Voice of Ukraine

From Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 366):

Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
All the earth worships you
and sings praises to you;
they sing praises to your name.
Psalm 66:3-4

A year ago today, we woke up in our apartment in Kyiv around 5 am to the sound of explosions. “Yes, this is it,” was a message from a neighbor in our building’s chat, and everyone knew what they meant.

A year has passed, but I still can’t describe the mixed feelings rushing through my brain as I was still sitting in my bed. There was anger, fear, anxiety, but there was also a relief because we no longer had to live in anticipation and could finally face the inevitable. We prayed right there, trusting God to see us through this trying time. Some of the memories of that morning are still too painful to revise – for example, writing our son’s information on his arm with a permanent marker in case something happens to us as we evacuate. My hands were shaking, but I was trying to look calm and excitedly chatted to him about getting a fun “tattoo.” Or walking through our apartment, wondering what we should take and what will be left behind. One of the last things we grabbed was a bunch of children’s books we had bought for our son a few days before that he didn’t know about. Those books kept him busy the first few days while we were too shocked to be present.

However, one event that morning shaped us for what was to come. In all the uncertainty between making decisions and getting in touch with the family, there was a message from my son’s school. They invited the families from our school to meet for an online prayer. We joined the zoom call from our car. As we were leaving Kyiv, heading down an unfamiliar route, we prayed with our friends. Someone shared from the Scripture – psalm 27, psalm 31, verses from the prophets. Slowly, I felt the peace of God replacing anxiety in my heart. I felt covered by His grace and had the courage to walk with Him wherever He was taking us. That prayer meeting was the most meaningful thing that could happen. It also inspired Іван to start a prayer meeting for our church that still meets daily to intercede for our country. Today, one year later, we met for another online prayer with my son’s school. We laughed, we cried, and we cherished the chance to see each other again.

Reflecting on the day that marks 1-year anniversary of the full-scale war, I noticed it being filled with the spirit of gratitude. In the prayer meeting, in my friends’ posts on social media, and in the official addresses, you could sense gratitude. Gratitude for being alive. Gratitude to those who gave their lives for us to be here today. Gratitude that our worst fears from one year ago didn’t come true. Gratitude for the support we’ve seen. A solemn sort of gratitude as we mourn our losses, knowing that the war is far from over. However, as long as we can be grateful, love others, and be compassionate, the enemy will not prevail.

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6) This was one of the verses that came to me during those first days of this invasion. It’s been with me throughout this year. Not by military strength, against all the expectations and prognoses, Ukraine stands with God’s Spirit and your prayers.

Thank you so much for praying for us today. Thankfully, there was no massive attack today, but the enemy hasn’t given up, and we aren’t blissful about the days to come.