Kyiv, Ukraine: Living in this New Day

Kyiv, Ukraine: Living in this New Day

Last week, four people from The Outreach Foundation traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine, to meet with our partners. The Outreach Foundation has seven partners in Europe, and one is in Kyiv. Upon our arrival in Kyiv, we met with the staff of the Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary led by Dr. Ivan Rusyn. The seminary trains leaders and pastors and currently has a student population of more than 500. Right now, the seminary is housing Ukrainian soldiers, but the students return in September.

There is much to communicate about this trip. It has left me with much to reflect upon. To stand next to a mass grave of women and young men slaughtered indiscriminately in the streets by Russian soldiers leaves one with few words. Likewise, having conversations with Ukrainian soldiers is something I will never forget.

Yet, the greatest impact upon me is to be among the people of Ukraine as they live daily with the anxiety and uncertainty of war. Certainly, people were troubled when the war began in February of 2022. After more than a year, Ukrainians desperately want to return to the normal aspects of life, as witnessed by retail shops opening and people dining at restaurants amid troops, curfews, and air raid sirens.

The long, difficult road of heightened anxiety can be seen in the eyes of almost every Ukrainian. Of course, there are theological questions as well. Why God would let something like this happen is asked. How long, O Lord, must we endure this senseless war is another question. There are no answers to those questions, but they lurk around every corner and can be found in some aspect of every conversation.

The visit with friends and partners in Ukraine makes my problems seem trivial. I think I gained that perspective in reflection. Likewise, I am resolved in my heart to continue to pray daily for the people of Ukraine. These people simply want to be a sovereign country and to govern and live freely. Perhaps that is why they have been so successful on the battlefield. The answer for battlefield success is short, simple, and precise for them. This war is about their existence. They will either win this war or they will not exist.

My prayer is not only that they will exist, but that they will survive and thrive.

May this victory be swift for the people of Ukraine and may there be peace soon upon the land.

Mark Mueller
Executive Director

THE OPPORTUNITY
Please continue to pray for all who are suffering greatly through this war. You may give HERE or by sending a check to our office.