Stories from Ukrainians sheltering in Lithuania
Churches across the USA and even some in Europe have been responding with generosity to The Outreach Foundation’s Ukraine Appeal. Through our partners, we have the privilege to bring a more personal face to the now 2 million refugees who have been unsettled from their homes. One of our fantastic partners doing miraculous work in Eastern Europe is City Church from Lithuania. The following comes to us directly from the pastor, Saul Karosas. City Church has congregations in three Lithuanian cities, including the capital Vilnius, each of which are receiving refugees from Ukraine.
“Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, we have witnessed a seismic change in attitude toward the refugees of war. The war has come so close to our homes and we all can sense the imminent danger of it.” Lithuania is the southernmost of the three Baltic States and would be the first to be invaded by Russia. An invasion of them is not theoretical but is a real possibility. “The government is asking all people to prepare for emergencies, pack our bags, plan our escape routes, and have our documents ready. It is very unsettling.”
Many in Lithuania have friends and relatives in Ukraine so for them, their response takes on personal quality. In response to the war, they have instituted daily prayers on Zoom at 9 PM. “In times of peace I have not seen such desire to pray, but now we all feel the need to be together before the Lord. It is a time in our day when we are recharged by the Lord.”
Just two days after war broke out across Ukraine, City Church started to receive refugees. “Our church’s guest house is already full. Some families are taking the refugees, mostly women with children, into their homes. Some men are taking trips to the Ukrainian border, 12 hours one way, to bring more people here. Some transport humanitarian aid. Some volunteer in crises centers or with the Red Cross.”
The first person who arrived at City Church was Marina and her 5-year-old son Zachar. “On February 24th at 6 am Marina was teaching an online class to the Ukrainian kids in the US when a bomb exploded right in front of her house. They immediately moved to the basement of the 12-story building and spent two days there. Then her husband found a ride for Marina and her son, and they spent four days on the road till they got to Lithuania. Her husband stayed behind with their 20-year-old son to fight in the resistance.”
Other people’s stories are much more tragic. “A Ukrainian family that came to our service this Sunday told of their relative, a mother with her 17-year-old daughter was leaving the city of Nikolaev, the Russian soldiers stopped them, shot the mother, raped and killed the girl, who was found half a kilometer away from her mother in the woods. The man telling the story could not utter all the words, broke down sobbing, his teenage daughters were sitting next to him.”
City Church has opened their church buildings for women and children to gather and talk with each other. The talking goes on and on for hours. Volunteers take the kids while the mothers share their stories and hearts with each other. There is much heaviness, but also joy that people really do care.
“Everybody who left Ukraine is in dire need of prayer. Everyone I talked to suffers from the survivor’s syndrome, the feeling of guilt for surviving a traumatic event while others did not. Only God can bring peace to their weary souls.”
To each of us, Saul and the many volunteers and the refugees now staying in their homes say, “Thank you for your prayers and support.”
The Opportunity
We receive many questions every day asking how people can help. Currently, we’re in a stage of this global crisis where money is much needed. Before the war, unemployment in Lithuania was near 50% so people are providing relief despite having vast needs of their own. Each week The Outreach Foundation is sending financial resources directly to City Church to help with the efforts that Pastor Saul has described for us. Please multiply their efforts to share the gospel by making a generous gift to “Ukraine Appeal” through The Outreach Foundation. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.