“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13
So there’s this thing where some of my friends are willing to risk their lives to help people in war zones on the simple call of God. They are doing this as independent volunteers not under World Race.
5 of the 8 on my team are planning on going (the ones comfortable driving a manual van).
They are only 19 to 23 years old, and they already consider their lives as not their own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
This is a picture of us packing for the trip.
“‘Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’” – Deuteronomy 27:19
Two of them left today, alongside other Christ followers that flew in from around the US. They are taking vans to deliver supplies and food to Ukrainian people. Some of whom have lacked food all together for weeks.
My friends will be gone for numerous days. Some van runs go to safe areas; some go further to where it’s more risky.
Fast and pray for them (I’m praying Psalm 91 over them) and the other volunteers (some even came to Romania with their families). 
Donate here to get supplies directly to Ukrainian people!!
Less than a week before leaving for our next country, we were presented with a new opportunity: go to Romania to help Ukrainians.
The Lord told 8 of us to go to Romania rather than the planned country. We are working at a Romanian church that has transformed their space to help those fleeing Ukraine.
“You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” – Deuteronomy 10:19
It is amazing to see local Romanians dedicate so much time to help Ukrainians. For example, one Romanian woman of faith was called by the Lord to move back from serving in Africa to Romania before the war – she didn’t know why. Now she takes constant calls organizing train rides and housing for Ukrainians who have been displaced.
“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren you did it to me.” – Matthew 25:35, 40
They have bunk beds and meals prepared. The idea is that, as families and individuals flee their homes to a new country, they have safe, welcoming, and temporary places to stay along the way to their destinations.
Until new groups of Ukrainians come, we spend our time buying supplies to go into Ukraine and helping with a kids program for Ukrainians that have settled in Romania for some time.
Here’s some of the drawings the kids drew as they processed what has happened to their people:
Since being here, the next group of Ukrainians haven’t come yet. The volunteers have told us to enjoy the slow times though, because the nature of relief work can be slow and then unpredictably overwhelming.
In the meantime, I’ve gotten to sit with some Ukrainian families that have inspired me with a resilient faith in Jesus and so much joy!
At the same time, sorrow was written on their faces. Teens out of school, away from their friends. Wives away from their husbands that are required to stay in the country (a couple families here came with their fathers, because fathers with more than three children can leave the country). Children without their regular routine watching their parents try and hold their families together. Adults leaving their jobs, loved ones, and demolished towns.
I sat with a woman as she translated in her phone the experience of war. Of the moment you hear it, the entire town panicking. People running to stores to get food. People running to ATMs to get money.
It is good for those who have experienced trauma, when they are ready, to process with others (what happened, what they thought about it, and what they felt). It can decrease future PTSD.
Pray that Ukrainians will have the space to do so, to heal, and to get on their feet again.
Just yesterday a Ukrainian man who came with his family sat there at the kids program reading his Bible. He told me about how the endurance of Job amid suffering inspires him. He inspires me.
You know, refugees are just people. People like you and me. They just have unjustly and senselessly lost everything. But there’s some things that can never be lost whatever may come – faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13).
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful than people who have lost everything finding so much joy in what is simple and truly good. We danced, whether volunteers from around the world or Ukrainian. Young and old. We danced.
“life does not consist in an abundance of possessions” – Luke 12:15
So cling to faith, hope, and love today my fellow humans on this small Earth floating in an infinite Universe. Know that somewhere among all the evil and pain, God sent a Light that one day will bring justice. He is currently is catching your every tear. He understands your pain when He humbled himself in Jesus and was born into a refugee family and suffered like us and rose from the grave to restore all.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
You know, since the Old Testament God has worked mightily through refugee and displaced people.
He’ll continue to.
For good podcasts on suffering and God: listen here.
Pray for an end to the war. Pray that Russia will not attack Kyiv again as my Ukrainians friends fear. Pray for all Ukrainians. Pray that the vans will go in and out of Ukraine safely and source where supplies and food will be best used. Pray for those starving and living in fear. Pray for those recovering from the trauma. Pray for surrounding countries that are affected. Pray for Russians too.
“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death” – Revelations 12:11
Thanks for going there to help, Hannah. We who have so much need to do what you’re doing and help those who are in distress – especially the widows and orphans.