Sheila and her husband, William, have lived and served in Germany most of their adult lives. The church they attend has opened a shelter for Ukrainian refugees. God has blessed Sheila with the ability to learn, speak, and communicate in multiple languages. Every day, before and after work, Shelia goes to “translate, help figure out more permanent housing, acquire basic needs and play with the children.” Since the younger and older men have stayed in Ukraine, the women and children are left to make decisions and seek safe places to live. This week, Sheila and the other workers have also done the extras to show they care. A lady went home and made a cake to help a boy celebrate his eighth birthday (after finding out at 11:00 p.m. that it would be his birthday the next day). A blue and yellow bouquet of flowers, the colors of their flag, is in the foyer to greet the Ukrainians. Sheila was also able to share the Bible story of the Good Shepherd with the children.
Avi Schiffman and Marco Burstein are students at Harvard University. Within three days, the two young men developed and launched a website to help with placement for the Ukrainian refugees. The website, in 12 languages, helps refugees locate people who are providing free apartments, rooms, school dorms, and event resorts with available rooms. Schiffman and Burstein are connecting people, in several countries and cities, who are offering and seeking help.
On Saturday, March 12, 2022, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, a Ukrainian pianist and singer, gave a free concert for the people at the Lviv railway station.
Due to the urgency to escape, most women and children are leaving Ukraine with just the clothes on their back and very few other items. As mothers exited the Przemysl railway station in Poland, they found strollers, blankets, diapers, and other baby essentials for them to take for their child. What a much needed and appreciated gesture.
Sighetu Marmatiei is a small town situated in northern Romania. Its northern boundary is the Tilsa River. A small wooden bridge connects Solotyvno, Ukraine with Sighetu Marmatiei. The bridge is a border crossing spot during peaceful times, but is now a way to escape the war in Ukraine. The Romanian border guards and volunteers have lined up stuffed animals along the sides of the bridge, thus the new name the “toy bridge.” According to a spokesman for the agency, “Each child who comes from Ukraine can take a toy from there, to enter the country with a nice thought.”
This week may we be intentional in looking for and finding ways to help lighten the load, encourage, and bless others.
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:40
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