The past three days have been an exciting experience. We had the opportunity to distribute food to people who have received very limited aid up to this point. Seeing their faces light up was an amazing experience. At one point, I was worried another guy and myself were going to be adopted by two Ukrainian grandmothers. They hugged us multiple times and told us stories even though we couldn’t understand them. I have been challenged and sometimes frustrated by the difficulties of communicating across a language barrier, but it is amazing how much can be communicated with a simple smile. And when that doesn’t work, pointing and hand gestures often do.

 

After the food distribution, we went to the staging area for people who wanted to evacuate. Even though the area was recently liberated from the Russians, there are still Russian forces occupying the other side of the river who make the city a regular target for artillery rounds. After driving around the city to locate and collect the evacuees, a teammate and I left for Kryvyi Rih. Some of the roads we drove would be best described as potholes with roads going through them. A load of elderly and a passenger with motion sickness on the bumpy roads made for a long, tiring day.

 

It is encouraging to see how communities have bonded together, although each community varies in strength. The Ukrainians are strong people who are not easily discouraged, and I have been impressed with their ingenuity when resources are limited.

 

Hearing machine gun fire and artillery rounds nearby was an experience to be remembered. By God’s grace, nothing came too close. It has been a great reminder to put my faith in God and not myself.

 

– From a volunteer on the ground