn, helped her cope with her own physical difficulties.
Would we do it again? Absolutely. In fact, last Christmas we had the joy of welcoming both Kateryna and Oksana back to our home for the holidays. It was one of the most memorable Christmases we’ve had as a family in years.
Hosting has not just been about giving—it has enriched our lives in ways we never expected.
—Pete C.
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You can make a difference
At USPUK, we support not only Ukrainian families on their journey to the UK but also the generous hosts who open their homes to them. From the moment they register on our website throughout their hosting experience, we are here to help.
If you’d like to help someone on their journey to a new beginning, consider becoming a host today. Visit our Become a Host page to learn more.