On 20th February 2014, Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, experienced its worst day of protests and violence in almost 70 years. Within 48 hours over 88 lives were lost. Four years on, the war in Ukraine has killed more than 10,000 people, including 140 children, wounded 23,000 and displaced 1.8 million. Ukraine has lost 7.2% of its territory and peace remains a distant prospect. Indeed, even though the media have become quiet on the issue, the war in Ukraine is NOT over. Both young and old continue to die and there seems to be no solution or sign of peace.
Thousands of people are still suffering today. In fear and desperation, a family who fled their home town in Eastern Ukraine as the conflict erupted were left with no savings, no belongings and a future filled with uncertainty. Sergiy and Lyudmyla knew they had to flee the conflict zone in Eastern Ukraine as violence and disorder took over their town. Sergiy said, “It was too dangerous. We were scared, more for the children than for ourselves. The town no longer had any police and there was just lawlessness. It was full of killers and criminals of different sorts; they were even firing at Ukrainian helicopters.” He continues with sadness in his voice, “Stores were closed, people stopped receiving their salaries, there were electricity shutdowns and water shortages. The town was full of violence, robbery and pillage. It was unbearable to stay, especially because of our children.”
“There came the moment when we needed to leave everything for the safety of the children and ourselves.”
With nothing, Sergiy and Lyudmyla put their children in the car, fleeing to the west. They became refugees. Sergiy said, “We left the conflict zone with no money to refuel the car, and none of our belongings with us. We had to pass through many check points. The children were terrified. We prayed our relatives would help us but they turned us away, believing we should have stayed. It was a really tough moment for us. We felt completely alone, like we did not belong anywhere. ”
We learned how to pray and trust.”
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Sergiy and Lyudmyla are both Christians – and through all their experiences they looked to God for help, praying throughout their perilous journey as they arrived in the west with nothing. Sergiy said, “In these difficult and dramatic circumstances, we learned how to pray and trust. The fear and uncertainty was indescribable. We had absolutely no savings and no belongings, but praise the Lord, a lot of people, including Mission Without Borders, were willing to help us throughout this difficult period: materially, emotionally and spiritually.”
Many refugees are vulnerable. A large percentage are elderly, women and children. The poverty level is estimated to be as high as 80% During the past four years of war, MWB has reached out to over 100 Ukrainian refugee families like Sergiy and Lyudmyla, whose lives have been irrevocably changed. We support them through family sponsorship, prayer, food parcels and material support to help relieve thier burdens so they can heal and begin to rebuild their lives.
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I see how God takes care of us” Sergiy’s poor health, let alone the war, puts him and especially his wife and children in a very vulnerable position. Sergiy said, “I struggle to provide for my family as I have poor health and no employment, but I see how God takes care of us. All the support we have received has come from Him.” He smiles warmly holding his youngest daughter. “Here, in our house, most of the things we have were donated by MWB. They give us supplies of food and hygiene items regularly. We also received three mattresses of wonderful quality for our children to sleep on, clothing, school supplies, and warm knitted blankets – enough for all our children.” His wife Lyudmyla continues, “The Mission’s Coordinator has become our good friend. He has shared the vision of MWB with us. We are seen as a family that can become self-sufficient in the future, and MWB is going to help us with that. We absolutely love the idea, as we do not want to be just consumers, dependent on others’ help. However, at the moment, we need this help and it is vitally important.” Sergiy is so touched by MWB’s support that he has carefully written in his prayer diary a list of all the things they have been given. “We are always thankful to God and to the people who care about our wellbeing,” he said.
When they first arrived in the West, they were forced to stay in a shelter for refugees. With so many young children, this must have been a terrifying ordeal. Eventually, God answered their prayers and they were blessed with a home by a Christian family. Sergiy said, “They do not ask us to pay for rent. We are not cold, we have a roof over our heads, and we are very grateful for this.” Sergiy and Lyudmyla are not considering returning to their home town. As Christians they believe in God’s providence which brought them to this part of the country, a place where they can be safe and fruitful. “Our main priority is to take good care of our children and show them a life with God and serving Him. As parents we will teach them to see the difference to live as is taught in the New Testament - to always show love, mercy and forgiveness.”
How MWB is helping the War affected Refugees in Ukraine. By having a local Ukrainian team on the ground and through partnership with the local churches, MWB is uniquely placed to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable. As well as battling poverty, many internally displaced people have been traumatised by the events of the conflict. It is MWB’s heart to reach out to and support this vulnerable group. The more support we receive, the more people we can reach. By sponsoring these families in western Ukraine we can ensure they receive practical help, Christian teaching and the opportunity to eventually become self-sufficient.
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The tragic events we were involved in became priceless experiences of suffering, love, endurance and victory.” During these dark times, Sergiy and Lyudmyla’s relationship deepened as they supported one another and were ready to put others before themselves. Sergiy said, “Of course, during our many years of marriage we have learned that without God, we will not flourish. The tragic events we were involved in became priceless experiences of suffering, love, endurance and victory. God teaches us and his lessons are precious.” MWB is supporting over 100 refugees in western Ukraine. A staggering 1.8 million people have been displaced by the conflict, and many of them struggle to find safety, adequate housing and access to employment and healthcare. MWB’s Ukrainian team are uniquely placed to help refugees due to the close relationships they have developed with the local church. As people go through the fear and heartache of leaving behind their homes and communities, we want to show more and more of them the love of Christ in a tangible way. Through your giving, we can reach more refugees with practical and spiritual support, teaching them to trust in Jesus and know his love, even in the midst of war.
This family URGENTLY need four loving sponsors to pray and support them in this devastating season of their lives. If God has called you to consider sponsorship, please contact us without delay. Your general financial support towards helping the people of Ukraine during this horrific time is urgently needed. With it we can continue to feed starving families, keep them from freezing and help them find suitable accommodation and discover God’s unconditional love.
PO Box 7533 Silverwater NSW 1811 | 10 Stubbs Street Auburn NSW 2144 Phone 02 9647 2022 Email australia@mwbi.org Website mwb.org.au