From: Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 1193)
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
Psalm 143:8
God is so good. In our exhaustion, in between senseless terrorist attacks, when spirits are low and hope is gone, He shows up and reminds us that His ways are not our ways and that nothing can compare to His sovereign power.
This weekend was our annual 4th-grade campout. It is our school’s traditional celebration for elementary school graduates, during which we spend a night in tents, cook food over fire, play games, and “pass the baton” to the middle school teachers.
This year’s 4th grade is very special to me. The most obvious reason is that my son is one of them, but it’s not just that. These guys started Kindergarten during the pandemic, learning to study and study online at the same time. Their first grade was interrupted by the full-scale war. Half of their classmates are scattered around the world, and a few new students who joined them during the war have become an integral part of the class. They have been through a lot in their relatively short school life, yet they remain curious, enthusiastic, thoughtful, and caring. That’s why I really wanted their campout to be special (since it didn’t seem likely at all 3 years ago), yet had no control over the circumstances. As the time drew nearer, I was growing more anxious. It was raining the whole week before with hail and thunderstorm on Thursday! Last weekend’s ferocious attacks didn’t help relieve my anxiety either. So I was very cautious with optimism when Friday came about.
However, God convicted me for my disbelief as He blessed these kids with this weekend of memories. There was no rain, and the weather was perfect for a day outside (it’s the first time in many years that the end of May doesn’t feel like a fiery furnace). What’s even more incredulous is that there was no air raid! There was a 15-minute low-risk alert before the kids settled in their tents for the night, which did not disturb our festivities. The night was quiet except for the overly excited chatter of the girls and the “ghost stories” heard from the boys’ tent. I pray that this time will be their cherished memory and they will realize what a blessing it was.
After the campout, we went to celebrate the baptism of one of our oldest students. He’s been part of our school from the very beginning, so half of the school showed up to share in this joy! As we were worshiping together, I couldn’t hold back tears because my heart was so full. As the enemy tries to crush us, we can have life in abundance that is only possible through Christ!
As I’m writing this, I am fully aware that things might change, that new attacks may come, and that there will be days when I struggle to see the goodness of God. However, those days should never overshadow the glimpses of God’s Kingdom that we can see here and now.
To God be the glory!
Voice of Ukraine 