Ignorance is Bliss, So They Say

ig·no·rance

ˈignərəns/

noun

noun: ignorance

1. lack of knowledge or information.

   "he acted in ignorance of basic procedures"

   synonyms:

   incomprehension of, unawareness of, unconsciousness of, unfamiliarity with, inexperience with, lack of knowledge about, lack of information about;

This is how I have been feeling lately with interacting with those who know little to nothing about Ukraine, other than what they read in the headlines of America and British news agencies. I guess I can't blame them, ignorance is bliss is what they tell me. It just makes me frustrated and angry when I correct them and they provide me with said news articles talking about how Ukraine is on the brink of civil war. I suppose I am just as ignorant in other nations affairs.

So in an effort to inform those of my friends and family reading this blog of ours, here you go:

Ukraine is NOT at civil war. They are NOT on the brink of civil war. They do NOT want to go to civil war.

Most of my Ukrainian friends would be very angry if they heard you talking about a civil war in Ukraine, and would give you a verbal lashing on the truth of the matter.

Ukraine is at war with Russia. Plain, simple. Black and white. It is at war with Russian financed terrorist that are bombing, shooting and using human shields in an attempt to usurp the sovereignty of Ukraine.

On Sunday, the town of Slavayansk in the eastern province of Donetsk was bombed and suffered heavy artillery fire from these terrorists. There is an orphanage in that town, "Sails of Hope" who with the wisdom of God evacuated the children living in that home the weekend prior. Take in these images. This is what the terrorist are doing to Ukraine. It is not Ukrainian against Ukrainian. It is NOT a civil war. Be informed, don't be ignorant.

Pray for Russia. Pray for Ukraine. This conflict is tearing families apart, taking sons, brothers and husbands away from their families in both countries to fight. No one wants war! Pray for a change of heart in the leadership, that God would protect the innocent and intervene.

 

Wartime Weariness

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about how families subsisted during wartime.

Maybe it's because I've been watching that show on PBS called, "Mr. Selfridge" which is currently depicting the life and struggles of those on the homefront in WWII England.

It's also because I get daily updates about our transition home in  Kramators'k, Ukraine. I hear the agony of having to carefully choose the time of day to go to the store to gather canned goods because fresh goods are becoming rare and hard to come by. I feel the difficulty that the house mom, Lena, experiences every night she tucks her babies into bed. Wondering what will happen over night or what they will face in the morning. I feel the pressure that the house dad, Maxim, feels as he tries to get the correct travel documents for each of the orphan boys and his own family; wondering how they will safely leave the area if it comes to that. Many have already left and faced treacherous roadways full of military vehicles and soldiers that can detain them at any moment.

Sometimes, I just hold my breath. Other moments I want to cry. Other moments I want to scream and yell at God, asking where He is in all of this chaos. Yet, I know He is there. He has protected this family and the house from so much. He has given them a support system and help from our organization and countless supporters around the world. He is EVER faithful.

I wonder if it was better during WWII, where they didn't have information at a push of sending a Facebook message for an update? Was it easier not knowing what was happening, only having general updates from the paper? Is the not knowing better than knowing everything anytime you want to know? Is it easier to handle? I know when I get e-mails and messages from my Ukrainian friends whose hearts are broken over the war raging in their country, I feel hopeless.

I don't know how to help, only how to pray out my anguish to God. I know that I am weary. My spirit is heavy. My soul is heavy. Yet, God is ever faithful. So today I come to Him, the One who will not be mocked, the One whose Word does not return void, I come to Him and stand upon his promises of rest. What burdens are you carrying today? Shall we give them up to God together? Let's!

"Come to Me, all who are weary and I will give you rest."

War in Ukraine

While I am sure you have all heard or at least read the headlines about what is going on in Ukraine, the reality is that Eastern Ukraine is now at war with a group of Russian insurgents/terrorists attempting to destabilize the nation as it nears it's Presidential Elections set for May 25th.

This week, I should have been in Ukraine, in Kramators'k where heavy terrorist activity has turned this quaint town into a war zone.

In Kramators'k, is a small city by comparison to most of Ukraine's major cities with around 173k inhabitants. The transition home that Ukraine Orphan Outreach and Agape Ministries partners together to run and support is located on the outskirts of town.

 

Pro-Russian insurgents have occupied this area for the last month, stirring up trouble. Over the weekend, the Ukrainian special forces arrived and have attempted to overthrow the terrorist stronghold in the city. 

 

 

This week, I, along with several other ladies were to spend the week at the transition home visiting with the house parents and the boys living there. Today we saw what happened outside of the hotel where we were supposed to be staying. Terrorists had seized some busses and vehicles and set them on fire in hopes to stop the approaching troops.

 

 

We are currently asking for prayer for the family and boys living in our home. They want to evacuate but the situation is dire and very dangerous to leave their town which is surrounded on one side by terrorists and the other side by the Ukrainian army. Their desire is to move to Western Ukraine where it is safe from the violence. The house parents have two small children and a baby on the way. It is a very scary situation, but God is able!

 

Please pray for Maxim and Lena and their children, and the boys at House of Grace for safe passage out of the city to safety!