Day 10: War in Ukraine
“It is a nightmare from hell” is how our staff and friends in Kyiv are describing the situation. Many have had to wrestle with the question for themselves and their families: do we stay, do we fight, or do we flee to safety? Each person is answering this question for their own family. Hope is a dangerous thing to battle against, and I am awed by the resolve of the Ukrainian people and the Hope they are demonstrating with their sacrifices.
On Thursday, we received word that the Russian tanks and armored vehicles had parked on the grounds of the orphanage we serve, Stara Basan, and the soldiers were sleeping in the dormitories. There are still 18 children who have not been evacuated and now become a human shield as children. This is beyond repugnant. Pray for the protection of the children and staff of the orphanage and for their long-term psychological health. They already know rejection as orphans but being subjugated to this environment seems criminal.
Some of our staff and families have gotten the women and children out of Ukraine and into neighboring countries. Some have not. Now word is reaching us that it is expected for Russia to increase the number and severity of strikes on key population centers, including the capital, Kyiv. This is going to lead to catastrophic loss of lives and destruction of a beautiful and historic city. We are still praying for evacuation corridors to be honored so more people can get to a safer place. The courage and strength we are witnessing by all Ukrainians compels us to find ways to do more.
Even after the fighting stops, we know there is a refugee crisis coming. Estimates are there will be close to 4 million refugees and 12 million people in Ukraine in dire need of humanitarian aid. Food is extremely scarce in Kyiv and many of the villages. The shelves of the local and regional stores and pharmacies are empty and communicating that they do not know when they will receive further replacement supplies.
We continue to wait and pray. There are dozens of phone calls and emails coming into our office daily, and we are grateful for how you have responded, shared with others, and entrusted us to get aid to those most vulnerable. We are prepared to respond as soon as the doors open with needed humanitarian aid. We remain in contact with our staff in Ukraine as well as those now living as refugees. We are grateful to the organizations in the European countries receiving them. May God bless their efforts!
Thank you for giving now. We are a small but well-established mission located in the capital city of Kyiv and well-positioned to respond to the overwhelming needs. Thanks to many of you, we will be part of the solution.
You can read our previous blogs to know how to pray, give, and I continue to implore you to contact your congressional leaders. We must do more, and we must do it now. There must be a ceasefire order given immediately. How can it be day ten of this nightmare and no end in sight?
One word of caution to all of you: step away and take breaks from the overload and coverage of the atrocities and desperation in the news. Do not let it make you feel powerless because you are not, as there are many opportunities available to take action. Taking a break doesn’t mean you don’t care; it means you are wise enough to protect your own well-being and stay in the fight with us. Taking breaks from the media overload prevents becoming over-stressed, numb, or apathetic because of the urgency of what we are witnessing in an age of global connection. Stay healthy and continue to pray!
- Greg
CEO | Music Mission Kiev