The following story was already scheduled before the attacks on Kyiv that included a children’s hospital. According to the Kyiv post, the strike “hit the building where children were receiving dialysis” and damaged intensive care, operating, and oncology. War is part of everyday life in Ukraine, but this was an especially egregious and grievous attack. Please keep praying for peace.
Though Zhytomyr is far from the front lines, the war looms large in the lives of our people. Some grieve losses from earlier in the war. Youth and staff alike worry about loved ones on the front lines. Many older orphans are fighting. One staff member is training to be a military chaplain. Everyone is together in these difficulties.
But orphans are often excluded from communal life. And many of our students are too young to be drafted. So our staff keeps planning ways to bring students into their country’s shared experience.
Day of Remembrance
On May 8th, Ukraine’s WWII Day of Remembrance, staff member Krystya invited her father, a chaplain in the army, to speak with our Educational Outreach students. He encouraged them to learn their country’s history and language, and live a life worthy of the soldiers who are risking everything.
The War in Kyiv
Later in May, our students and staff took a rare trip to Kyiv. They make this trip about once a year, and it fulfilled a dream for our students. About half had never traveled the two hours to their nation’s capital.
Kyiv still has many beautiful sites. Now, it’s also filled with war memorials. Khreschatyk, Kyiv’s main street, is covered with photos and flags to honor soldiers. In one place the students saw a broken tank on display. They were very moved, often close to tears.
A less difficult part of the day included a visit to the property that belonged to former president Viktor Yanukovych, who fled Ukraine in 2014. The students were able to visit a zoo he once owned.
The War in Zhytomyr
At the end of May, the student group visited the military cemetery in our own city of Zhytomyr. The same chaplain led a tour, telling stories about soldiers he knew personally and how they died. Our youth and staff put flowers on the graves. It was a solemn occasion. The cemetery keeps growing.
For orphaned students who’ve often lived on the margins of their society, these were important days of inclusion in current events.
Please keep praying for protection over our loved ones at the front lines, comfort and strength from the Holy Spirit, and peace in our country.
Thank you for your support during these difficult years!
Your donations give orphaned youth in Ukraine the support they need. Make a gift today!