Voice of Ukraine

From Lyuda Betina (Day 369): Last week was full of memories of the last year and worries of the present. We were afraid that it could be a new massive attack on Friday. But it did not happen. There was another attack on the front line. It was strong and assertive but our soldiers were holding the line and the enemy was stopped.

Tanya and I saw the need to share and during our group meeting on Saturday we asked our refugees to write and describe on paper their state a year ago and their state now. They all wrote about it and then shared with the group. It was nice to hear many different stories. Later at home when I was reading their stories I felt like I was with each of them that day a year ago. Here are some of their stories:

Irina 26, Kherson
“February 24, 2022. I was woken up by explosions and bright flashes. There was a telephone call, it was my friend who told that it was the war. I was very scared. When it dawned I saw from my window armored troop-carriers and tanks with letters “Z”. Then there were many days in the basement with almost no food before I was able to leave the occupied city.”
“February 24, 2023. I feel very safe here. I am glad that I have met so many good people. I think about my home every day and I hope that I will return there soon. I began to pray and I pray every day…..”

Svetlana, 48, Nikolayev

“February 24 is my birthday, a year ago early in the morning I heard a loud sound of thunder and saw lightning. I was surprised to see a thunderstorm in winter. Then it happened again and again and I understood that it was not a thunderstorm. Later in the morning my friends began to call me saying “Happy birthday” but their greetings sounded more like a pity and there was a feeling that we will not see each other again…”
“February 24, 2023. I am glad to celebrate my birthday with my family in a new place. My son and my mother are with me. We were able to bring our pets with us. My friends called to greet me and I know that we will see each other again.”

Lyda 15, Kharkiv
February 24, 2022
“Before it happened there were talks about the war, but we did not believe that it could happen. Who would want to begin a war? But on that day my mother woke me up and said about the war. I started reading news and listened to the addressing of the President to our nation. I remember a feeling of a deep pain in my soul. It was the pain for people around who were suffering of the blows. I understood that my life was divided into two parts the life before the war and after.
24.02. 2023 I changed very much during this year. I am a completely different person. Other people became important for me. I went through so much pain watching what was happening with other people. And this pain made me stronger.”

Kira, 45, Bakhmut
“ February 24, 2022. My city is located almost on the border with Russia. My relatives live in Russia. When they started bombing my city early morning I jumped off my bed and did not know what to do, where to run. I often have nightmares now where I see my city bombed and I can’t escape. Then there was a call from my sister who lives in Russia, she told that putin decided “to liberate” me from the Nazis. This “liberation” cost me a lot. I have no home, the building where I lived is destroyed. I had to leave my city.
February 24, 2023 I woke up today and smiled. I live in a nice place, I am surrounded by nice people. I think God directed me here. I go to the church now and I learn more and more. I thank God for all changes in my life.”

We thank God for all His blessings. By His great mercy He can use some dark and scary events for good, bringing people to Him.

“ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28

In Christ,
Lyuda