We continue to use the resources people are giving us to help meet the needs of Ukrainian refugees both here in Slovakia and those who have fled to western Ukraine from the fighting in the east and southern parts of the country. We have also had a very busy season with the other ministries we are involved in here. It is a balancing act, and we are trying to find healthy ways to handle everything. Thank you for your patience with us and for continuing to pray for us, for Ukraine and for the war to end.
Next week Gary is planning on driving to Kiev to bring aid to a church community that has ties to our Slovak church here. City Church Bratislava has hired Nastiia, a Ukrainian who has lived in Bratislava for a few years and attends CCB, to run the Ukrainian Refugee House near us, full time. Nastiia will also ride with Gary (and one or two othrs) to Kiev to help with translation and because her family is part of the church community there. Please pray everything goes well and they are able to make the trip, that the Lord will protect them and the bombing raids in Kiev will stop, not only for them but for all those living there.
I (Joy), was asked by Nastiia a few weeks ago to drive six Ukrainians from the Refugee House to a large grocery store called Kaufland to stock up on needed supplies. Nastiia came as well to help guide them and translate. The women had not been going to the grocery store here, so everything was new to them. I could relate to their feelings of being overwhelmed as they walked in and literally stopped after the first aisle to try to take it all in. I remember feeling a bit confused and out of my element when I first entered the store a little over 3 years ago. There are different products from what you are used to, everything is in Slovak, the location of things don’t make sense. It is a lot to take in, but when you have also been traumatized by war, it is even more difficult to sort out your feelings. As they slowly made their way through the store, stocking up on things like laundry soap and flour, coffee and cleaning supplies, I was asked for help finding a few things, but mostly they worked together to make sure they got everything they needed. Overcoming the struggle together was good for them and for their community life in the Refugee House.
When I dropped the ladies off at the house after their shopping was completed, one of the women was obviously emotional. Everyone was thankful for the ride and help at the store, but she was particularly grateful, and did her best to thank me in English several times. As she said her thanks to me, tears welled up in her eyes and she began to cry. I walked over to her and asked if I could pray for her. Someone else explained my request, so she nodded and bowed her head. I took her hand and began to pray for the peace of God to fill her heart and mind, for her to be able to sleep peacefully, and for the presence of the Holy Spirit to calm and console her. Even though she didn’t understand what I said with her mind, the Lord was speaking to her and giving her what she needed, as He had directed my prayer. Nothing is a barrier to Him. Pray for us to always do our best to be a blessing even when it is as simple as a ride and a prayer.