Lidia & Yuriy Buchinskiy: A family fights back

LIDIA & Yuriy Buchinskiy Family of Ukrainian believers fights back

Lidia and Yuriy Buchinskiy say goodbye to one another at the Boise Airport this past March. Yuriy was flying to countries surrounding Ukraine to help refugees who were fleeing Russian bombs. (Courtesy photo) By Gaye Bunderson

Editor’s note: This story was written in March. Christian Living Magazine prays for the safety of all the people involved and for the country of Ukraine.

To meet Lidia Buchinskiy is to attach a friendly face to a much-televised tragedy. Lidia and her husband Yuriy were both born and raised in Ukraine, but both have been in the U.S. now for more than 20 years and are naturalized American citizens with four American-born children.

Lidia is from Odesa but was born in Izmail, on the border with Romania. “I came here as a fiancee,” she said. Her husband’s family left Ukraine and headed for California in 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed. As a young man, Yuriy attended a church in San Francisco where church leaders started a program to visit Siberian jails to minister to the people there. Yuriy went with them and also visited his homeland, where he met Lidia. She was just 13½ at the time, and Yuriy was 19. They would marry a handful of years later.

Yuriy has now returned to the area that has been, and continues to be, wracked by war and waves of refugees. Initially, he was in Romania and Moldova but may be moving about to help where he can with evacuating people and assisting those who’ve already fled. He is not the only member of Lidia’s family to travel to the troubled area to selflessly help their fellow Ukrainians. They are all people of faith.

Some of Lidia’s family still lived in Ukraine when the war broke out. Her sister, Katie, was pregnant and had a Caesarean section just after the war started. Katie’s husband, Sergey, was a pastor at Lutsk, a city in northwestern Ukraine. The couple has three other children besides the newborn and, as of the writing of this article, the family was trying to get to the border of Poland and has likely succeeded, as have many others.

Two other sisters, who had been living in California, are now working at the Romania/Ukraine border as interpreters and include Lisa, 32, and Tina, 45. Sister Anna, 40, is serving as a translator at the Poland/Ukraine border.

Lidia’s brother, Dennis Serdichenko, is in Odesa and was able to get his children safely into Romania, as well as his and his siblings’ mother. However, he is staying behind (Ukrainian males of specific ages are required to stay to help fight the war), and his wife is remaining with him. Said Lidia: “She is a faithful friend to him and an amazing woman of God.”

Lidia is proud of her family’s courage and sacrifice. The faith of her family members started decades back with her father, Pete Serdichenko. He started a Good Samaritan Fund 30 years ago in Ukraine – a program that still continues to help those in need today. The entire family consisted of devout churchgoers; and the Ukrainian church today, though severely tested, has, in Lidia’s words, “become a place of good.” She tells a story of how six people ignored the war-related curfew and the nighttime darkness to go to a church and be baptized. They said ahead of time to the pastor there, “We’re going to come no matter what.”

Members of the Good Samaritan Fund program are at bus and train stations, giving out food and Bibles and praying for people. “It’s an opportunity to be light and hope,” Lidia stated.

She tells the story of a pastor she heard about who lives in a country bordering Ukraine. “He was sleeping one night and when he woke up, he said to his wife, ‘The Lord told me we are going to host angels,’ and then some refugees came to their house and the couple welcomed them in.”

“The global church has awakened,” Lidia continued, referring to “Kingdom DNA”, through which the family of God is coming together in a collectively compassionate way to care for their brothers and sisters in Ukraine and nearby nations.

She also mentions DNA when she talks about both her proud roots in Ukraine and her love for America: “I am very proud to be a U.S. citizen, but I have Ukrainian DNA.”

She confirms it is possible to be both American and Ukrainian, to be proud of both, and to love both. But even more important than that, she does not hate Russia – because she is also half Russian. The only Russian she bears any ill will against is that country’s president, Vladimir Putin. “He is evil. He is biblically evil, and this is a war between evil and good. I don’t encourage people to become bitter and angry. My brother said, ‘I hate evil. I pray for evil to be stopped’.”

If you tell her that as an American you feel a bit spoiled and privileged to have never had to go through what the people of Ukraine are now enduring, she answers, “I don’t think you are spoiled – you are blessed. It is an honor to be an American. God uses America. Truly, it is an opportunity to help others.” She said her family’s ability to travel to an area of the world now torn by conflict is aided by their American citizenship. “An American passport is a golden ticket,” she said.

Attract More Customers

With a Personalized 3D Virtual Tour

Just 4 Easy Steps: 1. Standout Virtual Tours

Unleash the power of virtual experiences. 2. Product Features & Highlights

Creating the best viewing experience possible. 3. Professional Media & Marketing

• Consultation • Shoot • Creation • Marketing 4. Position your business as an industry leader.

Set your business apart from the competition.

StandOut

Virtual Tours

GET IN TOUCH WITH US TODAY! FREE STRATEGY SESSION

Glen Lexa 208-806-0202

Local businesses and individuals have shown much generosity. “In the Treasure Valley, there has been an outpouring of love and caring,” said Lidia. For example: • Kryptek Outdoor Group of Eagle donated boxes of camouflage clothes and gear that she and Yuriy packed into five suitcases. “We prayed over the five suitcases and they all made it safely [through the overseas flight], including one that was broken and taped together.” • The Full Gospel Slavic Church in Meridian donated boxes and boxes of flashlights and first aid items such as antiseptics. • Reflex Tactical Idaho in Nampa donated two bulletproof vests and is working on donating more. • Cosmo Zimick, owner of Empty Hand Combat in Nampa, made a financial donation through a collection he took up at his dojo. • Christian Faith Center, where Lidia and Yuriy attend Sunday services at the Slavic campus in Caldwell, has also donated money.

As for Yuriy, Lidia prays for his safety and believes God will watch over him – and this is where she summons up her own courage. “I’m trying to turn my wife emotions off – that would be fear. My sister says, ‘If God plans something, He provides something for His projects, and God provides safety for His projects as well’. I truly believe Yuriy will be safe. This is no time for emotions. This is a time for salvation in Ukraine, for help and hope.

“I pray for this horror to end. That’s for God to end it, but I can do what’s in my own hands to do.” n

AGENCY In busine since 1936

•Franklin Village Subdivision

Franklin Blvd. and Cherry Ln. in Nampa Phase Nine - Spec Homes Being Released

New Homes Being Started!

•Heron Ridge Subdivision

Greenhurst and Middleton Rd. in Nampa 208-209-2313

Mission Statement:

To honor God and serve our community by treating our clients with respect, honesty and integrity; using the resources with which God has blessed us in pursuit of their best interests. 203 11th Ave. S. • Nampa, ID • 208-466-7821 www.BrandtAgency.com

THE ROAD Less Traveled When the arrows are beyond you …

By Jason Herring

The Giant of Gath was dead. A young shepherd from Bethlehem was the giant-slayer and destined to be the future king of Israel. No one would have suspected that someone of questionable pedigree with 3/16 Canaanite blood could sit on the throne of the Chosen. But the prophet had made it clear: David was to be king. The anointing had taken place in a private ceremony at his father’s home, but the best kept secret of the House of Jesse didn’t remain a secret for very long. As David’s star began to rise, so did public knowledge of his destiny and divine appointment.

What is clear is that David had no desire to replace Saul as king. David must have believed that Saul would live to a ripe old age and appoint him as successor on his deathbed. In the meantime, David would serve his king, and learn everything he could on how to govern a nation. And initially, this seems to be exactly how Saul felt.

David was like a son to Saul. David lived at the king’s residence and ministered to Saul with music – no doubt many of the Psalms that he composed as a shepherd. When David slew Goliath, Saul appointed him as a captain in his army. And Saul’s son Jonathan formed a friendship with David that was stronger than brotherhood.

Everything was great until the day that Saul heard the women of Israel singing a popular ballad that went: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Saul became insanely jealous, and his jealousy turned into paranoia. Why had he been so blind? All of this from the beginning had been a carefully designed plot on the part of David to worm his way into the king’s good graces before usurping the throne. He would have to assassinate David before David assassinated him. He could never defeat David in one-on-one combat. This

would be a battle of wits, and he was certain that he held the upper hand in this arena. While his protégé played his harp, distracted in song and worship, he would kill him with a javelin. Oblivious to the impending danger, David twice escaped impalement. He probably chalked it up to the intense mood swings and melancholia of the monarch with which he was all too familiar. Failing to vanquish his nemesis, Saul had to get more resourceful. If you should keep your enemies closer, what can be closer than family? Saul came up with an elaborate scheme. He would offer David his daughter’s hand in marriage – an offer that David could not refuse. And for a dowry, David Jason Herring would have to circumcise 100 Philistines, which would certainly result in his death. But David succeeded in his bizarre mission and married Saul’s daughter Michelle, becoming son-in-law to the king. It was time to go to the next level, and Saul would need reinforcements. The king held conference with his son and his staff and announced that they should take every measure to kill David. Jonathan sent David into hiding and then had a heartto-heart talk with his father to dissuade him from his madness. Saul swore an oath that he would not try to kill David again. Believing his father to be a man of honor, Jonathan told David that it was safe to return to the palace. Everything would be like it was before. They could put this quarrel behind them and move on like family. And they did for awhile. Until Saul threw a javelin at David for the third time. And missed. Normally it’s ‘three strikes and you’re out’ unless you happen to be driven by anger and jealousy. Saul sent a group of thugs to kill David in his sleep in his own home. But David was warned by his wife, and having escaped death for what would be the fifth time, he finally went into hiding.

Come. See. Play.C Come S See Pl lay

Everything You Need For Your: • Camping Program • Retreat • Family Reunion • Wedding • Anniversary Celebration Affordable Rates

Reserve Today!

“Disc ing HOPE in Y r Seas of Life” of Life”

Located On The West Side Of Beautiful Cascade Lake On West Mountain Road 208-468-8976 • cascadechristiancamp.org cascadechristiancamp.idaho@gmail.com 12 May / June 2022 | Christian Living

KATY NELSON COACHING.NET, LLC

Certifi ed Professional Life Coach Author • Speaker • Certifi ed DISC Facilitator 503.816 .304216.3042

When David told Jonathan everything that had happened, Jonathan was sure that his best friend was mistaken. Unbeknownst to Jonathan, he had fallen out of favor with his father since advocating for David the first time. Jonathan proposed that he would discern his father’s attitude towards David at the next family dinner. Taking precautions, he came up with a code. He would return to David’s hiding place for archery practice. He would shoot his arrows and send his servant to fetch them. If he said to his servant, “The arrows are beyond you” that was the sign that Saul intended to kill David and he needed to remain in hiding. But if he called out, “The arrows are on this side of you” it was a sign that everything was safe for David to return. The storm of the king’s anger had blown over.

You can guess what happened next. Saul asks why David is not at the king’s table, and when Jonathan offers up an excuse, Saul curses his son and throws a javelin at him as he had done to David. Jonathan returns to warn his friend and confirm his fears about the mad king. The arrows were beyond him. And what transpired over the next few years was the greatest test of David’s life – not how he fought and conquered the giant but how he faced and handled the former mentor hellbent on his destruction.

Everybody at some point in time faces the loss of a valued relationship. Someone with whom you have considerable history. Someone that you deeply care about. So what do you do when the arrows are beyond you?

Don’t respond reactively. David never attacked Saul. Not even once. He could have easily dispatched the aging king, but he never went on the offense. Twice David had an opportunity to assassinate Saul in his sleep while the king pursued him in the wilderness. But David considered it a sin against God to take matters into his own hands.

Rest in the sovereignty of God. David trusted in God to vindicate him. Yes, there were times when his faith lapsed and went over to the Philistines for support. But David believed that God would ultimately deliver him and set the record straight.

Pursue your calling and purpose. What did David do during this season of exile? He raised a family. He mentored the men that would become his captains and mighty men of valor. He composed scripture. It was Nietzsche who said, “He who has a why to live can endure almost any how.” Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl expounded on this truth in his memoir of life in the concentration camps and it became the basis for his philosophy of logotherapy. The will of God is the raison d’etre of the believer. And God always has a plan and purpose for His children.

Finally, don’t bankrupt someone for making a with-

drawal. David had long been bankrupt in the eyes of Saul, but David still held gratitude for the investment and impact Saul had in his life. In David’s moving eulogy of Saul in the opening of Second Samuel, David focused on the positive things of Saul’s life and reign. It must have baffled those closest to David, but it was the path of honor. And it remains a powerful lesson on what to do when the arrows are beyond you. n

KETO HEATING & COOLING

Serving Idaho Since 1957

Call 208-375-1100 To Schedule Appointment

12 months no interest financing

Keeping You Comfortable in Every Season

Call to Schedule Your Spring Service Today!

For a complete list of our services go to www.KetoHeating.com

Proudly Serving all of the Treasure Valley Since 1957