Thinking back to the moment about 20 years ago that my sister first told me she and her husband Tim were moving to Ukraine, I now realize God was preparing them then for today. They had just returned from a mission trip with an unwavering knowing that Ukraine was where they were to live and Ukrainians were the people they were called to love and serve with their lives. They first traveled to Calvary Chapel Bible College in Vajta, Hungary, for missions training before making Ukraine their permanent home.

They submerged themselves in Ukrainian culture and language. They let go of their American comforts to live as one family with these beautiful people (except maybe peanut butter). They have two incredible children, Leah and Caleb. The children know no other life than one in Ukraine. Their home is the city of Vinnytsia.

 

Just before the war started, Americans were urged to leave. Tim and Christina would not leave these people they have dedicated their lives to loving. It was not until after the war had been raging for days that they finally made the gut-wrenching decision to leave their home and get their children to safety. They each got to take one backpack with a single change of clothes. They had to leave their beloved family cat, Louie. They were forced to walk away from everything they own, with the probability that they will not get to go back and retrieve any of it.

 

The journey to safety first led them to Lviv, where they helped establish a refugee camp for people trying to get to Poland for safety. They stayed there for a few days and then made the journey to Vajta, Hungary, as the Bible College has opened the facility for refugees. They have been able to take a couple of days to rest and regain strength and are now in place to serve Ukrainian refugees in this devastating moment in history.

 

They have many decisions to make about what their next steps will be. They need clothes. They could really use a car as transportation anywhere is difficult. They need to replace personal items that had to be left behind. Ultimately, they will have to replace everything they own at some point. I am amazed at the servant’s heart that they continue to display. When I mentioned to them that I would like to start a gofundme, the immediate response was that they could definitely use money to help these refugees get things they need with very little focus on their own needs.

 

So here it is; first and foremost, please pray daily for Ukraine and these unbelievably strong people as they have their lives ripped away. Please pray for my beautiful sister Christina and her family as they live through all of this, as most of us just watch it on our news feed. Next, please share this fundraiser. These people need our help. Tim and Christina need our help. Finally, please give what you can.

 

Tim, Christina, or I will post updates here as things unfold for them so that you can pray with us and follow along on this path that God has them on, so please keep checking back to know how to pray.