Voice of Ukraine

From: Lyuda Betina in Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky
(Day 1198)

Summer has arrived, and the cool days of spring have turned into heat and dryness. We have long hoped to organize vacations for our counselors. Unfortunately, not all of us were able to take time off. Some counselors couldn’t step away from their responsibilities, I was unable to leave my sick father, and our colleague Roman received an order to report to the recruiting center.

Now we have a situation when many men have had to leave their jobs and join the army. As a result, we are now facing a serious shortage of construction workers, loaders, plumbers, and other specialists—roles that were largely filled by men.

Roman is one of the leading counselors at our center. He works tirelessly: providing individual counseling, leading group sessions, and traveling to various cities across Ukraine. He conducts therapeutic groups for war veterans, their families, and others suffering from war-related trauma. Roman is also deeply committed to family therapy. Thanks to his work, many families have avoided divorce, found reconciliation, and begun a new chapter together. In addition to his professional work, Roman is active in his church, serving faithfully in the ministry of a deacon. If Roman is drafted, a large and important part of our center’s work will come to a halt. He is still at home but we don’t know what will happen in the future. We kindly ask you to keep Roman and his work in your prayers.

There have been many events in the past month, the most important of which is that three psychology students received their diplomas. They are active volunteers and will now begin working as counselors. Two more will graduate next year. It is very gratifying that some refugees from our group have decided to pursue studies in order to become counselors themselves.

Another significant event was the opening of a counseling office in our small town. We are deeply grateful for the help and support of everyone who donates to our ministry. Thanks to this support, we were able to renovate and refurbish the old garage in the backyard of our Refugee Center. Now we have a dedicated space for individual counseling and group meetings. Our team celebrated the opening of the office, and it began operating immediately—our first client came for a session the very next morning.

I’d like to share some stories from our clients—people our counselors meet with in Odesa and in our small town of Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky, as well as those who, due to the war, now live in different countries and connect with us online.

Alina (16) – At the beginning of the war, Alina and her family fled to another country. However, her grandmother chose to stay behind, and soon their city was occupied by enemy forces. Alina was angry with her grandmother for holding pro-Russian views and, as a result, cut off communication with her. Recently, Alina received news that her grandmother had passed away. She is now overwhelmed with intense grief and guilt. Alina is struggling to forgive herself for not staying in touch or showing interest in her grandmother’s life. She needs support to navigate the stages of grief, find self-forgiveness, and reconnect with the good memories of her grandmother and the times they shared during her childhood.

Nina (42) – After the war began, Nina, her husband, and their son fled to Germany. A year later, she learned that her mother—who had stayed behind in the occupied territory—had been diagnosed with cancer. Nina and her husband decided to return to care for her. What followed were long, difficult months: moments of hope gave way to disappointment, pain, and witnessing her mother’s suffering. Three months ago, her mother passed away. Shortly afterward, Nina discovered that her husband was having an affair, and that his girlfriend was pregnant. Now living in the occupied territory, Nina feels isolated—most of her friends and acquaintances have left, and she is left facing the hardships alone. Fortunately, she has access to the internet and the opportunity to connect with a counselor and begin the healing process.

Masha (49) – Her son worked as a paramedic in Odesa. When a rocket strike occurred, he and his team rushed to help the victims. As they were providing aid, a second rocket hit, killing the entire team. More than a year has passed since that day. After the tragedy, Masha became withdrawn and would not talk. She was deeply distressed, processing everything in silence. Over time, however, she began volunteering and joined a volunteer group, which slowly helped her reconnect with others. Now, she has started to open up—expressing a desire to talk about her son, her life, and herself. The pain of her loss remains, but she is learning to live with it, one step at a time.

Andrew, a military serviceman, called and said he needed help. He had been wounded and is currently recovering at home. He shared that he is experiencing difficulties in his relationship with his wife. He briefly explained how hard it is for him to control his emotions, which has negatively affected both his wife and himself. We agreed to meet with him for counseling, we set a date and time, but later he called to say the day was not convenient for him. Then he called and asked to reschedule for the following week. Later, he called again and admitted that he wasn’t ready for counseling. This is a typical situation—we’ve encountered many cases where soldiers, despite clearly needing support, hesitate to seek help because they perceive it as a sign of weakness.
As we continue to pray and take steps toward creating a rehabilitation center for veterans, we ask for wisdom and opportunities to build strong connections and provide real support for our defenders.

Please, pray for us and for our work, pray for our clients, for wisdom and the guidance of Holy Spirit.

Thank you for you support.

Please, send your donations to:

Pathway Ministries
E. Langston Haygood,D.Min.,Ph.D.
Pathway Ministries, Inc.
288 Huntington Parc Circle
Birmingham, AL 35226
(205)835-3325
http://www.pathwayministriesinc.com

In Christ,
Lyuda

P.S. There are photos of our counselors and volunteers. Please pray for them: