When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2
This week marks one month since Russian troops were ordered to invade Ukraine, causing roughly 10 million Ukrainians to leave their homes, over 3.5 million of which have left the country. It is the largest displacement of Europeans since World War II. To date, Italy has accepted over 50,000 refugees and is preparing for over 100,000 more refugees to arrive.
Looking back to when we first went to the border in Poland, we saw endless lines of Ukrainian people with weary looks. Many have lost their homes, their loved ones, and they have witnessed first-hand the traumatic scenes of war. The most heart-wrenching thing we saw were children crossing the border without their parents. This is the cruel reality of war. Children should have homes and families who love and care for them.
For the past two weeks in Italy, we have been continually gathering supplies, as this remains to be the most immediate need for arriving refugees. They come with very little personal belongings. We are trying to be faithful in providing food, clothes, and school supplies for children. This is also possible with the help of local authorities in Italy who are also helping to find housing for many refugees.
After being inspired by what is happening in Poland as many Ukrainians cross the border and are met by many different groups providing basic supplies, last week we were also able to provide humanitarian aid in Rome. All the supplies we have been collecting, we were able to distribute to many in need. Local authorities in Rome allowed us to set up tables with clothes and food in front of the hotels where Ukrainian refugees are housed. Praise be to God that we were able to be the hands and feet of one body to hundreds of refugees in Rome.
The second most prevailing need we are seeing is emotional and mental support for refugees who were forced to leave their country. In our conversations with them, many share their uncertainty, anxiety, and fear. Each one of them has a story full of traumatic events such as loss of homes, having no electricity, no water, deaths surrounding them, being injured, and a terrifying escape from their own country. It will take a long time to heal from such a crisis.
Our prayer requests:
- God to equip us so we can provide emotional and mental support to refugees we meet.
- Children who are scared from what they have witnessed yet they need to start school in Italy. Pray that they feel welcomed and safe here.
- Financial support so we can continue to provide refugees with basic supplies
- Planning a children’s camp for Summer 2022
- Our next humanitarian trip to the Ukrainian border
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 26:3
