Last September, nine volunteers from Arvada Adventist Church, Arvada Indonesian Adventist Church and North Hills Adventist Church from California met in Warsaw, Poland, and headed toward the Ukraine border. The week they spent there was very demanding physically, mentally, and especially, emotionally.
The refugee center in Mlyniv, Ukraine, that works with orphans and widows of war had a blown heater boiler, damaged chimney, and no firewood for the upcoming winter. This guaranteed them a harsh and cold wintertime. The Arvada team ensured that none of these things were an issue anymore, and that the kids would have warm rooms to enjoy.
An Adventist church in Poltava on the east side of the country has been serving 1,500 refugees a day. “You read it right–1,500 people come for help every day,” reported Miloš Tomić. Every day! The city of 300,000 people has been hosting 400,000 refugees. “You are reading those numbers correctly, as well. Hygiene products–especially baby supplies–are in high demand. Our team brought them a truckload. That truckload was gone in two days,” he continued.
Many refugees came to personally thank the volunteers. Most of the refugees would briefly thank us for the things we brought for them and then, often in tears and at length, thank us for being there. “You care for us,” they said. “It seems that everyone started forgetting us. But you didn’t.” Those are some of the words that summarize what really makes a difference. Filling their stomachs and clothing their bodies helps, but touching their souls–that’s what really matters.
“Our Arvada Indonesian church is already planning a new trip very soon. More people from North Hills Church are also hyped up and on board to help, and Arvada will do more as well,” said Arvada pastor Gordon Anic.
If you would like to support our Ukraine refugee aid project, email milos@aachurch.org.
Information supplied by Miloš Tomić, associate pastor at the Arvada Seventh-day Adventist Church in Colorado.
