Chaplain Leonid preaches the gospel and my eyes fill with tears thinking of my recent conversation through google translate with my new 11 year old friend in the back seat. I asked her what she wanted to be when she grows up, and she said with excitement in her eyes, “Veterinarian!” I asked which animal is her favorite, she said “horse.” Her mom chimes in and says “maybe they will get her a pony first because horses are too big for such a little girl.” But we both know, getting a pony is a luxury that they don’t have.

I think about the fact that we can’t offer things we don’t have. Because if I could, I’d offer her the world. Instead we are left with the reality that we can’t change their circumstances. In terms of better housing, it seems like everyplace we look, shelters are full of displaced people needing refuge. There aren’t many good options for housing, especially if you have pets. So we take evacuees from the front lines to a shelter with no showers, where you sleep in an auditorium with many others waiting to be sent to another shelter. Thankfully this family was able to come to our newly set up Shelter for IDP’s to stay while they are waiting to be transferred. My heart is relieved that while there is so much loss and pain in their lives, we’re able to offer a safe, comfortable space for them to rest, recooperate, and have hot showers before moving on to their next potential ‘home’.