The day my squad flew out from Turkey to Georgia was the same day that Russia invaded Ukraine. Having just left Ukraine in December our whole squad has been having a hard time with this. The people that we lived with and became friends with are now caught up in a war that they didn’t ask for.
The place where my team was, Mukachevo, is in the far west of the country. They are getting a lot of refugees from the east but there has not been any fighting or bombings in the city. The church we were working with has taken in a lot of refugees. The host I had has taken in multiple families from the east.
Pray that my host is able to pull out cash. They have money in their account, it’s just really hard to pull out money for purchases.
Pray that Mukachevo has enough beds and housing for the people. The city is effectively doubling in size from refugees.
Pray for peace, that this war ends. Pray for the leaders of the countries: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, and Alexander Lukashenko (President of Belarus). I know praying for a person like Putin can be hard to do but we are called to love our enemies and pray for world leaders.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4
Pray for the Russian people as well. They are facing a lot of discrimination around the world for a war that they didn’t choose.
Pray also for Georgia. The people here are very supportive of Ukraine and love them because Ukraine was the only one who supported Georgia in their war against Russia in 2008. There are just as many, if not more, Ukrainian flags in the capital right now than Georgian flags. But there is a lot of fear here also. Fear that Russia is going to come back and invade Georgia again. You can even see it in the currency. When we arrived in Georgia $1 was 3 lari (Georgia’s currency). Because of this fear they’ve had a lot of inflation and $1 is now 3.43 lari which is a huge increase.
While you should always pray see how you can physically help also. As my host put it, see how you can be an answer to a prayer. My host from Romania has been picking up refugees from the Ukrainian border and transporting them to other parts of Europe. My team found a clothes drive two days ago and got to help pack clothes to send to Ukrainians and I intend to keep going back.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
This is a great blog Reynaldo. Thank you for sharing what you and others are doing to assist the refugees. Also, thank you for reminding us to pray, even for someone, we may consider an enemy.
WOW. I am so encouraged by your fervency to stand in prayer with those on both sides. What an incredible example of truly living as Christ lived and to love our enemy! Thank you for this, Reynaldo!!