March 23rd: Ukraine Relief Update

Each one of our guests has had a unique story. Parts are relatable, they are university students, and young mothers, grandmothers, and fathers. Other parts of their stories are unfathomable, leaving loved ones behind, homes being obliterated, confronting the reality of having to start their lives over from scratch.
Our team calls each of them “guests” because even though they are refugees who are fleeing a horrific war, that is not all that they are and reminding ourselves of the humanity and similarities between each of us is a conscious decision we are each making.

So far, almost everyone we have hosted has had a destination they are trying to get to, such as, Poland, Germany, or Ireland. Thanks to your generosity, we have purchased travel for each of them.

This last week, we welcomed our first family who did not have somewhere else to go. Daniel is a freshman university student who was studying in Kyiv. He arrived with his mother, Illiana, and grandmother, Olha, who is 82 and had not left her home in eight years. Our team is working with them to figure out next steps for the family.

Last week, two women and their children also stayed with us for several days. They were both named Olha and met in line at the border, while fleeing Ukraine. They chose to stick together. They each had a baby, a two-month-old and a 12-month-old. After crossing the border, they made it to a shelter in Moldova. Our team happened to take supplies to that shelter, which is about a 20 hour roundtrip drive, and brought the women, their babies, and some others back to our campus. One of the women had friends in Poland, so we booked them both bus tickets and bought them clothes, and other necessities for their journey.

We are so thankful to be here and for the opportunity to help people. Whether The Mission books people a bus ticket, or a flight, or pays for their car to be repaired at the mechanic - your gifts have helped enable all of this. Thank you.