War is Ugly … But God is Good

War.

What we see on the news is usually a 30 second video clip, a politician making promises, and then the latest prediction on whether or not Taylor Swift is going to be at the Super Bowl to cheer on the Kansas City Chiefs.

But it’s not quite that simple.  The reality of war is much more complicated than that.  Raw reality is restless days and fear-filled nights.

Especially when that war is in your own country … and when it rips at your very safety … and against your family’s very life.

My name is Lidia. I am the mother of two children – Konstantin and Evelina. I have a husband, Vitaly. He is a soldier.  At this moment he is wounded and receiving therapy in the hospital. Let me give you a bit more of my story.

When my husband and I were expecting our first child 5 years ago, we were quite poor.  Mission to Ukraine counseled us, encouraged us, prayed for us, and provided for us so we would be able to care for our new baby (a boy).  He’s such a joy in our lives.

Fast forward to last year when the war hit home. Russia began its full scale invasion of Ukraine.  My husband was immediately called to the front lines.  And then there was a bombing in our hometown of Zhytomyr.  I was scared. I was alone.  My heart was breaking.  I could feel it like a ton of bricks weighing on my shoulders.  I cried a lot.  And I prayed a lot.  Constantly.

And I was pregnant yet again. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I needed help.  So I turned to Mission to Ukraine – the Christian organization that was there for me before and I hoped would be there for me again.

And they were. Even though many people were fleeing the country, they had not left.

Mission to Ukraine was with me when I received news that my brother was killed while on the front line defending our country.  When my husband was injured by the Russian military.  When my baby (a sweet little girl) was born last year.  And they were with me when I received Jesus as my Savior and was baptized just a few months ago.

You know something?  War is awful – especially now that we are facing such a cold winter here in Ukraine. I’m asking you to please continue to pray for me and my family, especially my husband as he is bitter because of his injuries and the terrible death and destruction he saw on the front lines.

Wow … that’s Lidia’s story.  

She’s just one of the literally thousands of women throughout Zhytomyr who are in such desperate need of… Emotional support. Spiritual encouragement. Material assistance. Financial help.

Would you do this … 

• Pray for Lidia and her family.  She’s asked you to do so.  I told her I’d make her story known so you would pray.   
• Consider a generous gift to Mission to Ukraine so we can continue helping pregnant women like Lidia. 
• Tell your friends to pray – and to give – so that the good news of Jesus will be made known in very practical ways… showing itself in “both word and deed” through the work of Mission to Ukraine.