Ukraine: Fiona on the Frontline Week 5

A WEDDING!

On Shabbat we celebrated a wedding. It’s the wedding of the couple who should have been getting married in Kyiv, Ukraine; but now, here in the Messianic Congregation in Berlin they were married and Hallelujah, what a marvelously joyful event. It was a declaration of love and of faith and hope in God.

They even had me up dancing to celebrate. Their capacity for joy in the Lord in the midst of suffering is truly amazing. At the wedding there was no war there was just hope, faith and love.

THE STOREHOUSE

Instead of us buying what we think refugees need, we are giving them store cards so that they can buy the things they actually need. We want to help them and we want to minister to them but our desire is also to encourage them. And this is a way of giving them back some dignity.

So, we invite refugees to join us for tea and cake and we give them the cards. We are also planning to get as many names and addresses as possible of those who are attending our Messianic service, so that we really begin to follow them up, pray with people and encourage them.

SELFLESSNESS

Another day in Berlin with Beit Sar Shalom in Berlin, Germany. The most amazing thing here is the way different groups come together – crossing theological and cultural boundaries in order to help those fleeing the conflict.

I met people from a Messianic Congregation in Kyiv. One young lady who came with nothing, says doesn’t feel like she is a refugee! About to ask her why, she explained; it is because I have a ministry. She arrived and the first thing she did was offer her help. She didn’t ask for a job she offered to serve.

This young lady is not alone, many Ukrainians who have fled seek an opportunity to help; as I sat with another couple from Ukraine who are volunteering in Poland, they told me the same thing. That they are getting the people that they have helped busy helping others, and in doing so longer feel that they are victims. Their flat in Kyiv is used as a place to shower and to cook food for the people who are sheltering in the building where their congregation meets.

Please continue to Pray.